Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1839-07-18
NO. I'd.

greater moment II,an temporal, thar plan
which presents the only way Of securing
eternal happiness must he the most impor-.
tant of all plans. In the Bible only thai
plan is contained. Bible Societies are
formed for the sole purpose of distributing
this holy book throughout the whole world,
and their work will not be accomplished
until every child of A,lam shall lave n
copy of it in his own language, that. be
''may read in his own tongue the wonder
fu works of Coil" Therefore the exis.
tcncc and operation of Bible Societies at
ford the largest opportunity otdoing good
unto all men" by putting into their hands
The words OF eternal life.
In the second place; observe, that the;
Bible instruc,s US in the true principles OF
civil and religious liberty, and that it Is
the ONLY book that dues. All other works
on this subject. that are Of any value, aro
bul commentaries on the principles devef.
oped in this hook.
In Ihr holy volume, we are taught to
love our neighbor as ourselves. This ono
principle, in its full operation, would ban
! ish all fraud and oppression from the earth,
because il teaches, that every man has
rights OF sacred character, which NO
other has authority to infringe. Rights
which each one should regard in another
as sacred. as in himself.
In the holy volume, we are also taught,
to love God supremely. His authority is
paramount to every other. We are fur
ther taught, that the conscience is 10 be-
subject to God alone: that we are to be-
lieve nothing that has not the sanction Of
truth; that we are 10 do nothing which
The principles Of his holy law do not re-
guire. Let these two principles be uni
versal in their influence, g. what change
would be effected in our world? Anarchy
aud despolsm would disappear. and EARTH
resemble Heaven. Previous 10 the intro
duc.ion of christianity, the people were
regarded as mere instruments Of the Prin-
ce's ambition, or pleasures. Since that
event, wherever this Divine system has
prevailed, mighty change has taken
place. | appeal with satisfaction to my
own country, in proof of my assertion.-
We are at this moment, the wisesi and
the freesl nation on earth. The prihci-
plies of civil and religious liberty are bet
Ter understood and praclised, in this ma
ton, than in any other on the globe: And
why so Because This is land of Bibles.
A land where this blessed volume is read,
and believed an,l obeyed. From our FIRST
settlement in this country, the Bible has
been honored, and its divine author ador-'
ed. Our ancestors fed from prosecutions
and landing at Plymouth formed an es-
tablishment, which like good seed sown
in good ground, took deep root, sprung mp
into vigorous Tree. and has shot forth
widely extended branches, under which
fifteen millions of people now repose in
the enjoyment of blessings. as large and
full, as can be reasonably desired.---
In our struggle for independence, tho
principles of the Bible which animated
our ancestors, exerted their powerfulinnu-
ence on our leaders. The succeeding ru-'
ers of our nation have reverenced tho
Bible. In our late conflict with Great
Britain, it is worthy Of remark, that our
Military and Naval Officers, in ANNOUNCE
ing their victories to the proper authority,
ascribed them TO God.
he great principles iaught IN the Blblo
lead the mind directly mp 10 God. as the
author and supporter OF universal nature,
and where these principles operate, there.
man is taught his duty, and dependence
on the right source. This necessarily diffu-
ses those sentiments and feelings, which
bind man to his fellow man; to all ration
al beings and 10 the Great Jehovah. And
these sentiments and feelings, in their in
huence through all the relations of life,
tend under the Divine blessing, TO pro-
mote good order, and establish govern,
ment on its true basis. The existence and
operation Of Bible Societies, afford there-
fore, the laraes, opportunity Of doing
good to all men, by putting into the
hands of all men thai book, which
will leach them their duties u their rights
more eaec'ually than any other.
To be continued.