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This fear is not effectual; the fear of God, however, is. It accompanies the man affected by it into all the intercourse of life, and sheds its controlling influence over all his conduct. When true religion enters the cottage of the thief or drunkard, or the palace of the proud oppressor, it brings its own peculiar energies to bear upon their inmates. It starts no philosophical discussions about public morals, the comforts of sobriety, the advantages to be derived from holding sacred the rights of property, or the necessity of civil government for the general weal. It takes a much more direct method to accomplish its ends. It asserts and exalts the law of God, which requires, "As ye would that others do to you, do ye even so to them." It requires that each man regard and love his neighbor and his brother, as himself. It pours out the denunciation of Heaven, and threatens with eternal damnation every one, both high and low, who dares to violate its high behests. It imparts a few simple and salutary principles, and engraves them on the tablets of the heart, so that its subject can never plead ignorance, but carries with him, through all the varieties of human condition, and complicated human relations, his guide and instructer in the path of duty; "teaching us to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously and godly, in this present evil world;" "to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates," to render unto all men their dues, "tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom custom, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor, to owe no man, but to love one another;" "to put away all anger and malice," envy and revenge, those stormy passions, which keep society agitated and unsettled, and to abstain from all lying and backbiting and reviling. It is obvious that nothing possesses half so much intrinsic power, or is so admirably and universally adapted to diffuse throughout the community a love of order, a respect for the laws, the spirit of contentment and good-will, and the diligent efforts of a healthful industry, the very elements of public prosperity.

Did space permit, we could show how religion meets man in the lowest depths of his degradation and misery, and, speaking in the soft tones of heavenly mercy, words of peace and encouragement, inspires him with hope, and prompts him to commence a thorough renovation of his life;-how it meets him in his helplessness, and when through conscious

weakness, and fear of temptation, he scarcely dares to form a resolution to change, it proffers its aid, directs him to the "treasures of wisdom, and of strength laid up for him in Jesus Christ, and persuades him to hope and believe there is salvation for him;-how it meets him in his ignorance, and when he knows not where to look, what to do, in whom to trust, or from whom to take counsel, presents, as the friend and companion of his steps, the mighty Son of God, on whom to lean, and through whom to escape from every fear and foe;how it meets him in his different relations, as parent, husband child, brother, friend, neighbor and subject, and vouchsafing its counsel and safe conduct through all the different and difficult circumstances of his condition, assists him in the discharge of every duty, and moulds his character after the graces of the Spirit of God, "against which there is no law;"-and how it meets him in his different trials and afflictions; the difficult passes through life, and administers courage and consolation, wiping away the tears of his sorrow, dissipating his anxiety about his own and his family's welfare, soothing him on the bed of sickness, comforting him in his afflictions, supporting him in his trials, fortifying him for disappointments, lifting him up in his despondency, exciting him with the hope of future good, dispelling the fear of death, throwing around him in his dying moments the arms of everlasting love, and pressing his spirit beloved to the bosom of his Heavenly Father.

There is nothing which lends such a mighty helping power to the suffering and oppressed, who with weary spirits and decaying energies, begin to lose their patience and their hope, while grappling with the hardships of life. There is nothing which can light up the humble abode of poverty with the bright sunshine of peace and hope, and dignify the privations, toils and sufferings incident to penury, and brace, with the firmness of heroic fortitude, the man who sees his scanty fare becoming more and more precarious, his children wasting with disease, and the partner of his cares sinking under the pressure of their trials. There is nothing which can so soften the rugged, polish the rude, enlighten the ignorant, sustain under heavy pressure, and direct under circumstances fraught with perplexity. Where was there ever such a magic power brought to bear upon a people to improve the condition of the poor? to expel discontent and

gloom? to substitute peace for anxiety, confidence for fear, hope for despondency, joy for sorrow, purity for pollution? Nothing can equal it, nothing compensate it. It is this, and this alone that can equalize the allotments of Providence, and place every man in a condition to rise to respectability and happiness.

Talk not of agrarian laws, or the equal distribution of property, to improve the condition of society! Suppose you. could fill the land with families of opulence, you could not fill those families with happiness, not even with contentment. Wealth has no power to relieve from care, and fill the home and heart of its possessor with bliss. But introduce the religion of Jesus Christ among the people,-let it enter the households of the poor, and inspire the tenants of the humble cottage, with the hope of that inheritance which is "incorruptible, undefiled, and which fadeth not away;" and teach them how their trials, which are comparatively but for a moment, work out for them "a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory," yea, that their very poverty is proof of His favor, who hath chosen them "rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom," and you do more than all the legislation, wisdom and philosophy of man, and the resources of governments, can accomplish, to fill the land with contented and happy families, and ensure the greatest amount of happiness consistent with a state of moral discipline.

Let the records of history be consulted. Contrast the most refined and brilliant nations of antiquity, with those that Christianity has moulded, and civilized by its influence, and tell the result. The splendid monarchies and despotisms of Egypt, Nineveh and Babylon, of Persia, Greece and Rome, did indeed ennoble and exalt the crown and aristocracy, and dazzle the earth with the glory of their armies, the costliness of their palaces, the wonders of their architecture, and the richness, delicacy and extravagance of their luxuries; but they held the mass of the people oppressed, degraded, brutalized, with little or no knowledge of the bliss of domestic life. Nor did the proud republics of Greece and Rome accomplish more. They merged indeed the family in the state, and extinguishing the feeling of individuality in the paramount and absorbing claims of the body politic, afforded but little opportunity to indulge and cultivate the domestic virtues, or ply the means, or know the sources of domestic happi

SECOND SERIES, VOL. III. NO. 11.

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ness. The government was not the guardian angel of the people's happiness, protecting them in their inalienable rights, and facilitating the development of their powers, and the attainment of their happiness, in the exercise of those rights, but the people were led to sacrifice their individual and domestic enjoyments for the welfare and glory of the government. Their laws and public institutions tended not to equalize and diffuse the means of happiness, but to concentrate the sacrifices of individual and domestic happiness in the glory of the republic. And hence they never could perpetuate their republics, or protect themselves against the encroachments and ambition of aspirants after fame and power. Corruption and ignorance increased, and on the ruin of public morals, and amidst the prevalence of public distress, designing demagogues, through flattery and deceit, persuaded them to erect the despot's throne.

We look in vain to the governments of earth, which have not felt the influence, or owned the authority of Christianity, for any of those great and permanent results, which are dear to every friend of virtue and humanity. What influence but that of Christianity has ever banished gross vices from their public haunts, and forced their perpetrators to hide them in the darkness of secrecy? We look in vain for the universal diffusion of the blessings of a wholesome moral education, for the creation and endowment of hospitals, infirmaries, asylums, houses of refuge, and other kindred institutions, which Christianity has scattered so profusely among modern nations, for the relief and mitigation of the sufferings of the helpless and wretched.

Where have you found among the nations of antiquity any thing like the influence which Christianity has exerted, and is still exerting, to eradicate slavery from the earth, and break the yokes and fetters which cupidity and eruelty had forged? It is to Christianity the world is indebted for the elevation of the female sex from that degradation and servile condition in which they were held by the ancient heathen, and are yet held among anti-Christian nations ;-for those happy influences which have meliorated the state of human society, consecrated the ties which bind together the husband and wife, the parent and child, and introduce to our firesides all the virtues which sweeten every domestic relationship, and give endearments to home ;-for the laws which pro

tect the weak from the rapacity of the strong, the widow in her solitude, the orphan and the fatherless from the cunning and arts of those who would rob them of their rights, and for that sound healthful public opinion which alone can furnish an effectual guaranty against the evils, infallibly and abundantly resulting from the disrespect of oaths, the venality of of judges, the violation of public pledges, the treachery of public servants, the default of public officers, the recklessness of corrupt legislation, the chicanery of the bar, the subserviency of public functionaries, the selfishness of mercenary individuals, the cupidity of swindlers, and the dishonesty and vindictiveness of monied corporations.

"If you are in search of the attributes which give dignity to a state," says an eloquent divine, "of the virtues which shed a lustre and loveliness over families, give value to what is magnificent in enterprise, refined in civilization, lofty in ethics, admirable in jurisprudence, you never think of turning to any but a Christianized territory, in order to obtain the most signal exhibition; and just in proportion as Christianity but gains a footing on the territories of heathenism, there is a distinct improvement in whatever tends to exalt a nation and bring comfort and respectability to its households."* It has ever proved itself to be the "great civilizer of nations, the great heightener of morals, the soother of the afflicted, the patron of the destitute, the friend of the oppressed. Of a nation under its control, and by whom its restraints are reverenced and cherished, it may well be said, “Happy is the people that is in such a case, yea, happy is that people whose God is the Lord."

Is this the happiness of our nation? We have reason to bless God that we yet feel the benefit of those laws and institutions, of those influences and customs, of those conservative maxims and social morals, and of that healthful public opinion, which are peculiar to Christianity. We have reason too to rejoice in the belief that the God who has done such great things for us has not yet cast us off. But while we rejoice, we have much cause to do it with fear and trembling. For while it is demonstrable, that Christianity alone secures permanent prosperity, and the highest amount of happiness to a nation,—that the righteousness it teaches ex

* Melville.

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