The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1826-12-06

nor to disparage a work which may be
good, though accompanied with deplSf-
able incongruities. We wish, however,
TO lead people 10 reflect on the imprOp-
er and discordant associations which a
bound in Christeudom.
In the narrative before US we behold
two young men, who have been study
ing the science Of maasIaughter, publickly |
avowing that they had become the dlsci-
pies of Him, who "came not to de-
stroy mems lives but to save them"
Yet in this solemn act they appear "in
full uniform" as military men, "and
one of them with belts and side-arms -
Had their object been 10 avow them
selves, converts to the Mahometan faith,
this martial array would have cores
ponded with their professionalism Ma
homet was a military chieftain, who
propsgated his religion by weapons of
death, and who promised heaven 10
those who should die fighting in his
sangninary battles. But the founder OF
the Christian religion was very differ
ent character. He was the Pince of
Peace-meek, lowly, beneyoleL, and
forgiving. He, accordingly pbmised
blessedness-not TO the naughty, me re-
vengeful, and the war-maker; bnl 10 the
humble, the meek, and the peace-ma-
kers.-What can the military uniform
and side arms' have TO do iuavowing
subsection TO such Prince ? No two
things are more opposed to each other,
than the fighting spirit and th spirit of
Jesus Christ. Why then Should the
symbols of affections SO opposite be as
ISOLATED in the ceremonies of he Chris
tian religion?
Without, deviating from lhespirit and
example of The founder of their relig-
ion, the Mahometans may iadulge the
spirit of war-glory in the feats Of war,
and associate the feelings and The SYM
bols of war with their religious seryi-
ces. But when Christians do bus, are
they not, in these things, followers Of
Mahomet rather than of the Messiah?
But are The two Cadets alone 10
such Inconsistency? No, yerilt.- Thou
sands, and tens ot thousands OF old pro-
tessors, and even ministers OF the os-
pei, have been equally incoHsis emf. BY
giving popularity TO wal aud every
thing military, the people of Christen-
dom have rendered their religion a he
terogeneous compound Of PagaDism,
Mahometanism and Christianity. Mill
tary feelings and Military feats are in
as high repute as among Mahpmeans,
Pagans, OF Savages. Hence the splIit of
war and lis symbols and instruments be-
come associated with the solemn seryi-
ces of the Christian religion.
Should we now read for the first time
10 some ancient history that Jesus came
to John to be baptized, arrayed in MILF
iary uniform with "holis and side
arms :" who would not pronounce the
narrative vile forgery on account of
its contrariety to all that has been
known of The character of the Messiah
Though he is called "the CAPTAIN of
our salvation," his character, his spirit.
and his objects were the reverse of ev-
cry thing military; and such ought to
be the character, the spirit, and the OBJ
jects of all who assume the name of his
disciples. If such were now the fact,
wars would be known no more in Chris
tendon, and the science of human
slaughter would be studied no more a.
mong Christians.
Nothing in the preceding remarks
has been intended 10 imply want Of
sincerity ia the two Cadets. They
probably acted according TO the light
they had obtained. They had grown
up in military world, surrounded by
the examples of military Christians! We
hope the day is not far distant when the
spirit of the Christian religion shall be
better understood by IFS ministers and
its professors-when it shall be known
that the military spirit is not the spirit
OF Christ, and that she who has not the
spirit of Christ is none of his"
On the 9th ult. the neat and comrno.
dious Church, lately erected in Berlin.
was solemnly dedicated 10 The service of
Almighty God. Sermon by Rev. DR..
Puffer, from Pc. lxxxiv. /. The Ser
mon by DR.. Puffer, the second of the
kind he has been called 10 deliver TO the
people of his charge, was neither more
nor less than was anticipated, by those
who knew the talents, Independence, and
fidelity of the preacher. The choir per-
formed well, and contributed largely 10
The enjoyment Of the assembly. Intro
ductory Prayer by Rev. J. Newell, of
Stow-Dedicatory Prayer by Rev. A.
Packard, of Lancaster.
On Wednesday the 92d uIt. Rev. Eli
Moody was installed pastor of the Trim
Itarian Society in Mortified. Sermon
bY DE- Wn..lhridne of HadIau