Alabama state intelligencer., 1831-06-01

1asaEi'1 1azsssAas ~ 1 sailors, and every book q fiction, wit or hu-
 nor IS removed, and trao spinklcd over the
 shelves, and in one of these, was called uD-
 on to estimate the difference between burning
 in hell enc hour CT burning for eternity. Ah sir, when we used to go to the Nassau street church twice on Sunday to hear Dominic Li-
 vingston preach, we thought we did our duty l with grateful hearts, but now it is church nearly all day, and prayers nearly all night, it
 is too much of good thing" So saying he
 moved towards home with rueful counte-
 nance. He was right: ct is too much of good thing, For the blessings of life and l- bcrty, cf health and happiness, of exemp- tion from many evils which other countries
 suffer, we owe d deep debt of gratitude to the disposcr of all things,--the divine King
 of Kings and the ruler of the Universe; but
 to neglect the positive duties we owe to cur
 selves and to society in grneral,--to devote all
 our time, and at the most unreasonable hours,
 to church and prayer, to be ever soliciting di-
 vine blessings and cXpendinE our means for
 what IS termed the support of religion, is do-
 ing injustice to these numerous obligations
 and duties which dcvolve upon us as men and
 citizens; it covers our social relations with
 gloom and dtspondencr, creates bigotrY and
 superstition, and we sec time and eternity
 through clouds and darkness instead of the
 bright rays of comfort and consolation. In one
 of our churches there is the motto--'' God is loue"--and in this brief and cheerful hope, there is much to gladden. and inspire the heart.
 The silent and unseen aspirations of the closet are far more acceptable than the ostentatous visits twice or thrice a day to church the morning and evening prayer in the quiet chamber, flowing purely from the heart, ris- es to the throne of Grace like incense from the altar We must be rational not phiIosophi- cal or this subject, and teach ourselves to be- ievc, that fanaticism is more dreadful than total irreligion; the laws make men honest who profess no flith-but no law can make the fanatic mild or tolerent his mind is de- ceased-and the transparent fcunt of pure re- ligion is turned to gall and bitterness-we have many reforms to make on this subject
 We shoot our arrow beyond the mark.
 We have never in our life attacked religion in any shape--we are practically and deyo- tedly, not ostentatiously it's friend-the friend of every sect--of every dcnominaton--the defenders and protectors and advocates of every thing truly and crnscientiounly rel- gious. But we are not bigots-nor sectarans nor can we approve of unnecessary sacrih- ces of time and money soimperously demand ed to sustain religion. We wish to see reli- zion made part and not thewhole of our duties we wish to see it the foundation of our hopes and principles, not the all expressing subject of our thoughts-we wish to see practically enforced the opinion of that profound polti- elan and pious man, who declared ''there was a time for all thngs.' But, says the Journal of Commerce, s'Theology is one side from the pursuits of commercial and above the pursuits of political papers" This is strange doctrine for paper whose avowcd origin was to inn prove the morals, and which, at great ex- pense and sacrifc, was established and sus- tained because no other Press was sufficiently religious-a paper which has traded success fully upon its religious capital and is patronis- cd specially for its piety. It was said by great English statesman, thar politics and re-
 ligion were two of the greatest subjects that ever were agitated by man; but this s denied by the Journal of Commerce, which declares that "Theology is above the pursuit of politi- cal papers," If this be so, the signs of the times will soon make it obligatory onthe peo- pie to look at the Theocracy rising in our country. We shall soon feel the necessity of guarding againstthe giant strides, and the vast resources and accommodating power of the spi- ritual and temporal sceptre now raising its potent head ill cur land.
 Upwards of Sir Million or Dollars have been obtained in this country during the last fifteen years for what arc called religious ob- jects, and the accumulation of wealth through spiritual influence, through donations and le- gacies, appear to be an absorbing and leading consideration, until at length, the clerical power, through it's presses and monied iustitu- tons, will raise religious Standard in the country before which all must bow, Who are the pioneers in this worldwide are put forth to open the hearts and open purses to sl women--th female sex, those whose innu- ence is irresistible-whosc power over the heart is unquestionable, and who can lead lordly nan as the infant is represented in the scriptures leading the lion. The impress is made upon their plastic minds--they arc moulded and fashioned by the softness of their nature to suit the objects in vicw-woman, timiti, sensitive, full of fears and apprehen- sions, alarmed at the spiritual prospects held | forth for the future--thc etherial spirit and elastic buoyancy of their natures neutralzed and softened, morbid sensbility taking the place of cheerfulness, and gloom covering the sun shine of hope, and thus prepared they
 are sent forth as heralds to fashion us for ar
 iron control which even now is visible in eve
 ry college, court, public cdiiice-workshoT of our country. Can we not as freemen speak of these things without being charged with | dDuSllS fcliSlOn! It WCulu dldIn tnc peo- | pie of the United States beyond measure could they see in all its bearings and ramifica- tions, the gigantic church government which is established in our country, and more so tc witness it's gradual approximation towards the councils of the nation, and the determina- ton to accomplish the long talked of union of Church and State. Europe is breaking the very chains which we are almost unknown to ourselves, rivetting with greater force,-N
 Y. Cour. 6 Eng. Having been attacted in the Journal of