The Enquirer

UNION of church and State ! !

In days of yore, we have seen the Federal bench of justice turned into a political rostrum for the delivery of political charges to the grand juries. We have seen Judge Iredell burying the office of a Judge in the character of a partizan and expounding his politics to those who came to hear the law of the land. And we have seen a Federal Grand Jury, within this very city, presenting a member of Congress for having addressed a certain circular letter to the very people, who elected him. But these times have passed away-along with the gag laws, 8 per cent, loans &c. &c. &c.

But amidst the wildest ebullitions of federal zeal we have never seen the rights of the Pulpit abused for the purposes of party.-We have never heard the "drum ecclesiastic" sounded to excite the rage of political fanatics. Our own ministers have generally stuck to their text ; or, at least to their calling. No wild excursions into the field of politics-no commentaries on the laws of nations-no encroachments on Decrees, Orders in Council-No abuse of the General Government-They have found enough to do, in combatting or reclaiming those only who have sinned against the "Law and the Prophets."

As a piece of News, therefore. we beg leave to lay before them, the following specimen of the Christian dispensations of a minister of the Gospel in Massachusetts-It is extracted from a sermon, preached at Byfield, on the Annual Fast, April 11, 1811, by Elijah Parish, D D. one of your genuine federalists, who lose no opportunity of preaching the light of His Gospel--This Parish is the same minister, who preached the Election Sermon last fall, so full of anarchy and sedition, that the Legislature refused to sanction it by paying it the compliment of a publication. " The National A gis tells us, that his text was-"Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen and is become the habitation of devils the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird-[Rev. Chap. XVIII. Ver.2 Here are a few Extracts.

The reader may readily guess the next.

"Does it not harmonize with Babylon? In falling, Babylon are their laws oppressive and cruel, are they crushed by their commercial restrictions? Have we not our embargoes, and our non-intercourse laws, precisely, in the same stile ? Is there falsehood and treachery in the government of Babylon? Have we not our false and treacherous proclamations, declaring the decrees of Milan and Berlin to be revoked, when they were not revoked! Do not the two governments harmonize, like the pulse in different limbs of the same body ? if there be fever in one, the other glows.

We are entirely the authors of our own embarrassments. Is there no hope ? Do you not hear a voice from the tomb of Washington, warning you of your danger ? do you not hear God himself, informing you that" Babylon is the habitation of devils that to be prosperous, you must be separate from her ?" Why then did our government make a monstrous law to ruin her own citizens ? Why did the majority of our Legislators perjure themselves when they had sworn to support the Constitution ? Why did they knowingly violate that article: which declares. that no "ex post facto" law shall be made?"

" France had made such havoc on our commerce. that our treasury was compelled to pay 75,550 dls. merely for the support of our distressed seamen, taken prisoners by that country.

Here's Political Priestcraft for you ?