CORNELL 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
3 1924 104 014 844 
 
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 tine Cornell University Library. 
 
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 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924104014844 
 
ne Importance of « RELIGIOUS EDUCA- 
 TION Illustrated and Enforced. 
 
 S E R M o N: 
 
 BEtlVEREDAT 
 
 WORCESTER, 
 
 OCTOBER gij i793i 
 EltECUTION OF SAMUEL FROST, 
 
 ON THAT DAY, 
 FOR THE MURDER oi 
 
 Captain ELISHA ALLEN, 
 
 or PRiNCEfONj 
 
 OK THE ifith DAT OF JULY, 1793. 
 
 BY AARON BANCROFT, a. m; 
 
 Pastok of the SecOno Chdrch in WdnciSTSKi 
 
 PRINTED R.T! WO RCESTER, M as s ac H vs btts, 
 
 , BY ISAIAH THOMAS. 
 
 S9t.D AT THE WORCESTER. BOO-fTiTO-RIt 
 
 MDCCXCin. 
 
Mr..B an GRO F.1"s 
 
 S E R MO N. 
 
 OCCASIONED BY THE 
 
 EXECUTION OF SAMUEL FROST, 
 
 forMURDER. 
 
 I. Samuel, iii. la. 
 
 "HIS SONS MADE THEMSELVES VILE, AND HE 
 RESTRAINED THEM NOT." 
 
 Eli, the chief of his tribe and prieft of 
 the temple'in Shiloh, was himfelf a pious and good 
 man. He ferioufly performed the duties of his of- 
 fice, and difcovered a fdlicitude'to promote thein- 
 tereft of religion. In his own life he fet a good 
 example, and gave the beft advice to thofe who 
 affembled around the altar of the Lord ; but he fail- 
 ed in the government of his family. He trained 
 not his fons to walk in his Heps ; and to obey 
 the commands of their God. He gave great- 
 er latitude of. indulgence to their paffions and de- 
 fires, than is confiftent with the rules of virtue. 
 He did not, with becoming zeal and authority, cor- 
 reft the commencement of their evil pradliees, but 
 connived at t?ieir impiety, and they became fons oS 
 Belial. . The confidence and the power i-epofed in 
 them, as the attendants of the altar, they abufed td 
 the vileft purpofes, Inftead of leading in the devo- 
 
 , tions 
 
4 1 
 
 _2_' i*-- ■■■) , 
 
 tions of the people, inftead of puxe examples and 
 amiable manners, to perfuade their c&WArymen to 
 , walk ifl the p?|hs of religion, they" ufed.the inttyence 
 of their ftation, to corrupt their mind's and allure 
 them to the paths of folly and vice, ht a late period, 
 Eli warned his fons of their danger, and admonifli- 
 ed them to reform their ^saOsices. "He faid unto 
 them, I Why do ye fuch things ? For I hear of your 
 evil doings by all this people. Nay, my fons ; for 
 it is no good report that I hear ; ye make the Lord's 
 people to tranfgrefs. If one man fin againft an- 
 other, the judge.fhall judge him ; but, if a man fin 
 againft the Lord, i Who Ihall eritreat for him?" 
 • But alas ! the authority of the parent was loft, the 
 habit of fin was eftabliftied, admonition and coun- 
 felwereineffeflual. The father himfelf'fiiflFered for 
 his early negle^ in the eduGabjon of his chxldn^. 
 His declining years were rendered joyl^fs by stfee 
 knoiwiedge p(f their malpraftices, And the prophf* 
 jof the Lord was commiffionedi to carry to hiiii the 
 predififcions of the fignal deftru^ion of lis fons, 
 and of the tranflation of the priefthood: from his 
 fanaily. A fimilar mcflag^ lyas delivered ^' tthe 
 youthful Samuel : '* I have told/ him, that I will 
 judge hishoufe, fortheiniquity which he knoweth; 
 becaufe his fons piade themfelves vile and he re^ 
 ftrained them not," Wlipn Eli heard this di- 
 vine denunciation, he murmured not, but in grief 
 he acquiefced. ^' It is the Lord j let him do what 
 feemeth him good." This afBifted man filled up 
 ihefull meafure of his days, he attained to ninety 
 f pd eight year&, his eyes failed throughage, his limbs 
 
w5?reja}aiofl; ii*(;%i^bl<8of ip/Stio^ ; *■)«: Jie ftill feU 
 jIBX^etyfor thq in|erefts of his?Goi«|jy)Ei iTh^Ifraelr 
 ites wicre at war. His fons wwe goae ieriii t® ba&- 
 tl«, and the ark ©f God;- was conveyed tq: ths 
 field «f aftion. ItD|)atie»t to Iwaar from tfate 
 camp, he fet by the w^yfidewli Tidings were brought 
 of the defeat of the aa^my, and ithe' city was ip an 
 uproar. The ti«BinU reae&ed the ears ©f the ragflfl 
 prieft, and with deep anxiety be .inquair«d ithe 
 caufbt The meffeagea!; approached him and laid : 
 " I am he. that came out of the jaiMiy, aaad I fled 
 today out of the army. And he faid, i What is 
 tber?! done, my fon ? And the meffenger faid, lit 
 raeil is fled before the PhiliMnes, and there ba$ 
 b^en alfo a great :flaughter among the people, ajjd 
 tby two Gons, i^phni and Phinehas, are dead, an4 
 the: ark of <T0d is taken." A train of horcid idea:s 
 cmmrded upon .the, mind of the enfeebled prieft.-rr 
 -Xhetflaughter of the people— the accompliftiment,of 
 the prophecy againfl: his otwn bouXie^-Tandthe cap* 
 ture of the ark. The fbock was more than he 
 could bean .; He fell backward from his feat, and 
 by the fall he parted swith his life and his troubles^ 
 
 The words before us I have chofen, as a fuita-r 
 We tfaen^ for a difcourfe, on the prefent folema 
 and painful o.ccafion. ' 1 have chofen them with 
 a view toiHuHrate the importance, and enforce the 
 dwty, of a religious education. 
 
 The duties of parents towards their children 
 is one of the mofli facred trails, which the Gov- 
 ernour of the *rodd has imparted to man; 
 Tbroughout the animal creation God has implant- 
 
 •. ed 
 
ed thofe inftinfts, which direft all claffes to the 
 care of their progeny,- and lead them in the moft 
 efiFe£i;ual manner, to aid their progrefs to the ma- 
 turity of their natures. But man, poffeffing a nobler 
 capacity, is in this, as in all other important con- 
 cerns, left to the voluntary and free exercife of 
 his powers ; and his children are dependent upon 
 his afiFefition, wifdom and providence. - 
 
 In whatever view we contemplate th^ education 
 of our children, we Ihall all be deeply impreffed 
 with a fenfe of its importance. If we attend to 
 the influence that moral principles and early hab- 
 its of fobriety may have, in the prefent world, up- 
 
 ' on maturer years and future praClices, ihis confid- 
 eration alone is fufficient to infpire us with the 
 higheft folicitude, to give the tender mind a virtu- 
 ous direction, and to eilablifli thofe moral princi- 
 ples, which, imder all the conditions of human 
 life, are the beft fecurity for good conduft. How- 
 great are the temptations, to which youth are ex- 
 pcfed ! How many fall viftims to the deceitful al- 
 lurements of vice ! How many deftroy their 
 health by intemperance, and render their lives 
 ufelefs by diffipation ! How many, wbofe declining 
 years are imbittered by refleftions on their jiouth- 
 ful folly and extravagance I ^ Shall we not all then 
 
 . feel compaffion and concern for thofe, who are 
 foon to enter on this dangerous period, and whofe 
 worldly profperity, or prefent mifery, greatly de- 
 pends on the bias that fhall at firft.be given to the 
 mind, and the courfes that in early life maybe 
 adopted, ? . . 
 
Nor (hall we think {hjeibufiaefs 6f education lefs 
 iiiiportatit, if we attend to its influence on fociety . 
 Wife men in every age, hive fubfcribed to the 
 llruth of Solomon's nlaxim : *^ Righteoufnefs ex- 
 alteth a nation, biit lin is the reproach of any peo- 
 ple."- The moral virtues are of the higheft im- 
 portance to the intereft of civil fociety..; We are 
 told that they are more efpecially neceflary to the 
 fupport of a government like ours. In the fame 
 degree, therefore, that early impneflions of virtue, 
 and good moral principles, are faiutary to individ- 
 uals, are they important to the community. The 
 profpefts of the next generation, the fuccefs of 
 thofe liberal meafures in government and religion, 
 which we have adopted, and in which every 
 good man feels himf elf interefted; depend in a 
 great degree on the general pirafitices of the youth 
 «f the prefent day. We cannot then do our coun- 
 try more effential fervice, than, in our feveral fta- 
 tions, to ufe our beft endeavours to form the minds 
 of our children to moral goodnefs, and to train 
 them to the love and pra£lice of thofe virtues, which 
 will make them valuable and ufeful members of 
 fociety. 
 
 Or, fhould we (extend our views to the future 
 and evedaflifng happinefs. of the obje£t:s of our 
 prefent attention, we Ihall ftill, in a greater degree, 
 be concerned for their good education. It is eafier 
 to prevent, tkan to cure habits of vice. If they, who 
 convert finners from the error of their ways, have 
 the f^tisfaftion to refleft, that thfey have delivered 
 the fouls of their fellow beings from death, ^A<rjr 
 
 cannot 
 
8 
 
 cdnbbt fed Ms fe^sfeSiinj wKo^ By good 'inllMg-» 
 tion ; aiwi examplfe, feoaise youth isoM , vice ajai 
 tfetiSf e^gr |)rdverit' tftem frbm feeling' the? pteEait an(J 
 futare evils of fitft Of the future, ^raa:ic<?s of Bien 
 we weaaaotj, iri4«e^, have an abfolute certain^; 
 byt the good ediucaitioa of thei child, and the virtu- 
 ous hk'bits of th^ybuth, affdrd the greateft pofliblc 
 fecBrity for the religious improvtement of the man. 
 L AM the iftotives, that cain have ^influence 'to per- 
 i^a'de men fco^fefoiMii that brtmtih of parental dcrfiy 
 uhder coniideratibd, tnay with theiirfull force be 
 prfefenteditoour minds. Withsus thiere are noenvious 
 diftiaii6ti®rafe of ordera. None a^re bom to heredatary 
 rigtev Thciparth to eminence and to the hondurary 
 diftin'£ti4>«is of feiciety is open to every indirvidu£il ; 
 arndall defcriptiosS^of men ^nDifefs the means togivfe 
 tfedrr childrenfuchedmGabiaU, as may qualify thettl 
 to„ be ufeful and : diftrng«.aflfed . mfembers of . thi© 
 coiftrftunity. Oar anceftorsi in thie fi*ft feKtement 
 of this country, were ffenfible of the import' 
 tance of ^ education, and were early attefi«Ve to the 
 htii means jto fecuTe it. Their, fituation infpired 
 fhem with :jiberal arid ifmHime ideas on the fub- 
 jeft, and they adopted a plan, from which we en- 
 joy the mOft extenfive advantages. Reteoved from 
 the m'eans of 'i»fti'u61ii©n and -improvement, which 
 they enjoyed in their mother couritty, Jtod forming 
 a world bf themfelvtis, they felt- the incoftveM«nces 
 of, their fiteation, and fofefaw that, VfrithOtft pecu- 
 liar exertions, the fucceedingg^felf&tibn would but 
 little dii5gr,f*Qin. the tribes of f&vU^6s with whicfl 
 th^ry muft afeeiate. They Aerefore etoblifhedr* 
 
 method 
 
methoiJ- of. general edueatiohby, legiflative authori-- 
 tj?. They tnadqit the duty of every inoorporation, 
 which poffeffed the ability, to eftablifti fchools at 
 the common expenfe, open asmuch to the childrea 
 of the poor* as to thofe of the rich. ., The method, 
 has been: pti-eferved to the prefent day : A^nd New-, 
 england, I beliwej/is now the only country on the 
 globe, where the education of children is- fo much, 
 the care of . government, sts to oblige the wealthy, 
 in proportion to, their property," to beiar the ex- 
 penfe of fchools, of which all may reap an equal 
 advantage, vj ■ f^hii- v-^ . , ; • fjjr 
 
 t The general utility of this plan has been fully 
 realized. The great body of the commimity, at 
 the prefent day, difcover a laudable fpirit to carry 
 into effeft . the free intentions of the legiQature. 
 The opportunities, to qualify youth for the aftive 
 bufinefs of fociety, are great- and we have only to 
 lament the inattention and negligence of individu- 
 als to availJ thetpfelves of the means put within, 
 their reach, to prepare their children to fuftain^ 
 with honour and eYnolument, the various offices of 
 fociety; ■ ;» 
 
 But among us, i Can there be thofe, who are fo 
 far loft to parental feelings; as not to wifh to fit 
 their children for ftations, that are not menial and 
 fervile ? Look into fociety. ' ^ Who are the men, 
 that fill with the greateft" dignity and luftre the 
 various offices of government ? — ^ Who rife to the 
 mqft diflinguifhed eminence in the feveral learnfed 
 profeffions ?— ^^ Who manage with the • greateft 
 fuccefs th6« means . to acquire property ?— ^ Are 
 M B ;»: , they 
 
to 
 
 they genei-jflly thofe^ who enter iato life with pe^ 
 coUar advantages of ' family, or with profpefts xrf 
 Targe patrimonial eftate& ? Or,, ^ Are they men; 
 wrho were early taught to dfepeiid dft the energies 
 of th«ir oiv'n minds ^ and we^e feduckted' under the 
 perfuafion, that their charaBers and ftations in fo- 
 ciety werefufpended on their own exertions ? The 
 jlnfwer to theffe queflions will tend to extinguiffli 
 in the wealthy and eminent the pride and vanity of 
 fatnily, and to raifethe poor and the humble from 
 iheannefs and defpondency. It will point parental 
 folicitude to its proper objefts, and teach us all, 
 that a good education, that habits ctffobriety and 
 ufeful application, are the beft inheritance we can 
 tranfmit to our children. ' 
 
 But, on this occafion, I wifh to direfi your at- 
 tention more particularly to a religious education. 
 Religion adds worth to all other accompli Ihments. 
 Without it the higheft attainments in literature, 
 the moll poll (hed forms of addrefs, and all the arta 
 of bufiiiefs, lay no foundation for eon.fidetice^-give 
 no fecurity for amiable and good conduft. Relig- 
 ion alone refines the difpofitions of men, ennobles 
 their views, eftablifll&s unchangeable principles ;of 
 good conduft, and furnifbes the moil influential 
 motives to perform all focial, all benevolent and 
 Itonourable offices. Religion, is as much fuperi- 
 our to worldly accomplifliments, as the irhraortal 
 foul is fuperiour to the corruptible body — as ever- 
 lafting harppinefs is preferable to the momentary 
 diftin6lions of wealth and grandeur. It is a: fenfe 
 Of the fuperintendence of Deity, " whofe eyesfar- 
 
 vey. 
 
vey, jmd whofe eylids-|Tj^lfhec|rildrettof men ;" it is. 
 Ae belief of our accountability at the bar of God ; 
 it is a realizing view of the final iflUe of human 
 aftions, that can reftrain the undue influence of^ 
 the paffions of. men, and furnifti us with power.to 
 refift thfe various temptations of the world. 
 
 HQ*\r unhappy then the condition of thofe, who 
 were led to profane the name of Godj before thejj 
 attained to an age to form any worthy apprehen- 
 fions Ojf the perfeftion Andmajefty of Deity ! Wha 
 were Induced to make a j eft of the folemnities ofi 
 religion^ before they had underftanding to com- 
 prehend its ^duties, or to feel the force of its obli* 
 gs^otts ! i What fliall check the > corrupt indul- 
 gence of .their paffions ? — i What ihall reftrain 
 them from the greateft, enormities. ?— r-^ Will they 
 not adopt the language of the practical atheifts of 
 dM,^" ^ Who is the Lord that we fhould fear him,' 
 and what pro&t Ihall we have, if we pray unto 
 
 him r ; 
 
 - Early impveffions are-deep-; they are influential. 
 We are all fenfible of the influence of principles,) 
 that were implanted in our minds before reafon 
 had attaintd its ftrength. We are all fenfible with) 
 what diflSculty we conquer the influence of. opin- 
 ions and per£akfions thati through falfe methods 
 o£ education^ were imprefled upon, oar infant, 
 rainds. W.6 may be fully convinced of -their fuper-j 
 fliUous rpripn.< ; and yet with all the flirength of 
 fouiid reafon and mature judgment, we cannoti 
 whoUyxradicate their infLuencB; i What falutary; 
 effe£la then, may not be expefted from early im-. 
 
 preflions / 
 
12 
 
 preflions of piety,- and rigKt ihoi'ar'priticiplesof 
 a£lion, which will receive- incr^afih^ ftrength and 
 fupport from 'the decifions of a found judgiheftt, 
 the diftates of an enlightened confcience, and from 
 every habit of jiift refleftion ? There is a profpecl, 
 that fome youth, who have been favoured with a 
 religious education," 'may be ledaftray by the ar- 
 dour of their difpofitions, or by the enticements of 
 their let^d and corrupt companions. Yet they fin 
 •w'ith fear and trembling. - They fhudder at every ' 
 fudden alarm, as though the avenging miniflierof 
 heaven was approaching to arreft them in their, 
 progrefs of impiety, and punifli tlieirfolly-and fin. 
 Or fhould they even form a habit oi fin, unexpefil- , 
 ed occurrences of divine . Providence-iKay awaken ) 
 theni to a keen fenfe of their guilt, call up the feel- 
 ings of more innocent days, and render them aliv^ 
 to all the feelings of religion and virtue. But 
 where the mind, has never been impreffed with, a 
 fenfe of religion, where moral principles have nev^ 
 er been implanted, confcience, by an early ac- 
 quaintance with fin, will b» fileUced before its 
 voice has been diftinftly heard, and the moll aban- 
 doned ftate of vice will probably; be the.confe- 
 quence. Look among thofe, whofe. firft impreffions 
 were made amidft fcenes of vice, and who received 
 their education under examples of fin, whofe firft 
 elfays of rea;fon and aftivity were amidft fcenes of 
 corruption and profligacy, and you will find de- 
 grees of youthful depravity, at which you muft be 
 aftoniflied ; and the recovery of youth,' of this 
 ""-■ • • ". ■ qharafiler, ■ 
 
18^ 
 charafler, from the habits ofiiin, is extremely diffi- 
 cult and altogether improbable. ' 
 ' The parent would- be juftly accounted favage 
 and inhuman, who Ihould abandon his child in 
 its infant ftate, or make, no provifibn forits fup- 
 port and comfort in fhe period of childhood and 
 youth. He would be thought unworthy the name 
 of a father, and a difgrace to his fpecies, who 
 fhould turn his fon into the world, at the age of 
 manhood, without any acquaintance with the afliive 
 bufinefs of life, and deftitute pf all means to ob- 
 tain an honeft and reputable fupport. ^What th«n 
 muft be the charadler of the man, who is inatten- 
 tive to the religious and virtuous education of his 
 children ; who takes no pains to teach them wor- 
 thy apprehenfions of the being and government of 
 God ; who neglefts to imprefs their minds with a 
 reverence of the divine charafter ; and to lead 
 them to a realizing view of the obligations and im- 
 ^ mortal concerns of religion ? The man, who be- 
 lives in the exiftence of a God, who fUppofes that 
 his child -poffleffes a capacity above the brute that 
 perifhes, and yet neglefts to lead him to a right 
 knowledge of the great truths and duties of religion, 
 muft be dead to tthe true affeftion of a parent, loft 
 to the moft ingenuous feelings of humanity, and 
 altogether deftitute of a becoming folicitude for the 
 welfare and happinefs- of the " fruit of his body." 
 ^ Does not fuch negleft flioek all our feelings of : 
 tendemefs and fympathy ? — ^ Is it not inconfiftent . 
 with every diftate qf reafon, and the groffeft vio- 
 lation of the precepsfs of our fejigion ? 
 
 The" 
 
»4 
 
 The dire£lioii of hefavea to th© childrai of Ifra^ 
 was, " Thefe words, which I command thee tbi^i-dayK 
 ihall be in thine heart, and thowlhalt teach them 
 diligently unto thy children, and flialt talk of thfem- 
 when thou fitteft in thine hou-fe^ and when thou 
 T*^alkeft by the way, arid whefl thou lieft dpwn, and, 
 when thou rifeft up." The Divine Being naakes- 
 honourable mention of the piety of Abraham, in 
 the religious education of his childicn-^-" i know 
 him that he will command his children and his 
 houfehold after him, and they fliall keep, the Wayf 
 <rf the Lord ; to do juftice and judgment, that the. 
 Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath- 
 fpoken of him." 
 
 The Chriftiafi difpenfation lays the raoft facred. 
 oMigation upon all parents to educate their children, 
 in the principles,, and to train them up in the vir-> 
 tues, of their religion. In the publick exercifes o£ 
 th?! Sabbath, it provides the mofl efFettual means 
 tOr affift jheni in the difcharge of itheir duty. The 
 publick exercifes of our religion are happily cal-i 
 culatedi to.imprefs the minds of children and youth 
 with a lively apprehenfion of the prefence and fu-. 
 perintendency of Deity, with a fenfe of their ac- 
 cduntablenefs to him for all the aftions of the pref- 
 ent life, and to eftabhfh/ in their minds, On a relig- 
 ions fpundation, the (great principles of morality. 
 Every man of refle£tibn mull then feel a painful 
 regret, that fo many among us are falling off from, 
 that habitual a>ttendance upon publick worfhip,. 
 which has, heretofore, .eha«a£lerized the people of 
 this country, and W^hieh has the aadft -favtmrabk. 
 
 influence 
 
kifluepce on the dearefl^ int^rdls of the prefent and 
 future world. > 
 
 The limits of a publick difaourfe- forbid the at- 
 lempt to defcribe the heft methods of religious ed- 
 ueation, or to point out the moft effectual means 
 to inftil moral principles into the tender mind, and 
 to form in youth early habits ' of virtue. In 
 general we may obferve, that the authority of the 
 parent ought iipt to be exercifed. wi*h fuch feverity, 
 asitodaxnp th^^rdorof en>ulation, and beget a 
 weak and feryile dependence. Children fhould 
 be led to place confidence in their own exertions^ 
 Their aftive powers fliould be invigorated to man- 
 ly and noble purfuits^ by lively r«prefentations of 
 the advantages that may refult to thcmfelves. In 
 religion, unTcafpnable reftraints fliould not be im- 
 pofed i for thefe have a tendency to prejudice young 
 minds againft religious duty. Offices of piety, and 
 the general praftices of virtue, ought not to be de- 
 fcribed in a gloomy and forbidding afpeft ; left 
 averfion be excited in the unexperienced mind. 
 Deity fliould ever be defcribed to children, as a be- 
 nevolcEt and mercifial father, as well as a juft and 
 righteous judge, that. his fervice may appear eafy 
 and pleafant. Youth fliould be led to hate vice 
 on account of its odious nature and baneful effeSs; 
 and to prize religisOiUs attainments, as qualification* 
 neceffary to fecure them peace of mind, real digni- 
 ty of cliterafler, fubftantial and lafl;ing happinefsi 
 Permit me to add, that inflfruftion mufl: always be 
 enfoyc^d by example. Principle will generally be 
 und^ftqad, as jlluflSrated by praftice. 
 
 The 
 
V 
 
 i6 
 
 *'^The ftory, of \V-'hich oUr text is a part, opens to 
 our contemplation an inftance of the fatal effefts" 
 attendant on the' liiegleft of' parents l;o reftrain the 
 vicious propehfities of their children, and to give 
 a virtuous direElibn to their a€live powers. » 
 
 The fbns of Eli made themfelves vile in the fight 
 of God. • They broke loofe from all the reftraints 
 of religion, and " gave themfelves up to work iniq- 
 uity with greedinefs." Their- giiilt was, in a de- 
 gree, imputed to their father, becaufe he did not, 
 with the earneftnefs and authority of a parent, check 
 their vicious difpofitions, and reftrain their "violent 
 prafiices. In that period of human life, which 
 needs all the confolation of religion, all the Tooth- 
 ing attention of Jilial piety, to enable a man to 
 fupportits infirmities and pains, he doubtlefs felt 
 all that remorfe, which an ingenuous mind feels 
 upon the cohfcioufnefs of criminal negleft, in one 
 of the nioft f^cfed and important duties of man. 
 ftfe faw' hi* fons fall from the dignity and purity 
 of "their natiires." He faw them the difgrace of the fa- 
 cerdotal order, and beheld theih the atgents of fin, 
 in' the wilful and bafe' corruption ofth'ofewho 
 prefented themfelves for the fincere wOrfhip of the 
 Deity. He ffelt the fevere and juft reprimafid of 
 his God, and \vfes" humbled by the divine declara- 
 tion, that the priefthood, in his age, the moft dif- 
 tinguifhed honour of his country, Ihould forever 
 b^ removed from his family. '< ' * 
 
 ■^ And have we not now before us a ftriking in- 
 ftance of the fatal eEFeas. of the negleft of early 
 education and good example ? We behold a hu- 
 
 ' . , man 
 
man being, aMt^reiitljf devoid of fociajt ^ffeQion 
 and a fenfeot. moral obligation. He has commit- 
 ted crimes, of the moft heinous nature, and is now 
 wiih ignominy to lofe his life, as a peft of fociety ; 
 and yet he , difcovers little or no compun^iojijO:^ 
 mind, little commotion on account of the dreadful, 
 fcenes beforehim. ^ Has tbe;Author of human na- 
 ture denied him|hofe powej'S and aflFe£lions,;wJiicJi 
 men in common poffefs ? All who are particularly 
 acquainted with him, teftify that he pofleffes in- 
 telleftual faculties .to diftipguifh right from wrong, ■ 
 to comprehend the nature of lAoral duty, andiun- 
 derftand the force of moral obligation. He cer- 
 tainly poffeffes fome qualities that are manly and; 
 noble. Many of the caufes, that more frequently 
 are .the infr^duflion to the crime which he has 
 committed, had no operation upon him. He.hfver ; 
 mixed in'thofe fcenes of intemperance and diffipa- 
 tion, which frequently corrupt the moral powers 
 of men, and prepare the way for fins of a crimfon 
 die. In his depravity, the temptations of ambition 
 and. avarice had no influence ; yet in a country, 
 where all men: enjoy thbfe advantages fof moral 
 and religious improvement, of w:hich we have made 
 general mention, .w;e behold hini a favage;, ppfleflV 
 ©i^iof the moft, malignant and revengeful paflions. 
 ^ To what caufefhall we attribute his di%cial,:hit- 
 chjel and malignant difpo fition. ? For an anfwer 
 to. our queftion We are, led to the^ early period, of i 
 his exiftence. . , r 
 
 To open- the graves of the dead, and to expofe 
 to publick view the faults of thofe. who have paff- 
 ,C ed 
 
— , ■«• 
 
 latJbtts-, isarttcF/na' ihhama».=' Bttt,Liff^ tft&iffi*?' 
 c^the ^*15iiil3^'fflaafe^<^ reaS'l^aires of :\fif^ 
 dtMtt and' vfrtue tty t^e lm%' ; if #'^%^,' in ■ Jfuefe it ' 
 iflattifer, place tKe'tiegle^ a-nd fau-liifs dPffire-i^iafi^ 
 ed' beforeffhte^ ej^s 'of ffie livlrtg, a*'W gaard-ihSMfJ 
 ajgaiWft *hofl miftafees aad '{fouge*^, by* whkb o«hu- 
 eri'feWV prdpriety aiiay iJouiJterfaWee'tlie »6li^'. 'P-^>'' 
 F't&rn the beJJ JrifdrmatioW I caA ' dbfeairt, I aii* ^ 
 cdttftkinad to- fay; ifiSat ite fatfe? oriBfe'tfiSifa^f ' 
 iri*rt waa greatly- dfefecient in flife-gxatHpIc He feP 
 
 td his chilefr6ft'. ;■ Tbedilpofi^ioil'o? ehfefiisfo, W-li^Qn 
 young- zmdteiide^i WAs^ttdt^foftettidd'by thof& pa-' 
 tdr-tta:4"^aa4inti6iH4, tdjifch hafmo^i^'ttee Toul, anido 
 f of4^ it( ' to virtUiSi Hs' did ttoe Sgeiiyk' tihafe^ inK.- 
 ft*Ttfteofts and admortitiotts-,- w^hith, asi tke^ powers r 
 of reafoti expaadi^ impfefs the n*ii»4 witR a fetifleoTo 
 the SU^p¥-eme B^iag, beget attentkjffif t& the feriottir? 
 tiSllAs-of rsligfoa, and ^^&-a&iLMthi6^a. pswer o\^er- 
 t&epsSiaas md£: i^eifiop d^re^v In4h@ daily M^ 
 tdtfesoa-feS'' of the faniily; M4siw ttctt^that esawi^i: 
 ©f tev^ &sfiii Tfibtidfefedftfite^, "36l"c£enderrie& arid bse-^ 
 maftiCf i Vftii^ etrffer'fc^s gbo^fftftkfaiob, fof ten^ iHb 
 paflia^ df' r&^i»t0i«li« atid t!l^^:^,-^iLUiiMitdibT^ 
 f§*tttei «hg -■ifi^fitfoiii to< Mii\ioiiS^'-fymp3khf.-i-ad: 
 ^eknkl^Xfi fim. -the ftKattiptecfa'-bsfel^ feiwi Wasi 
 inipious, cmel, and barbarous. In.3M£>:(bhGDdlr 
 tfer^ns'was bur-too tfiady t&JearB:"; AdT) theToogh, 
 nStligaaase^ citHt rej'engafiB-s'^affioiis^r atajiiir^ii: 
 i*» ftrengtb. 
 
" 1 '"I '!' -I hie fciliiS'iid