Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-01-12

sl'lve spirits, III he really enjoys The 81
pcriorily which he claims, he will soon
perceive tina, he is the party on whom de-
volve The most sacred and religious oblga>
tons.
Il is alleged that the aborious and active
nature Of mans duties is not consistent
with religious habits and dispositions. But
what Ialacy is this! Llborious and &C.
tive duties may be made part Of his very
religion. Besides, the more active his
pursuits, the more does he require some
high, strong and controlling principle
which shall restrain bis activity within the
bounds Of wisdom, and bend it over to the
law of God, Again the presence Of the
Deity is as pcrvading in the open walks Of
busy life as in he private retreats Of DO
mcetic scc'u,ion. Aud why not more so:
Man AYERS that his duties call him abroad
Consequently, he is a witness to The mag,
nifcent display of Gods power and glory
more than he would be in the confined at
mosphere Of home. 1t is said that his
plans and schemes are Of too general and
absorbing a nature to leave him sufficient
time for religion. Surely be does not think
religion more compatible with the perpet-
ua round OF minute and petty cares which
! fall TO the lot Of those on whom he would
tevolve all The Offices of pety. The more
we rehec, on this subject, the more clearly
shall we discern tfat they who carry on
the great business Of llfe-lhey who have
to manage the public interests Of society
they. who have to gtopple with the mighty
passion and selfshnoss of mcn--they, in
short, who seem 10 be the more immediate
vccgeren,s end instruments Of his Prov-
denCe, ougl'! to be thoroughly imbued
with relamus principles and habits. May
not ono cause Of the slow progress of the
best interests Of our race CONSIST "a this,
that The men, who carry them on have been
too irreNgious, that they have not acted
with sufficient references 10 a higher power,
that they have 20, sufficiently humblcd
themselves beneath the law Of God -
Heaven forbid that this portion Of our
race should ever dwindle into SuperstitioW
ldeols, OF lanalcaI maniacs, or mean spir.
tied devo'ecs. These are but the extremes
or rather the abuses ofrelirious principle.
| But contend, that we can form no idea
Of highly improved state of society, nor
Of the utmos, perfection of which mankind
is capable, unless we think of men, no,
women merely, but the men of this worlC
deeply penetrated with a solemn sense o
The presence and the power of a presiding
Delighted with an ambition Of a purcl
and lofticr nature than that which now
too frequently tears communities into frag
men's--promp!ed by motives superior te
the low and selfish passions which at pre-
sent degrade the annals Of active life
Look abroad through the world Is Their,
not something wanted to enlighten III,
conscences Of men something to act as
+ restraint upon their lawless passions.
something to unite them more closely to
gethcr in the bonds Of common svmpa
thy; and what can hat something be, Blu
, pure, comprehensive, enlightened, man
y rellgion' Would not the spirit tina
pcrvadcs the New Testament accomplish
5 this end Is there any thing elidmina,e i
5 the character or precepts Of Jesus Christ
y Were not the qualities of the Apostl
r Paul and the other original preachers c
q the Gospel, in the highest degree, Of
u manly description Men want to kno,
: and feel, to feel practically, to realize, lhn
h they have all one common Fathor--lho
/. they are all amenabe to one ultimate al
g thority-and that they are all 10 be juda
j ed before one common tribunal. The
q wond the mos: laborious life be sauctiCe
G and sweetcned, and the tolls and struggle
e ofsoclely would move forward 20 the &C
= compIishment of some glorious and happ
c ends, for which the philanthropist all
J sage now sigh in vain!
i But here ! may be met by on equal
IS common and equally unfounded objection
1t is this that men are exposed to limit
moruble temptations from which the olhe
u sex is free, and therefore they are by thei
b very circumstances less fitted for the pur
@ enjoymcnts and halowed duties of roIiGio,
3 Let us analyse his objection, also, and Sc
It dissolve before our eyes into air. If, O
e is alleged men are exposed to ex,raordr
e airy tempt atoms, surely The account mu.
Q be balanced by that superior strength ,
- character, the commanding intellect, an
- that energy Of will, of which we have a