Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1838-12-27

- Af-ftAAtst ~ Y AtiNAAAsf say W 4 bNNl
Aihdil permitted 10 take copy OF = letter al
dressed by Nj. ADAMS, 10 the Officers o. q Lite
Tary SocIey IA Eaiumo.s. /, will b. real s.,h
great interest, and - certainly 4 very a4sl,fab.e
paper U. H. lind.
WASHINGTON, Juno - lag.
tENTLEMEN - have no words tosx-
press my gratitude for the kind feeling.
and moTs thaa friendly estimate OF my
CHARACTER coala,nsj IN youG letter Of tue
9th instant and aD not less at = loss ior
language to utter the humiliation VI a
deep conviction tao. little your pAnexyric
has been deserved.
Were II even 90 far deserved that I
could feel myself qualified 10 give YOU
the advice which YOU desire. 1t would al.
ford ne tho mo.t heartfelt pleasure 10
gave At, but, situated IL life a. you repre-.
seat yourselves to DO. could scarcely
name any hot of books or of authors.
which could recommend a, equally wor-
my o! attention. ~ YOU all. The frat, aud
almost the only book. deserving such uni.
NeTAal recommendation, 10 THE BIBLE-
and, IN accommodating that, ] fear that
some OF you will think am performing
surpeTiiuous, and others very unneces-
sary, ohioe-yet such Ia my deliberate
opinion. The Bible IL tue book, VI ali
others, 10 be read once or twice or three
through, and then 10 be laid aside, but to
be read la small potion. Of oua or tvo
chapters, every day, aud never TO DO i'm.
'eImi'ied, unless by some overriding ne
ces,iiy.
TINS attentive aud repeated reading of
The Bible, ia small: portions every day.
leads the mind to habitisl meditation NO
on subjects OF the highest interest 10 the
welfare OF ihe Individual IN :hls world
as well az 10 prepare hun Tor that herea(.
ter To which we are all destined. II
furnishes rules of Cond uct for our conduct
towards Others IN our social relations
In the con nand ne ats delivered from 81.
uai, IN the inimitable suLliniiv OF the
Psalms and Oi the Prophets, ia the pro.
found and concentrated observations upon
human Lille and manners CT. bodied IN the
proverbs OF Solomon, ia tue philosophical
alegoTy SO beautifully set loxth IN the
narrative Of facts whether real or imagi.
nary OF the Book Of job, all active mind
cannot peruse single chapter and Law
tho book aside ~ thI0k, aud take u up
again tomorrow. without finding In II
advice Tor oussown conduct. which We
may turn 10 useful account in the pro.
gress OF our daily pilgrimage upon earth
aad when va pas, from tho Old Tesla
ment 10 tue New, We meet at once sys-
TEN OF universal morality founded upon
ono preo~P' VI universal application.
pointing 10 10 peace and good viii TO = ard.
the whole race OF man for this life. and
to peace with God. and IA ever. blessed
existence hereafter.
My friends. II all or any OF YOU have
sPiriiual pastors 10 guide YOU 10 tie paths
oi salvation, do not Ims gine .ha, | sn Ell.
oroseling upon the Geld Of their appro-
( pirate services ! speak as man OF the
I world TO men OF tho ORD. and ! say to
YOU. search Ms Script4rcs! IL ever YOU
( tire Of them ia seeking Tor a rule Of faith
and a standard Of morals search them d.
/ records OF history. General and CON.
I pendIo1s history Is Que OF The fountsius of
: human knowledge 10 which YOU should
OIL resort with sioAdy snd perssycring
/ pursuit. The Bible contains the only
/ authentic Introduction 90 the history OF
! The wO:lG. aud ~ stoGing Your minds y ia
+ the facts Of thu, history YOU Wii imme-
I diAteS perceive The need ol assi.tance
/ from geography and chronology. These
assisiancc' YOU may hrd ~ many Of the
/ bibles published Ai'h sommeniafies and
7 YOU can have no difficulty IN procuring
1 them. Acquaint yourselves with tho
/ chronology and GEOGRAPHY Of The bible .
/ thai Will lead sou % d ReHeS0i kaos led 20
! of chronology and Of geography. ancient
and modern. and these Will open a. YOU
; an iaeXhausuble faHntsin Of knowledge
respecting The gl1bc which YOU inhabii.
and respecting the race ~ taan ,ts iuLlb.
4 iilDt.) 10 which YOU your'eiyes belong.
T 90 may pursue lhe.e Inquiries il.l %
lsf - youf unc and inclination vii per.
NIT Give one hour II mental appiica.
I ton. 'ior You must Iut fGsd WtihouttLink.
,ng. ~ YOU will read 10 htls pufposs
I give ga bouf u JOINT reading and thought
I 90 tie chronology, end ohu o. the geogIa.
/ ply of The Bible aud. u it introduces YOU
/ Go Too bard stoiy. stop ,hs,c. Even fur
! these tao hours sou Vill ever after fcad
The Bible and aDy oibcf history. wih
more fila- more intelhsenc est.
| Isiacuon. But % those two bouts excite
/ youT curiosity and trmpt YOU % devote
I part oi an hour ettry jsy nfa yesr os
( yesls. TO study thofoa. ll, iLo chfonol.gy
and geogfsphy Of ihs Wble u viii not
! only icod 500 fer deeper 'haa sou Ill
oihefti's ever peuolrats into ths kaow.
ledge 0f ihe book. Dat ID oiii sptcaj floods
( q hight upon escfJ Sep y0l .hsil ever
afterwards sake 90 scqulBg lhe taow.
ledge ~ rralsne history. aod upon iho
local habitstoh ol every tdbo II msu.
anil a!pn ihc naWe 90 every atom into
which ihe children II Adam lave Jeen
divided.
There afe many ether ,ulsiliaiy stu.
I dies 90 Which you may devote mote o.
less 70 time. f1r he s1pfca put,o e Of
wakiog your bible reading mofe inislifzi.
7 Die 90 yo.ueiscs IL - book Sh,eh
neiths, tbc mos, ignorant of peaksst. nor
the most leaned ahd intsllgenl n.isd caa
/ fesd without Improvement