The Litchfield County post., 1828-12-04

long prayers, filled with fatteriesand COM |
pliments, despised even by wise men, end
much less capable Of pleasing the Deity.
The worship Of God is duty the hear
ing and reading ofsermons may be useful
but il mon rest in hearing aud praying asI
toe. many do, il is as If tree should value
itself on being watered and putting forth
leaves, though il never produced any
fruit. +
Your great Master thouplat much less Of
these outward appearances and professions,
than many modern disciples. He prefer
red the doors Of the word 10 the mere
shearers; the son thai seemingly refused,
to obey his father. and yet performed his
commands,to him that protested his Esat-
mess, but neglected the work; the herefi-s
cal but charitable Sam titan, 10 tile nnchar-
table though orthoapx priest and
sanctited Levite !; and those who gave
food to the hungry, drink TO the thirsty ,rai-
ment 10 the naked, entertainment 20 the
stranger, and relief 10 the sick, thoagh
they never heard his name, he declares
shall ia aISe last day be accepted when
those Who cry, Lord Lord who value
themselves upon their faith, though great.
enough Id perform miracles; but have neg-
lected goodaworks, shall be rejected. He
professed that he came not TO call the
righteous. but sinners to repentance !;
which implied his modest opinion, that
there were some in his time who thought
themselves so good, that they need not
hear even him for Improvement ; but
now-a-days, we have scarce little par
son, that does not think il the duty of eve
nv mar, within his reach to sit under his
rninistrations---and that whoever omits
them, offen1s God. ] wish to such more
humility and to you, health and happi-
ness being your friend and servant,
B. FRANKLIN.
The above is inserted by request. DR..
Franklin was great Philosopher, a great
Patriot, and great Statesman !; and as such
we are willing to sit humble learner at his
feet; but we have yet to learn that he was
ever considered eminent for his personal pie
| ty. or even for his attachment to the general
doctrines of Christianity and here is ground
| on which we shall call no man master. Ii
the admirers of Franklin. land independents
his skepticism. who is mott! are willing to
! rank him with ipfdels Of all classes. from Vol
taire and GibBon. down. down, down to the
infamous Ann Reyall let them publish to the
world his letters 10 which he speculates upon
the Christian religion; not that we would OBJ
ject to his theory Of morals, as above laid
down; for it % pre-eminently good. owing its
origin entirely to the grand truths of resela.
ton but Hume taught the same precepts,
whlle he fOoilshIy attempted to destroy me
only foundation on which they can, or ever
will, stand; and SO it has been with all mod
ern infidsls, not even excepting the foulIy H.
centious Tom Paine. We object to Frank
Inns letter, because of the insidiOus attack it
contains upon the character of the clergy
1t has been the great aim Of infidels Of all a
ges. to bring the clergy into disrepuse. Glib
bon. after vainly endeavoring to prove them
to be literally the "Alth and ofFscouring of all
things, ''and being constrained to acknowledge
their virtues, would fain make his readers be-
,elieve that ''the virtues Of the clergy are more
dangerous than their vices." We will not
quote what other writer's Of like spirit have
said upon the subject; but Ann Royal, in
her Black Book says, I'm allsages. and in
all countries, priests have aimed at universal
power ;--these priests have always aimed at
unconditional obedience" Now il is no hon
! or to the memory OF Franklin to prove that
he was inclined to skepticism neither is It a
ny honor to quote as his, procepts of morali-
~ which owe their origin to the Christian
Religion. and are strictly enjo,ned upon. and
practised by. all its true followers, or sdisci-
pies" Ifthe. character ofthe Christian min
istry cannot be sustained. the institutions Of
Christianity cannot be sustained--they rise
aod fall together. Drive out the Ambassadors
of Christ, as the open. avowed enemies ofre-
ligion have always attempted to do, and with
them you drive out every vestige Of those
moral precepts which give Franklin's letter
the appearances of so much excellence. I'm
hue the minds Of the young with contempt
ofthe clerical character. and you cast them
upon an ocean Of error, without chart or
compass, flor with reverence for Bible
truth.the clergy will hA raanacfed. \ n nrev IN