Standard, Volume 5, Number 1, Madison, Jefferson County, 15 October 1835 — Page 4

THE STANDARD

Concluded fromfrst iagc. itnd the Biblical Repertory. You may search the w rks of God with a microscope, and I defy you to find i.ny such ilnnj :is a plan to make s n. ou can't rind in all his kingdom a m innf iclory of wicketiuess which he lus built f"r th it pirfculat j,;j-p 9- Y in m iv light up ten thousand suns and March every cavern, and every deep recess, nnd you cun find no" such tiling. He has indeed eslabl shed sn extensive and glorious manufactory of righteousness, but he has given no law which temp's man to m neither doth he tempt any man. His whole

s-orernment and providence tend the other way. I ' Thoy lead men to repentance; both Ins afflictive j a ri ;..iiiLTpnt nrovincea lead men back to (Jod. j r, r,r,t ta-,t tno iwikto of anvtuin'? ' -- - r that God has contrived to m ke sin with, neither is j od the author of sn, nor f riolence offered iolhe j r-iH of the creatures, nor isilir liberty or cntincn- j r. cf second cause t.tken amy. but rather establish- ,'; " 'Phis is mv philosophy. B it if Dr. Wilson's ! ; 'i-lotophv docs not muke a necessity ol nature '.;. ich forces men to sin, and of which God is the ..';har, then I am as unable to understand what he means, as ha is unibla to comprehend what it is I mean bv natural ability. Dr. Wilson : I d? diy, understand whit he rr.es ns by natural sbili'y, though I never did before. I understand him now. On the s ibiect ot the agency of ths Iloiv Spirit it regeneration, I have already explained my views, Wi.et is to ho reeonci ed? i he unwillmc is to he trv.de willing. I do not deny that in the prep iratory work towards this change, God may operate accor-uii-." to the laws of physical nature, by his own dir. ctpower, in counteracting the benumbing effects of sin, on man's bodily powers. I do not deny that he may, by a direct influence of his Spirit, excite r!,e mind of a sinner, as he stimulates the imagination of a poet. I have no doubt that he may create great facilities, and 'bathe may give the motions of j i.jiiid great additional power. But the Confession r.f Faith and the Bible both deny that there is any phyisical mode of renewing the heart; and whitever inay be those auxiliary influences, which accomviny the work or prepare for it, I do believe God 1 when he says he begets men by the truth. Let j God be true, and all doubt is ended. 1 adopt the j ercs of the Larger Cathechism on the subject ot . t ilecinal callinrr: 'Bv his Word and Spirit.' So I hold. And when it is done, it is done. When the 1-I is drained to the mill bv a log chain, then it is i dragged by a log chain, and not moved by a man's J hand. If God converls a sinner by ins word and j spirit, it is bv his word and Spirit that he converts him, and that is my heresy. Now let ns hear the Shorter Catechism: 'How is the word made effectual to salvation.' 'God maketh the reading but more especially the preaching of the word an effectual means of convinir? and converting sinners. "hat is mv faith. An effectual mean3 is the f meats which does the thing. If a lever put under j .i roc is the means of raising it, then it is the lever j i-i - . .1 l- 1 I. 4 1... , , i vnicti raises u, uiougu me ieu-i ie moveu o iu.ni. Effectual means, are those which produce the effect; nnd I cannot make plain, more plain. As to the charge of hypnericy, in saying that 1 believe the Confession of Faith to contain the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, I have given what I trust, is a satisfactory explanation; and I have accompanied it by what I hope will be deemed sufficient proof. It is not often that I notice vague reports: but one I understand is circulating in some circles, which it is my duty to contradict. It is reported tint 1 said sneenngly concerning the Confession of Faith: there is no document which means one thing and says another, equal to that. What I may have said jocular among friends, I cannot tell, and will not be answerable for. But I never uttered any such sentiment seriously, because I hold none such. I believe that when the Confession speaks of guilt, it does not mean what is now understood by that term, viz. personal desert of punishment ; but that it means social guilt, liability to punishment in consequence of social relations; end in this sense, and with this reference only, I may hive s tid sportmgly, or I may have said seriously, that it savs one tiling and means another: that is, it says a thing which ibe word then meant, but the words employed, notr, mean another thing. The guilt of Adam's sin, is our liability lo punishment lor Adam's sin; and punishment means the coming upon us of the penalty which was threatened to mm. And now I believe I have done with the charge of hypocrisy. The longer I Ftudy the Confession of Faith and Catechism, and the more 1 compare them With the scriptural proofs there cited, the more I admire that strength f intellect and lh.it burning piety, the evidenci of which is resplendent throughout the work. And instead of wishing it remodeled, if I ever refuse to stind up agiinst any such proposition, may my right hand forget its coining and mv tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth. I lutein: to introduce it, as a text book, in the Theological Seminary, over which 1 preside. 1 consider it the most admirable system of oompiritive iheologv which the world ever saw. While it speaks the truth, it is so constructed as to give a back stroke at errors of all sorts; and I fully believe it furnishes a betic- foundation for a sound theological education, than all the other text books which have ever been adopted. Dr. Wilson is alarmed at some of the new measures which have been introduced into the church: So am I. Ir. Wilson is afraid of the tendency lo Arminianism in some modern preaching: So am I. Not indeed among the settled clergy of New Eng land, nor the settled clergy w ithin the bounds of the Presbyterian Church; but among speculative adventurers. We live in a day of Uliraism; when the child bchaveth himself proudly against the ancient, and when with certain unfledged upstarts, it is reason enough for blowing upon anything with contempt, that the thing is ancient. This spirit, I believe it is the duty of all of us to resist. I fur one shall resist it. An attempt has been made to identify mc with Mr. Finney. Now, I had with that gentleman and ethers a long and arduous controversy, which continued, without intermission, for nine days. It was held in a council at New Lebanon. We discussed many points, and we parted without being mutually satisfied in respect to them: and he went about bis Lord's work in his own way. Mr. Finney is a man of a powerful intellect ;he is a holy man; I have prayed with him and wept with him, and have felt the beatings of his great, warm heart before God. And those who speak slightingly of Mr. Finney, may do well to remember, that there is such ft thing es offending God by speaking against his little ones. Mr. Finney has, since that time, gained knowledge by experience. He has reform ed some of his measures, which I suposed to be of dangerous tendency, and he is doing, as I hope, au.bwd. w ith but fw attendant evil coiwequen -

ces. When I was in Boston, as many as twenty deacons, or oilier influential members of the churches, (jot together, and invited the ministers to meet th in; and they proposed tint we should send fi.t Mr. Fainev. Aft' r consultation ami d scnss on. when it cam to vote, every layman, I believe, voted for the meisuie, and every minister against it The interposition f the ministers prevented hi?being sjnt for, much to the grief of many of the people. Some time after this, Dr. Wisner went to Providence to labor in a protracted meeting.

Flier.; he met Mr Finney, heard his doctrine, and came acquainted with bis views and measures; d when he returned to Boston, he told the mins that he was satisfied, and be thought that we oujrntto vied to the wishes ot the churches. vve assented accordingly: and then the- Union church of B ston, wi'h the approbation of the pistois and the other evangelical churches, invited Mr. Finney to come and labor amongst us. When be came to Bvston, I received and treated him as 1 think Dr. Wilson ought to have reeived and should have treated mo. I jjive him the riuht hand of fellowship, as expressive of my conti.lence in him, at least till something else should occur So shake it. He committed himself to our advice and guidance; he betrayed noihing of ex'ravaii mce; be was jusi as co-npiiint ag a limb. And this I will s iv, that it w 11 he brig before I hear again as much truth, with as liule to o! j-ct to. in the manner of its ex hthitio.i. In the sane space of time. He preached no heresy in mv hoarnm: none. J here was one of his measures which I did not entirely approve, and f e,m w hich I wished him to desist, and he did desist. I have considered thus much as due both to myself and Mr. Finney. On the doctrine ol perfectionism I have but one word to s.ty. The whole charge appears wonderful lo me. In support of it, Dr. W., qunied those ; texts which I bring to prove man's moral inability, without a word of explanation, or the least refer ence to the fact of my having showed that there were two sorts of inability. He quoted them, with nothing to explain them but the sound of the word; and now, since he basset the example, I wish to try Dr. Wilson in the same way, as to the doctrine 0f perfectionism. According to the Doctor, there is but one sort of inability, that is a natural inability, such as renders the thing impracticable and impossible. It is declared in 1 John iii. 9; 'Whosoever is born of God, dotli not commit sin, for his seed remaineth in him an( l,e cannot sin, because he is born of God.' xow? as cannot always expresses a natural inabil ity, ar.d implies an absolute impossibility, we have God himself as a wilness, that a christian is under a natural inability, to sin, and that it is absolutely impossible that he should sin. If this is not perfectionism, what is? Let Dr. Wilson get clear of the enpeof this argument if he can. Dr. Wilson. That I will do immediately, by i r.dontinrr ihc principle Dr. B. himself haslaid down. jje gr!V3 we ;ire ncver to interpret a document so n8 llnrCes?ari!v to make it contradict itself. . . . . - . . . jol1 ls icre CO;nnarmr those w bo are horn ot tiod with 1 he nnre'jenerate, who comm t the sm unto death; and r.!l that John means is, that christians cannot commit the unpndonable sin, because they are horn of God. This is not perfectionism. Dr. Beecher, without larther entering into an argument on this point, proceeded lo support, by documentary evidence, the second ground of defence which he had set op: viz. 'h it if he hid not succeeded in proving the identity of his views with these expressed in the Confession of Faith, he had at least proved that the difference between them was such only as is consistent with an honest subscription to the Confession. On this point, ho quoted the ful lowing extract from Dr. Green's review, in the Christian Advocate, of the sermon called 'The t--jirli . . n ft v f-ri -.I In ill iinlc' L 'Mill HUM. Il'l-l. l. .. ..... . P. 23. 'On the statement here given of the chief articles of what Dr. B. denominates the Evangelical System, we remark, that although it will doubtless be considered as a Calvinistic statement, it is nevertheless one to which some who are Cdvinis's, in the strictest and most proper sense of the term, would not unreservedly sabscribe. To oik: or two ariich s they would certainly except. F . 3t. 'We hope, as this sermon is published under a copy-right, that the printer who holds tiiat right will send a good supply of copies into the south west, where they are scarcely less needed than at the head-quarters of liberality itself: which, as eve ry body knows, are established m the east. Here is Dr. Green, the head and piitern if orthodoxy, while marking the dissent of the strictest C .K inists to one or two articles, yet expressing his hope that a good supply of my sermon w ill b, sent out to the west. And on the ground of this very sermon, I am to be turned out of the church as a heretic. I w- 11 now lay before the court pail of a letter written by Dr. Alexander, of the seminary at Puneeton, and which app-ared in the Biblical Repertory, published in that town, under the eyes of the po!essors. Dr. Wdson here inquired, on what evidence it was said that this letter was written by Dr. Alexander. Dr. Beecher replied: on the ground of common fame, uncontradicted; as it would hue been contradicted, if the fact had been otherwise. Dr. Wilson said, that it was understood that the Professors at Princeton had entered an express disclaimers to being answerable for all articles appearing in that work. Mi. Brainard said, that there was one fact which put the authorship of the letter beyond doubt. The Rev. Mr. Mc.Calla, ef Philadelphia, had published a severe criticism on the letter under the idea that it was the production of Dr. Alexander, at the same time whitewashing Dr Millerand Dr. Hodge, as not being answerable for it; and, iu a subsequent number, Dr. Miller and Dr. Hodge had both come out and denied the authorship, without saying or insinuating that the letter had been falsely attributed to Dr. Alexander. Dr. Beecher. I shall take the responsibility of reading it as Dr. Alexander's letter. And here we will step out of our way, to express our opinion, respecting creeds and confessions. No society of a religious kind can exist without them, written or unwritten. None of the formularies are infallible, unless so far as thecontain the very words of the Holy Scriptures; when a man subscribes a creed, or asserts solemnly to any Confession of raiih, he does it, just as if lie had composed it for the occasion, ns expressing the opinions which ho entertains on the d ffercnt articles of faith which it comprehends. It matters very liule, what the precise form f words may be, in which our assent is given: the understanding of all impartial men will be, that no man can be honest, who adopts, without explicit qn 'hflcation, a creed which contains doc trines which he does not believe. lo admit this. 1 wonld ndcr all Buch m8t rurueuU and engements'

perfectly nugatory; and is repugnant to the moral sense of every unsophisticated mind. But when a nan composes a creed for liims' If. ' e will be ready ! acknowledge tint it is not in 1 le; th:t, in n any respects, the doctrine asserted n:ig!i! have aeen more cle il ly expressed, and tli.it his langu i" m iy not always hive been the most itppropnate." I now claim, on the doctrine of man's free agon-

ey, a tr.ore exact agreenent wiih the Confession of Faith, than is here required by Dr. Alexander. And I think Dr. Wilson will find it hard to claw off and to get so f ir out oftiie channel th it we shall not float in the same stream. As to the doctrine of original sin, let him point on! the difference between us, afier those points are excluded which lie agrees should be excluded. If there are any discrepancies between us, they musi rest upon some one or other of those excluded points. And now, as to the other tpiestion, have the ministers of our church done writing? S'lill we have a new test ? Or shall we now break bonds. and go east, west, north, and south, into fr igments, because we cmnot all come at an exact numerical identity on every point of human belief ? I believe that we aie now us near to such identity as men can reasonably hope to be. And of this I am confident, that the more we pray, the more we shall agre There is one other point on which I must say a few words. Our church constitution makes an accuser responsible in his own person, should he fail in substantiating his accusation ; ami provides a reaction upon himself of that penal evil which must otherwise have ftllen upon the accused. And as a general rule, I accord to it the praise of being both just and expedient. But there may be exceptions, sometimes to its justice, and sometimes to its expediency; and in the present case, I do not believe it will be expedient, or that it is your duty, to punsh Dr. Wilson, should you decide that he has failed to establish the charges. This is wholly a ques tion of doctrinal differences. Thre exists no proof! of malice on either side. Dr. Wilson's is an honest, though I must think it a mistaken course. His object has been to produce the comparative development of truth and heresy. While I pretend not to defend the manner in which he has approached tins object, I accord to mm honest intention. Admitting him to have failed in his proof, ami thereby to have subjected himself to penal consequences; still, as the points in controversy are matters concerning which the Presbyterian church is waxing warm, I desire that the decision of them should be as little mixed up with personalities as possible. Should you fix a stigma upon my brother as a false accuser, and the case go up by appeal, vou throw at once a firebrand into the church. There are many who love Dr. Wilson, and with good reason ; and though many of these might otherwise be willing lo acquit me, yet if my acquittal must he his condemnation, and must involve Ihe sanction of your sentence upon him, ynu will at once throw into the equal scale of justice all those powerful sympathies which ever cluster round the leader in any cause; and instead of presenting to the higher court i question purely doctrinal and intellectual, you bring up one of the most exciting questions which can be agitated, viz. a question of personal character, both his and mine. I have never believed tint truth will triumph by the f tree of legislation. Decide as the court may, it will not prevent men's preaching either way. h is n do ibt proper and nocessiry to remove convicted heretics, if such shall be in' your communion. But you can never cramp the intellect of such a .1 il . ir peopie . is ii'Vtn in mis couuiry. vou cannot pre vein or repress free inquiry. You new. will compel men, as with a leaden memory, to retain forever just whit was taught them in the nursery. 1 hope the Presbytery will agree with m? in the opinions tint it il inexp dient to censure mv accuser. If you shall decide th n bo h 1C (.ii-.l m" sustain the charges agiinst me, and if you should think that some .act of public, just ce is due to the mm who openly advances such charges agiinst his biother and cannot prove them, still remember, that this is not the proper body to perform such an act. Lei ns w aive th it imagined necessity, and leave the case to Synod. I am not willing to stand here and hear my church bell ring, while his is put to silence. We are not alienated from each other. There is no personal bitterness between us. We are as ready to see eye to eye, and as ready to draw in the same harness as two men ever were, if we could but agree in our views. And although Dr. Wdson does not now see his way clear to extend his Iv.nd to me, it is pot certain but that after he has considered this matter over; after he has communed with his friends, and above all, after he h is communed with his God. he may come to a different conclusion. Bat if you put upon him a sentence of ecclesiastical censure, you in ike il certain that he never will. And now, in conclusion, T throw myself into the hands of the Presbytery ; and I do so with the same kindness as I feel toward my brother. Theie is no sting in my heart. I believe you will do what is right. But if not, and if you lay on me an unjust censure, I shall appeal. Dr. Wilson now rose and said: I shall offer hut a very brief reply. The patience of the Court in hearing my several explanations as Dr. Beecher proceeded in his reply, together with my expectation that the whole proceedings will be faithfully reported, supersedes the necessity of any replication by argument. All I wish lo reply is to Dr. B's last remark. I am always, 1 hope, thankful to any one for courtesy and kindness: but do I apprehend that D. Beecher's last remarks had lhat design more towards the speaker than toward myell? My request to Presbytery is that they will do their duty: by inIhcling punishment wherever it is deserved, without showing favor lo any man. 1 ask no clemency. All I ask is justice. I 33k that the rules of our Book of Discipline shall be strictly enforced, on the grounds of justice, truth, purity and the peace of the Church. The rule is this: 'The prosecutor of a minister shall be previously warned' that if he fail to prove the charges, he must himself be censured as a slanderer of the gospel ministry in proportion to the malignancy or rashness that shall appear in the prosecution.' Dis. ch. v. sec. 7. If you say that the charges are not sustained, the book does not say ton shall censure me. There is no such rule. It says merely, that if you do censure, it shall be in proortion to the malignancy or rashness which shall appear in the prosecution. I appeal to Dr. Beecher's own statements, and to the good sense of this court, to say whether I have manifested either malignity, or rashness. I appeal to ihe Searcher of hearts on that subject; and I deny lhat you have any right to censure me, even if you shall decide that the charges have not been sustained. Presbytery now took a recess. After the recess th roll was called by the MHlerator,und the mem-

ocrs in succession naa an opportunity oi delivering their sentiments upon the case. Several availed themselves i f the privilege; but in most cases, it ; was wove. I. Toe loll b iui; eone through, Pies- i l-t ry took a recess until the ..fienn.on. In the j iitieruoon the meinbeis of Fresbyiery were called upon to vote sepmielv on each charge by s tying j Sustained or Xot Sustained.

The fiist charge being then read, the vote upon It stood as follows: Sustained. Messers. Daniel flajden, Francis Mon fort, Ludwell G. Gaines. S ivres G 'zly, Adiian Aton, J. Bart. Wm- Skillinger, Israel B'own, Peter H. Kemper, A. P. Andrews, Andrew Harvey, Win. Cumhack. 12. xot Sustained. Messrs. Andrew S. Morrison, Thomas J. lt'o-, Beuitmin Graves, Artemis Bullaid, T. . ad, A. 1 . R inkm, Augustus Pomeroy, Thoin is Brainard, George B cchei. R.iberi Porter, John Archard, I leni 'l lajrenian, J. (i. I'.urticl. Hi ice R. Blair, J. C. Tunis. J.l von, W.C.uev, J. D. Low, S. II igeman, T. Mitchell, W Owens. A. P. Bodcy, S.I is Wooabury . 23. So the first charge was declared to bo not sustained. On the second charge the vote stood the same as on the first charge. As the facts included in the third charge were D admitted by Dr. Beecher, no vote was taken upon it. On the fourth, fifth, and sxth charges, the vote stood as follows : Sustained Mesrs. H ivj ;n, M iafort, Giine.s, G.;zley, Aton, Kentprr ti. An Sustained Messrs. Morrison, Graves, Bi"gs, Bull ird, Vail, Rankin, Pomeroy, G. B ;echer, II. tI,...,M S H,,ro.,.:,n R,..l..lv, P..Mr A i.l 1 n V ill ' Tn i Vf ' ",v,,,,,7 Knrnof Kliir I li me I mn I Virr I ivtr li r-hn .....v w...... . ....... w.., j, .-ii.R i, Owens, Woodbury, Burl, Skillinger, Brown, An drews, tlarvey, Bramcrd, Cumhack. 2d. On motion of Prof. Big ;s, the following minute was recorded as the decision of Presbytery in th.case. Ilcsolrcd, That in the opinion of this Presbytethe charges of J. L. Wilson, D.D. against .yinan Beecher, D I), are not sustained for the following reasons : I. As to the charge of deprared nature, it npK?ars in evidence that Dr. Boecher holds and teaches that in consequence of the fall of Adam and the divinely appointed connection of all his posterity with him. man is born with such a constitutional bias to evil that his first moral act and all subsequent moral acts, until regenerated, are invariably sinful; which bias to evil is properly denomia deprived nature, or original sin, as iu the stanards of our church. II As to the second charge, relating'to total deprarity and the work of the Holy Sjiirit, Dr. Beecher holds and teaches that this depravity is so entire and in such a sense insuperable, that no man is or ever will be regenerated without the special influence of the Holy Spirit accompanying the word, as expressed in the stand irds of our church. Larger Catechism, Question 153, and Scripture proofs. On the subject of ability, Dr. B 'ccher holds and teaches that fallen man has all the constitution. d powers or (acuities to constitute moral agency and perfect obligation to obey God, and propriety of rewards and punishments; that the will is not, by any absolute necessity of nature, determined to good or evil, according to the Confession of Faith, ch. is. sec. 1, with Scripture proofs. At the same time Dr. Beecher holds and teaches that mm by the fall is morally disiblcd, being so entirely and obstinately averse from that which is good, and dead in sin, so that he is not able to convert himself or propuv himself thereunto. The extracts from Dr. Beecher's sermons bron''!' to sustain ihe above charges, when taken ' 'hen proper connexion, and with the hmda"1"13 furnished by the context, do not teach l--;nues inconsistent with the Bible ami sianl-'ds of our lunch. III. As to th'! chirg -s of l'.-rfr.c!h-ri:n, slander and hypocrisy, theyare altogether consiruetive and inferential, and wholly unsuslaincd by evidence. Presbytery then resolved tint they do not decide the amount of censure due to I).'. Wilson, but refer the sui'jeel to l!ie Synod for their final adjudication. Dr. Wdson give notice that he should api'k.vl to Synod from this decision. Messrs. Gaines, Skillinger, Kemper, Cumhack, Aton. Andrews. Hirvey, Bin, IJ:ovn, Htyden. Monlort, Gazlev, g ive notice of their dissent and protest agiinst the decision. Messrs. Stowe. Rmkin, and Brainerd were appointed .1 committee to defend the above decision before the Synod. The roll was then called, the minutes read, and Presbytery adjourned after singing and prayer. From the Watchman, TEMPERANCE ODE. In Eurmah's heathen land, Where irrawaddy rolls: Where Christian heralds stand, To save immortal souls; A band of thieves, a numerous horde, Infest the shores, their fixed abode. They watch the passing boat, And plunder ail the stores; And murder those that float By Irrawaddy's pbores; Eut ali their deeds of darkest fbade. Are licensed, and the payment made. If in this favored land, Such license should obtain, All would with zeal withstand. And purge away the stain. One general voice, one effort si roup, Would all unite to crush the wrong. Vet here in Freedom's land, A sorer evil lives; And works wiih powerful band, While law its sanction gives, Makes man a brute; despoils of wealth, Destroys the life, as well as health. Our dearest earthly friends, Are slain before our face; While law its sanction lendt, To help the murderer's case. Rise every soul, and aim the blow, With Heaven's aid, to crush the foe. 'On the banks of the IrrawaKty, our of the largfi rivPis in Hiirmah, ilivt ll a lare number f rohbi'rs who plunder tiie boats as ihpy pass up and down the river, and not unfiequently murder the travellers; and who by paving a sum of money to the Government me peiinilted lo remain viomoleic t . .liner. Hap. Mag. Anecpotes are frequently made and told at the expense of temperance societies, calculated to bring them into disrepute: ami this is doin even by its friends. Oh! is not the cause too sacred, are not its interests too intimately connected with the happiness of mankind, thus to be trifled with! Wo unto him that girrlh his tit iglitior drink, that puttsth Iht Loitlt lo him, mud mwA Ut,n drunken nlii.

CHURCH AND STATE It is difficult to understand what is intended by this objection to Temperance Societies. What has the prohibition of a hurtful traffic, to do w ith the church? Why, nothing at all, unless it b this: Many members of the church are engaged in that traffic, and seem detei mined to rent in hp o

in defiance of truth, duty ind public sentiment. Should the traffic be prohibited by law. they would be obliged to quit it, or raise a rebellion against the government. And this would not look 'much like a union of church and state. If there are in the church, men sufficiently corrupt, to desire its union with the state, and possessed of sufficient wealth and political influence, to make any formidable attempt of the kind, undoubtedly this dangerous body consists criielly of importers, distillers and venders of ardent spirits. And the way to wrest their dangerous power from them, is to "stop them from putting the bottle to their neighbors mouths, and making them drunken. Or, U' there is to be such a formidable attack on our liber ties, trom any quarter, it stands us in hand to keep sober, ami to keep alt I he people sober. Of course the traffic in anient spirits, t. vst be abolished. iJut what is therein the use and sale of poison, to prevent a union of church and taie? Must the people be po'soned to death, te preserve their religious liberties? The public authorities forbid cargoes of hides to be landed among the people, in hot weather, they establish quarantines, to prevent yellow fever; and wltenever it is thought necessary, the most rigorous inspection is made, to prevent injury to the public health, from impure water, bad bread, wet cellars and dirty streets. The expediency of these measures may sometimes be questioned, o,i grounds involving a discussion of their wisdom and necessity, but we never bear I - '-'1"" "i consequent union Ot I ciiurch and state: importations and importations .i- ,i .-t .- . .. oi oiner aruciesor merctiamiis are made lawful or unlawful, according as they affect the revenue, or the pecuniary interest of the country; and though different views exist, we hear no alarm sounded on the score of church and state! Whenever the public defence or safety requires it, any line of business or courso of traffic, inconsistent with them, gives way, of course, and the least demur is hooted at, as mean, selfish, unpatriotic and rebellious. Suppose, when prevented from supplyin;; the enemy of their country, with arms and provisions, a paltry pack of penny-wise tories, should attempt to shield themselves with the cry of 'church and state!' Ardent spirits poison the nation, the traffic brings poverty, pauperism and pecuniary ruin upon us; it is inconsistent with national strength and safety. Can it not be abolished for fear of i church and stiii r If any honest minds have been puzzled on this subject, it must have been by a sophism pomewbat like the following: "It is said that religion forbids this traffic; and now we are asked to "forbid it by law. Therefore, we are asked to enforce by law, a tenet of religion, and this involves the principleofa church and state union." Eut there is a fallacy in this argument. Reunion forbids theft, robbery and murder. Can not, therefore, the law forbid them, without verinc; towar.is a union of church and state? A child may detect the fallacy. Religious liberty is not infn'imed, unless individuals are required to do or emit somrtbinir, while their religions t nets require them to do the contrary. Rut no one will pretend, that his religion binds him to continue the traiiic in ardent spirits. Consequently its abolition by law, would be no inIringement of religious liberty; no approximation, towards a union of ch urch and state. Geuiai of 'j-erance. i'orfi.AU IV'". a lien pure anient spirit are taken into 'he stomacti. they cans.-' irrii.iti'm. W :.H-Il 'Vltl'"-' d by warmth and pain xre. nerd in "1 l" 1 -i l 1 ' ' n ' ' 1 lll.l filllM UUi! K 1 1 . ; l. hi. id next, i n !l 1 coats this part, and sometimes gangrenes. T.ev act in thesanie manner as poisons. Reside the local injury they produce they net on the nerves of the stomach, which run to the ( rain; and, if taken in large quantities, cause insensibility, stupor, irregular convulsive, action, ditiiculty of breathing, profound sleep, an 1 often sudden death. The habitual use of ardent spirits, causes a slow inflammation of th? stomach and liver, which proceeds steadily, hut is often undiscovered until too late for relief. Loit. ... Surg. JDur. How to rRor.oxu Life. For many years there prevailed in China, an extraordinary su peretition and belief, that the secret sect of Tao, had discovered an elixir, which bestowed immortality. Xo less than three Emperor? died, after swallowing a d rink presented to them by the eunuchs of the palace, as the draught that was 10 confer never-ending-life. The best method of prolonging, and of making life happy," said a wife Mandarin to one of these infatuated princes, "is to control your appetites, subdue your passions, and practice virtue! Most of your predecessors, O Emperor! would have lived to a good old age. bad they followed the advice which Igive you!" TO FAItMKtiS. If llirre i any one leiajioral interest lhat is of moie importance, and entitled lo more regard than another, 1 think i haz o t little in saving thai it is the agi ieuhuial intiTSO. Through the medium of agrirulluip, we receive more real blessings, liian through commerce or the artp ; agrirulture is the only source of ii.mou.il w abh orcomloit thru can he depended on wiihkafety; without the -U- ip"iation of agriculture, commerce anil the ar s wmal die ; and evn virtue, which is s uece.ssarv to the prosperity of a n uion, would loja a powerful support ; therefore, agriculture is entitled 10, and claims the support atid protection of the community ; and any thing which has a tendency to blight the prospects of the farmer, should be speedily removed. Look for a moment at a well regulated farm, or a farming community, and contentment ami nappliu-ss .ni.i nuil order will be seen to exist; the fields will he covered with verdure, and hi althy ll'M-ks and herds will cover Ihe hills; fences and buildings will he found in good condition; in short, every thing will bear the appearance ol lasting prosperity ; and above all the inhabitants will be governed by the principles of religion and virtue. 'nw, tuin your eyes to the farm or neighboihood of lha slothful ; all seem discontented and unhappy; instead of good order, will found confusion ; ins'ead of food lor man and beast, will be found weeds and friars; unruly and sickly cattle wi I he found, in consetpience ot poor fences and inattention in many respects; every thing will wear the appearance of adversity and misery ; the minds of children, ill lake a wrong direction ; and in time, many evils ciecp into that community. Why this rfiffeience hctween two neigltbm hoods enjoying the same advantage of clima'e, location and n ill Ninetynine times in a tout bed, the diiiWcnce is owing to intemperance and the evils which follow in its train; the use of ftitnul.lltn di ink, has ruined more farmers than all the hailstorms anil whirlwinds, since the creation. Vou may as well look for verdant fields on the desert of Zahara, or the ice bound shores of .aphiii'l, as to look for prosperity under Ihe blighting influence ot aiidicial stimulants iu common use amoni; farmers. 1 can well remember when il was as common as any thing to hear one farmer accost his neighbor with, tkVh re do you buy your rum for harvest this year 7'' "Have you laid in your stoie of rum for haying" And for Ihe store keeper to ecco I ihe farmer wiih, "I have just got in a quantity of ruin aid should like to sell you what you may want for harvest." Hut now such things are becoming more rare; Farmeis are beginning to find lhat it is their intetest to exclu le amfici al stimulant from their premises, an I some, dealers are beginning to tin I il an unprofitable lir inch of trade; the aspect seems quite changed ; ti'e desolate place is putting on the ?.ppeatanee of cheerfulness, and the wilderness is blossoming as ihe rose. May the period soon airtvc, when intemperance, this scourge, of nations, shall tin banished from the land, and when farmer will not sell their pioducls to b;' convened into siring dr nk ef 011 ,imf. Trip litccr.