Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1843-03-21
J. Il. PHELPS.
Respectfully yours

sion from religious duties. and oracular confession
of sins!
Respectfully yours, J. r. PHELPS.
Importance Of Religious Education.
Few persons suspect, and it may be, none
fully aware, of the unspeakable importance to soc-
ETY., of maintaining in their purity the institutions
of reli gon. Let the Christian Sabbath-tlet wor-
ship OF God-the teaching OF the Scriptures, ana
other kindred institutions of Christianity, ever lose
their place in the reverence aid the affections OF
people-let their hold upon the mind ola communl-
ty, once be thoroughly weakened, and is easy Tor
any nation, even the most civilized and Christian
on earth, to sink back into the degradation and splr
ltual brutishncss of sava ge life. One more impress
sve example has been presented IN modern times,
of nation thus surrendering the Christian faith at
ter it had been for centuries preached within their
boriers-over:hrowing its te nples-banlshlng its
ministers, and converting the worship OF the Most
High into the basp hemous orgies of the goddess
of Reason" and the wild excuses of a misnamed
liberty. a few years had scarcely elapsed from thus
event, so filed with lessons ofhuman weakness and
human depravty before all traces of the Christian
religion had been obliterated from every class and
condition of men in France, and a whole people
were seen descending from the heights OF clvlllza-
ton and Christian refinement, to the vllest stree
Ites and the shameless scenes of their sanguinary
revolution, spiritual degradation nearly equal to
that of the lowest states of mankind. Mr. Alison,
the accomplished author Of the history of Europe,
during the period of the French revolution and its
subsequent wars, states that during the campaign
of Napoleon, in Egypt, the armies of France
ched through the plains and cities of Syria and the
holy land, utterly ignorant OF the great events
which had there taken place, though they had
come from pagan shores. 4 more impressive fact
can scarcely be found in history. 1t shows with
melancholy force how soon the knowledge and the
associations of the gospel may be erased from the
nd of a nd how mid RI hv
which mankind descend even from high emnences
Ct Christian civilization Here was mighty host
gathered from every quarter of land on which for
ages the light of the gospel had shone, whose an
cestors in other days had borne the ban
ner Of the cross TO the sepulchre of the Saw
our-visiting the birth places ofChrisanity, 'wih-
either interest in, or knowledge of the inesm-
able benefits which were there conferred upon man
kind"
All who honor the precepts of the Saviour, all
who seek to promote the welfare and perpetuity of
ou eacred institutions, have the deepest interest in
this su ;;ec, and high duty perform concerning
it, and upon heir faithful performance of this duty
does the moral well being ofour beloved country,in
IA great degree, depend. An irreyerent, and even
blasphcmous manuer of speaking and writing of
sacred things, is daily becoming more end more
common. The ISLANDERS and abuse which are cir
culated so widely against both public and private
characters, and the gross ndelicaey, and shameless
RIGHTEOUSNESS OF the press, indicate any thing but
healthy and sound state of the moral spirit of orr
American society. These things too, are rapidly
bringing forth their legitimate results in The man
and conduct Of the generation which has grown
up to manhood, under their pesterous influence.
When has the moral aspect of this land been so
married by scenes of atrocity and crIme as within
the last two or three years! When has crime in
high places been SO common or when have riots
and tumults of the people, and acts of daring def
ance OF law both human and Divine, often stared
! tt1I o,,Ic e
| intellectual activity, of Sabbath schools, and of
temperance reforms. Well may the patriot of these
days with the volumes of history before him. trem-
bic for his country, when he REMINDERS the ght-
eous Judgment of Heaven. 1t is plain that some
stronger and more searching and controlling indu-
IS needed TO bear upon the public and private
morals of the people, in order to awaken anew, and
to keep alive, reverence for the truths and nstitu-
tlons OF religion, or may soon find ourselves
| hurrying down the current which bore the French
Republic TO the abyss Of its shameless atheism, and
Its unparalleled crimes.
The most obvious sources of this influence of
which we in the deepest need. we believe, are
| to be found.
|. In a more practical preaching from the pulpit,
| Of the moral precepts 0fMe Gospel. Nothing per-
tanning to the pulp in our day, is more certain than
that the habit of preaching the principles of pract
cal, everyday morality has of late sadly declined
among the minister even of New england. How
| seldom do we now hear, in the sanctuary, bold and
manly reproofs of the evil practices with which the
land is filed and in which the members Of our
! own community are likely to participate. How
seldom too, do we listen to clear and practical
| exposition of those moral precepts of the Bible,
| which are to guide US in the daily walk and bust
ness OF life. The pulpit, apprehend confines
itself too much to the setting forth of elementary
spiritual tru his and enters seldom, and even then
too tlmdy, upon the great topics practical Chris
tianity. The duty of repentance can scarcely be
too often set forth, but if this be all that the prea-
| cher nculcates, the proprety to which his preach
ing will give rise, will be only of the most dwarfed
and narrow proportions All men, whether Chris
| tians or not require to have the light of gospel
| truth constantly thrown on the habits of speaking
and action that belongs to every day life 1t is Of
ten for want of this, that we find members of chur
| ches jealous in remote sectarian duties, but
grossly negligent of their conduct, in the pre-
sence of their families and before the world. They
| contend earnestly, and sometimes cautiously,
for all the points of speculative orthodoxy, but have
little idea of what is meant to adorn the gospel of
| God in all things, by elevated actions, by pure
and reproachess life. Such pIety do but little
In wlthstandng the corrupt influence which threat
| en- the age
2. In thorough and systematic attention
on the Part Of parents, to the religious education Of
their children. This is much ne elected, wha
is almost equally culpable is surrendered entirely
TO teachers in the sabbath school, or in the plan of
| mental education. Without dwelling upon this
| great duty, which the hopes of the Christian