too. Occasionally he even prayed all night. To be like Christ we must not only do no harm and do good, constantly, but we must have a childlike love to God, as well as confidence in Him, and whenever duty requires it, be willing to lay down even our lives for his sake. But with those who talk about mere morality's carrying a man to heaven, repentance, faith, and love, as exercises towards God, with a disposition to deny ourselves, and if required, even yield up our life, are seldom, if ever, taken into the account.

And as to the morality of which they speak, it may exist without one thought of God, or one particle of regard to his command that we should love him. Religion has produced such a state of public opinion that it is reputable to be outwardly moral. Hence many who have always breathed an atmosphere, as it were, of that morality which religion has produced, and have been formed to those virtuous habits, which, originating in the same source have become universally approved, are unexceptionably moral; and the credit is given either to morality, or to the religion of nature. But this is in my view a species of fraud.

Several of the leading Unitarians of this country were trained in orthodox habits, by orthodox friends; and their moral characters are excellent.

Nay, it would not be strange if they should be found to possess much of true christian character in this respect. How indeed could it be otherwise? But what is to become of the next generation? Can a generation trained on Unitarian principles become any thing more than pure Deists? It is impossible!

The leaders of the sect may fancy otherwise; but it will be found that they are mistaken. I am fully satisfied that nothing but Orthodox feelings, induced by his education, will save a person who takes Unitarian ground from gradually sliding down into Deism, and finally into Skepticism; I mean if he is honest. I do not judge thus, simply because myself and a few others have run this course, but because this is ever the tendency. This is the way the Germans are going. This is the way, sooner or later, many in our own country will go.*

It may be seen from the foregoing views why I believe the mere moralist, however excellent his character, to be as far from the kingdom of heaven,

* This paragraph was written many years since. I do not claim to be “a prophet or the son of a prophet;" but it is not difficult to see that what I foretold is already beginning to be fulfilled.

or holiness, as the most vicious character. Indeed I know not how to avoid the conclusion that he must be much farther from it. The better his character-provided he neglect or despise religion-the more dangerous is he as a member of the community, and the greater the number that will stumble over him into a miserable eternity.

For what does he but, in effect, defraud religion by taking from her that which is justly her due, and placing it to the account of morality? Besides, he leads others to neglect religion and trust in mere morality; and his example, in this respect, is influential just in proportion to the elevation of his character.

If, then, religion is indispensable to the civil welfare, why is not that man the most dangerous man-I mean to the community-whose moral character is the best, but who neglects and thus despises real religion?

Let me, by an illustration, show that morality is not religion. Suppose a good father sends his son to perform certain labors during the day, and return at evening. He expects he will behave well, and of course, treat people kindly. The son is about to obey, but something occurs to divert his attention from his father's business. He falls into another mode of employment for the

day, which his father did not intend. He is industrious in his occupation, performs his work well; his conduct, in every respect, is so excellent that he is approved by every body, although it was known what his father directed him to do;and he goes home.

But does his father approve? He commanded him to do so and so. The son went about something which he did not intend, and never thought of him during the day. And although he behaved well where he was, yet he practically despised his father's authority, and set a very dangerous example.

So with the mere moralist. God's first command is; "Son, give me thy heart." He goes about a course, perhaps, which secures the highest applause of his fellow citizens, while he disobeys God and draws down upon himself—and justly too-his indignation.

The truly good man should carry along with him, in all the circumstances and conditions of life, a pleasing and comforting sense of God's presence. I do not believe there is any more difficulty in doing so, and yet performing our business, as his servants, faithfully, than there is of a school boy's retaining a sense of the presence of his instructor and yet be able to pursue faith

fully his studies. There is a kind of consciousness that the teacher is present, without actually and really thinking of it; and so it may be with the christian in regard to the presence of God.

It was reasoning of this character that led me gradually, to those views of depravity, regeneration, the necessity of the influence of the Holy Spirit, &c., which are usually styled orthodoxy. The simple reading of the Bible, in a manner as unprejudiced as I could, also had its influence. Doubts remained, but they gradually disappeared; and though my heart remained unaffected, my understanding was more and more convinced.

I am now drawing towards a close of my long narrative. Those who have patiently followed me thus far, are hereby assured that I shall soon relieve them.