The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-12-01

! Of unmcanng nonsense, mingled, however, with an
occasional happy sally that gave life to the rest AZ
last the story Of the physician Philip which he
told in a lively and fluent manner. After some ex.
pressons of admiration the part Of the mother and
son, the company commented on what had Just been
narrated. The majority condemned Alexander RASH
ness though some like the professor struck with
his unfinchng courage, an opinion which showed me
that none present perceived wherein the real beauty OF
the story or the real merit of Alexanders conduct
consisted. Yes said in my turn, it appears to me
that IL this act Of Alexanders is to be considered
| act Of bravery and resolution, il certainly was one
/ most rash and extravagant To this one by one all
assented, and declared that il was very rash indeed
This acquiescence excited my Indignation, and was
about explaining when lady by my side who had
| not spoken word whispered in my Hold your
tongue, Jean Jaques they will not comprehend you.
OF this felt convinced looked at her and remained
silent.
| After dinner, strongly suspecting that my young
doctor derived correct idea from the historical pas
sage Just related took him by the hand and walked
with him through the lawn, and quietly asking him
few questions, discovered that was more as
tonshed al the auded courage of Alexander than he
was. But what think you the source of his sur
| prise Simply in his having swallowed, at one
draught, and without hesitation or repugnance, nau
seous dose of physc The poor child, who had been
dosed and dosed with physc, since he was fifteen days
| old and who always took medicine with horror still
dreaded the thoughts of 1.-THE taste of it was still in
his mouth. Tohis infant mind poison and death only
exhibited unpleasant sensations. The strong deter
mlnatlon OF the hero mad made great impression on
| his mind and he resolved to be second Alex ander
when next he obliged to take medicine. praised
his good Intention and returned, inwardly smiling at
| the profound wisdom of parents and teachers who
think to impar to children the true knowledge of his
| tory
II is easy to teach them by rote, anecdotes Of kings
of empires wars conquests, revolutions and of laws
but the important ideas the page of history cannot
| be conveyed to their minds They will have TO go to
Robett, the gardener, for explanation after all
Some readers foresee, not content with the express
sion "say nothing Jean jacques" will demand what
perceive grand in this action Of Alexander Poor
animals Ii be necessary to tell you, how will you
understand t2 II is this that Alexander had stead
fast faith in the virtue of man-of Philip-that he
posed in it more than in his abilities and priced
il beyond his very existence and that his great soul
was formed to delight in faith. Oh what glorious
display of faith is this swallowed draught! the sub
FINEST of mortal achievements If there be modern
| Alexander, let him emulate this act of faith
Iftherc is no primary knowledge derived from anec
dote it is not the most suitable study for children. If
they not possessed with true IDEAS they have
true memory, for such do not call that which only
retains sensations. How does it benefit them to in
scribe on the tablets of their memory catalogue Of
/ signs, which to them represent nothing When inn
bbing the ideas, will they not learn the signs Why
| then infiict on them double task
And, meantime what dangerous habits fastened
on them, in the commencement, by their supposng
knowledge to consist in senseless verbage The dawn
Of reason begins when child first speaks, and upon
the first thing he learns the faith Of another with
out seeing the utility of it himself Is his judgment
squandered and the most brilliant powers of dazzling
the ignorant IN after years never compensate him
| for this prvaton.
Thus much for the comments Of the citizens Of &c
neva, upon the act Of Alexanders, and his feelings,
when he thus commented, explained, when he says,
"Reader, he who now addresses you il not man of
learning; but his system is of facts" In nrodu-
cling this extract did not intend to express my appro
baton of Rousseaus system of education discuss
the possibility or otherwise of children acquiring
th1ra., vUlalr Of
compound of strange contradictions, in his
writings he dealt in strange paradoxes and ecstaces
But concur exactly in his view Of this feature in the
conduct of Alexander that it was the most remark
able feature in profane history of the development Of
that property of the human soul denominated faith
II is not necessary to remind you who christians,
of the transcendant value of this virtueFaith The
great Apostle Of the Gentilcs has summed up the whole
duty of immortal man to himself to his God and to
his fellow beings, in three words: FAITH HOPE, and
CHARITY Faith embraces the whole circle of our du-
ties to our Creator Hope comprises all those duties
which bound to render to ourselves; and Cha
| rity includes all those duties which bound to
render to our neighbor. The apostle says that the
greatest of these is Charity yet he put faith first of all
because ii is the foundation of ALL Charity is the
greatest of ALL because is the contamination of ALL
Faith and Hope are those properties of the soul
which stimulate it to action and exist only in by
the constant action of the pure principles Of the soul
Faith pours forth itself in prayeru submission the
will of God. Hope leads TO piety patience persever-
ance Charity teaches us whole love to man, and
gives us, as the standard of that love our fellow be-
ings, the love that each bears to himself
"a OF all philosophers whom the experience of history
unfods to u.s. Jesus Christ was the first that proclaim
ed the law of equal love to others bear to
selves. AT the last meeting which he had with his
disciples earth, he told them these words "Behod
new commandment give unto you, that ye shall
love anothcr!o And in the beautiful parable of
the good Samaritan he explained that the word neigh
Dor meant the whole world! Again in that exraor-
binary and sublime effort, his Sermon on the Mount
where he gave the first and stupendous development
of his whole system he expressly promulgated this law
needful for all Christians and as substitute for
| another law by which the race of man had been gov
erned before where he said, aye have heard that it
hath been SAID, Thou shalt love thy neghbor and hate
| thine enemy--but say unto YOU love your enemies
bless them that you do good TO them that hate
YOU and pray for them who despitefuy use you and
prosecute you" This was Christ's teaching This
was Faith and Charity combined in its most beautiful
| essence And Christ concluded this master-p of
love and faith, and all these virtues by saying Be
therefore perfect even as your Father which is in
| Heaven is perfect"
| have said that Paul describes Charity as the
greatest of the three Christian virtues but that he
put Faith first. And there is not-thcre can be no
| practical example of Christian charity without Faith
If you have not Faith to believe that Jesus Christ
was the Son Of God, and came into this world save
sinners to teach the doctrines of Him that sent him
you cannot have faith to believe the law which he
teaches and then you have adopted the miserable law
and belief of the heathen-an eye for an eye and
| tooth for tooth.
Can il be matter of surprise then to you as Chris
ans that Paul should lay such stress on the value of
Faith that he should declare that the whole duty of
man was swallowed up by Faith in these three
things
|. Faith in the belief in the existence of one SUI
preme God
z Faith in the Immortality of man and his account
ability to God in a future world
! 4. Faith that Jesus Christ was the Son of God
and that man should yield implicit obedience to his
| commands.
shall not enquire about any other articles of
Faith, but these three -
| |. Faith in the existence of an overrulinp God.