THE REPORTER.
"'TIS PLEASANT, THROUGH THE LOOP-HOLES OF RETREAT, TO PEEP AT SUCH A WORLD-- TO SEE THE STIR OF THE GREAT BABEL, AND NOT FEEL THE CROWD."
[NEW SERIES----VOL. I.]	WASHINGTON, (PA.) MONDAY, JANUARY 28th, 1822.	[NO. 36.

      In my last I stated the grand constitution of the moral empire of the rational universe. The standard of morality is comprehended in one sentence "thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Pagan morality never recognized this as its base, and, consequently was radically defective. Many actions by the Pagans denominated moral, were truly immoral, their system of morals gave scope to the worst passions of the human heart. And, indeed, many of their best actions, which shine with most lustre on the biographic page, were but splendid sins. Political morality or the morality recognized in the laws of most christian nations, while it is far superior in its bearings upon society, to the morality of the antient or modern Pagans, in many respects falls short of the morality of the New Testament. Jewish morality or the morality of the Jews, itself, falls short of morality of christianity. The great founder of christianity in one of his introductory discourses, Matt 5, 6 & 7, clearly exhibits this. The morality of the New Testament corresponds with the superiority of its religion; and is as far superior to every other system of morality, ever taught amongst men, as christianity itself excels every other form of religion ever taught or practised in the world. While one of the moral statutes of Israel said, "an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth." The morality of christianity says "resist not evil,"--"avenge not yourselves." While the law of Moses said only, "thou shall not kill;" the law of Christ says "He that hateth his brother is a murderer." While the law of Moses either winked at, or passed over in silence, the crime of fornication, and only said, "thou shalt not commit adultery; the law of Christ says, "he that looketh upon a woman to lust after her, in his heart commiteth adultery with her." While Moses allowed the Jews to put away their wives on trifling accounts, provided they "gave them a writing of divorcement;" Christ says, "whosoever putteth away his wife saving for the cause of fornication causeth her to commit adultery, and whosoever marrieth her that is divorced committeth adultery." The language of Judaism saith, "thou shalt not forswear thyself," but the language of christianity is, "swear not at all." Little or nothing was said by Moses against drunkenness, but christianity says, "be not drunk" for no "drunkard hath any part in the kingdom of God." Polygamy was winked at, and much practised amongst the Jews, but a positive law of Christ, says "let every man have his own wife, and every woman have her own husband." In the above and in many other respects the morality of the New Testament is superior to every thing called morality, exhibited upon earth. It is also true that the morality of the Old Testament was substantially the same with that of the New but it was not developed, taught, or practised as by Christ and his Apostles. The Jews at best served "in the oldness of the letter," but christians must serve, in newness of spirit." Besides the most distinguished saints of the Old Testament, even Abraham, "the father of the faithful, and the friend of God," Jacob, the venerable patriarch; David, too, "the man after Gods own heart" and Solomon, "the beloved of his God" would not have been ranked amongst christians had they lived in the Apostle's age. I do not allude to those misdemeanors for which they were condemned by the morality of the Old Testament, but I allude to those practices which were either not prohibited, or winked at in that Testament. For instance had Abraham, Jacob, David, and Solomon been guilty of no publick offence, save their having more wives than one, they could not consistently have had a place in the christian church. This then is sufficient to prove that christian morality both in precept and practice is far superior to any system of morality ever taught or practised amongst men, since or before the christian era.

      Again the means by which it is to be supported and enforced in the world are essentially different from the way and manner in which the morality of the Old Testament, or of any other system ever was taught or enforced. The preaching of the gospel the good works of christians, and above all the perfect model of living morality afforded in the life of Christ are the sole and entire means which God has appointed for its propagation and support in the world. The antient Pagans to a man fell short of their, own morality. The greatest of their moral teachers called Philosophers fell short of it. Politicians or civilians fall short of their own morality, and consequently weaken the influence of their theories. Moses himself fell short of the morality he taught; and no teacher of morality before the christian era, ever perfectly exhibited in his life, his own system. But Christ forms the only exception he practiced what he taught, and christian morality was perfectly exhibited in him--christianity then not only exhibits the only perfect system of morality, but it alone exhibits the only perfect model the world ever saw.

CANDIDUS.      

      P. S. Those desirous of seeing the side I have taken in this controversy respecting the Sabbath, ably discussed will find 3 numbers signed "Leland" published in the "Democratic Press," of October 1st & 8th. These numbers embrace all our arguments in substance and exhibit the subject in such a light as must convince every unbiassed reader.

C.      

[The Reporter, 28 January 1822, p. 1.]