The Columbian fountain., 1846-08-20
!. sTs' ADDRESS
OF THE REV. D. COLLIER,

ADDRLOO .E#t r (
OF THE REV. D. COLLIER,
Upon the occasion Of the Presentation of a
Bible to the Sons Of Temperance;
Delivered at Williamsport, 4a
Md, on. Thursday, Aug. sa51a.a
ID .. .as 9th, 4846. a" e-.
1t may be expected that should say
something in commentator ofihe Bible
this blessed Book--,his inestimable gift ol
Heaven. And il must not be conceded that
the Bible has had its enemies, Yes; it has
been spoken and written against, Sarcasm
and ridicule have been employed against
it. And why' Does it teach men 10 be
immoral 2-to hate, "to bite and devour
each other''' Nay, verify. 1t breathes on
iy peace and love, and produces happiness
whenever its precepts are known and
practiced, and we are indebted to it for ev-
cry valuable blessing and privilege that
we enjoy. ,,s a~,v rfg sft 3n Gaas.
What, we ask, would be our condition
were it not for the Bible. Let us lotlk
for, moment at those nations who have
not enjoyed the benign influence Of this
Book. What is, what has been their
condition /? Can it be compared to that
of those who have been blessed with this
heavenly light J Did the mild Philoso-
ply Of Socrates and Plato, or the eloquent
mind of Cicero ever produce such eluci-
dations of divine goodness--such clear,
and rational conceptions of the Deity as
are found in this sacred volume They
did not. What was the condition of the
people under their teachings Let US ex-
anime history and we shall not have read
far before we shall discover the most de-
plorable state of society. We shall not
make TO pass before you, rude and barbar-
Gus nations, but shall present the picture
in its most favorable light. We shall7bring
before you learned and polite Athens; sci
enti6c Greece; polished, proud, imperial
Rome. And we would ask, what were
their views concerning Deity? Mar, en-
lowed with nationality, gazing and medi-
.ating on The works of nature, saw day and
night succeed each other in regular order;
The seasons rolling their uniform rounds
and he concluded that there must be an in :.
Ielligent First Cause. and this being he
thought might be visible. He therefore
looked around him in search Of an object
to which to pay his alterations. He gazed
npon the sun, and, considering his useful
ness, thought that he was worthy to be
adored. But this was Only the com.
of his errors. When the glo-
rious orb of day had retired behind the
western horizon and left the moon in ray
less majesty casting her slvery light over
the earth, he thought that she too, ought to
share his alterations. Thus while the noon
day sun scorched the adoring Persian, the
W worshippers Of the moon rent the air with
'Great is Diana of The Ephesians ]" Nor
is this all, in their turn, the planets; yea,
wen the animals, insects and the like, were
And the manner of their wor-
ship is still more appalling. They offered
human sacrifices. Parents were in the ha-
bit Of offering their children. Think ola
mother giving up her babe to. be burnt to
death They were offered to the Idol Sa-
turn, which was made Of brass, and so
that when the clid was LAID
upon its extended arms it was rolled away
into furnace of fire beneath, and was i'm
consumed. Tue trembling pa
rent approa he'd with countenance OF com.
posure which but ill-concealed The anguish
of his heart, and presented his child 10 the
Priest. The distracted mother imprinted,
with parchrd lip, the last kiss upn the
blooming cheek Of her smiling child, while
the ferocious priest received the uncon-
scious babe from the parents arms and laid
it upon the arms Of the idol, where it was
to the devouring flame AT tn s
instant the drums beat, and the air rung
with the acclamations of the surrounding
multitude to drown the agony of the be-
reaved parents and the shrieks Of the dying
child. And many of their rites were such
as could not be named without producing
sorrow and Indignation. These are the
boasted triumphs of nations without the
Bible @ n..t
May God graciously preserve to US the
teachings of the sacred Scriptures. Hail
blessed Book 1t was thine to overthrow
the altars erected to an "unknown God. "
1t was thine to stay an efusion OF human