The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1829-09-10

CHARACTER OF Dr. CHANNING. s-Itr
Charming ~ u man whom We vcnerate "on
this side Of dolatry" We admire his stu
pendous intellect, and rejoice TO see tha,
1t is ASSOC inted with purity and loftiness
of sentiment, genuine philanthropy, and
a fearless love of truth. which insure lis ap
phcation 10 wise and noble ends On all
questions connected with the moral Nature
OF man his destiny. and station in the uni
verse. we regard the mind Of Doctor Chan
ming as by far the greatest in the world
lie is q bold thinker, severe roasoner pro
found in his views, and elevated IN his sen.
timerts. His style, which is all nerve, Is
too condensed for the general reader bu,
admirably fitted by its susterity and force
to be the vehicle of his ideas. We love
HIM for the cheering views he gives Us of
human nature, and for those consoli1g an
ticipations of brighter and better age. of
which his own gifted mind ms, we trus,
be considered as the precursor. We re
gard it AZ a fortunate circumstance That hl,
lot has been cast in a country where tb'
absence of O national establishment re-
moves all inducements to warp his view
IN The pursuit of religious truth In Eng
land, If his conscience be not stronger than
This ambition. he would have run the course
Of Watson. Horslcy, Paley, and Warbur
ton. Instead of taking the Bible and the
light Of nature for his guides, he would hav'
b, en- tempted Sy the hope Of mitre to be-
come a grinder Of sopbisms in defence o.
an old system: warning in many points witt
reason-an apologist for dogmas formed
IN ignorant ages. and which, perhaps, h.
por,iy or wholly disbeleved We do no,
say that Dr.. Chapning's views are in all
respects sound but we say that he is irav
elinc in the track that leads 10 truth,
and employing, his fine powers as God
meant that the human intellect should be
employed. Neither do We think that re-
ligion is Dow what il ought t. be in Amer
Ics, bnt we predict that II viii Ultimately
appear there in its highest lustre and pur.
lty: and for this simple reason. that she has
not an establishment holding out bribes TO
men, 20 take set of opinions on
trust themselves and 10 argue or clamor
down those who call them in question, or
seek truth in an honest spirit.
We confess that the position ofthe tesch
er of Theology under an old wealthy Church
he has any capacity for original thinking,
always excites our risibllity. He 10 10
Search the Scriptures" but in the search
he mus, take special csre. as he values his
emoluments not TO discover one single idea
which does not exactly square with the no.
tons established as csnons Of faith. by per
SONS comparatively unenlightened some
centuries ago! A Professor Of Gymnastics
his pupils, with his legs and arms
tied. IS perfect image Of such an instrnc
tor! Whenue e think ofIlorsley& Wsrburton
men whose mental viger was only matched
by their arrogance. playing the part Of bul
liesand blusterers in defence Of q creed
extremely different, to say the least Of it,
from what they would themselves have
framed, we turn with fresh delight to Dr..
Chsnning, who is equally great in intel.
lect, superior in moral temperament. and
seeks trnih with as much zeal a. they
sought wealth and power. But mental in.
10 q grand source Of mental
strength There are conceptions in the
extracts given which could have emausted
We think: from no other mind in existence
but Dr. Channing's: and which would ei.
ih,Sr never have been generated there, or
at least never given tn the world. had he
been fass chained y SOus old osssbllp -.