Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1830-03-29
11IS GG1hLA ANY.

Ertraet ola letter from udge Hophinson. Of
Phdndeiphid, 10 n gentleman m England,
published m HE Lonion Monaing Chronicle
fHc 18Th OCTOBER 10.
You will excuse my making no reply TO
thai part of your letter which treats Outrageous
concerns. | have avoided such topics all my
life aud shall continue to do so | have sell
dom seen a man able 10 embark IN such dis
cussions aud studlrs, without becoming an en-
tlrusast or n bgoi, aud pursuing them the
ruin OF I'M jury oil his prhclical soclnl duties.
have never seen one brC0me better ar u
sounder man, aud more 1vniable Christian,
by involving himself in the lmpGssablc mhzes
at Theological controversy, OF the nninirlhgr
bile jarg0n OF docitina points and questions,
which have no termination, no compfomise, no
rational evidence o. cohEIcton on elmer s'he
vhieb have been undecided for thousands Of
wears and vii. forever remain SO and which
hapo,ly it is entirely unmp0nant when or how
lbey are decided have seen sensible aud
eniirh,ened men, by degoGng themselves to
sIra Investigations, distract aud cloud their
understanding. I'LL themselves with the vain
conce,r thai il IS given 10 them 10 understand
mvst.,irs far beyond the faihom oil human
Intellect. and which they fluid II Impossible to
.xnlain 10 any plain aud nusuphisilcated mind
IA clear proof thai they really do not Under
stand them them selves. lhg HE oil man was
intrrded I, be employed in useful aud active
nu,suit. in tne iullilment Of duties requiring
Ike nractice OF his moral aud physical ener-
pies aud taents--aud not 10 he consumed ~
mPiaphy seal acquisitions which lead TO no one
PRACTICAL or useful result 10 TIE individual, his
family. his friends, or society Men who EN-
ploy their talents aud their time III such m
conclusive sprCulatOns, become nncominria'
blc 10 themselves, aud often nnGhhrHable 10
others, they are less ami bic as husbands, IA
theirs, or masters aud neg lect their SOCIAL and
domestic duties IN the indulgence Of the pride
and vanity Of expert polemcs They mistake
a new aud obscure collection oi e0rds for
knowledge, and unlntelligibe phrases for Wis
dom and believe they displaying the ties
timonies OF truth, when they are only repeat.
inc sentences Of which they not give any
possible explanation. The truths winch the
Wise and Just creator OF man intended 10 De
his guide, 10 virtue and happiness, can not be
wrapped up ia Libraries Of foos, accessible but
TO one mum In u million nor to be found only
by norIng over thousands of pages Of what IL
micalled learned criticism upon IA HebreW root,
or a Grtek particle. The pfecepis ola good
and acceptable LIE are accessible 10 all me hu
man race as the air they breathe ~ co mmon,
the sun which shines ON them ali alike. and the
food and water which refresh them. Has God
given to all men whatever is necessary for the
suppori and health of their pershabie bodies,
and withheld almost from all, that which is
indispensable for their eternal welfare This IS
the impions concei of the few who persuade
themselves that they have the saving seclel The
immortal panscea
" Mr.. c.. of whom you speak. was a
ma, of distinguished lraruing in the profession
,,e,he law. and also Of general knowledge and
scholarship, with a most acute aud penetrating
| n,;,,d lie would have been al the head of the
bar with wealth, reputation, aud all the good
he could have desired but about fifteen years
or mare since, he became d devotee to the doc
| trines of Swedenbors From that moment