Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-03-16
From Me Christian Palladium.
A Visit TO John Quincy Adams.

4 Visit to John Quincy Adams.
Mr.. Adams keeps (apparen'ly) no ser
/ wants. lie delights not to be mnsiered unto
, but 10 minister. Call at his house, and 80,
/ find he i, himself as one that serves. Ring o'
/ knock. and he comes himself TO the door, eN
/ tends his hand. and without the least p0idrT
II conducts YOU 10 a chair III the sitting room, ol
n parlor. and treats the humbcst caller rs al
H equal.
II Being thus seated by him, after he bat
!, kindly made some remarks upon his health
II &c. | observed 10 him that he was reputed tt
4 BE- diligcnt reader Of the Bible, but that
| whilst his other opinions had been made Sc
II public, had seen very little notice OF his re-
!, ligious santiments-thc result Of his long con
1 tinued Iiible-reading. ! added, thai II l was
| not ndulging an unreasonable curiosity and
| proposing an unwelcomc request, should be
/ oratfed to know what opinions he had torn
4 ed upon a few points, particularly upon The
| character of Christ. and the Holy spirit.
II lie replied, - / have never oLiruded my re-
,hgious views upon others but | have no
views TO conceal" lie said, my practice,
I since | was thirty years of age, has been to
read in the Bible, the frs, thing do, every
morning. [IIc has been always very ea,iy
risrl This practice have followed with
I but few interruptions for fifty years. fhe yer-
sons which | have read, are (D our common
English Bible; (2) Thompson translation OF
the Sepluagint, very literal translation (he
remarked. J; (3) the Latin Nulgate; (D
Cal,in's Translation in French; (5) the Cath
ole translation in French (6) Luther's trans
ation in German ~ the New Testament in
Greek"
Upon naming each Of the above versions he
made interesting remarks on its character, and
the slight discrepancies between them; spoke
of the different chronology of the Septuagint,
&c.
lie continued, "Thcse are the versions
have used. My habit has been, TO read, each
morning, two chapters in one of these, and
then the same in one of the others, comparing
them together. In this way have read them
all through twice or more. Commentaries
have read not much, controversies not much.
BIN / hare ytad Me Bi5h." This last SEN
tence he repeated with emphasis. lie not on
" "reods the Bible" but endeavors to I'M
derstand ii: receives it as revelation from
God, and beiieres IL. He compares, not only
the Scripture with Scripture but version with
version, Protestant with Catholic, ancient with
modern.
Thus he has " rcad the Billie. "What
views, on the great themes Of revelation has 1t
given him
liz lie saws" do not find in the Bible,
a Deity of three persons Nor do find Christ
to be the Supreme God" Says he does not
conceive of the Father as strictly person, but
vast Being, ncomprehensible and glorious,
far ,ransccnding all our thoughts of a person.
lie is revealed as our creator, &c, referring
to such passages of Scripture as Ps. 10; |,
L" The Heavens declare the glory of God, and
the firmament showeth his handiwork.'
lie mentioned the three angels who came TO
Abraham's tent. Said he had no idea that
they were the Mrcc PERSONS ot'the godhead =
| remarked that | apprehended the word 'pcr-
sons was used by many in the sense OF the
Latin word "pcrsOna," from which comes our
word pcrsonote." But with great readiness,
Mr.. Adams replied ,ha he did not let the
Catholics off so;' that their word "prsona
meant persona human Jeing, or like IA
human being In proof of this he referred to
the use of the word in Latin plays, by Ter
renee, Plautus, &C.. and quoted from Cicero S
letters: " Contra ejus perS0R0m mulia icclt,
80 did many things against his person."
Mr.. A. believes strongly in the pre-cNlst-
ence of Christ Says he was certainly with
the Father before men weic made, and before
the world was. If not, Paul was mistaken.
He thinks " the Spirit is pure spirit" God,
in love, moves upon the hearts of his children.
The means or influence by which lie does ii is
called his Spirit.
Mr. A. evidently has thought much on these
great subjects. lie has MougM for hhmS'B. |
lie is strongly opposed to crecds." Says
that although an Arian, he can subscribe no
human creed, Arian, Athanasan, Socnian,
Unitarian, or rrntarlan. lie takes the Bib(e |
for his creed, and tries to believe Hdt. Says /
there is more in that than he can comprehend
trusts he shall know more hereafter; speaks
like one who now sees through glass darkly !
and dimly, but earnestly desires more clear
and glorious light trusts and believes that it |
is in reversion for him. On the verge Of the /
grave, he is evidently sincere and earnest No
one could listen to him, without being impress
ed that he is honest lie laments his llttlcness I
of knowledge: coniesscs it but longs to know I
more of God and of Heaven.
Amid all his busy cares III life, he has stud
led Gods word in many languages; has read
it through in Latin. French and German more
times than most persons have in English and
has himself made ali entire metrical version of
the Psalms God be thanked for the strength
that word has given to his servant. making
him the fearless champion of Truth and of
Right.
il. CHADWICK, l.
Principal Of Starkey Seminary.