See that the Constitution be not invaded and violated with impunity, by your Rulers, and sects and parties, for the sake of Church and State-Law Religion-the greatest curse that ever befel the World!

As a Christian, I expect slander, from those ***** bigots, either in Church or State, and opposition from them in various ways; but, my counsel is, take Eternity into account, by a serious, considerate examination how it stands between God and your soul!

Avoid what is wicked and dishonorable, seeing it is the motive and spirit which gave character to the ACTION.

My advise to you, each and all, is to be guarded against sectarian prejudices, bigotry and bitterness; but lead a life of Prayer and Watchfulness and Spiritual Devotion, that you may enjoy, by the communication of the Spirit, Jesus Christ revealed within-the Hope of Glory! L. DOW.

District Columbia, May 20, 1830.

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PROGRESS

OF

LIGHT AND LIBERTY.

BIXTH EDITION, IMPROVED.

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I. HISTORICALLY.

SUPPOSING that an infant was lost in a desolate wilderness-found by an animal, and nursed until he arrived at the age of twenty years-then found by hunters, and brought to a company of gentlemen of different dialects-what language would he be able to converse in? A moment's reflec tion would negative the whole-as some instances might be cited to exemplify-which shows that language is not an innate principle of nature, but acquired wholly by art, from each other; hence his animal could not teach or learn him.

Again-Suppose a child born into the world asleep, and should continue in that state till he arrived to maturity, and then should awake with the full powers of his intellectual capacity and strength of mind; beholding august nature with its beauties various forms and different modes, presenting to view! What must be the feelings, exercise and sensations of that person? Wonder and astonishment!.

Here the question will arise-Who learnt the first man to talk? seeing he had no parents to teach him. The Mosaic account gives us to understand, that the Maker of man gave man a law to keep. Common sense says, it must have been fitted to his capacity-which communication involves the idea of language, of course. Therefore it follows as a consequence, that the Maker of man learnt man to talk.

Moreover, in order that he might not be too great a wonder and mystery to himself, but that he should feel the force. of his obligation and dependence on his Creator and Governor, as a responsible agent, it is reasonable to admit, that the Creator gave him to understand what had happened the five preceding days. This being once communicated to him he would be able to communicate the information to another in turn. What is obvious to sense, is a subject of knowledge; and what a mán knows, he is able to give a rational account of. Of course, what he passed through subsequently, being obvious to his senses, and a subject of knowledge, he would be able to communicate that likewise-hence the scriptural account of man's creation and fall, is not unreasonable, but rational-to be admitted and believed.

But how did Moses find it out? who communicated it to him?

Adam lived 930 years; Methuselah lived 969, and died the year before the flood; the aggregate of 1899—yet, from the creation to the flood, was but 1656; which shows that these two patriarchs were cotemporary more than 240, or about 243 years and in that time Adam could have given the communication.

The sons of Noah were born before the flood, and must have been cotemporary with Methuselah nearly one hund red years, or more-and surviving the flood several hundred years. Isaac was at least 50 years old when Shem died! -Thus there were but two intermediate persons between Adam and Isaac, to connect the chain of tradition, viz. Methuselah and Shem!*

A similar traditionary evidence was exhibited a few years ago, which, may serve for an illustration. The Choctaws sold a tract of country to the United States, in the fork of two rivers, (viz. Tombigby and Alabama,) the Creek indians claimed the soil: evidence from neighboring tribes was called in, viz. Chickasaws and Cherokees-referring to a council of more than 100 years anterior-which evidence was not a transcript of record, put purely traditionary-and was mutually satisfactory to all parties. A generation of modern times, we suppose to be about 30 years-the intermediate 3-the first and present would make 5.

Here notice the following correct relation for a period of 2553 years. Adam was cotemporary with Lamech 56 years; with Mathuselah 243; with Jared 470: with Mahalaleei 535; with Cainan 605; and with Enos 695. Noah was cotemporary with Lamech 695 years; with Methuselah 600; with Jared 366; with Mahalaleel 234; with Cainan 179; and with Enos 84. She was cotemporary with Lau.ech 93 years; with Methusalah 98; with

Out of what language were the books of the Old Testa ment translated? Hebrew. From whom was that collection derived? From the Hebrews. Why were they called Hebrews? From Heber an ancestor of Abraham.

Noah 448-and after the flood with Abrahom 150, and with Isaac 50-a period of 2158 years from the creation-shows how easy the creation and fall of man could be transmitted down to the time of Moses.

Isaac died at the age of 180 years, and in the age of the world 2288-and Levi, his grand son, who died at the age of 137, was cotemporary with Isaac a number of years-and was the great grand-father of Moses and Aaron on the father's side, but only grand-father on the mother's side; for the daughter of Levi was the mother of Moses. Amram the father of Moses, died at the age of 137- Kohath, the grand-father, at 133, who was the son of Leviheuce his grandson must have married his own daughter. Moses died at the age of 120, and Aaron 123, and in the year of the world 2553. After which Joshua took the command, and the judges in succession, to the time of Saul and David.

Whoever will notice the custom of Quakers in keeping a register of their marriages, births, deaths, &c. will find that 10,000 years genealogy might he traced back on the same mode, in a line of succession, intelligibly-also the statute laws of Connecticut would admit of the same thing, being founded on a similar Jewish policy. Hence the genealogy of Christ is not so objectionable as many would suggest; nor the Mosaic account likewise.

A similar line of events may easily be traced down in order and succession, to the time of Cyrus the Persian, and the return of the Jews from Babylon; in which time the Greek and Roman histories began-and which exhibit a chain of events to the time of our Lord, in the reign of Augustus Cæsar-to the commencement of "Modern History," and so to our day.

The idea of tide-water in drowning the Egyptians, is substituted to do away that of a miracle, by some. But let it be remembered, that the Isthmus of Suez is admitted to be but about sixty miles over. Hence, if tide water was in one sea, it would be rational to suppose it would be found in the other. But geographers and navigators annul the idea of regular tides in one sea, and hence may reject it, as it relates to the other.

When Álex in 'er the Great, travelled from Europe to Africa, and built the city which still retains his name, then went towards India, he must have gone over once or twice near the Red Sea; and had there been tide water, why not they become acquainted with it? But we find that they were panic-struck, when they found the flood tide in the east; supposing the laws of nature to be reversed, and that the gods were frowning upon them. Hence it is plain, they were ignorant of the nature of tide water antecedent; and therefore none in those parts over which they had passed, and therefore none in that part of the Red Sea; which idea of course must be considered of modern date, and has no foundation in common sense for its support.

And the present state of the Jews are a convincing proof of these ancient relations of past events, being founded not in fable, but on fact, to the inquir ing mind, who will give evidence its due and proper weight in the scale of reason-when he compares things with things, to see their fitness; connected with the inward convictions of the Spirit of God upon his mind; and would inquire after truth; and act with an eye to the eternal world; as one who would wish to make sure work to depart hence, in peace and safety; and insure a happy eternity.

It was not long from the days of Abraham to the time of Moses; and the worship of one God was set up in the family of Abraham, as a compact-and continued in that mode; hence the family would be as a repository, to preserve and transmit the tradition until letters were in vogue to furnish a record.

Who learnt Moses to write? The first writing of which we have any account, was the "ten commands of God," written by the finger of God himself. Thus we are indebted to God for the origin of letters, as well as for the origin of language and navigation! And also the evidence of "one God" could be known only from the same source, viz. Divine communication, by revelation; instead of being fathomed merely by human reason!

To give a history of God Almighty, is impracticable; but a brief sketch of some of his most prominent dispensations is within the bounds of possibility, and is the design of the Old Testament, for the benefit of those that should come after. Hence that history was continued until the time of the Greeks and Romans, when human records connected with prophectic and sacred writings, would exhibit a continuation and succession of events.

But in most nations and countries, in different ages, literature has been limited, suppressed, and tramelled; so that, in a great degree, the original and most important events of that nation are under a cloud, or lost in darkness, if not sunk in oblivion; like the Barbarians that overran the Roman empire, destroying and despising every thing connected therewith, as tending to unman them and cause them to become effeminate. The papers and books of the East Indian Christians, were destroyed by the European priests, as bordering on heresy. When the French revolution took place, the papers of the court were destroyed-quoting an ancient practice for the sanction. And where and when was there a faithful history of a court published?

But nevertheless, the writings of some have survived the wreck of nations, even through the dark feudal times; and the European nations are able to give some account of former times in some small degree, as it relates to them still the subject is but partial when compared and contrasted with America. We are able to produce the particulars of our beginning; and even the first stone that an emigrant stepped