lic opinion, which often controuls the most impor tant concerns of a government, is itfelf controuled and directed by fo trifling a thing as a News-paper. If mifreprefentations and falfehood are propagated instead of truth, the confequence will be, the people' will be mifled, and their liberties endangered: But the full vengeance of an abused public, will in the end, return upon the heads of thofe who have been thus guilty of deceiving them.

We alfo add, thofe literary inftitutions founded' by our venerable ancestors, for the education of youth, with others of a later date; and to which the prefent improved state of fociety is fo much indebted, must be cherished and fupported with unabating folicitude. There can hardly be a fubject more interefting to a community, or more deserv ing of legislative attention, than the education of youth and children. When this is neglected, an injury is done to fociety which it is impoffible to repair. It is equally a violation of the law of nature, and of the exprefs command of GOD. To bring up our children in the "nurture and admonition of the LORD;" is an apoftolic injunction. It will be impoffible to do this, if we neglect their education. The Legislature of this Commonwealth have done much already, and we hope they will not "be weary in well doing;" and that their last works may be more than their firft.

As thofe impreffions which are made upon the minds of children, are feldom if ever erafed; it is the more important that their education fhould be properly conducted. It was a judicious remark of an ancient king of Lacedemon, “That nothing fhould

Thould be taught children, but what may be eventu ally useful." Their tender minds frequently im bibe sentiments at a much earlier period than we are apt to conceive, which have an influence ever after upon their conduct. Hannibal, was but nine years old when he was led to the altar by Hamilcar his father, and took the oath of perpetual enmity to the Romans. The folemnity of this tranfaction made an impreffion upon his mind, which probably accounts for his future conduct towards that people.

Those to whom this important trust is committed, ought to be men of principle as well as talents. A vicious man, always lacks an effential qualification to inculcate the principles of virtue. To pro tect and aid the opening germ of genius; "to teach the young ideas how to fhoot ;" to give a proper fet to the wayward paffions; and above all to impress the tender mind with the love of virtue and religion; though a delightful is a very arduous task. Favoured, as we are, with public schools, academies, and other literary inftitutions, we may hope that our fons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner ftones, polifbed, after the fimilitude of a palace."

But however polished and enlightened a people may be, they cannot expect long to enjoy either freedom or profperity unless they are virtuous.We therefore add, 2d. That the practice of moral virtue, or religion, is effential to the profperity, if not to the existence of a free government. Where the authority of GoD is treated with contempt, and the great principles of morality and religion are difregarded, it must be expected that the vile paf

fions will triumph and reign; and instead of ration al liberty nothing will remain but an unbounded licentioufnefs.

Public confidence always attaches to moral principle; and hence in the fame proportion this is vi. tiated, that is weakened. I appeal to the good fense of this enlightened audience, whether you can poffibly repofe the fame confidence in a man who convinces you that he has no belief in the moral perfections of the DEITY, and who does not feel himself accountable to fuch a BEING, as in one who gives evidence that he acts under the influence of religious principle, and with a view to a day of final retribution?

If we look back into the remotest depths of Jewifh antiquity, we shall find their most distinguished Patriarchs acting under the influence of this principle; and not unfrequently appealing to an invisible Power, to confirm and give folemnity to their focial tranfactions. The fame fentiment prevailed in the Pagan world.

Amphietyon, by whofe eloquence and address the Grecian cities were first prevailed upon to unite for their common fafety, was fo fully convinced, that "thofe political connections are the most lafting, which are strengthened by religion," that he committed to the council at Thermopyla, the care of the Delphian Temple.

The religion of the Bible, above all others, has a peculiar tendency to cement and ftrengthen the bands of fociety, and promote the happiness of mankind. It inculcates the pureft precepts, and exemplifies the most amiable virtues. Every man, let his rank in fociety be what it may, will here find

his

his duty plainly pointed out, and illuftrated by example.

From the history given of the Jewish people, and the different characters of their civil rulers, the magiftrates of other nations may derive the most interesting leffons of inftruction. They will find, that those who ruled in integrity and uprightness, and walked in the fear of the LORD, were bleffed in their administrations, and their people were profperous and happy. On the other hand, those who difregarded the counfels of heaven, and chofe out their own ways, generally involved themselves and the nation in calamity and ruin.

When a virtuous pious Prince was upon the throne, it frequently produced an immediate effe& upon the manners and moral character of the people. What a furprifing and happy change was of ten vifible! The monuments of idolatry were deftroyed, and the worship of the true God restored. The temple doors which had been clofed, were opened, the fanctuary cleanfed, and the fire which had gone out rekindled upon their altars. The Priests and Levites, who had fled to their fields, were invited back, and placed in their courfes, and the fervice of the house of the LORD fet in order.

What was the confequence of all this? Univerfal joy and gladnefs. Righteousness, peace, and tranquility reigned throughout the nation.

Whenever their government fell into the hands of wicked idolatrous rulers, their pernicious principles and example, like a contagious leaven, would feem to run through the whole lump. The people would relapfe again into idolatry, and vice and irreligion triumph. Perhaps

Perhaps it may be asked, whether this people might not, upon the whole, have been as free and happy without any religion as with? Or whether the worshipping the true God rather than BAAL had a tendency to promote their national profperity ? Their history fhall furnish the answer. GOD forbid, that we should make the experiment, as it may be attended with very dangerous confequences!

The following account will ferve to illuftrate the idea: When the ten tribes revolted from the family of David, they fet up Jeroboam, the fon of Nebat, who made Ifrael to fin. After his death we have the following account given by the facred hiftorian:---"Now for a long time Ifrael hath been without the true GoD, without a teaching priest, and without law." This bore a strong resemblance to what in modern times is called the "age of reafon." What a happy fituation this people muft have thought themselves in? Delivered from all fear and dread of that holy, juft Being, whom we call GOD! Not only fo, but they were freed from the intolerable burden and impofing dogmas of a teaching priest. This facred class of men were deemed entirely use. lefs, and were either difmiffed or driven from the fanctuary. And to complete this happy state of things, they were alfo without law. No reftraint from any quarter. What, no GOD! No priest! No law! Then confequently no future accountability! This was liberty worthy the name. What an immense harvest of felicity was now ripening before them? Could they poffibly fail of being the happiest people in the world, when every obstacle was fo entirely removed out of the way? We ap

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