The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1854-12-22

vince, determined INCREASINGLY 10 die to tbe
las! man, rather than persecute their fellow
Christians. a nd yet the Christians Of Gaul dIl-
fered IN the non-essential portions OF their creed
and ceremonies, in a much greater degree than
do the various Christian sfcts BY WHICH we arr
now surrounded. The Thrban Legion bad the
frue pfinqPies Of Christianity IN tier hearts,
aud though ordered to be declmaed again and
again, to final determination, Tor refusing to des-
troy their Christian brethren, they stood fast By
The holiness Of those principles, and died with
out murmur to the last OF their Legion, at the
hands Of their fellow soldiers. Their noble re-
ply 10 the Emperor Maximiam, should be worn
next the heart Of every living Christian. .'h
is needless for you to look any further Tor per-
sous Of that denomination we, ourselves are
such, and glory in the name. We sax our
companions fall without the least opposition or
;nuruuring, and tho't them happy in dying for
the sake oi their religion. We had rather die
wrongiuly, and by that means preserve our IN
nocence, than live under load of guilt. What
eyer you command, wt are ready to suffer-
We confess ourselves Christians, aud therefore
cannof persecate Chrigtians." This was the
kind OF herois.n which tested our holy religion,
aud established il upon foundation which can
never be shaken. Il nerved the martyrs who
followed them, as did the example al ILnatius,
Polycarp, justin Martyr, lreoau>, and Others,
the Yheban Legion. 1t Was promulgated WITH
charity, and maintained with srlt-devotion.-
These were the Christian traits uI character
| which wruHr from the apostat- Julian, as his
life ,bbpd away, the exclamation, 80 Galileani
thou hast conquered"
From the time ofthe Arian controversy, self
z a 4 4 H.. -
aud DESTROY each other for ferns and crreuo-
uirs which have not the remotest connection
with real Christianity. The color Of q cravai
in our day Of religious degrneracy, is sufficient
to anathematizr is wearer. A sermon spoken
or a sermon read, will prodnce the same effect,
and sever church in twain. How much
christianity can reside in the heart, when abb
surdities ike these can GisarganiZe congrega~
ton, and array brother against brother. All
these things prove incoHtrstibly that our col
IvgeS Of religious learning are far from being
pure. They set up 4 standard ot christianity,
aud then ciothe If IN forms which are deemed
Oh more consequence than the essence OF the
religion which they profess to teach. AIMING al
reducing the thoughts OF men to fixed coniof-
nifty the priests made al these colleges, With
out distinction Of creed, nurture m their hearts
feeling OF maleYosencr agaiGS all who reiust
sosuisSian 10 lber aciliH-ys. Strife IS rngeII-
dered in the bosom ot families, and the pulpit
res0unGs with doctrines that would more bett a
Toye than Jesus. Society IL time becomes con-
vulsed, and the sacred principles Of our holy
religion are invoked 10 justify the firing ola
temple dedicated TO the Almighty, Of 10 excuse
bloody homicide. Such teachings are inst!tu-
ted by the deyi,, and transmitted 10 onr schools
OF religious instruction. We shall refer to this
subject again Peaasyiranjaa.