Newspaper Page Text
No. 11. Vol. V.
From the Religious Intelligencer.
MR. KNOWLES’ ORATION.
Ir. Badger.
Sir —I have lately read with much satisfaction,
in oration pronounced on the 4th inst. at the
iolumbian College, in the District of Columbia,
y our fallow townsman, Mr. Janies D. Knowles.
fourth-of-July orations, are too frequently mere
rhapsodies, flourishes of rhetorick or fustian. But
nany of them which sustain a high character in
the ejiioiatton of the publick, are calculated for
Ho better purposa than to stir np those angry and
ambitious passions in the human breast, from
“whence come wars and fightings.” Mr. K’s.
is of a different cast. In composing it, he seemed
go have had in his eye that Bweet passage of holy
writ, found in the 144:h fsalui, “ happy is thal
people whose God is the Lord.” It is chastely
and beautifully written, and contains enlarged
and enlightened views of what will constitute the
liability and duration of our American States, and
what is their cheif prospective glory. The whole
oration is worthy to be republished, but to do so
would probably exceed your limits. I cannot
however, refrain the request, that yon will insert in
your next, the following copious extract relating
io that glory. AMOR. PATRIAE.
It is customary, on occasions like thi-,
v/htfip con tempi a ting 1 the bright history, the
rigorous youth, and the rapid march of our
country, to indulge the imagination in vi--
ioni ofher future glory. This disposition
has excited ridicule, an a national foible.
But it is natural, it is fit and beautiful, t>
follow with our Sympathies and hopes, th>
progress of our beloved country. We can
not b-hold the edifice ri-ing, r>n us wide
foundations, with ro just and fair proper
tions. n ithout thinking of the period, when
it shaH lift itself to the clouds, and stand, in
its majesty and beauty, the admiration of
(he world. We cannot refruin from antici
fluting the time, when the tide of popula
tion “ball flow ovpr the prairies ofthe west;
when powerful stales and flourishiiic cities
shall rise on -the banks of the Missouri and
the Columbia; when a free, intelligent,
and virtuous people, shall realize in the
progress of improvement, in the cultiva
tion of science and the useful arts, io the
prosperity of religious and literary institu
tions, and in the general thrift and happi
ness of society, the loveliest conceptions of
Arcadian song.
Those are themes on which it would be
pleasant end appropriate to dwell. But I
relinquish so grateful a task, and invite
your attention to another range of thought,
connected with the destinies of our country.
1 purpose to point out to you another dis
tinction in reserve for her, more glorious in
itself, more deeply important to the human
race, and which affixes to our history, past
and prospective, a higher interest, than
any considerations connected with national
prosperity.
The proposition which I wish to illus
trate is this: That the Ruler of the Uni
verse has established, protected, and pros
p-r-J Hu-nation, for Ihe special purpose
ol making her a signal instrument in the
political and moral regeneration of the
world.
It is the misery of roan, that he permits
the ve<t which natural object* end subordi
nate agencies interpose, to conceal from
his view the great Supreme. He observes
th’ c n urse of even's, the convulsions which
shake the world, and the complicated laby
iroth of human actions, withmi. looking be
yond, to Him oho sists in high antuoriti
over his universe, and in wages all thing'-
for the advancement hi- o*vd design-’
Were it no! foe Ini- fatal blindness, the his
tory of the world wonid pr -sent a most in
teresting and instructive comment on tti*.
principles of Divine government. We
should *ec that every ewnl has had its ap
propriate bearing no that great result,
wbtrb we are ught to believe is the
steady aim of D vine administration on the
Vrlh, “ to make ar. end of sin,” and intro
doer the peaceful kingdom of Christ.
No one, of ‘he least discernment, can
have failed to observe tbe mennerin which
God emploved the ancient nations to ac
compli-!. hi purposes. The Jews he se
lected, as a people among w horn the tru*
worsh’p mny'-be preserved, and in the ful
ness of time, the Saviour might be born.
This people he often employed to exe
cute his pleasure ; and sometimes, to chas
tise ihe Jews, he made use of other nations.
Cyrus and Nebuchadnezzar were uncon
sciously the instruments of his will. To
advance his designs, and prepare the way
for tbe coming of the Redeemer, the
Greek empire was established in tbe east,
on tbe ruins of the Persian. At length,
Rome subdued the world to her sceptre;
established her gorveroment every where;
restored peace to the nations, and then the
Prince of Peace made his advent to our
world. All these events were predicted
long before; and now that they have be
come matters of history, we can easily
trace in them the overruling hand of God.
It wonid be easy to show, that God has
since maintained the same control over
events, for the accomplishment of Ins pur
poses.
Let us apply this principle to our own
country, and examine some reasons for the
opinion, that for her is reserved a signal
agency, worthy of that manifest cure of
Providence which her history exhibits.
In the first place, there is something re
markable in the period at which this conti
nent was discovered. Had it been known i
>o ancient times, it might perhaps bavei
THE MISSIONARY.
MOUNT ZION. (HANCOCK COUNTY, GEORGIA,) MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1823.
been peopled, instead of the feeble and
scattered tribes originally found here, by a
race of idolaters, bringing with them the
customs of the old world, and establishing
over Ihis beautiful land, (heir corrupt and
despotick institutions. Here might have
grown up uations as idolatrous as those of
India. The-Mississippi might have been
as renowned as the Ganges, and our prai
ries might have been whitened with the
bones of the worshippers of Juggernaut.
Or, had the continent been settled in the
darkest ages of Papal supremacy, there
might have extended over this fair land, a
population enslaved by superstition, desti
tute of intellectual and moral culture, and
altogether unfit to be the asserters of free
dom, and the efficient instruments of Pro
■ idence. But the discovery was made at
a peculiarly propitious period At the close
ofthe fifteenth century, the shadows ofthe
dark ages began to disperse. Learning
had revived. The human mind had re
reived a powerful impulse, and the chains
>f Papa! power began !o relax. The days
. t Lulhnr and Calvin were at band, and the
wav was in a rapid preparation for the in
tr iduction of (hose free principles, and
‘hose enlightened doctrines, which contri
buted to lurtn the character of the first set
•’ ;rs of our country.
It is a happy circumstance, too, that the
first aims of Europeans were directed to
■South America. Had Pizarro and Cortez
landed on cur shores, and conducted their
marauding bands over our states, extermin
-ling the natives, and spreading ruin and
-lepotism, we cannot say what might now
have been the condition of this country.
•South America is yet in an unsettled state,
and probably many years will elapse, be
fore her complete emancipation.
Montgomery has beautifully described
Columbus, while meditating on his great
expedition, as gazing with eager anticipa
tion, towards the new world, which he
hoped to discover.
“ Lights of Heaven, he cried,
Lead on ; l go to win a glorious bride,
by nature nurs'd beyond Ihe jealous sea,
Denied to ages, but betrothed to me.”
This bride our pilgrim fathers fuund on
‘hese unvisited shores. On her shady bntv
era no rude spoiler had intruded. None of
.he corruptions of the old world had found
their way into her bosom. She was wor
hv to he the bride of our forefathers, and
to become the mother of a race of freemen
1 need not dwell on the happy coinci
dence of providential circumstances, which
have contributed to make our country what
she now is. Every thing in her history,
and her present condition, indicates the
special care and favour of Heaven.
The part which our country has been
designed to take in the political regenera
lion of the world, is no longer dubious.
Here, ftfr the first time, were the rights of
man recognized as the the leading princi
ple of government. H- re the standard of
■rue freedom was first reared; and here
..ne of .the most effectual blows was struck,
vhich have been aimed .’.l despotism. Our
revolution furnished for other nations an
example and a sanction. The spirit of
freedom is now making its way over the
continent of Europe ; and the old establish
ments ofcori opt oppression are crumbling
before it. Tbe present struggle will un
doubtedly end in the triumph of the rights
:>t man, and in tbe establishment of gov
rnmen's, modelled in tbeir leading fea
tures, like our own. South America, from
he.r throne mi the Andes, has descried, at a
distance, the light of our example; and
her voice has been heard through all her
provinces, calling on her children to awake
to freedom. The summons has been obey
ed: and, from Panama to Cape Horn—
from the highest cliff of her mountains to
ihe deepest recesses of her mines, the
shout and the strugg.p for independence
nave responded to her cull. Greece, too,
tbe land which we can scarcely mention
without enthusiasm ; where the mightiest
spirits ofantiquity flourished, and shed un
fading glory on every path of science, and
every province of thought and worthy en
terprise, has roused herself from her ig
nominious slumber. She is now waging,
with the devotion of Leonidas, a fierce
struggle with her oppressors. She looks
to us for countenance, for assurance, for
aid. She, too, comes with all her ancient
tame, to do homage to the wisdom of her
ancestors, and here to relight at the altar
of freedom, that torch which guided her
ancient sons to victory, and only went out
in the deep gloom of Turkish despotism.
In the next place, the idea that this coun
try is to take a most distinguished part in
the conversion of the world, receives
strong confirmation from the fact, that (be’
mission try spirit, which so eminently dis
tinguishes our age, and which contains the
promise of the complete triumph of Chris
tianity in the world, first revived in this
country * Before Swartz and others com
menced their labours, our Elliots and May
hews were engaged to missions among our
native tribes, it was a suggestion from
President Edwards, that led to the estab
• Tbe Caiholick missions in the east, and the
attempts of (lie Swede* in the sixteenth century to
ev>uig<-lize virtenlaud, cannot fairly be consider
ed exceptions to this remark.
omi
hshment by the Baptists in England, of the;
Monthly Concert of Prayer, which was im- 1
mediately followed by the adoption of mea
sures, which have led !o the mighty efforts
and multiplied charities of the present pe
riod.
In the next place, our country has the
advantage over every other, in the com
plete freedom of religious opinion. No
sect has here the ascendency. Here is no
establishment, whose predominance is to
be maintained at all hazards, and which
forms a constant source of jealousy and ex
asperation. There are consequently, much
fewer obstacles to the blending of Christian
feeling, resources, and energy inevangeli
cal effort, than even in England. Every
one who is acquainted with the stale of
things there, knows that the establishment
presents serious obstacles to harmonious
effort. The very nature of an establish
ment creates a division of interest which
however slight, must impede iu some de
gree the march of religious enterprise.
The progress of those free principleawhich
our revolution first established will inevita
bly destroy all hierarchies and national es
tablishments. This is doubtless one of the
methods in which the agency of this coun
try has been employed for the promotion
of religion. Our revolution, too, prevent
ed the meditated establishment of a nation
al religion here; and in this we may dis
cern the interposition of.Frovidence.
This religious freedom gives to our coun
try a pre-eminent advantage, in the great
work of evangelizing the world. To this
we owe, in part, that in ibis country, revi
vals of religion are more frequent aad ex
tensive than in any other; and the effect
on missionary enterprises will not be less
important. To these considerations is to
bs added the circumstance, that our coun
try isiu the vigour of youth, and possesses
unbounded resources. Europe is oppres
sed with debls, with cumbrous institutions,
■viih the accumulated corruptions of centu
ries. These give h-r many causes of do
meslick anxiety, and pre-vent the full exer
(ion of her strength. To our country,
therefore, seems reserved the high distinc
tion of leading the van in the contest.
Her commercial and ealerprizing char
acter, and her local position, too, are emi
nently favourable. Her ships now traverse
every sea, and can, as easily as those of
Europe, visit Africa, Asia, aud the islands
of the Pacifick, in which the principal
scope for missionary enterprise is to be
found. Bui our situation gives us an ad
vantage over Europe. We shall soon pos
sess por'B on the shores of (he Pacifick,
and a passage will undoubtedly be soon ef
fected at some point on the isthmus of Da
rien. We -hall (hen be placed in the
neighbourhood of the islands of the Paci
fick ; and the passage to Asia, that great
Strong hold of id I ury, will be rendered
easy and expeditions; especially when the
proud achievement of our countrymen, the
steamboat, shall be applied to navigation
on the ocean.* This easy communication
with heathen countries will incalculably
facilitate missionary operations.
In Africa, too, there is a wide field for
evangelical labors ; and the circumstances
in which our country is placed, indicate
that she is destined to take a distinguished
part in the moral regeneration of ihis in
jured continent. There is a fitness in the
arrangement, that America, to whose shores
so many thousands of the sons of Africa
have been borne in slavery, should take
the lead in arresting the guilty tide, and
atoning for the unutterable wrong. She
has actually commenced the work. The
first legislative enactments to check the
slave trade, were adopted by some ofthe
colonies io this country, twenty years be
fore the suppression of the traffick by the
British Parliament. It was interdicted by
Congress, the moment the constitutional
limit expired ; and at present our prohibit
ory laws are more severe than those of udv
other country.
But there is another consideration,
which bears mure directly on the point.
The most effectual method of evangelizing
Africa, will doubtless be found in the es
tablishment of colonies on the coast, from
which the light of religion and science may
go forth, like a lamp (hat burnetb, over her
benighted wastes. These colonics must,
from the nature of the climate, be mostly
inhabited by blacks, who if previously furn
ished with adequate instruction, and fami
liarity with the usages and arts of civilized
communities, would doubtless be most
efficient instrument* in the accomplishment
of the great object.
The United States possess eminent facili
ties for tbe establishment of such colonies.
In their immense black population, they
will, for many years, find tbe means of
furnishing colonists, inured to labour, fam
iliar with agriculture and some of the other
arts of this contry,and many of them sin
cere converts to the religion of Jesus. The
work is already commenced. The Ameri
can Colonization Society has established a
colony at Cape Montserado, and appear
ances at present, are ominous of its pros
perity. This and similiar colonies will
# It appear*, that the geniu* of Perkin*, ha*, in
fact, already overcome the difficulties which have
hitherto prevented tbe employment of the steam
boat for long voyages,
! furnish missionaries; and will be favourable
situations for institutions, in which native
youth may be trained for missionary toils ;
wjiere the Bible and other books may be
printed; and whence the waters of sal
vation may flow to cheer and fertilize the
desert with the beauty and fragrance ofthe
rose. The British colony at Sierra Leone
has already realized, in part, these antici
pations. It is a flourishing religious com
munity, and its influence on Ihe neighbour
ing tribes is salutary, Intercourse has been
established, adapted to advance the inter
ests of the natives, to invite confidence, to
exhibit the advantages of civilization; to
display the power aud extend the triumphs
ofebristianity. This colony, however, con
sists mostly of recaptured slaves, who can
uot, ofcouise, be prepared to act with the
same success a the civilised blacks from
this country. The colony must, moreover,
find a limit in the suppression of the slave
trade.
There is another department of evan
gelick exertions, of high importance, in
which, we believe, our country is to take a
distinguished part. The Jews are to be
converted to the faith of the Gospel, and
to acknowledge the Redeemer as their
Prince and Saviour. These descendants
of Abraham are scattered over various
parts of the world; and in every country
but ours, they are the objects of popular
prejudice, or legal disabilities. In Europe,
where attempts are now in progress for
their conversion, obstacles of the most for
midable kind are found in the state of pub
lick feeling. Exasperated by the injuries,
which for centuries their nation has endur
ed, the Jews look on Christians with sus
picion and hatred. On the other hand,
the Jew 9 have so long been regarded a ith
aversion, thal even Christians are scarcely
prepared to treas them with kindness.
These considerations have led to the form
ation of a colony in this country,whither the
converted Jews may repair, and under the
protection of our free constitution, receive
religious instruction. Missionaries can here
oe educated, who will enter with eminent
advantage, on evangelical toils among their
brethren in other parts of the world. The
colony will b* itself a missionary society ;
and in alliance with the benevolent in our
own aud othef countries, may be expected
to take an important pari in leading the dis
persed ofJndahtothe dhepherd and Bis
hop of their souls. It may be added, as a
significant fact, that the only Protestant
mission at Jerusalem is under the direction
ofa society in this country.
We cannot further pursue this inviting
subject. Sufficient has been said, to give
strong corroboration to the idea, that God
has destined this nation to be a signal instru
ment in the accomplishment of Ins purpo
ses. And what my countrymen, could con
stitute a brighter and more glorious destiny ?
What if she should rise, sovereign of the
ascendant, aud sway the sceptre of the
world? What if she should become pre-emi
nent for all that is illustrious in science, and
all that is liberal and accomplished in liter
ature ? How worthless would this distinction
be, compared with that of aiding in estab
lishing the peaceful kiugdom of Immanuel;
of blessing the earth with freedom and
happiness; of becoming the benefactress,
of restoring to our desolated world the
smile of Paradise 1 0ur hearts ought to re
joice in the contemplation; and we should
all feel an additional tie to our country, and
stronger motives to consult her true inter
ests and her lasting happiness.
ILLUSTRATIONS OF SCRIPTURE.
Extracted from Dr. Richardson's Travels along
the Mediterranean, aud parts adjacent.
Exodus vi i 24. They could nut drink of
the water of the river. We may judge of
the distress which this eveut occasioned,
by the account Dr. R. gives us of the su
perior excellence of the water of the Nile.
“ If I were lo live five hundred years, I
shall never forget ihe eagerness, with
which they [the sailors] let down and pul
led up the pitcher au.l swigged off its con
teots, whistling and -inacking their fingers,
and calling out, ‘ tayeep. tayeep, good, good,’
as if bidding defiance to the whole wotld
to produce such another draught. Most of
the party, induced by their example, tasted
also of the far famed waters, and having
ta&ted, pronounced them of the finest rel
ish, notwithstanding the pollution of clay
and mud with which they were contamina
ted; a decision which we never bad occasion
to rev-ke during (he whole time of our
stay m Egypt, or even since. The water to
Albania is good ; —but the water of tbe
Nile n* the finest in the world.” Vol. 1, p.
33. To this 1 may add, that v hen Aotiochus
Tbcos, king >1 Syria, married the daughter
of Ptolemy Phiiadt -pirns, king of Egypt,
(before Christ 250,) tbe latter ordered reg
ular supplies of water from (he Nile to
he transoiiued to her, believing it to be
more beneficial to her health than any oth
er. See Universal History, Vol IX. Page
190. We may, therefore, easily conclude,
that it was no small plague to the Egypt
ians, when * they could not drink of Ihe riv
er.’
Exodus xx. 4. Thou shall not make unto
thee any graven image , or the likeness of any
thing that is in heaven above, &c. The Ro
manjals get rid of this prohibition by omit-
Price S pr. nnn. or, 1
t $3,00 in advance, j
ting it; bat the Greeks, though they ab*
hot images admit paintings. “No graven
image is allowed in.the Greek church ; but
the most hideous and blasphemous paint
ings, representative of God the Father,
God the Son, the Virgin Mary, and some
favourite saints, as Nicholas, Basil, or Spi
ridion, are always exhibited upon the
walls.” lb. Page 64.
Matt. xv. 9. In vain they do worship
me. teaching for doctrines the commandments
of men. The superstitious frivolities of the
Pharisees are equalled, if not surpassed, by
(he votaries of Muhammed. “In the creed
of the Moslems the dog is held to be un
clean, and must not be o much as touched;
and if by any accident they come into con
tact with this faithful companion to our
race, they must wash themselves in water
before they can say their prayers r enter
the harem. A true Mussulman generally
carries along with him a mat, a cloak, or
bit of cloth, on which he regularly prays,
and the purify of which he watches with
the utmost vigilance. If a dog happen to
touch it, or even to tread upon the place
on which it is usually spread, he is excited
to the most furionH indignation, and if not
restrained, would severely chastise, if not
put the animal to death. The mat, be
fore it can be used again, must be shaken,
and brushed, and cleaned; and stiictly
speaking, it ought to be wa u hed with wa
ter; —or, where water cannot be bad, rub
bed with sand. The place itself mu>f un
dergo a “imilar purification, or be exchang
ed for another. We had a dog on board
the vessel, and when the poor animal cbose
to run abom', it was ridiculous to see the
capers which the Mussulmans cut to avoid
him, and to keep him off ihe place sacred
to their devotions. With every respect
for the religious feelings, or even supersti
tions of others, we cannot help teeling
emotions of pity, or at times disgust, arising
in our minds on witnessing so much stress
laid upon non-essentials. Such a man
would purloin another man’s property, or
even imbrue his hands in his blood; but
would not touch a dog, nor a drop of wine,
or a bit of pork, or consecrated paste, for
the world.” lb. p. 328.
Zechaiuah ix. 5.- And the king shall par
ish from Gaza, und Ashkelon shall not be in
habited. “ Ashkelon was one of the proud
est Satrapies of (he lords of the Philistines;
now there is not an inhabitant within its
walls, and the prophecy of Zecbanah is
fulfilled; ‘The king shall perish from Ga
za, a.'.d Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.’
When the prophecy was uttered, both of
these cities were in an equally flourishing
condition, and nothing but the piescience
of heaven could pronounce on which of the
two, and in what manner, the vial of his
wrath should be poured out. Gaza is tru
ly without a king, the lofty towers of Ash
kelon lie scattered on the ground, and the
ruins w ithin its walls do not not shelter a
bumen being. How is the wrath of man
made to praise his Creator! bath he said,
and shall he not do it? The oracle was
delivered by the rnoutb of the prophet,
more than 500 years before the Christian
era, and we behold its accomplishment
1800 years after that event, and see with
our eyes that the king has perished from
Gaza, and that Ashkelon is not inhabited.”
Vol. II p. 204.
Luke x. 30. A certain man went down
from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among ties
thieves. We may gather from thi* that the
road from Jerusalem to Jericho was in our
Lotd’s time much infested by robbers. It
is a singular fact, (hat the same circum
stance characterizes that district at the
present day. “The roads to Bisan [from
Jerusalem] are, one by Jericho, up the
pleasing and fertile banks of tbe river Jor
dan, the other by Nablons and Jennin
through the mountainous district, both of
which are full of interesting scenes and
places of glorious recollection. The form
er [i. e. the road by Jericho l is tbe shortt st,
and had it been also the safest, or equally
safe, would probably have been preferred;
but (he unkindly disposition of the oatives
counterbalances every inducement. 77ie
traveller is liable to be insulted, plundered ,
and slopt on his journey. Even the pres
ence of one or two Turkish soldiers is in*
sufficient to protect him ; for though the
country is under the government of (he
Turks, yet their power is more nominal
than real.” lb. p. 395.
Psalm cxxv. 2 As the mountains are
round about Jerusalem, &c. “It is relative
ly low in its situation, and is inclosed by loir
mountains on (he north and on tbe east, and
a high one on Ihe south, and a low rocky
Out on the west, stretching oat toward
Bethkhero.” lb. p. 404.
Matt, xiii. 5. Some fell upon stony pla
ces, (or rather rocky pieces .) where they had
not much earth. Luke has it, some fell upon
a rick, cb. viii. 6. Our Lord doubtless bor
rowed his illustrations from the common
scenery around him. Tbe following ex
tract may elucidate the above-cited passa
ges: “The delightful vale of Esdrae-lon is
but thiuiy inhabited, and is not half cultiva
ted or stocked with cattle; we did not pass
a tingle village, and saw but few Bedoweeo
encampments till we came near lo Bisan.
As we approached this miserable village
we gradually withdrew from the vrlo, and
got upon an elsvatsd rosky flat, covered with