Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-06-28

anu piDeF circumstances Oh TUE ltihUh-
ants. But their pure morals and active
virtues are unquestionably the fruit of
early religious instruction. The holy
book supplies their earliest lessons. Its
truths enlighten their minds. Its pre-
cepts assist 10 form their habits; AND its
purity fails like the dew from heaven,
on their hearts. Hence it is, by the
blessing of God, that peace, content-
ment aud thrifty industry pervade the
land, and that from her mountains and
values, the morning and evening sacri-
fee ofprayer and praise ascends to Gcd +;
when the cottager assemblies bis family
around his 6reside, opens his Bible, to
read of God and Jesus Christ, whom he
has sent, and then,
"KneeIing down to heavens eternal King.
4" "lhe saint, the father, s the husband prays."
! For contrast to this scene look at
France, another familiar example, but
full of awful admonition. Her revolu-
ton, that most dreadful scene OF crime
and anarchy, which the world has ever
beheld, was the natural result of causes
which had been Dong in operation. By
the usual policy of the Roman Catholic
religion, the people knew little or moth
ing of the Bible. The youth, instead OF
being taught to read and veneraie the
Scriptures, were early imbued with the
principles OF Voltaire and his coadju-
tors. To fearful extent, therefore,
they grew up race OF inidels. There
were no elements of morality in their
minds. There was no basis for religious
| principles. The volcano was burning
unsupported within, tall at length it
burst forth, with irresistible fury, and
swept away loyalty, religion, and hu-
mainly. Such scene could not occur
in any land of Bibles and Sabbath
Schools. The name OF God could not
be forgotten; his worship abolished; the
Christianity destroyed, the Goddess of
Reason adored; and death declared an
eternal sleep.
Sir, doubt NOT, that the pulse of pa.
triotism is full and strong ln all our boz
SONS. When we look over our beauti.
full land, and see our wide domains, our
spreading population, our increasing
power, and our general happiness; and
when we look forward, and contemplate
the glorious visions which imagination
delights to form, we all feel an anxious
desire, that the foundations of our ma.
tional prosperity should be deep and
firm But, Sir, when look around, to
find the causes which are to guard our
country from the dangers which BEST
| her, and to bear her onward in her
bright career, do not fix my thoughts
on her extensive territory, her bound
less resources, and rapidly augmenting
population; think not of her roads and
canals, her plantations, ships, and fac
tories; | do not rely on the beautiful
theory Of her institutions, do not de-
pend on her Colleges, and common
schools, though of these it may, in the
best sense, be said, that they are the
''cheap defence OF nations" l regard
not the fortresses and troops, who pro-
: tect our frontiers. nor the navy, which
bears our spangled flag over the o.
cean. No, Sir, look to the religion
of Christ, and to the institutions and
means, by which this religion is convey
ed To the minds and hears If men,
Among these, if the Ministry of the Cos
| pei is entitled to the frs place. as
sign the second to Sabbath Schools In
every school, J see one of the bulwarks
of my country's freedom; and wish,
that as Lycurgus required every youth
| to be educated by and for his country,
SO we could place every youth in our
land under the moulding and conserva-
tive discipline of Sabbath Schools. We
ought not to be salts fed, until this shall
have been accomplished.
But, not to detaln you, Sir, by fur
Their remarks, the most important consid-
Grafton is, that Sabbath Schools prepare
the mind for the reception of the truth
in the love Ct it. There is. in reference
TO the conversion of the soul, connex-
ion between means aud ends, as unde-
niable as in any other case whatever
What, then, may We not expect from
Sabbath Schools! They are planting
the incorruptible seed. Much OF it has
already sprung up,and it is daily spring.
ing up around us. Thousands of pu-
pills have already been converted to
God, by the fundamentally of these
Schools; while mul,itudes of teachers
have found, that Sabbath School in
struction is indeed smercy which bles-