the recollection, that these subjects are not left free for careless or arbitrary sentiment, since the time that "God hath spoken to us by his Son;" and that the noblest composition would be only so much eloquent impiety, if not concordant with the dictates of the New Testament. Had this been the prevalent recollection amidst the studies of the fine writers of the Christian world, an ingenuous mind might have read alternately their works, and those of the Evangelists and Apostles, without being confounded by a perception of some deadly antipathy between the inspirations of genius, and THE INSPIRATIONS

OF HEAVEN."

-"Consider how small a portion of the serious subjects of thought, (proceeds this Christian writer) can be detached from all connexion with the religion of Christ, without narrowing the scope to which he meant it to extend, and and repelling its intervention where he intended it to intervene. The Book which unfolds it, has exaggerated its comprehensiveness, and the first distinguished Christians had a delusive view of it, if it does not actually claim to mingle its principles with the whole system of moral ideas, so as to impart to them a specific character, in the same manner as the element of fire, interfused through the various forms and combina

tions of all other elements, produces throughout them, even when latent, a certain important modification, which they would instantly lose, and therefore lose their perfect condition, by its exclusion."

"It must be obvious in a moment, that the most general doctrines of Christianity, such as those of a future judgment, and immortality, if believed to be true, have a direct relation with every thing that can be comprehended within the widest range of moral speculation and sentiment. It will also be found, that the more particular doctrines, such as those of the moral pravity of our nature, an atonement made by the sacrifice of Christ, the interference of a special divine influence in renewing the human mind, and educating it for a further state, together with all the inferences, conditions and motives resulting from them, cannot be admitted and religiously regarded, without combining themselves in numberless instances with a man's deas on moral subjects. The writer must therefore have retired beyond the limits of an immense field of important and most interesting speculations (must indeed have retired beyond the limits of all the speculations most important to man) who can say that nothing in the religion of Christ bears, in any manner, on any part of his subject."

*[" And in thus habitually interfering and combining with moral sentiments and specula, tions, the Christian principles will greatly modify. them. The evangelical ideas will stand in connexion with the moral ones, not simply as additional ideas in the train of thinking, but as ideas which impart or dictate a particular character to the rest. A writer whose mind is so possessed with the Christian principles, that they thus continually suggest themselves in connexion with his serious speculations, will unavoidably present a moral subject in a somewhat different aspect, even if he make no express references to the Gospel, from that in which it would be presented by another writer, whose habits of thought were clear of evangelical recollections. And in every train of thinking, in which the serious recognition of those principles would produce this modification, it ought to be produced; so that the very last idea within the whole compass of speculation, which would have a different cast, as a ray of the Gospel falls, or does not fall upon it, should be faithfully exhibited in that light alone.”

"The far greater part of our elegant literature appears to fall under the utmost weight of this condemnation. After a comparatively small

* On account of the great length of this Sermon, the passages marked between brackets, were not delivered from the pulpit.

number of names and books are excepted, what are called the British Classics, with the addition of very many works of great literary merit, that have not quite attained that rank, present an •immense vacancy of Christianized sentiment. The authors do not exhibit the signs of having ever deeply studied Christianity, or of retaining any discriminative and serious impression of it. Whatever has strongly occupied a man's attention, affected his feelings, and filled his mind with ideas, will even unintentionally shew itself in the train and cast of his discourse. Of their being solemnly conversant with these views, you discover no notices analogous, for instance, to those which appear in the writing or discourse of a man, who has lately passed some time amidst the wonders of Rome or Egypt, and who shews you, by almost unconscious allusions and images, naturally and often occurring in his language, even on other subjects, how profoundly he has been interested in contemplating triumphal arches, columns, temples and pyramids. Their minds are not naturalized, if I may so speak, to the images and scenery of the kingdom of Christ, or to that kind of light, which the Gospel throws on all objects.-You might observe, the next time you open one of these works, how far you may read without meeting with an idea of such a nature, or so expressed, as could not have been, unless Jesus

G

4

Christ had come into the world;* even though the subject be one of those which he came to illuminate, and to enforce on the mind by new and most cogent arguments. And where so little of the light and rectifying influence of these communications has been admitted into the habits of thought, there will be very few cordially reverential and animated references to the great Instructor himself.+-You might have read a considerable number of volumes, without becoming apprized that there is such a dispensation in existence, or that such a sublime Minister of it had ever appeared among men. And you might have diligently read, for several years, and through several hundred volumes, without at all discerning its nature and importance, or that the writers, when alluding to it, admitted any high importance to be connected with it. You would only have conjectured it to be a scheme of opinions and discipline, which had appeared in its day, as many others had appeared, and left us, as the rest have left us, to follow our speculations our own way.”]‡

I have dwelt longer on this subject, as it is a consideration of infinite moment, not only to

* Except perhaps in respect of humanity and benevolence, on which subject his instructions have improved the sentiments even of infidels, in spite of the rejection of their divine authority.

+ Note E.

Letter VII.

Foster's Essays. Essay IV. vol. ii. Note F.