In his May number he addressed his readers in the following strain:--
"The present is an era of light, and a day peculiar to prophetic fulfilment. Never was there a time when the soldiers of the Cross could look forward to brighter prospects, and never a day when victory over the powers of darkness was more certain. The rapid increase of Gospel light, the spread of pure religion, a submission to the doctrine of the Scriptures, in preference of man-made creeds, and the spirit of reciprocal love and Christian forbearance among free inquirers after the word of life, afford indications of the approach of a more brilliant era.
"All dissenters from civil despotic governments have been regarded as rebels, and all dissenters from ecclesiastical tyranny and oppression have been denounced as heretics and infidels. Some of the purest men that have ever honored this mortal stage of existence, and some of the purest sentiments that have ever elevated human thought, have been sacrificed upon the unholy altar of priestcraft and superstition. We should evidently be wanting in charity were we to represent all as illiberal who are stationed in the ranks of orthodoxy. Such are not our views; for we are convinced that many, very many, thus circumstanced, know and highly appreciate the value of Gospel liberty, and were it not for the anxious watchings of those who 'bear rule,' would have burst their chains asunder.
"We are dissenters from the corruptions the church has accumulated in the wilderness. Its unscriptural creeds and doctrines--its cruel and oppressive government--its unholy and proscriptive spirit--its fanatical and superstitious ceremonies--its worldly show and empty parade--its unwarrantable pretensions and unnecessary divisions, we shall endeavor to expose in a prudent manner, and show our readers 'a more excellent way!' We shall endeavor to take the medium between a blind fanaticism and a cold formality, and in all cases the Holy Scriptures shall be the man of our counsel; and we shall use every exertion in our power to persuade our readers to be enlightened, rational, liberal, charitable, kind, experimental and practical Christians.
"Christian liberty will be a leading topic in the Palladium, as genuine religion can breathe freely only in the atmosphere of freedom. There cannot be imagined a greater treason against heaven and earth, than for men, under the pretence of a superior sanctity, to plot, contrive, and provide for the control of human thoughts, actions and hopes, by infusing into the minds of their brethren and equals the delirium of superstitious fears of God, and the poison of cringing subserviency to man. The churches which have attempted this, have displayed the worst effects of ambition, selfishness and sensuality; and the states which have submitted to it, all the debasement of servility, ignorance, and even of crime. Men should dread nothing but sin, and submit to no authority not delegated by themselves, except that of their parents and their God. The Palladium is not designed to espouse any party in politics; yet it may have occasion at times to speak on the subject of Civil Government, so far as that species of government has a direct bearing on Christian liberty."