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transmitted have been hereditary evils among the Jews in all quarters of the world for eighteen hundred years. The Jews were indeed driven from their own country and dispersed among the nations; but wherever they went they seem to have carried with them their prejudices against the Messiah and his followers; and their children from age to age have been educated in these prejudices. dices have existed between Christians and Mahometans, and between Christians of different sects one towards another. Children in this country-and perhaps in every Christian country, are trained up with prejudices against many good people of different denominations from the one to which they respectively belong; so that these prejudices, like those of the Jews, are likely to be transmitted to unborn generations. As it was among the Jews, so there is reason to believe it is among Christians, that the bitter prejudices which exist between different sects may be principally ascribed to the influence of their teachers. What an awful share of responsibility then is connected with the conduct of such ministers as employ their influence to excite, cherish, and inflame the prejudices of one sect of Christians against another! To reconcile such conduct with the new commandment, or with the prayer of Christ for his disciples, is to me as impossible, as to reconcile with the same standards the political hostilities of Christian nations. A very great portion of the depravity of Christendom at the present time may perhaps be justly ascribed to the anti-christian practice of different sects in reviling one another.

LETTER XVI.

VICES COMPARED.

My Christian Brethren,

WITHIN a few years that species of intemperance which results from the use of strong drink has excited much attention, and called forth commendable exertions for its suppression. By publishing the result of various inquiries respecting the extent to which the vice had prevailed, and its numerous mischiefs, much astonishment was produced. People had not been aware of the extent of these evils; and many became alarmed, and willing to make exertions to stop the flood which threatened to desolate the country.

On further inquiry it may be found, that another species of intemperance prevails in the land to a greater extent than hard drinking; and that its mischiefs are not less to be deplored. Censorious judging is a vice which results from the indulgence of party spirit; and this spirit is not less pernicious than rum or whiskey. By either of them men may become intoxicated even to madness,-and of course prove dangerous and troublesome members of society. Party spirit has often produced such intoxication as to make people believe that they were doing God service by flagrant violations of the law of love. In

toxication from strong drink, seldom proceeds from hatred to fellow-men; but intoxication from party spirit has the appearance of proceeding from ill will, and on this account is more odious than that which occurs from hard drinking.

That species of intemperance from which censorious judging originates, is not confined to any sect or party, in politics or religion. It is a common and contagious disease-so common that its evils seem to be in a great measure overlooked, except by those who are personally assailed and injured.

Much has been truly said of the numerous broils which occur in families and societies by intemperate drinking. Much of the boxing, duelling, and bloodshed in various forms is accounted for in this way. But do not similar evils occur from party spirit. Besides occasional paroxysms of rage and violence, how often has party intemperance produced long continued agitations in families and communities, and even civil war, and bloody persecutions. To a dreadful extent this species of intoxication prevailed in the times of the Messiah and his apostles. Paul was exceedingly mad with this distemper prior to his conversion-so mad that he verily thought he ought to do many things contrary to Jesus and his humble disciples. In every country where persecution has raged, the mischiefs have originated in party spirit, party intemperance, and censorious judging.

In the political struggles of our country, we have had much evidence of the mischievous effects of party intemperance. In some instances it has seem

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ed as if almost the whole population of the country were in a state of intoxication at the same time. Men of rank and respectability in society have, on such occasions, been too often seen to act like mad men, rather than like themselves, in sober moments. But times of political excitement have not been the only occasions, on which party intemperance has disgraced the American character. What should be said of our religious or anti-religious scenes of party intemperance? How often have the professed disciples of Him who was meek and lowly been so intoxicated by party passions as to feel above all obligations to submit to the precepts of their Lord, in regard to judging one another, and doing to others as they would that others should do unto them? How often have even whole sects been denounced, including thousands of whom the defamer was wholly ignorant, as to their moral characters! Those who have witnessed scenes of intoxication by hard drinking, may have observed how strangely men will talk when their passions are excited by strong drink; how unguarded they often are in their remarks; how bitter in their revilings, and how foolish in their pretended reasonings. Similar things are witnessed in men when intoxicated with party spirit.

The inquiry naturally occurs, Is there no remedy for party intemperance? Must the Christian religion be forever thus disgraced by its professed admirers and votaries. For a time it seemed a hopeless enterprise to attempt a suppression of the other species of intemperance. Soon, however, a hope was exci

ted that by due exertions many moderate drinkers might be induced to give up their habit before they should pass the bounds of temperance, and that many might be saved from forming the habit of moderate drinking. It was hardly expected that men might be reclaimed who had advanced far in the road of intoxication. Their case was deemed nearly hopeless. It was, however, found that the moderate use of ardent spirits at stated periods, exposed men of become drunkards; that by daily indulgence a thirst was excited which endangered both body and soul, -and that entire abstinence from the use of ardent spirits was the path of safety. Many thousands have become convinced of this, and have adopted the policy, among whom are an unexpected number of those who were supposed to be past recovery, and bound over by intemperate habits to perish as drunkards. What happy results of a few years exertion!

When all the evils of party intemperance shal] have been disclosed, they may be found not less terrific and portentous than the evils of intemperate drinking. Why then shall not Christians of all de nominations unite and adopt the same saving policy for both species of intemperance-and resolve on total abstinence from party spirit as well as from liquid fire? Should this policy be cordially and universally, or even generally adopted, it is believed that immense advantages would speedily result to the cause of religion, as well as to individual and social happiness. There is perhaps no case in reference to which it may be more safely said, "the tongue is a fire,

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