"also that love thy name be joyful in "thee." For this reason a good Christian ought to be the best tempered, as well as the most chearful person in the world. The doctrines of his religion, which inculcate devotion towards God, enjoin benevolence towards men. Though it is possible for even a good man to be overcome by a fretful habit, yet he should remember that it is a blemish in any character; and that he should endeavour to produce in himself a peaceable, candid, affectionate, and humane frame of mind; that the general turn of his thoughts should be placid, and the bent of his behaviour chearful. Let the habitually ill-natured measure themselves by this rule; and let them feel that they depart from the true spirit of christianity, in the same proportion as they approach to an ungenial moroseness, or an unforgiving malignity of disposition. A philosopher of modern days *, some of whose private letters have lately been made public, strongly recommends, and upon this * Dr. Hartley. · principle, principle, this amiable disposition of mind. In a letter to his sister, written at an early age, he says, "I believe it wil "neither be an useless nor false observa ❝tion, that whatever a young person applies himself to at first, is commonly his delight afterwards: what I argue "from hence is, that if you and I perform "our duty to God, our neighbour, and "ourselves, as well as human infirmity "will admit, and at all other times bet "discreet, active, and chearful, we shall "receive more satisfaction than the most 6.6 voluptuous and delicate person, and it "will be infinitely to our advantage in "this world and the He begins his letter with, ensuing eternity." "Behave yourself chearfully and briskly at all times;" he ends.it, Observe I recommend chearful-"ness and quickness to you."-And again, he says at a later period of his life" I study much harder than ever I did, and am much more chearful and happy-my "chief studies are upon religious subjects, *Seward's Anec, of Distinguished Persons. Supplement.. "and especially upon the true meaning of "the Bible. I cannot express to you what "inward peace and satisfaction these con"templations afford me: you remember "how much I was overcome with super"stitious fears when I was very young; I "thank God that he has at last brought me to a lively sense of his infinite good66 ness and mercy to all his creatures, and "that I see it both in all his works, and in 66 every page of his word." It is of much importance to the present age that religion be recommended to it with a chearful aspect. I would not, by this expression, countenance, even in the slightest manner, those loose principles of religion, too commonly received in these degenerate times, which may be thought reconcileable with a free life: but I allude to those genuine duties which the gospel requires, dutics unincumbered with superstition on the one hand, and sufficiently guarded from licentiousness on the other. It is thus, and thus only, that the world can be recovered from its present disordered state; thus only that those halcyon days may 1 may be expected when peace, religious and civil peace, shall again revisit the earth, and prepare the way for a kingdom of everlasting happiness. It is reported to have been said by a French emigrant of high distinction, that it is our religion which has hitherto, under God, preserved this country amidst the wreck of nations *. May we prove our selves deserving of so eminent a compli-ment! May we properly appreciate the establishment of christianity under which we reside; for surely, a more pure, mode-rate, and, as a modern writer f styles it, chearful church, few countries can produce. "Think not, (I conclude in the words. "of the same author t,) that religion will. "destroy your chearfulness. No; it will promote it. Nothing gives so fine spirits as a clear conscience; a bosom "that feels the satisfaction of having dis-charged its duties to God and man.. "Then recreation and harmless pleasure. 66 * Robison's Proofs of Conspiracy, p. 456.. |