Portland Gazette, And Maine Advertiser

Communications.

To the "Rev. Daniel Merrill of Sedgwick," Me.

SIR,

THE sacred order, to which you belong, and the holy cause, which you have espoused, would shield you from notice; if your baseness were not of more than ordinary magnitude. We revere the institutions of divine religion; and we sincerely venerate the sanctity of the clergy. The Pulpit, adorned with the "Messenger of Truth," must stand exalted, while the world shall stand. There the understanding is enlightened; the asperity of natural temper soothed; and the rancorous and turbulent passions incident to man effectually assuaged. The monitions of the pious preacher are the grand correctives of the religious and moral opinions and practice of individuals and society. They point out, and explain the way, that leads to everlasting life—they serve to assimilate the creature to his creator, man to his God. But how is the effect of preaching counteracted? and how is our religion brought into disrepute, when its professed pastors and supporters, descending from their high and holy station, march forth, & enlist in the ranks of electioneering scribblers—and, (which is of all things most infamous) employ their pens in traducing individual character. It is a melancholy consideration to the lovers of true religion and piety, that those, whom they have been accustomed to regard as their spiritual leaders and guides, evince by their conduct a total destitution of religious principle. It is unfortunate for yourself, sir, that the character, which you attempt to vilify, is established on a basis firm and lasting as the "eternal hills." The reputation of Cobb is erected upon a foundation; which calumny and party-spirit has not power to batter down. When the Alps shall be demolished by the exertion of the Mole—When the Tiber shall be dried up by the thirst of the insignificant fry—then, and not till then, will Cobb's character be injured by a person, who has disgraced himself by giving up the cause of virtue and religion, for the sake of political notice and emolument. To refute satisfactorily the charge adduced by you, sir, against General Cobb nothing more is necessary, than to confront it with the whole tenor of his life and conduct. Can you seriously believe that he, whose best days, and in fact whose whole life has been devoted to the establishment and permanent security of religious and political liberty, should entertain sentiments bordering on intolerance. But, sir, we have a more ample refutation arising from the very face of your letter. You prove too much, and consequently defeat your own intention. The facts, as stated by yourself, sir, are simply these; "that General Cobb was present with you at the Clergyman's meeting of Castine, that he was expressing his fears lest the cause of religion in his country should come to ruin:" How far those fears were excited by your deportment and conversation, I leave for you to decide. It further appears from the tenor of your letter, that a dispute arose between you and the General, upon political and religious questions—that you exercised toward him all that bitter malignity, that party malice, that incoherent and rhapsodical declamation, for which you are noted among your equals—and that he, conscious to himself of having fought, and exposed his property and life for the religious and civil rights of his country, (while you were either unborn, or incapable of rendering any service to your fellow-citizens,) felt the indignation of a man and a patriot. He might have expressed himself hastily: but it was the effect of your abuse. Were you capable of reflection and unprejudiced thinking, I would appeal to your own ingenuousness; and you should acquit him of the charge, by yourself, brought against him—but, sir, "men do not gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles."

If Cobb had possessed a spirit of intolerance, when would it have shewn itself? In the days of vigor and activity? or would it have remained dormant "until his head was silvered o'er by the finger of time," and he had lost all relish for every thing but his country's welfare. For, until he shall expire his last breath, "his ruling passions," (viz. love of country) shall remain in his breast. Having thus briefly noticed the contents of your letter, I would in conclusion observe, sir, that I do not answer you because I think that General Cobb's character needs any other support, than its own intrinsic excellence. The splendor, which it has accumulated through the course of seventy years essential service, cannot be eclipsed by a body even opaque as yourself. But I would set before you, in all its deformity, the glaring impropriety of a clergyman's appearing, in a public vehicle of scurrility, the
defamer of worth, of patriotism and piety. Consider, sir, that when a few moments, or at most a few years, have elapsed, you will be summoned before the tribunal of that God, who is of purer eyes, than to behold iniquity; and called upon to surrender a solemn account of your mission. It will not then be asked how many proselytes you have made to the cause of Bonaparte; or what has been your zeal in disseminating the principles of Democracy. But have you been a faithful minister of Christ? What will be your answer to this question? I appeal to your own heart to decide. If from a consciousness of guilt you are compelled to answer in the negative, I assure you, by the word of Him, that liveth "forever and ever" that endless misery awaits you.

RELIGIOSUS.