The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1830-04-17
MORAL AND RELIGIOUS.
FOR THE STAR.

SnIISt anu niS apostles. NOT mas any
system Of morals and doctrines been pro-
niulgated to the world, bearing such in
contcstible evidences of divine origin las
that which is contained in the New Tes-
lament. Not only does it hold out to hu-
manlty bright and Substantial hopes of i'm
mortality but it is most admirably calcu-
lated to promote civil, social, and individu-
al happiness. And the experience ofceh
turies has proved that, its application to
practice has established in the fullest
sense all the utility which it promises in
theory. Yet all its superior excelencies
have not protectedit it from the assaults of
the Inidel and Atheist-in every age en-
emics to revealed Religion, have been
found striving with unwearied pains to de-
stroy its influence and cover it with dis
grace and in no period has their number
or unblushing assurance exceeded what
we witness at the present day.
For several years succeeding the hor-
rid scenes fthe French Revolution, we
heard but little in favor ola system which
had originated such monst, GUS crimes, as
marked the annals of that unprecedented
convusion ofhuman passions. The world
had seen with horror and CONSERVATION, a
practical illustration of the doctrines ad-
vanced by the illulninnati, and had turned
in alarm from the fearful catalogue of
crime they held forth. Infamy set her seal
on the actors of this tragedy, and it was
hoped, they would no more be remember
cd but as beacons to warn others from
persuing the path to destruction. In this,
facts prove a disappointment. There have
at length appeared those who are not only
hardy enough to traverse the country dis
seminating the same poison which wrought
such dreadful effects in France-but they
have the effrontry to hold up the character
of the infamous Thomas Paine, to the
world, as an example virtue and wor-
thy of all imitation.
The present opposition to Christianity
has been conducted more by appeals to
the passions of sensuality than to the prin
ciples of any thing like reason. And u
ffmaie;-who would believe it,-has been
the leading advocate for an establishment
of free and unlicensed animal gratifca-
ton on the ruins of that fair temple of
pure virtue, which is founded on the Re-
ligon ofJesus Christ. That many among
the unthinking and dissolute, should pre-
fer this system to the self denying and rig
idly moral doctrines of the Gospel, is not
strange, since it aocords so well with the
gross passion, Of uncontrolled d depraved
nature. This accounts for the partially
with which these doctrines are heard, by
the vicious & abandoned-by the thought
less and inexperienced. They wish them
true, and therefore they easily believe
them so. Thus, infdelity begins in the
heart, where no restraint can be brook
ed, and that consci ience may be silenced
while religion is violated, the evidences
which invalidate its truth, are sought with
avidity and believed without examination.
For did men search into the proofs on
which it rests, conviction would be nearly
certain ; since every attack it has
sustained has impaired additional lustre
to the glorious brightness, with which il
beams on the darkness of morally be-
nighted Universe.
Christianity has been charged by Tom
Paine and the French philosophers in
times past, and now, reiteratedly, by Fan
ny Wright, Owen, and Jennings, with be
ing the cause Of all the wars, which have
desolated the earth during the last centu-
.ries. They would seem by this to assert
that could christianity be extirpated from
the world, men would soon become band
of brothers, and, that under the reign Of
% reason" benevolcnce and peace would
ill tho Garth as the waters cover the tace