LETTER TO THE EDITOR OF THE BAPTIST CHRONICLE, AT GEORGETOWN, Ky.

Chesire, Mass. June 25, 1830.

DEAR SIR-You have had the goodness to send me several of your Baptist Chronicles, which have safely arrived. In a blank page of one of them, you inform me of the family that you have descended from.

Of the fourteen hundred and seventy-one that I have baptized, but very few of them were ever brought into the covenanted mercies of God, by the seal of the covenant--(baptism.) It has been my lot to baptize those who came in at the door of repentance toward God, and faith towards the Lord Jesus Christ, and not those who climbed up some other way. I have baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost; and if the apostles did not find Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord, they either did not understand their commission, or I do not understand what is said about it. The doctrine that there are three that bear record in Heaven, which three are one; and the doctrine that Jesus Christ was God over all and yet the seed of Abraham, are both of them inconceivable, and (to our limited reason) impossible: not more so, however, than creation or the resurrection. Enthusiasm consists in believing without, or against evidence. I believe that my eye can see, and ten thousand things beside; but the why, the how, and wherefore, I cannot conceive of.

In the year 1781, and afterwards, a great number of my friends moved to Kentucky. I have heard of the death of many of them, but as many of them were younger than myself, it is probable that they are living. While I am writing, their persons present themselves to my imagination, and bring fresh to mind the meetings we had in Virginia. Yes, how did my soul. travail and pray for their salvation! and how was I delighted when I saw the grace of God among them! Tell them, dear sir, tell them from me to stand fast in the doctrine of the grace of God, and not be spoiled through philosophy or vain deceit, but to be steadfast and immovable, always abound. ing in the work of the Lord. They will never find a place of pleasure or safety equal to the humble spot at the feet of Jesus. I hope they will not get into vain jangling and strife about words, for if any oppose the simplicity of the gospel, by what they call science and deep research, they girt to science a false name, they are puffed up with a false mind.

I am afraid that I am too dictatorial in these remarks; for I claim no apostolical authority, no diocesan or clerical power; my highest claim is that of a repenting sinner, and a very imperfect preacher.

Some societies have a written creed to begin upon; others form creeds by votes after they have united; while a third have their verbal agreements of procedure; and a fourth have a permanent creed that they will have no creed. In all these cases there is an understanding. In this light the Indian tribes have their constitutions of government, as well as the United States. The subject reminds me of a law once made in Rhode Island, "that the preachers should be rewarded by free contributions, and no other way." I have known many men, who have been such enemies to all bigotry in religion, that they were the greatest bigots that I ever saw, in condemning every one who was not as liberal as themselves. But let a man's creed be what it will, if it denies that the Jesus of the New Testament is the Jehovah of the Old Testament; or asserts that any can be saved, without receiving the unction and being led by the spirit of God, the creed is not the voice of my beloved. Whether I am sheep or goat, I know not the voice, and cannot follow the shepherd. For I had as well be Pagan, Jew or Turk (as it respects the salvation of my soul) as to be a Christian, void of the spirit of Christ. Nominal Christianity will not deliver from death. Out of that kingdom Christ will gather all that offend. The lamp without oil will go out in obscure darkness. Orthodoxy, heterodoxy, or any other doxy, without the love of a holy God in the heart, is a miserable doxy for me. If the greatest reasoner is the greatest saint, philosophers excel Christians, and the Devil goes beyond them all...

Yet see how I shift subjects: I mean to do so: I do as I would be done by. When I hear a long harangue of metaphysical reasoning on abstruse questions, I feel more like calling for my night-cap than anything else. So with myself, when I speak or write; it may be light but shall not be long.

Innocence is better than repentance; but when a man commences a transgressor, repentance is the best characteristic that he can possess. A humble spirit and a contrite heart are always essential to our acceptance with God, and have been so from Abel unto the present moment. But this temper of mind is overlooked (for men are too big for the lowly Jesus) and some creed, some society, or some forms of godliness, relied upon. Arminianism or some other ism—Predestination, with all the other tions, in the vocabulary—societies as good as eleven of Christ's disciples--forms in will-worship, showing much wisdom and neglecting the body—can any of them or all of them in concert, give one groan of the Holy Ghost, or bring one sealing promise to the sinner's heart? Farewell.

MR. URIEL B. CHAMBERS.

JOHN LELAND.

SHORT SAYINGS

ON TIMES, MEN, MEASURES AND RELIGION, EXHIBITED IN AN ADDRESS, DELIVERED AT CHESHIRE, JULY 5, 1830.

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The Scribes, Priests, and Lawyers murmured, but the common people heard him gladly. New Testament.

Friends and FelLLOW-CITIZENS: This day we have assembled to reflect on the great changes and marvellous events that have taken place in our land, in the course of less than sixty years. Thirteen depressed colonies, containing but three millions of people, have grown to twenty-four independent states, with a general government over the whole, the population of which amounts to twelve millions of souls.

The increase of wealth, both real and personal, beggars description. The facilities of intercourse, by printing, mail stages, steam-boats, and canals, fill every thinking mind with wonder. The many inventions to aid and ease hard labor, have greatly contributed to make the states really independent. The advantages of education, and the thirst of the youth after knowledge, was never exceeded in Greece. The style of living and dressing has increased four fold. Persecution for conscience' sake is abandoned, and but few roots are found where the legislature intrude into the kingdom of Christ. The wars which we have had with the Europeans and savages have resulted to our advantage. The political spasms, (a tax that all free governments have to pay,) whether of a personal or sentimental nature, have ever closed on the side of liberty. After the people have decided that they can and will rule themselves, maugre all the force of cabinets, caucuses, intrigues and bargains, the storm subsides, and all rally under the banner of the law. The right of suffrage is found to be so ef fectual, that the people bear momentary abuses patiently, until the constitutional period arrives, when they right themselves.

Should the same love of liberty—spirit of enterprise—bravery in warinternal improvement—literary research and oratory—with a disposition to be just and humane to all nations that now exist, continue to prevail for a century forward, as they have for half a century past, the rigid patriotism of the Spartans—the profuse learning of the Greeks—the bravery of the Romans the exquisite arts of the Italians, and the laborious improvements of the Dutch, would be no longer the highest note in the poet's song, nor

the finest painting in historic page. The world which was found by Co. lumbus, delivered by Washington, and taught by Jefferson, would excel them all.

From the experiment already tested, the ground of hope is strong, that the federate principle can prevail over all the territory from the mouth of Columbia River to Passamaquoddy, and from the Atlantic to the Western Sea. Looking forward one hundred years, and seeing, at least, sixty millions of people, covering forty independent states, all linked together by a federal chain; acknowledging no king but law; having none to rule over them but those whom they choose; each one enjoying the right of private judgment; of publishing his opinions without hazard; of worshipping what God he chooses, in the manner he prefers, at the times and places of his own selection; having no privileged orders of men ; none exempted from their proportionable parts of the burdens of government; none proscribed from holding offices; punishing those alone who work ill to their neighbor, and pitying the ignorant and superstitious. Not as a statesman, but as a meek Christian, I subjoin, in addition to the before-mentioned blessings, the outpourings of the Holy Spirit ; the quickening of dead sinners; the people mourning for their sins, and turning to a gracious Saviour; receiving his spirit and being governed by his laws: this would be a state of as great felicity, (should it prevail all over the world,) as can be expected, until this earth shall be dissolved, and a new earth and new heavens shall appear.

These pleasing anticipations may never be realized. Blooming mornings are often obscured by clouds and storms. The sun was risen when Lot entered Zoar, but soon a storm of brimstone destroyed the devoted cities. The sins of the people may provoke a jealous God to give them up to those who lust for power; wealth and splendor may ruin them. War famine and pestilence, are weapons in the magazine of Jehovah, by which he chastiseth the ungrateful and rebellious. The same prophets who speak of the glorious things that God will do for men in the latter days, speak also of great tribulation and distress that will fall upon the wicked.

It is ardently hoped that the people of the United States will be wise and diligent enough to keep the power of government in their own hands, and not be tricked, flattered, or frowned out of it; and so just and grateful that the Almighty may delight to bless them.

To-day we render our thanks for all the good things which the Lord has done for us and to-day we make our prayers that goodness and mercy may follow us all the days of our lives.

It cannot be concealed that there is a gnawing worm under the bark of our tree of liberty, that seeks to sap our civil and religious rights. Mean suspicion is ridiculous; but manly jealousy is noble. Words are flexible things; it is principles and measures that characterize the man. Let

men be called whig or tory—monarchist or anarchist—federalist or republican—angel or devil, it is their actions, and not their name or profession, that we are to form our judgments upon. Forming our judgments by this rule, we have glaring evidence that there are many would-be-chiefs who are harboring and fostering an aristocratic principle which often shows its teeth, and waits for a favored moment to show the whole hog. This principle has been haunting the United States from the Declaration of Inde. pendence to the present moment. It has as many names as a Spanish Don— as many colors as a chamelion—as many high claims to wisdom and religion as a Pharisee, and deceitful as an opossum, but always remains the same. The genius of the principle is to amass the offices and hold them fast, get the money and trick the sovereign people out of their rights. Men, when under the influence of this principle, when in office have stiff fibres in the back part of their necks, and when out of office they howl like wolves at the alphabet, because it contains the three letters o-u-t. These ambitious aspirants are never pleased with men or measures, while they themselves are the neglected agents. Like Absalom, they pray, "Oh, that I were made judge!" (and like him are self-conceited,) "that every man which hath any suit or cause, might come unto me and I would do him justice." Such men, when they are invested with power, are like Phaeton, who undertook to drive the chariot of the sun, but being unskilful in charioteering, drove his chariot to the earth and set the world on fire.

When Mr. Jefferson, the patriarch of liberty, was promoted to the presidency, the debt of the United States was about eighty millions of dollars ;* but during his eight years administration it was reduced to half the amount, and things seemed to be in a fair train to extinguish the whole; but the war of 1812 put a stop to the whole, and cast the states into the back ground a great distance. The duration of the war was two years and a half: the close of it was honorable and advantageous to the United States, but the course of it was disastrous. The expense of it was about one million of dollars per week. The revenue decreased, and expenses increased so fast, that at the end of one hundred and thirty weeks, the debt was one hundred and twenty millions of dollars. Since the close of the war, the debt has been more than one half discharged, and the people are now looking forward when four or five years will liquidate the last cent. In this they will not be disappointed, if the Almighty is propitious, our own gov ernment wise, and the people peaceable. To what use the surplus revenue will be put, after the debt is paid, has already become an object of solici tude and debate. When that time shall arrive, it is highly probable the people will know best what to do with their money. It will be the property of those who will then be living, and when men possess an estate they

The sums are here stated in round numbers, designed to be near enough to the truth to give a just idea of the course of things.