ESSAY V.

ON

THE GREAT IMPROVEMENT

OF MANKIND,

AND

THE MANY TEMPORAL BENEFITS WHICH HAVE ACCRUED TO IT, FROM

CHRISTIANITY.

"The fairest and most effectual way of ascertaining the measure of credit which is due to the Gospel of Christ, in respect of its reforming the morals of men, is by a faithful comparison of the general state of moral character in the Christian world, with the state of moral character in circumstances similar before the Christian doctrine was revealed."-DR INGLIS'S " Vindication of Christian Faith.”—P. 293.

ON

THE IMPROVEMENT OF MANKIND

THROUGH CHRISTIANITY.

IN taking a view of the morality and feelings of ancient and modern times, a material difference between them generally presents itself, and we perceive a great superiority of the latter over the former. Instead of the barbarity of the old world, we now find wars carried on with less ferocity; humanity towards the vanquished when the conflict has ceased; domestic slavery abolished or mitigated; suicide abated; the desperate evil of human sacrifice over; protection given to the helpless; institutions abounding for the sick and destitute; revenge forbidden and discountenanced, and philanthropy considered as the greatest virtue.

True religion has of all things the most steady and lasting influence on the human mind; and we will find no difficulty in discovering in it the causes

of such changes in sentiment and conduct. This we shall do on contrasting the beneficent system introduced by the Redeemer, with what prevailed under the heathen superstitions, amid their grossness, their cruelties, and their fostering the worst of human passions.

Let me, therefore, adopt the idea of Dr Inglis in the passage I have prefixed, taken from his late able work, and endeavour to make the comparison which he suggests. That, therefore, shall form the subject of the present treatise, wherein numerous important facts, directly bearing upon our topic, shall be stated in the shortest manner, and without reference to the authorities establishing them,-the noting of which would extend this paper to a greater length than my plan admits of. It will with propriety make a concluding part of this series of treatises on the evidences of our religion, as it will show how much it has been our gracious Creator's design in bestowing Christianity on man, not only to open again the gates of heaven to the heirs of immortality, but also to contribute to their general improvement and temporal good; and whatever indicates such extensive beneficence, demonstrates its heavenly and divine origin.

As the world came to be Christianized, the humane and benevolent doctrines of the Scriptures became, in sundry different countries, the foundation of, or engrafted with, their municipal laws. Thus many parts of those of Theodosius and Justinian were taken

from the Gospels. Those of the Visigoths, Burgundians, Franks, and other rude races of men, were amended by the fine spirit which portions of the word of God had infused into them. Alfred the Great transcribed into his civil institutions the ten commandments, and several chapters of the book of Exodus; and many of the laws of Charlemagne and Louis were taken from the books of Moses. It was impossible that nations should not receive general culture and civilisation from such excellent sources. That they amply did so, I shall now proceed to show:

I. THE HORRORS OF WAR have been extremely mitigated through the prevalence of Christianity, and the injunctions of the pious and the good. Thus Constantine, the first of the Christian Roman Emperors, expressly enjoined his soldiers that mercy should be made by them to follow victory; and finding, in some instances, his orders little attended to, he himself ransomed his own prisoners even from his own troops. When Attila, the barbarous King of the Huns, who was styled the " Scourge of God," had laid waste Italy, and resolved to march straightway to Rome, where the greatest devastation would have ensued, he was turned aside from his fatal purpose by the admonition of a pious Archbishop; and even the terrible Alaric, the Goth, when he had stormed the imperial city, respected the churches, and saved those who had fled there for refuge; exhorting his soldiers in the