true interest required, we might have and the desire and prosecution of lived in as much harmony with them, learning! These indeed are great as with any other people on the globe." retrenchments, but such as are just Dr. Belknap quotes from the His- and necessary to the regulation of our tory of Louisiana the following tes- intellectual conduct. timony of Monsieur Du Prats, con- And now who can forbear making cerning the Indians in that region :- these two observations, 1. That this “There needs nothing but prudence bookish humour, which every where and good sense to persuade these so prevails, is one of the spiritual people to what is reasonable, and to diseases of mankind, one of the most preserve their friendship without in- malignant relics of original depravaterruption.” tion; it carrying in it the very stamp How affecting and humiliating are and signature of Adam's transgression, these truths! Ilow shocking to the which owed its birth to an inordinate benevolent mind are the legitimate desire of knowledge. 11. That those inferences! Professing a just, hu- who have eyes, may in great meamane, and pacific religion, we flee sure spare them; and they who have from persecution, and take refuge in not, should not much lament the want a land, inhabited indeed by savage of them, upon account of Learning: men, but men who are susceptible of For my own part, I am so thobeing won by kindness, and with whom roughly convinced of the certainty of we might live in harmony, if we would the principles here laid down, that I but follow the dictates of our own reli- look upon myself as not only under a gion, or even pursue our true interest. particular obligation, but almost a But, alas! we wage war with our red necessity of conducting my studies by brethren, pursue them with deadly ran- them; the last of which has left such cour, drive them from the shores of a deep impression upon me, that I the ocean, farther and farther from now intend to follow the advice of the their former places of residence and Heathen (Marcus Antoninus,) as I their means of subsistence. Becoming remember, Tiny Tão Bobabar difar páfor. ourselves a great people, while their Rid thyself of the thirst after books ; numbers are diminished by our swords, and to study nothing at all but what " we feel power and forget right," serves to the advancement of piety and multiply wars with a feeble and and a good life. nearly exterminated race; and yet I have now spent about thirteen we have the effrontery to boast that years in the most celebrated univerwe are a just, peaceable, and mag- sity in the world, in pursuing both nanimous nation! such learning as the academical standard requires, and as my private And what man seeing this, And having human feelings, does not blush genius inclined me to. But in truth, And hang his head, to think himself a man!" when I think on my past intellectual Cowper. conduct, I am as little satisfied with it as with my moral; being very conReflections upon the Conduct of scious that the greatest part of my Human Life; with reference to time has been employed in unconLearning and Knowledge. cerning curiosities, such as derive no (Concluded from page 224.) degree of moral influence upon the soul that contemplates them. THE CONCLUSION. But I have now a very different To what a narrow compass, by apprehension of things, and intend to virtue of the preceding Reflections, spend my uncertain remainder of are these three things reduced, which time in studying only what makes for use to take up so large a room, viz. the moral improvement of my mind Learning itself, the method of learning, and regulation of my life; being not " Then what is man? able to give an account, upon any Though were I for more light, still I rational and consistent principles, think this would prove the best method why I should study any thing else. of illumination, and that when all is More particularly, I shall apply done, the love of God is the best light myself to read such books as are of the soul. A man may indeed have rather persuasive than instructive; knowledge without love; but he that such as warm, kindle, and enlarg loves, though he wants sciences huthe affections, and awaken the divine manly acquired, yet he will know sense in the soul, as being convinced more than human wisdoń can teach by every day's experience, that I him, because he has that Master within have more need of heat than of light. him who teacheth man Knowledge. LINES ON WAR. Oh! why has War from age to age prevail'd, To CORRESPONDENTS : We have to acknowledge favours from B.W.-W.P. T.—and Moderator. The piece referred to by W. T. P. has been, we are sorry to say, mislaid ; but if found, shall receive attention. We feel much 'obliged by tủe suggestions of'B. W. and shall be happy to give publicity to his views of the way in which Education may be made subservient to the cause of Peace, THE HERALD OF PEACE. SEPTEMBER 1821. ON THE WAR BETWEEN THE TURKS AND THE GREEKS. HOWEVER necessary it may be test, which threatened to deluge with to the mental tranquillity and ruin and misery the fair and fruitful religious improvement of a Christian, plains of Italy. Those appearances that he be not involved in the wrang- were dispersed, not by the prevalings of political controversy, it would lence of the spirit of Christian Peace, demonstrate a want of true Christian for neither party, it is evident, “had philanthropy if national revolutions, so learned Christ ;" but by the , and the rise and fall of empires, were pusillanimity of those who seem ta regarded with indifference. It is have been as destitute of what the perfectly easy, though perhaps very world calls heroism, as they are, we unusual, to observe with lively in- fear, of real Christianity. Scarcely terest great political transactions, had this feeble effort of popular emowithout any intermixture of those tion (we cannot call it principle) heated feelings - by which political been suppressed, than the flames of parties are too commonly agitated. actual and bloody warfare broke out In allusion to the subject which now in the celebrated countries of Greece, occupies our attention, we hope care- and every succeeding post furnishes fully to keep in view that benign details of increasing and frightful spirit of Christianity, by which all interest. wbo name the name of Jesus ought Fierce and protracted, we may to be actuated, and which ought to expect, will be the contest between possess a more than ordinary degree the exasperated Greeks and their upon the minds of those cruel oppressors, unless the neighwho advocate the cause, and the bouring powers of Russia or Austria principles, of absolute and universal should interpose with the strong arm of efficient authority. The MussulA short time has elapsed, since we men, though at present discomfited, directed the notice of our readers to will rally and maintain an obstinate the appearances of a frightful con- struggle for that mastery which of influence peace. VOL. IIL. 2 L they have so profitably, and for so power of their oppressors; and it is long time enjoyed. Who, in the con- probable that, in the allwise provitemplation of the sanguinary scenes dence of God, they may be the inwhich will yet be exhibited in the tended instruments by which the rich valleys of Greece, does not overthrow of Mahometanism is to mourn over the wretchedness and commence. Too long have the igwoe, in which the widows and chil- norant and barbarous adherents of dren of those who fall in this deadly the Prophet of Mecca formed an inwarfare, will be involved ? surmountable barrier to the progress From what we know of either of science and Christianity, at the party, there is no reason to suppose grand pass between Europe and that they will be disturbed by any Asia! Too long have they held the of those compunctions in the use of descendants of the ancient and pothe sword, which would keenly af- lished Grecians in a state of servile fect the mind of an enlightened and bondage and degrading ignorance. . pious Christian. War is the appro- Yet, as Christians, as peaceful Chrispriate trade of the followers of Ma tians, we feel it to be our duty to homet. By it they first established deprecate the change from bondage their empire, and have hitherto main- to freedom from darkness to light, tained their stand against the arts by means of the sanguinary and deand arms of Christianized and civil- solating operations of the sword. ized Europe. No antibelligerent And .we cannot but wish that it precepts -no absolute requirements might have been effected through , to “ follow peace with all men," the gradual diffusion of the cheering mark the pages of the Koran. "If and benign beams of Knowledge and ' they fall, they die triumphantly. Revelation. Great cause for regret Reeking with the blood of their and censure belongs to the nations enemies, they anticipate a full and and Governments of Christian Europe, free admission to the regions of the who have suffered year after year blessed! It is also a well known and century after century to pass, historical fact, that in all periods of without strenuous but wise and the Christian era, the professors of peaceful endeavours to enlighten and Christianity have found no impe- reform the dark and deluded Mahodiment to the practice of war from metans. Had such attempts been the views they have entertained of sincerely and zealously made, and had their religion. If this has been the they been supported by consistency case in Protestant countries, where of national and political character and the circulation of the Scriptures has conduct, we might have hoped that not been hindered, we need not won- the cross of Christ would, long ere der that the unenlightened members this, have enjoyed a bloodless, a of the Greek church should have no glorious triumph, over the direful objection to seek for a redress of standard of the crescent; " And this their grievances by an appeal to the is the victory that overcometh the uncertain results of War. The world, even our faith." Greeks have indeed abundant reason For the present we fear it is imto seek for emancipation from the possible to accomplish much good, ز by attempting to diffuse among the the miseries incident to this state Turks the peaceful principles of of mutability, produced by a distrust Christianity. The name of a Chris, in the protecting providence of our tian, which from a child they are Heavenly Father, without whose taught to abominate, is becoming the ground. permission a sparrow does not fall to more and more obnoxious to them; None of your readers could but and they will reply to the labours have sympathised with the agonizing of the Christian missionary by the feelings of the two ladies at the sight prompt operations of their murder- of the bloody corpse, at the moment when one was anticipating the pleapus sabres. Let us not however sure of embracing an only son, after cease to pray for them as our fellow- an absence of six years, the other, a men, as children of the same Hea- beloved husband, and at the same venly Parent, earnestly desiring that time, the thrilling delight of pretheir misguided fanaticism may be senting him with a pledge of his love which he had never seen.” But removed; the cruel habits in which how painful must be our feelings, they have been long nurtured may when we reflect that the very means be completely changed; and that the adopted by the gentlemen for the fierce lion maybecome thegentle lamb. security of their persons and property In fine, let the contemplation of were the cause of the fatal catasthese distressing scenes of war, and trophe! Had they adopted and acted rapine, and bloodshed, ever excite in bearance, which will patiently suffer upon the Christian principle of forus an abhorrence of the systematic injury rather than retaliate, much slaughter of man by his fellow-man. less embrue the hands in blood to Let it produce in our minds an in- secure a little pelf, they might increasing devotedness of soul to that deed have lost their property, and lovely system of religious and moral which, with all their precaution they duty, which teaches us to be “first have been secure from harm, and did not save, but their persons would pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to the subsequent distressing and agobe entreated, full of mercy and good nizing scene have been prevented. fruits, without partiality, and with- This affecting event is a practical out hypocrisy." illustration of the argument of the Friends of Peace, that men (and the Remarks on the Paper from the Ad- argument may be extended to nations) venturer, inserted in the last Number titude of defiance, shewing that they by presenting themselves in an atof the Herald are prepared to revenge any insult SIR, I read with pleasure, min- or injury, often bring upon themgled with painful emotions, the paper selves that very injury against which from the Adventurer inserted in your they thought to have effectually last Number for August-With plea- secured themselves. May the moral sure, because it is calculated to pro- lesson inculcated by this anecdote mote the design of your valuable sink deep into our bosoms; that it Miscellany, by shewing that the ar- is neither enthusiasm nor fanaticism, bitrary distinction made by men but an act of the highest reason to between legal and illegal robbery confide in our Heavenly Father for and murder, is not sanctioned by the protection from whatever danger immutable laws of morality-With we may be exposed to, in consepainful emotions, through reflecting quence of obedience to the divine on the increase and aggravation of precepts. AMICUS. |
