of one region of Paganism, or to the wild and debased natives of another. I see the stupidity and indolence of the first-scarcely removed from the fish on which they lived-quickened, stimulated, elevated. I see the fierce, bloody, revengeful spirit of the others -dancing their infernal war-step with the mind of a fury-reduced to meekness, docility, simplicity. I see them casting their cruel and obscene idols to the moles and to the bats, and acknowledging "the one true God, and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent." I see the tears of penitence flow down their cheeks. I see their manners humanized and softened, stimulated to habits of solid and persevering and welldirected diligence. Principles of truth and purity and uprightness and benevolence take the place of animal indolence and insatiable selfishness and remorseless revenge. I see the Christian institution of marriage opening the sources of the social affections. The Christian village begins to rise. The huts, and churches, and schools, and bridges, and streets, and gardens smile. Commerce visits the newly civilized people. The sabbath interposes a day for religious instruction. The magistrate assumes his office.

The

minister of religion is the father and friend of all. Disease and vice and misery begin to be lessened and disappear. Virtue, peace, industry, social order, are the lovely fruits of the Christian faith.

I turn from the delightful scene to others of an opposite class. I behold the states of Europe where Christianity has most deeply declined, or the Asiatic and African nations where it was extinguished by the who poison their wives for their dowries, or their husbands that they may marry their adulterers; who strangle or expose infants, commit incest and unnatural crimes too odious to relate.”—“Give me a man who is choleric, abusive, headstrong, and unruly; with a very few words-the words of Godwill render him as gentle as a lamb. Give me an unjust man, a foolish man, a vicious man; and, on a sudden, he shall become honest, wise, virtuous."

Mahometan Imposture. The temporal calamities, the civil and social oppression, the decay of moral order and mutual benevolence, the want of public liberty, virtue, confidence and integrity, illustrate by the melancholy contrast, the immense value of pure Christianity to man, even as it respects temporal benefits. But I will not proceed further. No candid inquirer can fail to perceive that the whole of these statements constitute a strong additional argument in favour of the divine authority of a religion which is manifestly productive of such benefits.

Not that I am to be understood as denying for a moment the lamentable defects still existing in the institutions and manners of the purest Christian states. In none are the principles of Christianity carried out to their full extent. In none are the blessings of knowledge, and morals, and liberty, and equal laws, and the benign influence of peace dispersed to the degree they might and should. In none are vices and immoralities and public offences against God sufficiently discouraged."

But the argument rests on the larger measure, the far larger measure of every temporal blessing which has been enjoyed since the introduction of Christianity, than under the Heathen governments. The argument rests on the evils which have been banished or mitigated, and on the contrary benefits which have been conferred. The argument rests, not on the minute and narrow examination of a few detached events or some partial impediments, but on the general aspect and course of affairs during all ages since the coming of our Lord, on the universal testimony of history, and the manifest progress of individual and national happiness. Here every thing proclaims the beneficial influence of Christianity, every thing designates her as the friend of man, of human nature, of the whole race, especially of the vast crowds of its population; every thing declares that she has pro

mise of the life that now is, as well as of that which is to come."

Much less am I to be understood as implying, that these details of our national and temporal welfare, as promoted by Christianity, go to lessen the guilt of our individual vices and sins as members of Christian nations. On the contrary, they increase our personal responsibility. The conduct of vicious men is, in its aggregate, the very cause that the effects of Christianity are less striking and complete. That our religion has upon the whole produced such immense good, notwithstanding the coldness of so many in her cause and the insincerity and vices of more, is indeed a glorious proof of her divine original. The improved aspect of things, the mighty principles set at work, the positive changes effected, are indeed palpable marks of a revelation from heaven. But these very things aggravate our particular sins, our individual neglect of Christian duty, our impurities, our violations of the sabbath, our scorn of vital religion, our resistance to all the light and knowledge and sacred influence which is diffused around us. God forbid that we should suppose that our external advantages lessen the individual criminality, which, in truth, they augment. Our sins acquire a deeper guilt from the very means of holiness and salvation which we abuse.

I would, therefore, in drawing to a conclusion,

I. Entreat each one to ask himself, how far these good effects of Christianity have been THE RESULT Do you,

OF RELIGIOUS PRINCIPLES IN HIMSELF.

my

dear hearers, exhibit in the purity of your manners, the wholesome fruits of the gospel of Christ? Do you so fill up your station in the community as to prove the excellency of the principles on which you act? Do you maintain that uprightness and downright integrity in your dealings, that kindness and friendliness in your temper, that diligence and punc

tuality in your engagements, that consistency and propriety in your whole conduct, which may enable others to recognize in you the effects of a divine religion? You may be living in a bright day of Christian truth, and in a manner much superior to the heathens as to your particular course of behaviour; and yet there may be no Christian principles effectively at work in your own hearts. It may be others who are operating upon you, and not you who are labouring with others to exhibit the Christian pattern. You may be passive, not active in the business. Christianity may be producing its good effects notwithstanding your irreligion and negligence; not in consequence of your virtue and piety. You may be guided to what is externally right, by custom, a regard to reputation, interest, the general habits of those about you; and not from principle, not from the love of God, not from a conscience of the divine law.

Let me, then, exhort you,

II. NOT TO STOP SHORT IN THE TEMPORAL BENEFITS OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION. Christianity dispenses good, indeed, to all within its sphere of influence. Like its divine Author, it blesses "the evil and the good, the just and the unjust." But it saves none but those who imbibe its genuine principles, who are humbled for their sins, who receive the gift of pardon in the one sacrifice of Christ, who are led and governed by the Holy Ghost and live a holy life. It is in this way that it communicates "not only the promise of the life that now is," as my text speaks, "but of that which is to come." For its main blessings are spiritual. Its main design is to redeem men from death. Its chief glory is to " destroy the works of the devil." Temporal benefits are strewed by the way. Temporal blessings are incidental. It is only Eternity that exhausts the designs of Christi

anity. It is the "life that is to come" for which it provides. To stop short in its general advantages, is to lose its noblest designs, to frustrate its grand purposes, to defeat its immense provision of grace and

mercy.

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Nor, indeed, can its temporal advantages be fully secured, unless you imbibe the spirit of Christianity from which they flow. He only knows the genuine happiness, and peace, and joy, which the gospel dispenses, who drinks them pure and unmixed from the fountain. The dregs are indeed valuable, but have no life-giving virtue. And yet they are considered as every thing by those who, refusing the living streams themselves, receive these dregs through corrupt channels, into the receptacle of an impure heart. A man cannot be happy as a citizen, if he be not a true Christian. Yield then to the friendly invitation of mercy. You acknowledge Christianity as having promise of the life that now is," receive it as giving also "that life which is to come." Let the lower displays of the divine bounty, lead you to seek the higher and abiding blessings of salvation. Soon will all the pageant of this world be passed, and "the life that now is," be removed and gone. Nothing then will remain but eternity. The temporal benefits you may have derived from Christianity, if those be all, will then avail you nothing. Secure then the eternal life which is offered you in Jesus Christ. Let "the goodness of God lead you to repentance." Let his daily bounties, his constant blessings to individuals and nations, be so many witnesses to you of his vidential guidance, and so many inducements to you to seek his face. It is in this way only, that the abundant effects of Christianity can be preserved in each passing age, and handed down to the next. Personal and individual penitence and faith, are the springs of religious prosperity. As these are multi

pro