Religious Newspapers.

Editors at a distance friendly to Literature are requested to give publicity to the above.

For the Miscellany.

Messrs. Editors,

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electioneering stuff, of so much sameness they are hardly worth having. One paper assures us, that Mr. Gregg will be elected, and the next affirms, that Mr. Shulze will receive a majority. We cannot believe them both.

As to

Neighbor-As to religious news, sir, I cannot accommodate you with any. I sent to neighbor L-'s to get the loan of the Miscellany, but he said he had not read it himself, and could not lend it till he had perused it-and

I-But don't you take the Miscellany?

Neighbor-No: I have not yet subscribed;-and I have so many papers already, I cannot think of taking any more. I take no less than three.

I must congratulate you on I-What news, though, in the relithe success I find you have had in gious world? I like to hear about the starting your paper in this place. The thing that most concerns me. establishment of Religious Newspa- the elections, I do not take any part pers through our country are pro-in them; and of course am not troublducing a vast deal of benefit to ed about them. I have not received the community at large. They not my paper this week. only turn the taste of the young inquirer to religious information, but edify every sincere christian, who can rejoice at hearing of the gospel's triumph. From some facts, though, which lately came to my knowledge, I am persuaded that a much greater patronage might, and should be obtained, were christians alive to their own interest. There are about 3000 families in Cumberland county, one third of which are able to take a paper without ever feeling the loss of the price. Now, I apprehend that not one half of this number take a newspaper, much less your very iustructive one, I do not see on what principles they can withhold their patronage from a paper, calculated to have so good a tendancy on the members of their families. They cannot plead that it is too sectarian, or that it is encumbered with advertisements; if they have any thing to advance in extenuation of their conduct, it is, that they do not wish to promote the spread of religious truth. I shall relate to you a conversation, which took place between me and my neighbor the other day, and I presume, many in our county, are equally culpable in the same respect. I stepped into a neighbor's the other day and saluted him with, well neighbor, what's the news?

Neighbor-I have seen nothing new in the papers which I have been looking over. They are filled with

I-I am sorry to find that you have so far come short of what a christian would be expected to do. Take no less than three political papers, which are filled with personal abuse, from week to week, and which are calculated to injure the taste of young children, more than improve them in reading. You should be ashamed to own it.

Neighbor-Your remarks are just; yet things are not so bad. I get the loan of the paper from Mr. L. and by this means you see, I have the reading of it for nothing.

1-Yes, but by borrowing it do you assist in supporting an establishment of so much interest to the community; or do your children receive any benefit from it?

Neighbor-We receive none of these advantages; but I intend shortly to relinquish some I at present receive, and take the religious paper.

I-Be that as you please. If you are

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Report of Big-Spring S. School-Address.

able to take three, you are able to take that degree of perfection, which will four. But I must confess they are of render it subservient to the various little benefit. Go; let it not be said objects, which its worthy founders you have done nothing for perpetuat-had in view. Not only the lisping ing the spread of Religious Intelli-youths who may be snatched from the gence through our country. Good abode of midnight (moral) darkness, bye.

For the Miscellany.

ANNUAL REPORT OF BIG SPRING SAB.

BATH SCHOOL.

living and growing up in absolute ignorance of the author of their being, and of all their mercies; but likewise the Teacher who has engaged in this work of faith and labor of love, will be convinced of his need of that wisdom which is from above, to enable him or her to see with some degree of clearness, that narrow path in which they would lead others,-"Least while they be teachers, they themselves be cast away."

An annual meeting of the Sabbath School, in the Borough of Newville, was held on Friday evening the 27th of June 1823, for the purpose of appointing Managers, Teachers, &c. for the ensuing year. The object of the meeting having been stated and an address delivered, Managers and It is not my intention here, nor is Teachers were appointed for one year. it in my power to enumerate all the A committee being appointed to advantages resulting from a well remake out the annual report, met a-gulated and properly conducted Sabgreeably to appointment: It was bath School; but I cannot refrain from agreed, that the annual report togeth-mentioning some facts which I know er with the address, be published in the Religious Miscellany.

Although the Institution has not flourished for the past year so as to meet the wishes of the managers, yet the committee are able to report as follows, viz:

Aggregate amount of Verses of Scripture, Psalms, & Hymns, Pages of Catechism, &c. 22473.

It may reasonably be expected that the usefulness of the Institution will be more extended than heretofore, owing to the measures that have been entered into for its regulation in fu

ture.

from actual observation: And in the the first place, it might be proper to observe, that the practice of late rising on Sabbath mornings, is almost as general as it is inconsistent with every principle of christianity, because, it is clearly implied in that command, "Thou shalt not do any work," that all waste of time by unnecessary indulgences are as sinful as recreations on this Holy day are; for which christians will have to account. Let it not be said, that Sabbath Schools are not calculated to correct this indolent practice, for at least one half of the exercises of the day precedes public worship, & it is be up as early on that, as on any necessary that both teachers & taught other; the one to attend to those works of necessity and mercy, which must more or less engage the attention of all who are in any measure arrived to years of discretion; the other stimulated by a laudable princi||ple of ambition, will be up betimes endeavoring to commit to memory

Address.

those sacred words which fell from the hallowed lips of him who said, "Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of Heaven."

The next and most important benefit resulting from Sabbath Schools, is the facility afforded to all, of becoming acquainted with the Sacred Oracles, which alone are able to make us wise unto salvation. There are some it is true, from reasons best known to themselves, who treat this benevolent institution with contempt, as though they could frown it into anihilation! but let all such know, that God has in various instances, most signally sealed his approbation of it, to the glory of his grace, in the salvation of numbers, who, to all human appearance had lived and would have died willing subjects of the powers of darkness.

381

in truth. But why need I multiply arguments to urge you to the duty of doing every thing in your power, and embracing all opportunities of having your children instructed in the knowledge of God? You no doubt love them, and if so, can you sit contented while they are strangers to Christ— without God and without hope in the world-growing apace, as children of wrath fitted for destruction? O! how must it aggravate your own sufferings, to think that your children must suffer through an endless eternity, in consequence of your wicked neglect. As for those who say they can teach their children at home, and see no necessity of sending them to such places, I would ask what evidence they can give that they do so; nay, I would venture to assert, that with few exceptions, you will rarely miss them or their children off the streets, and even if they do continue to confine them to the house and their books, the labor becomes extremely burthensome both to parents and children; and I challange any, nay all the opposers of Sabbath Schools, to produce an instance of a child commiting the same number of verses or hymns, notwithstanding the most strenuous and laborious exertions at home; that numbers have been known to do for those rewards and distinctions which are held out as stimulations to Sabbath School scholars. In this is demonstrated that old Proverb, "Iron sharpeneth Iron" and the little competitors will do more, and to better purpose, for the sake of reward and distinction at school, than for all that can be done with them, secluded with their parents at home.

To those who have no reasons for not sending their children to Sabbath School, but just that they care for none of these things, I would call upon in the name of that God, who has given them children, to consider what they do, ere it be too late. The God of Heaven has entrusted you with the management of immortal souls, and has brought you under the most solemn obligations, to train them up in the "Nurture and admonition of the Lord," in that he has been pleased to appoint your let in a land of gospel light, while many wretched race, instigated by that arch enemy of God and man, with their own unnatural hands, do cause the blood of their helpless and innocent offspring to stain the footstool of God, in order to appease their abominable deities. You also should consider, your obligation to your Creator, in But as I have mentioned before, that you are not endeavoring to sa- it must take time, to convince and retisfy an angry God, by unmeaning, concile every person to these things. abominable, pernicious and super-When the system is once matured and stitious idolatry;-you are called up-flourishing, there is no calculating on to believe upon the Lord Jesus the beneficial effects of a well directChrist, and worship him in spirit and ed zeal. And it is most earnestly to

of cur

be hoped, that these causes of com- ligion, that every deviation from its plaint, which have heretofore existed, simpl city as delineated in the Bible be guarded against by all possible as-has ever tended only to its corruption; siduity; so that our enemies shall be yet its enemies have been solicitous constrained to confess its usefulness. to draw from this very quarter a conAnd it is also to be hoped, and ex- trary inference. "What a dreadful pected, that all who have united catalogue of evils" they say, "must themselves with this philantrophic in-be referred to what you fondly term stitution, will be diligent at a throne the source of peace and the fountain of grace, imploring that wisdom, of all love! not to speak of the bitter which will enable them to discharge persecutions, the exterminating wars, their several duties with profit and and the rancors of hatred which it with pleasure. It is a most pleasing has engendered in different periods fact, that while the superintendants of the world, has it not a direct tenand teachers of schools, devote that dency to enslave the mind, to pervert portion of every Lord's day to the in- the affections of the heart and struction of youth, which they other-destroy all the finer sensibilities wise might spend in reading and rest-of our nature? Is it not ever liable ing from the labors of the week, they so degenerate into enthusiasm or suare at the same time acquiring a fam- perstition and consequently answerailiarity and acquaintance with those ble for all the evils of both? Is it christian truths, and the duties con- not calculated to be the most formidnected with them, which scarcely able engine of tyranny, the lurking any other circumstances would afford; place of intrigue, and the scaling ladand which will greatly conduce to der of ambition? Look to the long make them useful and intelligent continued despotism of papal Rome, members of the church of Christ. consider the abject condition of ChrisGo on, then, my young friends, and tendom for centuries; mark the origin, be not soon weary in well doing.the progress, and the consummation You may have your days of small of ecclesiastical usurpation, and own things; you may have darkness for that your religion is an artfully dea night, but joy cometh in the morn-vised fable, the diguise of villainy ing-you may expect to meet with and the bug-bear of folly!"

the opposition of lukewarm professors, Such are the reasonings of infideland the supercilious contempt of theity, founded ever on the slippery basis wordly wise:-But, be not dismayed; of falsehood and sophistry! It refuses go on in the strength of God the Lord; to discriminate between the reality your cause is the cause of Christ, and and name, but blending the spotless the glory of his kingdom. Although institutions of Deity with the superyou may be as sheep among wolves, incumbencies of human invention, yet they that are for you, are more dooms them to one undistinguishing than all that are against you. And mayanathema. As well might the sceppeace of conscience which is the tic call into question the propriety reward of virtue and holiness;-that of civil government always liable to joy in the Holy Ghost, which will abuse, or the utility of the most imbear you up under all trials, be your portant arts capable of being convertconstant companion and protector! ed to a bad purpose. It is the aberration from, and not the adherence to the principles of the Bible which becomes the engendering cause of the evils he deprecates in religion;

that

For the Miscellany.

Ir is certainly a striking proof of the sacred origin of the Christian re

and this fact goes far in establishing with the obedience of his heart, will its claim to a derivation from God. he be disposed to multiply rites and Government degenerated into despot- ceremonies, and seek to still the claism or anarchy,is government no long-mors of conscience by external ober, and religion gliding into enthusi-servances till his religion becomes a asm or superstition ceases to be reli- mere form of endless superstition. gion altogether.

Thus religious superstition originBut how is it that Religion may be ates in the self-righteousness of the said to be ever apt to degenerate into creature and not in the nature of true superstition? Is there any natural con- piety. And when once it has acquired nexion existing between them? Is a footing it is not difficult to account their relation of antecedent and con- for its continance and growth. Edusequent immutably fixed? Surely not. cation, habit, the sanction of time, And yet as once before observed,man- and the imposition of authority gradkind have ever discovered a propens-ually establish its influence, and reity to amend the institutions of Heav-duce it to all the consistency and all en, and thus gradually subject them-the stability of a system. It marches selves to the influence of superstition onward with emboldened step, spreadeven when operated upon by the dic-ing desolation and terror around while tates of an honest but eroneous con- inorance close following in the train science. Still there cannot be found secures all its conquests and mantles any imperfection in these institutions all its deformity. to justify this principle or call forth its exertion; the Law of the Lord is perfect and we must look elsewhere for its occasion. God in all his intercourse with man disclaims any obligation of kindness towards him.

He proceeds on the ground of free, sovereign, and unmerited grace, nor can he consistently with his holiness accept any partial obedience as merit, where perfect obedience was required as duty, much less can he be satisfied with any external acts of obedience where that of the heart is denied. But although a price of debt and of merit has been already paid, and as far as regards man the riches of the Gospel are offered without money and without price, it is not easy for him to forget all pretensions of desert and look for the favor of heaven without some corresponding offering of imaginary service on his own part. Hence, he is induced to perform services which were never required as expressions of more than required zeal, forgetting that could they have been of any avail in the sight of God, they had most certainly been required. In proportion as he rests not satisfied

How deeply implanted in the human breast must be the conviction of the truth of religion, when it is permitted to sanction all the absurdities & all inconistencies which have been so often blended with it! such ought to be our reflection when we contemplate this subject and not the unreasonable suggestions of unbelief. Will the human mind endure the same grosness of deception when presented through any other avenue? Can the usurpations of tyranny derive equal security from any other source? Or could the vast fabric of papal superstition ever have been reared on any other foundation? No. Look to the hierarchy of Rome, consider attentively its corruption and its oppression, mark well its nature & its operations, remember the periods of darkness & ignorance, & own that the essential principle of its preservation, could only have been derived from Heaven!

Near Shippensburg, 1823.

ANECDOTE.

JULIUS.

THE SHEPHERD & THE INFIDEL. A traveller from a commercial house in London, crossing the extensive