Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1830-04-08
JUDGE HoFEINs' LErFEs
E1sfect q a letter from bulge HeDti,,
Phitadetpiaia, to gstisInaa IN E,.5a.,

that part Of your letter which treatof rtli5;'
concerns. Ihave avoided such tones IN ~
life, and shall continue 10 do so. Law. ~
dom seen a mao able to embark in susb =
cussions and studies, without becomin,
enthusiast or bigot, and pursuing tbsSn
the ruin injury of his practical social ~
tiss. have never seen one become LsS
or 4 sounder man, and more amiabla eL-
tan, by involving himself in the imnassap
mazes of theological contr lyerSy, or the
ineligible jargOn of doctrinai points~
questions which have no, Termination Ss 81
compromise, no rational evidence or cone
lion GA either side, which have been undo Il
Ged for thousands Of years, and viii fore,.
remain so, and which, happily; it is entir,,
unlmporiant when or how they are decidl e
have seen sensible and enlightened m'
by deyoting themselgesto such investigate,
distract and cloud their understanding 4
themselves with the vain conceit tina; i Il
given to them to understand mysteries {,
beyond the fatkom of human intellect. AMI
which they find II impossible 70 explain to :.
ny plain and unsophisdcated mind-a ele,, 4
proof that they really do not understand tbeu
themselves. This life of man was intepded q
be employed in useful and active pursn;ts-
in the fuIiilrRent Of duties requiring the plae.
tee OF his moral and physical energies and
ttlents-and not to be employed it metanby.
sleai disquisitioBs Which lead to no one srac.
teal or useful result to the individual. n,
family, his friends, or society. Men wlo
employ their talents and time in such ineon.
elusive speculatlonss become uncomfortab.
to themselves, and often unchartable 10 a
theirs: they arc less aniable as husbands. a.
theirs, or masters: and neglect ~ ~-.,,a
and domestic duties III uio iffidhigence OF tn.
pride and vanity Of expert poiemies They
mistake anew and obscure collection of cod
for knowledge, and anintelligible phrase fn
wisdom. and believe they are displaying II,
testimonies Of truth. when they are only re-
paatine sentences of which they cannot give
any possible explanation. The truths which
the wise and Just Creator of man intended
to be his guides to virtue and happiness eau |
not be wtapt up IN libraries Of foiios, aceesI
s.be to but enc IN a million; nor TO be found
only By poring over thousands OF fages III
what is ntiac,tiied learned criticism upon Il
HoJ4eag '0et, or Greek particle The pe|
cepts of good and acceptable lie are ac.|
ceptabie to Oh tie htnian race, as the AL
they breathe in common, the sun which
shines ON them all alike, and the food and
water which relreshthem Has God given 10
all oten whatever is necessary for the support
and health Of their perishable bodies, and
withheld almost from oil that which is indis.
pensahe for their eternal welfare? This is
the impious .conceit Of the few who persuade
themselves That they have the saving secret
tlie immortal panacea!
Mr. TCendy, Of whom You speak. was .
mar of distinguished learning in the preies.
sion Of the law, and also of general knom
edge and scholarship, with a most cute AID
penetrating mind.--lIe would have hcen al
the head Of the bar, with wealth, reputation.
and all the good he could have desired; but
about fifteen or more years since, Inc became
a devotee 10 the doctrines OF Swedenborg -
From that moment every thingwas neglected
or abandoned for these studies; his laW books
were laid aside. his client unattended TO, and
his days and nights gwen to Hebrew bibles
Latin Felos, and learned criticisms and
commentaries. He was soon involved IN the
embarrassment Of debt, and after mostmis-
cradle existence, died "A few months since OF
broken heart & spirit leaving wiie& ehi-
drcn destitute. And 70 what did he sacrifice
himself and family? What discovery has ne
made? What truth calculated or established
that g worth iartlIing TO any body:
This fendness for plagueing om selves With
what we can never unfold, has been part
Of our nature in ak ages. Childhood is amu1
setl by riddles, and old age by mysteries. In
both cases, after guessing again and again.
we are obliged to-"give it up" In this
however, they dihcT-the solution of riddles
is within the scope of human faculties; not 80
of mysteries
y have unintentionally run on IN this course
of observation, not to dissuade you from the
interest YOU seem to take in your new doc
trines; for if they occupy and amuse you
they are so far, at least, useful; and do mol
fear they win lead your generous spirit into
any neglect OF higher duties, or to any intole
rance of others; nor are my remarks polntet
partic ularly at your mode OF faith. repeat
that have all my life avoided all knotty and
disputed points of religion. argue with no
body about the trinity or unity of the God
head; the mysteries Of free knowledge AMI
free will; or the proluund doctrine of the a
tenement by the death Of Christ. read no
thing about them affirm or deny nothing
know nothing. | profess not TO understand
them. and know'that much wiser and stron'
ger men have come 10 no understanding a.
bout them after centuries of learned and IN
tolerant disputatIon, in which rivers oitiood.
as well as of ink, have flowed IN support VI
this savage and unchrls han wareiare'
Ink net in such strife, but am content ia
discharge, as well as can, the duii9s which
providence has assigned me, according to the
clear and undisputed light he has given me
consider religion to have nothing to do WIN
the conflicts of,hsologians, and the questions
of the schools; they are, to my mind, W%
proofs of the weakness, the pride, aRfl ylH.
dictiye intolerance of the human heart and
PASSIONS Altho' | have been a constant a0d