2. The persons appointed to judge concerning disputes, and to determine what shall be done, form a Court of Justice. Courts, or tribunals of justice, originate in the manner just described. Civil courts are of different kinds, and the causes carried before them are also of different kinds. Some of the courts respect only small sums of money, others relate to higher transactions of business, and others again to crimes which affect the lives of the citizens.

3. The Areopagus at Athens consisted of men of known integrity and wisdom. Its decisions were submitted to with perfect satisfaction; and the Areopagites, or members of this tribunal, were regarded by their fellow-citizens with the highest veneration. The Areopagites wore no distinguishing garb. Their distinction was, that they had no need of distinction. The Areopagus exercised censorship over morals. When any man's conduct and example were thought to be dangerous to society, any of his fellow-citizens might in form the Areopagus of his errors, and that tribunal advised, threatened, punished, or acquitted the supposed offender, as their wisdom dictated. Among other offences they condemned idleness, and the idle man as a burthen to the state. They granted bounties to soldiers for extraordinary services, and conferred distinctions upon obscure virtue.

4. In later times, this court took cognisance of capital crimes only, and in many cases pronounc ed no decision, but referred a report to the assembly of the people, or to other courts. The deliberations of the Areopagus were usually held in the night, and preceded by very solemn religious

ceremonies. The Areopagus only permitted the simple facts in dispute to be laid before them, and would not allow any orator to influence their consultations.

5. The question to be resolved on was settled by vote. The majority, or greater number of suffrages, decided. Two urns, one called the urn of Mercy, the other the urn of Death, received the votes. When the votes were of equal number, ai inferior officer, kept in waiting, deposited one vote in the urn of Mercy, which turned the scale, or determined the votes in favour of the accused. This was called the vote of Minerva, or of Wisdom.

6. This vote of Minerva is a fine idea; it shows what a humane and enlightened people they were, who assumed the principle, that a leaning towards clemency is the dictate of true wisdom. 'The circumstance that Saint Paul was carried before the Areopagus as a setter-forth of strange doctrines, serves to show that they watched over religious opinions. A law existed that no foreign deity should be introduced into the public worship without a decree of the Areopagus, and for this cause the preacher of Christ was carried before this tribunal.

1. Stoics and Epicureans.

Christ was a

teacher of righteousness, and his followers have established a moral ministry, or persons to instruct a'l people, and places, and times to teach in.

It

Ancient Paganism afforded no insuuction. consisted of prayers, sacrifices, and purifications. Prayers for the preservation of the state and its allies, for the perfection of the fruits of the earth, and for rain; and for deliverance from pestilence and famine. This religion taught trust in the Deity, veneration for his power, belief in his mercy, and gratitude for his benefits; but it left the obligations of men one to another, and the nature of God's moral government, wholly in the dark; or more properly, by neglecting these subjects, it assigned them to the province of Philosophy.

2. Ancient Philosophy or Wisdom embraced Morals, or the rules of a right conduct; Politics, or the wise government of states; Metaphysics, the nature of minds; Theology, or the character of God; and the nature of true happiness. The Philosophers were not often men of fortune, but persons of moderate wishes in respect to wealth, and possessed of sufficient leisure to reflect upon the subjects which engaged their attention. They sometimes formed schools, and discoursed in public; their disciples paid for instruction, and the rich employed them in the education of their

sons.

3. The philosophers, except Socrates, appear to have had little regard for the poor, and for these numerous classes, the slaves and the common soldiers; but Christ first preached his gospel to the poor; and Paul, in teaching that God made of one blood all nations of the earth, meant that he made them all, bond and free, the subjects of happiness and virtue. This is one of the great differences between ancient philosophy, and Christianity.

4. Zeno, a native of Cyprus, was the founder of

the Stoic Philosophy. The principal doctrine of this philosophy was, that pain, and other afflictive circumstances, are not causes of discontent; that all evil must be endured, and should be supported with cheerfulness. The doctrines of the Stoics cannot be fully explained here. There were many good men among them; of these, the Roman emperor, Marcus Antoninus, is the most admirable. Pride, and a want of compassion for the misfortunes of others, have been imputed to the Stoics. It may be that they did not all deserve this reproach.

5. Epicurus, was the chief of the Epicureans. He held, in direct opposition to Zeno, that pain is the greatest of evils, and that whatever gratifies the senses-eating, drinking, and all that is com monly called pleasure, affords true happiness. So some of his followers pretended; others say, that he only asserted, and that very wisely, that part of our happiness belongs solely to the mind, and that another part is derived from our senses, and the elements around us. A true Epicurean was a refined man, neither more selfish nor sensual than other wise men; but those who corrupted the doctrine, might say, in the words of the gospel," Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow ye die." They took their portion in this world, and thought little of another. We, in modern times, call such principles Epicurism, and lovers of good eating, particularly, Epicures.

19

Among the public spectacles which interest the people of the present time in America, Fairs, Cattle-shows, and Horse-races, are the most considerable. At the first, the best productions of industry and ingenuity are exhibited—the finest cloth, the firmest leather, the largest garden vegetables, and the most serviceable wares are displayed, that manufacturers and cultivators may be rewarded and encouraged.

2. The articles brought to the Fair are examined, compared together, commended as they deserve to be, and afterwards bought, and liberally paid for. The Fair is a very pleasant occasion, it brings large numbers of people together, shares and circulates the productions of nature and art, and gives honourable and just distinction to the