Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1826-04-08

that God has been exceedingly gracious
10 our s(.iritRat IS well as temporal con-
Germs, leave Tor some ADLER pen.
Ii is neediul TO add, that the west has
shared largely in this general prosperity
that The improvement in morals and
religion, within twenty years, is much
more apparent than IN the older states,
though we allow ourselves 10 be still IN
the rear--that in Kentucky, Ohio, Indi-
ana, and in many parts of Missouri aud
Illinois, there have been great reviyals
OF religloD--that in the zoeslern states, 10
wit: Ono, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennes-
see, Mississippi, Louisiana, Illinois and
Missouri, are 1856 Bible Societies distri-
buiing the word of God, Al of which are
IN the Two latter slaies--and that Sunday
Schools are getting into operation upon
an extensive scale, of which Missouri
and Illinois embrace not less than l25
schools and 1900 scholars. These facts
may teach us, that it is quite unnecessa-
~ Tor DR.. Rice, and others, who mourn
over the g mora desolaiion" OF our coun-
try, 10 ago on By the hour in mortifyiag,
hear5-sickening, ahhaHiA3 details, 10
shogo the nakednesS and desolahon Of
The iaad."s
Ii | am not mistaken, il has been prov
ed 10 the satisfaction OF every Que, thai
such statements and conclusions, as
those have cailedln question, are found
ed upon false premlses---that, ~ point OF
morals and religion, our couairy is gain.
ing instead Of losing. Bu further pro-
test:
Secondly, because the publication OF
such things has a decided tendency to
repress the spirit OF gratitude, that should
penetrate our hearts, and be expressed
IN distinguishing acts Of benevoience. Il
there be one sin, of which The people OF
the United States are in more danger
than OF all others, il IS the sin OF ngrali-
I,ude in undertaking. their blessings.
Now let Us suppose, that all the fright
enlng things which have been published
about waste places" aud moral de-
so'aiions, about the " darl. clouds of
the west'--lhat "with all that has yet
been done, our republic is likely to be
peopled with hundred millions Of CT
vilized hea,hens "--let US suppose, chat
all this, and much more IS generally be.
lieved. Are such sweeping assertions
likely to awaken grateful emotions for
the past, and inspire zeal, actlyiiy aud
perseverance in works OF benevolencc
for the future! A momentaty sympathy
r,,av hea ~ j-.., l,,1
and cents may be thrown into the contrl-
button boX--but will not the exciteme nt
subside with the occasion thai gave il
rise, and chagrn and modification ensue
with large part OF the hearers !! A pro-
per exhibition of the immense prlyiie-
gcs we actually enjoy, accompanied
with proper view OF he amazing good
ness of God, will produce effects far
more permanent, and labors vastly more
pcrscverIng, than all that can he said
about "wasie place" and " moral desc
laiions," reiterated from the pnlplt in
every missionary sermon, Or issued from
the press in every weekly paper. 1t is
not difficult to show, tina, God has plant
ed, prospered, and poured out his Spirit
upon our country for the purposes oil
making it signal instrument il the
moral and religious, as it already has
been in the political reformation of the
world. Hence, protest against such
statements.
Thirdly, because they are calculated
to lower the scale of pious feeling, and
to lessen the efforts made for foreign
missions. There is divine promise,
that g He that waterelh shall be water
ed himsell;" but from the conclusions
drawn by some persons, while we have
attempted to pour the waters of lite over
the arid regions Of the globe, we have
become proportionably dry and barren
ourselves. What, il the sermon of DR..
Rlce-lhe Third Annual Repor, Of The
American Education Society, or the pub
Iicalions IN the Recorder aud Telegraph
should happen TO be translated in the
language of the Hndoos, Burmans, or
Sandwich Islanders. Suppose the Ma
homeians and Jews Of Palestine should
read them. Might they not reply to
your Missionaries" Go back to Alne-
RIGA with your Gospel of Jesus. Here
we see from the statements Of your ia.
Tiers and brethren, the teachers OF your
nation, that the religion you recommend
ond urge US to accept, is fast dying away
10 your own land. The stream Of your
couptry's population is growing broad
er, and darker, and deeper, every hour,
and carrying with it all the feculence and
poison OF unchrisiian civilization" In a
few ages you will have, "a hundred
millions of civilized heathens," amongst