Newspaper Page Text
Vo 41 Vol. Vl.]
k rotn the Lit. and Evan. Magazine.
EUROPEAN PRINCIPLES IN AMERICA.
■The whole history of nature
proves, that a people without aettled prin
ciples of religion, are proDe to superstition.
This is true of the learned as well as the
rude. Lord Herbert, Voltaire, ’ Rousseau,
Volney, and Lord Byron were superstitious
men. The late miracle which was got up
at Washington, has received as much cre
dence from iotidels in this country as from
any class of Christians, except the lower
order of Catholicks among us. lodeed the
only sure preventive of superstition is sound
religious knowledge. In assigning the rea
son for this, I would say, if I were a pkreno
logiqt, that almost all men have the organ
of veneration. A<t it is, I say that a capaci
iy for religion is much a part of mao’s na
ture, as a capacity will be developed in eve
ry state of society, but always modified by
circumstances. An ignorant population un
settled as to their religions principles, is not
only prone to superstition, but to fanaticism.
At this moment, any man with a pale face
and a long beard, a singular habit, austere
mannerof life,and an ordinary degree ofcuti
ning, could pass among 1 thousands and tens
of thousands of our countrymen for a pro
lead them to the greatest extrav
agnr.cies. Unhappily, we are not without
actual proofs in support of this remark.—
Bu’ they who are deeply read in the hieto
ry of human nature, want no proofs.—They
know that the, elements of these evils are
wrought in the very constitution of man as
he now is. When such creatures as with
out fixed principles of religion, we are, fall
into sickness and sorrow, the troubled iin
agination shadows forth terrifiok images.
The airy nothings are embodied, aod re
ceive “a local habitation and a name.”
Their existence is fully believed, and they
are regarded with terror. An artful man,
at work with popular superstitions, can do
what he pleases with the people. Thous
ands of facts might be adduced to prove this
statement.
Lei us now exomine for a few moments
the condition of our country. In I lie parts
of this state the best furnished with
the means of moral and religious in
struction, it is placed beyond a doubt that
not more than one fifth of the population
acknowledge any sort of connexion with
any denomination of Christians. They have
never read the Bible ; have learned no
catechi-ro ; have been subjected to no re
ligions discipline; many of them cannot
read at all ; and they have no settled prin
ciples of religion.
Were it not (r the indirect influence of!
Christianity on the slate of society, thous-!
ands of our fellow citizens would at (hi* !
moment, be as superstitious as the ancient
Greeks and Rotnaus, or (he modern- Hin
doos. There is certainly no exaggeration
in the statement that in the whole popula
tion of this country, there are at present
five millions of poisons, who have no deter
mined opinions on the subject of religion.
In twenty five year? from this time, that
number will he doubled. It cannot be oth
er wi*e, without a miracle. Even if the
zeal of the churches should provide, with
in thjt period as great an amount of the
roeaif of the moral and religious instruc
tion, V nave been accumulated during the
two proceeding centuries, there will be in
our country ten millions of citizens without
any fixed religions principles. But what
reason have we to expect that an exertion
like this will be made l To supply vacan
cies occasioned by death, and keep up the
proportion which now exists between the
population and the means of improvement,
th* American churches ought to train up in
twenty-five year*, about eight thousand
minister*: the Bible Societies ought to dis
lidtiite three or four millions of Bibles.
Who r expect that this will he done ? If
zeal should not he greatly enkindled, and
exertion increased, the population will he
continually getting farther ahead of the
means of moral and religious improvement:
the ijjimuber of oitr countrymen, who have
no settled principles of’ religion will be con
stantly augmented; there will be a fearful
increase of all the evils of irreligioo, super
stition, and fanaticism. I speak not now of
the future consequences of this elate of
things ; of the lose of heaven, with all its
glory and felicity ; of the perdition that
awai.s the unholy and profane, the impen
itenl and unbelieving. I leave these awful
subjects to the retired and profound consid
eration of chrietiaoe; and address myself to
Ihe understandings and hearts of, all who
love their country. Let them meditate
deeply on the effects of this ignorance, of
the depravity, the dark superstition, and
(he (intractable fanaticism generally con
nected wish it.
Unwilling as I am to interrupt these clos
ings, | must, in a lone of the deepest ear
nestness inquire, in this age,- when a mis
sionary zeal pervades every part of Chris
tendom, will the members of these estab
lished churches in Europe let us alone ? Or
rather, will not mighty efforts be made to
I promote in this country, Christianity as it is
I modified in its external form, by the e.tab-
I lishment of the old world ? If any suppose
I that in London, in Paris, or in Rome, they
P fire ignorant of the situation of this country,
I Wit-a giievou* mistake. If aoy imagine
I Htitl there is a want of zeal in the propa-
the missionary.
n t .V>j. . i.- /¥*•-. : -v . J&£ A **♦’*7% *. r • • \ v
gandists of the old world, they are sadly
deluded. Ldt them read any impartial his
tory of the order of the Jesuits.—Let them
learn the true character of that body.
Learned, subtile, acquainted witht the
world, trained to the most absolute submis
sion totbeir Head, and bound by the most
solemn vows to the interests of the See of
Rome, they penetrate all countries, are
found io all disguises, and put on all appear
ances, to accomplish tbeir purposes. In
Europe they are devoted monarchists, in
America flaming republicans, in China Man
darins, and in Hindostan, Bramins.—They
flatter the powerful, caress the rich, and
indulge the young to gain influence. Now
this order has been re-established since the
fall of Napoleon, in fulness of its power,
and receives the countenance and support
ofsome of the greatest potentates in Eu
rope. Since the year 1815 there has been
a decided change in the tone and manner
ot Papists ; down as they were bv the strong
arm of the Emperor of France, thev were’
humble and modest. They have acquired
new hopes, aod cherish new expectations
since his fall.
Now the state of our population invite”
their labours among us. That large and
ever growing part of our countrymen, who
have no regular instruction, and no settled
principles of religion, furnishes as fine a
field as coulJ be desired for the wide pro
pagation of a superstition, contrived on pur.
pose to strike on the senses, and engage
the ignorant. The freedom of our institn
lions removes every harrier out of the way
of foreign missionaries. We could not pre
sent the least impediment to a propagandist
from abroad; without doing a deed, which
would at once brand us with indelible re
proach, and excite universal rage and fnri
among our countrymen Yes, (he freedom
of religion must at all hazards be maintain
ed. But (he opportunity thus afforded i
used to great purpose. Last year the Pope
made an additional appropriation of twenty
lour thousand dollars a year, for the promo
lion of religion in U. Siate*, and three new
bis ho pricks were established by lum. ir,
our borders. I have good reason to be
lieve that a missionary society at Paris pur
sues the same work, with an assiduity, a
zeal and liberality, which may well pu’
our countrymen to shame ; and that it often
receives and from members of the royal
family. One may see splendid proofs’ of
the liberality of Louis XVIII. iu the cath
edral church at Baltimore.
The following extract from a well known
and much admir ed periodical work, furnish
es at once a confirmation of these facts, and
a striking comment on them. In the Chris
tian Observer for May, 1824. page 33d. we
find that three gentlemen from the United
•States were then in England, soliciting do
nations for three distinct objects in this
country ; bishop Hobart, for the Theologi
cal Seminary in New York ; bishop Chase,
fora similar institution in Ohio; and thp
Rev. Mr. Wheaton for (be Episcopal Col
lege in Hartford, Connecticut. All that is
necessary for nuy present purpose is to
state, that some disagreements which took
place in relation to these objects, were aim
cably settled ; that it was finally determined
(he subscriptions for them all, should go on
at the same lime ; and that Lord Kenyon,
Lord Gambier, the Rev. Dr. Gaskin, and
Henry Hoare, E*q. consented to act as tros
lees for a Innd to he raised for the benefit
ot the Theological Seminary to be establish
ed in Ohio. These gentlemen issued an ad
dress, commending this institution to the
British publick. From this address, I make
the extract adverted to above.
“ The undersigned cannot but notice, as
a strong additional motive for supporting
the plans of bishop Chase, that the Roman
Catholir.k bishop in the state ot Ohio, ac,cor
ding to information lately received from
that quarter, is now on a special mission at
Rome, in order to solicit the means of es
taolishing a College in Ohio ; while it is an
nounced in the publick papers ot this coun
try, that the Pope has lately made an addi
tional grant of 24.000 dollars to the Society
de Propaganda Fide (tor propagating the
Faith) for the support of the Roman Catho
lick Church in North America. As the
great importance of making early efforts in
the new settlement* of America will, doubt
less, cause much of this wealth to flow to
the westward, the friends of the Protestant
faith will feel a pecul ar obligation lying up
on them to strengthen bishop Chase's hands.”
My object io making this extract is to
show, that Roman Catholicks are making
*uch efforts to promote their faith in this
country, as excite something of a feeling of
jealousy in the members of the English es
tablishment. Ido not for a moment bring
the Church of Rome into a c< mparison with
the established church of England. All that
I want to show is, that the established
churches in Europe, regard this country as
a place, where they may seek for converts.
I consider it as put beyond a doubt, that
where religion is not exteodeJ by the
American churches among our growing
population, this will be attempted by mis
sionaries from Europe; and chiefly by Ro
man Catholicks. Thi* plan extend* more
widely, and cuts more deeply than many
are aware. I cannot but mark the increas
ing interest which is taken by Europe in
America. Nothing in the whole world ere-
nf a „i. Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.— Jtrut Christ.
an tne dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports.— Washington.
MOUNT ZION, (HANCOCK COUNTY, GEORGIA,) MONDAY, APRIL 18, 1825.
ate* so much uneasiness in the ruling pow
ers of the old world, as the example of
America. The idea of employing force to
overturn our institutions has beeu abandon
ed. But is there any thing absurd in the
supposition that, understanding our situa
tion, and the progress of population among
us, they are willing to bring the powerful
operation of moral causes to bear upon us?
And how would our jealous poliliciaus feel,
if in a few years they should find some mil
lions of our fellow-citizens much under
the influence of priests, as toe populace of
Spain or Italy? And what if those priests
should own allegiance to aforetgo power?
I repeat, Christianity, in some form, will be
the prevalent religioo of this country, It
it is not extended, as the nation grows, by
enlightened teachers, on American princi
ples; the country will swarm with foreigD
missionaries, who will exert an influence in
deep and unappeasable hostility to the very
genius of our institutions, this cannot
bo prevented but by destroying some of the
most valuable parts of onr constitution
From this whole statement, I derive two
inferences, which appear to me mdispula
hie.
1. They who oppose the exertions of
Christian benevolence in onr country,
through jealousy of religion, act a very in.
con-itent part. They are defeating their
own avowed purposes. An establishment
of any particular form of religion in this
country is impossible. No denominations
of Christians wi.-h for it. The principles
ot religions liberty are engrafted in the
very constitution of the American church
es ; “grow with their growth, aud strength
en with their sti r-gth.” But us far as the
extension ot those is prevented hy the in
difference of Christians, nr the hostility of
oiliers, an opening is left for emissaries from
abroad to come in. and operate on our pop
olaiion. There are persons in this country
now, to whom I would no mote ‘rust my
ofe, if they bad power, than 1 would to the
‘ender mercies ot the holy inquisition. How
Tinge is the infatuation of man! The
most zealous of the European powers
vould ask ot ns nothing more, than to give
up onr population to the guidance of teach
.-is, whom they could easily send by bund
••"ds and by thousands io onr country. And
ye- many of onr, .c.i'izen*, because forsooth
they dread the iiiflu. nci- <4 (he clergy,, who
were boro, acd educated, and eie married
here, and are bound to our society by all
(he chanties of life and alt the feeling o of
patriotism—because, I say, -hey dread the
influence o| such men as these, are leaving
a mighty space to be occupied by Jesuits
and other foreigners, and nff-.rding an op
portunity to build up Institutions, the re
sources of which me drawn from abioad,
from Paris aud Rome ! A Theological Sem
ioary among ourselves, where thp sons of
American patriots are trained for the minis
try ol the gospel, is frowned on and oppos
ed ; is crippled in it* resources, and limited
in its operations ; and thus ttnple room is
left for the labours of spiritual teachers
from St. Oiners, and other seminaries, un
der the influence of corrupt establishments.
2. My second inference is especially ap
plicable to Christians. Bevjcnd a doubt, it
is the first duty of the Am-tricao chinches
to promote Christianity in their own borders.
Is it fit; is it right that tnorediould be done
to butid up churches in the lew settlements
and among our destitute population, by peo
ple of other nations (ban is done by our own
cnnntrympn ? I speak to societies rich in re
source*, and strong in numqers—l speak to
all whom the Lord has hissed with abun
dance hotli temporal and spiritual—-how can
you answer it to God and Vour country, to
leave the growing population of this land
exposed, as we have seen tkem to he, to all
the evils of a wretched superstition, to all
the influences of a corrupt religion. You
may fear no evil—but your children, your
friend*, when yon are laid in the grave,
may suffer the deplorable consequences of
your supineness. The writer of this, lives
where he sees and feels the want of a regu
lar ministry, and sufficient religious instruc
tion. In many places near him, not one
tenth of the population are connected with
the church. Preaching is rare: Sabbath
schools are not; nor Bible societies; oor
missionary exertions; nor indeed is any
thing done to meliorate the moral condition
of the people. It is growing worse and
worse. The present generation is more
irreligious than the last—the approximation
to heathenism is rapid. The blessed name
of the Saviour is only used for profane ex
clamation, and the book of God answers no
purpose bat to swear by. While I see all
around me a scene of moral desolation, and
the prospect darkening every hoor, I won
der at the apathy of Christians. I daily
hear the cry of perishing souls; I some
times witness the agonies of sinners dying
without hope, aod I am astonished that so
little is done to promote religioo in my
country.
A letter from Aleppo says, it is believed
at that place, eveu by the Catholicks
themselves, that the Firman of the Grand
Seignor against the Bible, was issued at the
instaoce of the Calhnlick Priests.
Anew Protestant house of worship was
opened at Paris in August last, under tbe
patronage of the British ambassador.
From “Horne’s Introduction.”
! CONVERSION OF THE APOSTLE
PAUL, ABRIDGED FROM THE OB
SERVATIONS OF LORD LYTTLE
TON.
1. If he was an impostor, he must have
declared what he knew to be false, aDd he
must have been influenced to such a con
duct by some motive or other. But the on
ly conceivable motives for religious impos
ture, are, the hopes ot advancing one’s tem
poral interest, credit, or power; or the
prospect of gratifying some passion or ap
petite under the authority of the new reli
gion. Now, that none of these motives
could influence Paul to profess the faith of
Christ crucified, is manifest from the state
ot Judaism and Christianity, at the period
when he renounced the former, and embra
ced the latter faith. Those whom he left
were the disposers of wealth, of dignity,
and of power, in Judea; those to whom he
went were indigent men, oppressed, and
kept from all means of improving their for
tunes. The certain consequence, there
fore, of his taking the part of Christianity,
was the loss not only of all that he posses
sed, but of all hopes of acquiring more;
whereas, hy continuing to persecute the
Christians, he had hopes, rising almost to a
certainty, of making his fortune by the fa
vour of those who were at the head ol the
Jewish slate, to whom nothing could so
much recommend him, as the zeal which be
had shown in that persecution. As to cred 1
it or reputation, could the scholar ol Gama
liel hope to gain either by becoming a
teacher in a College of fishermen ? Could
he flatter himself, that the doctrines which
he taught would, either in or out of Judea,
do him honour when he knew that “they
were to the Jews a stumbling block, and to
the Greeks foolishness?” Was it then the
love of power that induced him to make
this great change ? Power over whom ! ov
er a flock ot sheep w hom he hiinseH assist
ed to destroy, acd whose very shepherd had
lately been murdered! Perhaps it was with
the view of gratifying some licentious pas
sion, under the authority of the new reli
gion, that he commenced a teacher of that
teligion. This cannot be alleged ; for his
wmings brea-b.e nothing but the strictest
m.Tahtj, obedience to magistrates, order,
and government, with the utmost abhor
rence ol all licentiousness, idleness, or loose
behaviour, under the cloak of religion. We
no where find in his works, that saints are
above moral ordinances; that dominion is
fouuded io grace; that monarchy is deepo
tistr. which ought to Le abolished; that the
fortunes of th rich ought to be divided
among the poor; that there is no difference
in moral actions ; that any impulses of the
mind are to direct us against tbe light of our
reason and the laws of nature; or any of
those nicked tenets hy which the peace of
society has been often disturbed, and the
rules of morality olten broken, hy men pre
tending to act under the sanction of divine
revelation. He makes no distinctions, like
tile impostor ot Arabia, io favour ot himself;
nor does Hny part of his life, either before
or after hi* conversion to Christianity, hear
any mark ol a libertine disposition. As
among the Jews, so among Christians, his
conversation and manners were blameless.
It ha* sometimes beeu objected to the olb
er Apostles, by those who were resolved
not to credit their testimony, that, having
been deeply engaged with Jesus during his
life, they were obliged, for the support of
tbeir cwn credit, and from having gone too
far to return, to continue she same profea
sions after his death ; but this can by no
means be SRid of Paul. On the contrary,
whatever force there may be id sucb n
mode of rersoDing, it all tends, to convince
us, that Paul must naturally have continued
a Jew, and an enemy to Christ Jesus. If
they were engaged on one side, he was
as strongly engaged on (be other, if shame
withheld them from changing sides, much
more ought it to have stopped him; who,
from his superiour education, must have
been vastly more sensible to that kind of
shame, than the mean and illiterate fisher
men of Galilee. The only other difference
was, that they, by quitting their master af
ter bis death, might have preserved them
selves; whereas, he, by quitting the Jews,
and taking up the cross of Christ, certainly
brought on bis own destruction.
2. As Paul was not an impostor, so it is
manifest that he tvas not an enthusiast.
Heat of temper, melancholy, ignorance and
vanity, are the ingredients of which eolho
siasro is composed; but from all these, ex
cept the first, the Apostle appears to have
been wholly free. That he had great fer
vour ol zeal, both when a Jew and when a
Christian, in maintaining what he though to
be right, cannot he denied; but he was at
all times so much master of his temper, as,
in matters nf indifference, to “become all
thing* to all men,” with the most pliant
condescension, bending his notion* and man
ner* to their*, as far as bis duty to God
would permit; a conduct compatible nei
ther with the stiffness of a bigot, nor with
tbe violent impulse* of faoatical delusion.
That be was not melancholy, is evident
from hi* cnndoct io embracing every meth
od which prudence could suggest, to escape
danger and t-hun persecution, when he
could do ii without betraying the duty of
his office or the honour of bis God. A mel-
[Price $3 50 per arm.
ancholy enthusiast courts p.-rsecolir h ; and
1 when he cannot obtain it, afflict- himself
with absurd penauces; but the holmt sa of
Paul ( consisted only in tbe simplicity of h
godly life, and in the unwearied perform*
■ ance of his apostolical duties. That he was
1 ignorant.no man will allege who j not gross
ly ignorant himself; for he appear* to have
been master not only of the Jewish learn
ing, but also of the Greek philosophy, and
to have breti very conversant with the
1 Greek poets. That he was Dot credulous,
is clear from his having resisted the evi
dence of all the miracles performed on
; earth by Chri?t, as well a* tho-e that were
f afterwards wrought hy the Apostle*; to
1 the fame of which, a* he lived at Jerusa-
I lem, he could not possibly have been a
stranger. And that he was as free from
vanity as any man that ever lived, may be
gathered from all that we see in his wri
tings or know of his life. He represents
himself as the least of the Apostles,.and not
meet to he railed an Apostle. He says
that he is the chief of sinners; and be pre
fers, in the strongest terms, universal be
nevolence to faith, prophecy, miracles, and
all the gifts and graces with which he could
be endowed. Is this the language of vani
ty or enthusiasm ? Did ever fansuck pre
fer virtue to his own religious opinions, to
illuminations of the spirit, and even to the
merit of martyrdom ? It is therefore in vain
for the enemies of Christianity to attempt
1 to resolve this miraculous conversion of
Paul into the effects of enthusiasm. The
power of imagination in enthusiastica! minds
is, unquestionably, very slropg; hut it al
ways acts in conformity to tbe opinions im
printed upon it at the time of its ivotkmg,
and can no more act against thru*, than a
rapid river can carry a vessel against tbe
cuirent of its own stream. Now-, nothing
ran he more certain, than that whercSaul
departed from Jerusalem for Damasrue,
armed with authority from the r.hiel priests
to tiring the Christian-, who were there,
bound to Jerusalem, whether they w ere men or
women. (Acts ix. 2.) —an authority solicited
by himself, and granted to him it l-is own
express desite, —bis mind wish most strong
ly possessed with an opinion against Christ
and hi* follower*. To give those opinions
a mere active force, his passion* at thiit
time concurred, being inflamed in the high
est degree by (be irritating consciousness
of his past conduct towards ‘hem, the pride
nf supporting a part in which he had volun
tarily engaged, and the credit which he
found it procured for him among the chief
priests and rulers, whose commission he
bore. If, in such a state and temper of
mind, an rnthusiaetical man had imagined
(hat he saw a vision from heaven, denoun
cing the anger of God against the Chris
tians, and commanding him to persecute
them without any mercy, it might be ac
counted for by the natural power of enthu
siasm. But, that, in the very instant of hia
being engaged in the fiercest and hottest
persecution -. gainst them,-—no circumstance
having occurred to change bis opinion, or
alter the bent of his disposition,—he should
at once imagine him-elf called by a heav
enly vision to |e the Apostle nt Christ,
whom, bu a moment before, he deemed an
impostor, and a blasphemer that had been
justly put to death upon the cross:—this is
in itself wholly incredible, aod so far from
being a probable effect of enthusiasm, that
just a contrary effect must have been natu
rally produced by that cause. But. still
further to show that this vision could not be
a phantom of Paul’s own creating, let it be
observed, that he was not alone when he
saw it; there were many others in compa
ny, whose mind* were no better disposed
than hi* to the Christian faith. Could it be
possible, (bat tbe minds of all these men
should be so strangely affected, as to make
them believe that they saw a great light
shining about them, above the brightness of the
sun at noon day , and heard the sound of a
voire from heaven, though not tbe wordß
which it spake, (Acts xxii. 6,9,)wben in re
ality they neither saw nor heard any such
thing? Could they he so infatuated with tbe
conceit of their own fancies, a* to fall down
from their horses, together with Saul (Acts
xxvi. 14.) and he speechless through fear,
when nothing extraordinary had happened
either to him or them ; especially consider
ing that this apparition did not appear in
the night, when the souse* are more easily
imposed upon, but at mid day? If a sudden
frenzy had seized upon Paul, from any dis
temper ot body or mind, can we suppose
bis whole company.—men of different con
stitutions and understandings,—to have
been nt once affected in the same mam er
with him, so that not the distemper alcne,
but also the effects of it* would exactly
agree ? If all had gone mad together, would
not tbe frenzy ofsome have taken a differ
ent torn, and presented to them different
objects? Thi* supposition is so contrary to
nature and all possibility, that unbelief must
find some other solution, or give up tbe
point.
3 Having shown that Paul was neither
an impostor nor an enthusiast, it remaioa
only to inquire, whether he was deceived
by the fraud of others?/ Thi* inquiry, in
deed, may he despatched iu a very fei*
word* For who was or were to deceive
him? A lew iDiteietir fishermen nt Galilee.
It was morally impossible for such men tp