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basis on which it rests. Religious prin- SERMON ciple is what gives men the surest hold of one another. That last and greatest pledge of veracity, an oath, without which no society could subsist, derives its whole authority from an established reverence of God to whom it is a solemn appeal. Banish religious principle, and you loosen all the bonds which connect mankind together; you shake the fundamental pillar of mutual confidence and trust; you render the secu rity arising from laws, in a great measure, void and ineffectual. For human laws and human sanctions cannot extend to numberless cases, in which the safety of mankind is deeply concerned. They would prove very feeble instruments of order and peace, if there were no checks upon the conduct of men from the sense of Divine legislation; if no belief of future rewards and punishments were to overawe conscience, and to supply the defects of human government.

Indeed, the belief of religion is of such importance to public welfare, that the most expressive description we could give of a society of men in the utmost disorder, would be to say that there was no fear of God

left

XV.

SERMON left among them. Imagination would immediately conceive them as abandoned to rapine and violence, to perfidy and treachery ; as deceiving and deceived, oppressing and oppressed; consumed by intestine broils, and ripe for becoming a prey to the first invader. On the other hand, in order to form the idea of a society flourishing in its highest glory, we need only conceive the belief of Christian principle exerting its full influence on the hearts and lives of all the members. Instantly, the most amiable scene would open to our view. We should see the causes of public disunion removed when men were animated with that noble spirit of love and charity which our religion breathes, and formed to the pursuit of those higher interests, which give no occasion to competition and jealousy. We should see families, neighbourhoods, and communities, living in unbroken amity, and pursuing, with one heart and mind, the common interest; sobriety of manners, and simplicity of life, restored; virtuous industry carrying on its useful labours, and cheerful contentment everywhere reigning. Politicians may lay down what plans they please for advancing public

3

XV.

public prosperity; but, in truth, it is the SERMON prevalency of such principles of religion and virtue which forms the strength and glory of a nation. When these are totally wanting, no measures contrived by human wisdom can supply the defect. In proportion as they prevail, they raise the state of society from that sad degeneracy into which it is at present sunk, and carry it forward, under the blessing of Heaven, towards that happy period, when nation shall not lift up their sword against nation, nor learn war any more.

In order to prove the importance of Religious Knowledge to the interest of society, one consideration more, deserving particular attention, remains to be mentioned. It is that if good sense be not sown in the field, tares will infallibly spring up. The propension towards religion is strong in the human heart. There is a natural preparation in our minds for receiving some impressions of supernatural belief. Upon these, among ignorant and uncultivated men, superstition or enthusiasm never fail to graft themselves. Into what monstrous forms these have shot forth, and what va

SERMON rious mischiefs they have produced to sơ
XV. ciety, is too well known. Nor is this the

whole of the danger. Designing men are
always ready to take advantage of this po-
pular weakness, and to direct the supersti-
tious bias of the multitude to their own am-
bitious and interested ends. Superstition,
in itself a formidable evil, threatens conse-
quences still more formidable when it is
rendered the tool of design and craft. Hence
arises one of the most powerful arguments
for propagating with zeal, as far as our in-
fluence can extend, the pure and undefiled
doctrines of the Gospel of Christ; in order
that just and rational principles of religion
may fill
up that room in the minds of men,
which dangerous fanaticism will otherwise
usurp.

This consideration alone is sufficient to show the high utility of the design undertaken by the Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge. With great propriety, they have bestowed their chief attention n a remote quarter of our country, where, from a variety of causes, ignorance and superstition had gained more ground, than in any other corner of the land; where the

XV.

inhabitants by their local situation, were SERMON more imperfectly supplied with the means of proper education and instruction; and at the same time exposed to the seductions of such as sought to pervert them from the truth. The laudable endeavours of this Society, in diffusing religious and useful knowledge through this part of the country, have already been crowned with much success ; and more is still to be expected from the continuance of their pious and welldirected attention.

With such good designs, it becomes all to co-operate, who are lovers of mankind, Thus shall they show their just sense of the value of that blessing which they enjoy in the knowledge of the Gospel of Christ; and their gratitude to Heaven for conferring it upon them. Thus shall they make the blessings of those who are now ready to perish through lack of knowledge, descend upon their heads. Thus shall they contribute their endeavours for bringing forward that happy period, foretold by ancient prophecy; when there shall be one Lord over all the earth, and his name one; when that name shall be great from the rising to the set

VOL. II,

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