Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-05-06

cd from the London Evening hail of February a. /,
an eloquent attack upon the "Pharsees',-who in
our humble opinion, have proved a more serious
stumbling block in the way of the march of Chris.
tanity, than free thinking ITSELF OF course, we have
aud can have, personal ausion in repnblshinp i,
We do Tor the sake of Mr. Harness sound nhiIos.
ophy, and its universal applicability to all parts Of
Christendom. and oil denominations of the Christian
Religion
AS we have sometimes noticed dsco,,rses f,o,, ,h,.
pulpit. we are not making new rule, or devia,;no
from our old one, il we recommend to pertsai two
sermons recently published by Mr.. Harness. Ministcr
Isl. Pancrns Parochia Chapel, and Lecturer of ST.
Alary-le-B Bow. Their subject is "scbsm tn. g.,
treats ofschsm in the ordinary ncccp,ation NJ Tho
word--scparation from the church. The second ;s
levelled at very powerful and increasing BODY of
Christians. commonly called in dersion, Saints or
ttanssncals: Ibese the preacher would term
schlsmatics within the Church. He thinks the AGE
over-rnn by the spirit Of puritanisn and hopes no
aouot, tnat MS arguments may do good in checking
inc eV hthe attention Of the public could be drawn
to his discourse u publication. The text s--.Bo
ware o The leaven of the Pharees which is kvpocri.
sy. The following extract may afford an example
oil the authors powers of reasoning, and talent for
observation An agreeable system OF practical mo-
ruiity might be built upon it,
again, according to the Pharsnc systcrn all hoso
pleasures and rcaxatuns which regarded by the
generality OF men As innocent, are 10 be renuuslrd
as Incompatible with pure religion. Why will men
try to iRcumbcr the light yoke ana easy burden al
'he Gospel, by additions OF their own invention? TO
describe Christianity foe 10 the Innocent eniov
mcnts OF life, is high treason against religion. 10
portray 1t as blight which withers all the flowers
which the hand of mercifrl Providence, has Iibnrn,
scattered round u.s. is destroying the harmony that
suosists between the word and The works of the Al
mighty. That rclaXatiois are needed IN r.,rneb
the spirit and restore the elasticity of the mind after
application to business study is as certain Ne thu,
hufiment IS required TO rcnovdie the wearicd powers
OF the body. That the desire of amusement may no
INDUCED immoderately is cernn and so rnnv tho cr,
wing OF hunger or of thirst; ond in both cases tho
want of moderation will he followed by mos. iniur;
OTIS results; but nothing except the most infatuated
timidty, would counsel the adoption of total ohs,;
nence Us remedy against the peril of excess I'm
the one case the exhausted faculties body woud
perish OF inanon III the other a similar wan, of on
eIpy wonid accrue I'd the exhausted powers of the
mind In both cases. temperance is the rule ofsound
wisdom, and To be temperate in all thnrs is the rnlc
prescribed by the Gospel There is one mn rticuI, in
tne fharisaic mode of dealing with this subject
winch Is quite incomprehcnsible to the majority of
those who allow themselves to share in the cupn,on
amuscmcnts of life; and that is the eytraordip,ry
importance which these anuseinents seem "a holl in
the estimation OF the persons who make il 4 point
OF conscience 10 abstain from them themselves md
TO deprecate such an indulgence in others. With
the man who the world rs not ABUSING IL sucb
matters are numbered among the most nconsiernblc
r'iios as things entertaining in their way which pre
sent an agreeable change the rclaxations of his
vacan, hours but which. perhaps, except in early
youth have never occupied q single moment of seri!
Gus consideration. They afford him lrht subject
OF intellectual interest, on which the mind unbends
without Incidence, and is the same time ennloved
and unfatigued. They supply him with themes of
general conversation, less likely 70 irri,ae than no
itics--less stimulating the sordid fcelings lion
topics connected with his business or his profession
less perious to charity than the discussion of tho
hHalrs ana characters Of his neirhhors Tlcy arc
olten perhaps, forgotten for months together ill
hccldcnt recalls them to his attentions; and they are
indebted ter then principal attraction TO the child or
the stranger whom he is solicitous TO entertaiu-I
But when he hears these matters which he has been
accustomed to regard so lightly treated of by the SOL
we're religionis, there is portenous value fearful
diEnuy ainysterious Importance ascrbed to them of
winch he hndsit impossible comprehend ihemeannp
ne cannot connect the argument with the subject
lie Is bewiiered in every attempt 10 discover any
connection between the slender theme and the ya- |
pouring defamation which assumes tn he discussion
of ts merits and when oil that can be sand il
his conscience and his reason coincide in ASSURING
n That nc has not tr1sgressed the letter or spirit of
MS religion He feels that they who in the cold aus
tery OF their ascctic devotion, would condemn the
innocent gaiey and the harmless diversions of life as
sinful, utter an unhaowcd and Injurious libel |
aganst the example of Sovonr himself who did
not hesitate IN accompanying his disciples to the s.
tvlties OF the marriage feast Cam Of Galilne--
festivities which, according to the Jewish custom |
we may confidently presume to have been attended
by the greater part. it not ALL of those means of en-
tertalnment which are most severely mathematical
by the more rigid class of rcligionsts but which are
proved to he innocent and consecrated to the tempe
rate nee Of his Disciples by the presence and partic-
natOn o tbpir MaSipru