superfluous; his fellow citizens would soon emulate his example, and exhibit an improved state of society. 22" General information is indispensably necessary to the preservation of a free republican government; but this cannot be retained, if the great body of the people, through want of economy, indulge their propensities in the use of superfluities, and become poor and unable to educate their children. The patronage of the wealthy, will never be indiscriminately extended to the children of the whole community. Even that source will diminish where extravagance prevails." 23 Citizens of the American Republic! if I possessed the eloquence of Demosthenes, I would address you in your cities, and your villages, with my voice instead of my quill;— I would convince you that your enemy,* the conqueror of all nations except your own, instead of preparing to march against you, has already entered your doors, and is receiving your self-betraying caresses, instead of manly resistance. 24 I would persuade you to rise en masse, from your slumber, erect the banners of ECONOMY and PLENTY, and exterminate, without quarter, the devouring traitors Luxury, Superfluity, and Fashion; I would persuade you to practise, voluntarily, the virtues which Lycurgus enforced by the decrees of power; and which made the Lacedemonians the happiest people that history acquaints us with. 25 He suppressed luxury and extravagance; he excluded superfluous and useless arts, and prevented the introduction of foreign merchandise; he discouraged avarice, and yet compelled the most perfect economy and simplicity in the construction of houses, furniture, &c. 26 Among the causes of poverty, besides ignorance and vice, indolence and intemperance, the want of steady employment, to all who are able and willing to labor, is one which has not received the consideration of legislators and moralists that it deserves. A great proportion of crimes might be traced to this cause. Robbery or forgery, is the alterna tive frequently preferred, by persons of weak moral princi. ples, to starvation, or the humiliation of beggary. 27 It is easier to prevent poverty and crimes, by instruction and employment, than to relieve and suppress them by charity and punishments. There ought to be a public agricultural and manufacturing institution, in every county, * Luxury. where poor people who are capable of digging potatoes, turning a wheel, or working a loom, or of performing any kind of mechanical or other labor, may be employed, and suitably rewarded, whenever application shall be made. Schools and moral libraries ought to form a department in all such institutions. 28 The expenditure of such enormous sums of money as are continually dissipated in play houses, balls, novel reading, and other idle amusements, is totally unjustifiable; even if health of body and mind were not at the same time impaired. It is surprising that people of refined taste, should be willing to breathe the vitiated air of crowded theatres and circuses. 29 The consummation of human folly and madness is to be found in the beastly custom of nominally civilized as well as savage nations, of settling their differences, through the medium of iron cannon, muskets, swords, bayonets, balls, and leaden bullets; fire and brimstone, salt-petre and charcoal; and HUMAN BLOOD, the final product of the whole. This method of obtaining justice or injustice, incurs an incalculable sacrifice of wealth and morals, as well as of life. 30 National military establishments swallow up a vast proportion of the revenues of a country, even in time of peace. Is there no alternative? If not, then let man cease to boast his moral superiority to tigers and dogs. O ye mad nations! retrieve your abused divine legacy, reason! Commence your retreat from the horrid game of folly, blood and death, simultaneously.. 31 Dismantle all your war ships, frigates, &c., and sink in the ocean, or destroy, every engine of human destruction. Dismiss your war servants, and abolish military schools. Institute a perpetual Congress of delegates, from each nation respectively, to which all national disputes, not amicably arranged by agents of the parties, shall be referred for final decision. J. T. PART SECOND. EPITOME OF THE MORAL PRECEPTS OF THE BIBLE. CHAPTER 1. SELECTIONS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT. 1 EVEN as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same. 2 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! 3 The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works. The eyes of all wait upon thee, and thou giv est them their meat in due season. Thou openest thy hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. 4 Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains. 5 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. 6 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and 'honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her. [7 Receive my instruction, and not silver: and knowledge rather than choice gold: for wisdom is better than rubies and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom : and with all thy getting get understanding. Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go : keep her; for she is thy life. 8 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thy hand to do it. Say not unto thy neighbor, go, and come again, and to-morrow I will give, when thou hast it by thee. 9 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man. He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. He that walketh uprightly walketh surely but he that perverteth his ways shall be known. The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment. 10 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression. A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches. A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.] 11 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh; for the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty; and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags. Who hath wo? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? 12 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth its color in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. 13 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work. 14 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; and lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken. Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it and received instruction. 15 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no tale bearer, the strife ceaseth: 16 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches: feed me with food convenient for me. 17 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants' ships; 43 she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. 18 She layeth her hand to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She maketh fine linen and selleth it; she openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. 19 The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eateth little or much. 20 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. 21 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked. 22 Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord? 23 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? 24 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? 25 Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my first born for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 26 He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? |