Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-05-08

Of fancras Parochial Chapel, and Lecturer of 81
haIy-ie,bo@. Their subject is "schism." The frs
treats OF schisrn IN the ordinary accepaton of the
vord--separation from the church. The second i
ieveled at very powerful and increa.pp hodv q
Christians, commonly called in derisop, "Saints'' OF
"Evangelicals" These the preacher would tern
schsmatics within the Church He thinks the ape
orer-run by the spirit of purtanisn and homes. nc
DOUBT, that his arguments may do good in checking
the evil IT the attention of the public could be draw
TO his discourse as publication The text is--~Be
ware OF the ieaven of the Pharsees, which is hypocr
sy. Jhe following extract may afford nn EXAMPLE
OF the authors powers of reasoning and talent 10,
observation An agreeable system Of practical mo.
raity might be built upon it:s
Again, according to the Pharisaic system all those
pleasures and relaxations which are regarded by the
geaera.'y o,hsn as innncent are to be renquished
| as incompatible with pure religion WHY win mon
Try 70 incumber the light yoke and easy burden ~
the Gospel, by additions of their own invention, o
describe Christianity as foe to the Innocent enjoys
nents OF iie' is nigh treason ssaiIrtz religion &c
portray 1t blight which w,bcrs all the flower,
which the hand of ercitul Providence has IberalIv
scattered round us, is destroying the harmony tba,
suhsists between the word and the works of the AL
mighty That some reaXations are needed to refresh
the spirit and restore the elasticity ofthe mind after
aPpncaon tn business or study, is certain as that
ntrlnent required to rcnovate the wearied
OF the body That the desire of amusement NAV be
ndclged imnodeTatey is Certain and 90 NAV the era
wing OF hunger or Of thirst; and in both cases the
iI,ri-
ons results; but nothing, except the most infatuated
tmdlty, would counsel the adoption of total absti
nence as remedy against the peril of excess In
the one case the exhausted faculties Che body would
perish OF inanion; IN te>otfer snar want of en-
ergy would accrue To the exhausted opwers of tho
mind In both cases, temperance is tie ,uc ofsopn1
wisdom and to be temperate in all things is the rca
prescribed by the GOSPEL. There is one par;icnr in
the PharIsalc mode of dealing with this subject
Mfhcu Is qnte lncomprebensblc to the majority oil
hon fxn.t IL,
atnuseHents OF lte and that is the extraordinary
Importance which these arnusemens seem TO hold in
the estimation of the persons who make i. point
o. Conscience TO abstain from them themselves and
70 deprecate snch an indulgence in Others With
the man who uses the world as not ABUSING it, such
matters are numbered among the most Bile
rnes; as things entertaining in their way which pre-
sent an agreeable charge TO the reiaxaions OF his
vacant hours; but which perhaps except in early
youth have occupied single moment of seri
GUS consideration. They afford him light subject
OF intellectual interest, on which the mind uubends
without incidence, and is at tine same time enploved
aud nnfatgued. They supply him with themes OF
general conversations less likely to rritate than M
hnes'--ess stimulating to the sordid feelings, tlnn
topics connected with his business OF his profession
less perous to charity than the discussion of the
affairs and characters of his neighbors. They are
often, perhaps, o.t1. tiH
accident recalls them to his attention. aud thew are
indebted Tor them principal attraction to the child or
the stranger whom he is s6licitous to entertain
But when he hears these matters which he has been
accustomed to regard lightly treated of by tie Sc.
we're rciiSionst, there is portentous value fearful
dignity, mysterious Importance ascrted TO them of
which he tIndsi ocomprehendthe
He cannot connect the argument with the subject
lie 10 bewdered i'll every attempt to discover, any
conneXlon between the slender theme and the a.
pouring defamation which assumes TO be discussion
OF Its merits and when all that can be said is uttered
ms conscience and his reason coincide in assuring
hun that has not transgressed the letter or spirit Of
his religion. lie feels that they who in the cold aus
terity of their uscetic devotion, would condemn the
gaiety and the harmless diversions of life as
sinful, utter an uniallowed and injuriohs libel
against the example of Sovonr himself who did
not hesitate in accompanying bis disciples to the fes-
tivities ofthe marriage feast at Cana of Galee,---
festivities which, according to the Jewish custom,
we may confidently presume to have been attended
blythe greater part if not ell, OF those means of en-
terta'n' INT which are most severely mathematical
by the moro rigid class of religonists but which are
proved to be innocent, and consecraed to the tempe
rate use Of his disciples by the presence and parci-
patton Of their Master"