!jj& yr ^theological seminary; % Princeton, N. J. s& #. BR 120 .W54 1829 Wilberforce, William, 1759- 1833. A practical view of the ^J^e^iiing_relieious svsterr 1 1 A PRACTICAL VIEW OF THE PREVAILING RELIGIOUS SYSTEM OF PROFESSED CHRISTIANS, IN THE HIGHER AND MIDDLE CLASSES IN THIS COUNTRY, CONTRASTED WITH REAL CHRISTIANITY. BY WILLIAM WILBERFORCE, ESQ. WITH AN INTRODUCTORY ESSAY, BY THE REV. DANIEL WILSON, A.M. VICAR OF ISLINGTON. THIRD EDITION. GLASGOW: PRINTED FOR WILLIAM COLLINS; OLIVER & BOYD, WM. WHYTE & CO. AND WM. OLIPHANT, EDINBURGH W. F. WAKEMAN ; AND WM. CURRY, JUN. & CO. DUBLIN ; WHITTAKER, TREACHER, & ARNOT ; HAMILTON, ADAMS, & CO. SIMPKIN AND MARSHALL ; BALDWIN & CRADOCK ; AND HURST, CHANCE, & CO. LONDON. MDCCCXXIX. I'ru.tc-d by W. Colhn» & Co. Glasgow. THE" 8> INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. Few undertakings can be much more difficult than to write any thing in the way of introduction to the following work. It requires no introduction. It is a matter of history. It has been read and ad- mired by one generation, is already in the hands of a second, and will soon pass down to a third. It is this *last#circumstance, indeed, which may perhaps apologize for an attempt, which must otherwise be exposed to the charge of rashness. The young have a right to ask what were the circumstances of the first publication of such an important volume, what the impression which it left on the minds of men, what its connection with the general inter- ests of religion, what its place in the moral his- tory of our time. To such inquiries, we shall endeavour, in the present Essay, to furnish a reply. We presume not to do more than to assist the reader who shall, for the first time, take up the work, in forming some judgment upon its merits. Our main object will be to illustrate that great re- vival of the influence of real Christianity amongst us, which it was the Author's design to promote, VI and which his work was, in fact, one very consider- able means of deepening and extending. That eminent and revered person, now retired from pub- lic life, will, we trust, forgive us, if, in the discharge of a duty to the paramount interests of religion generally, we are led to speak with entire freedom of his book, and in a way which, however we may be upon our guard, will of necessity betray us into detail-, which our respect for his delicacy of feeling would otherwise compel us to restrain. A retired statesman, after a long life spent in the eye of his country — his name, connected with almost every great question which has agitated the church or state — can scarcely be permitted to claim the privileges of private writers : his work belongs, with his other labours, to the Nation to which he has dedicated it, and becomes a portion of the annals of the times. We shall, first, make such remarks as may give the reader what we consider a just conception of the merits of the work itself. This will lead us to describe the reception which it met with on its first publication. Its connection with the revival of pure Christianity in our country, will follow. We shall then offer a few observations on the subsequent progress of that revival. And, in the last place, suggest some thoughts on the manner in which it may he still farther promoted. I. We shall gjve the reader a just conception of the merits of the work itself. The Practical View of the prevailing religious system of professed Christians^ in the higher and middle classes in th is country, con trusted with real Vll Christianity, was first published in the spring of the year 1797. The design of the Author was to rouse the nation, and especially the higher or- ders, to a just view of the subject of real Christi- anity. It is a manly, and yet conciliatory exposure of the false principles and defective practice of pro- fessed Christians, accompanied by a powerful exhi- bition of what true religion is, as it is delineated in the Bible, and displayed in the spirit and temper of sincere Christians. It is a contrast between Chris- tianity lowered, misapprehended, obscured, falsified, by the prevailing doctrine and morals of the day, and Christianity as it came from heaven, as it re- mains in all its freshness in the Sacred Records, as it is loved and obeyed by those in every age, who, like the primitive Christians, or our Reformers of the sixteenth century, come out from the world, and live unto God by the faith of a crucified Saviour. It is a book of first principles, displaying the Chris- tian religion as it ought to exist in the case of every Christian, and then contrasting this with the low and defective standard of the religion prevailing around us. Few subjects could be more happily chosen : be- cause, without entering into controversy, or awaken- ing the hostility of any class of readers, it argues on the admitted principles common to Christians generally, and especially to members of our National Church; and shows, beyond all reasonable doubt, the wide interval which had been interposed be- tween our principles and our practice — our doctrine and our belief — our Bibles and ourselves. The plan was, in a great measure, new. By the Vlll writings, indeed, of Jones of Nayland and Horsley, a formidable inroad had been made on various pre- vailing heresies and errors. Lyttelton, West, and Paley, had admirably illustrated the Evidences of Christianity. Watson, by his able Apologies, had followed in the same course. The more practical writings of Law, Doddridge, Porteous, and Home, had made a considerable impression. Something still more pointed and powerful had been effected by the vivid expostulations of the poetry of Cowper. But no writer had appeared, especially amongst lay- men, to address the nation generally on the plain fundamental and vital truths of our religion, and to confront these truths boldly, and yet affectionately, with the fashionable notions which passed for Chris- tianity. No writer had appeared with mildness and authority, with a ripe understanding of his subject, and a faculty of touching the tenderest springs of the heart, to recall men to the real nature of Christianity itself. The style and spirit in which the work was exe- cuted, were almost as new as the subject. Nothing can easily surpass the winning, affectionate, skilful manner of the address. Too many religious works have to overcome obstacles on the score of obscure, technical language, a style inelegant and heavy, a phraseology uncouth in the ears of the educated and refined. Others arc open to the charge of an ex- cessive use of certain religious terms, rendered tri- vial and even repulsive by repetition. Such theo- [ogical treatises, of whatever merit in other respects, have to work their way up to the notice of the well- educated and fastidious, through the mists of preju- IX dice. Half a century may pass before they are known. But the volume before us, with a large measure of all the purity of style of which our language is susceptible, unites a force of argument, and a dignity derived from truth, which few treatises have equalled. The book opens its own way, as an effort of pure composition, as well as an effusion of natural eloquence. It demands and obtains, be- cause it deserves, an instant hearing. The attractive character of the work is univer- sally allowed. Love is stamped on every page. It is not a dry disputation, a systematic treatise, a po- lemical discussion. It is a masterly, benevolent, tender appeal to the heart and conscience, on the most important of all subjects. It has the charm of a free, unwritten address — the same richness, and ease, and flow, and delicacy towards the feelings of others, which mark such addresses; and yet all the solidity and clearness peculiar to a well-studied, elaborate dissertation. It seems to be the sponta- neous produce of a mind thoroughly stored with its materials, accustomed to speak before a refined and yet popular audience, and capable, from long expe- rience of expressing, with ease and propriety, what it has previously meditated. In short, the book must have been dictated, not written* It is nothing more nor less than a series of speeches in parliament, in which, from brief annotations and hints of topics, the statesman urges upon the legislature his well- weighed and important cause.* * It was in this way, in fact, that the book was chiefly com- posed. A3 Accordingly, there is nothing more remarkable in the style and manner of the work, than the skill in debate, the parliamentary tact, if we may so speak, which is apparent throughout. You discern in it every where the marked effects of the Author's pub- lic life. You cannot read three pages without feel- ing that the writer is in the midst of your very thoughts and feelings : all is business, — all is a vivid delineation of actual life, — all is directly aimed at the heart. It is a persuasive address to his fel- low-statesmen and countrymen, in which he kindles with his great topics, gains upon your judgment and heart as he proceeds, and leaves you at last under the impressions produced by a sincere and affecting orator, rather than of a writer or a controversialist. You see in it the hand of a master, used to state the objections of an opponent, not only fairly, but in the very words that such an opponent would em- ploy ; you see the skill of a legislator, compelled to be on the watch, aware that any the least slip would be exposed, and trained to a popular, com- manding, and yet measured way of stating things. No adversary is outraged ; no personal feelings are wounded ; no real difficulties extenuated or denied : but all is open, and manly, and conciliatory. Al- most every imaginable concession is made on each topic. The objections are stated at such length, and with so much justice, that you tremble as you are reading them, lest a satisfactory answer should not be given; and yet, after repeated admissions, limitations, cautions, apologies, every one of them most apparently kind and sincere, the blow is at last struck so hard, and with so much truth of aim, as XI to fall with irresistible force. We are not aware that we ever read any book in which every thing was so fairly, and, at the same time, so fully stated. No reader has to complain of any material misrepresen- tation. The whole habit of the Author's public life seems to have been brought to bear in this be- nevolent and faithful appeal to his country. Sel- dom, indeed, has such a talent for debate, and such an accurate knowledge of the human heart, been united with such a delicate and friendly attention to the feelings of others, and such a force of persua- sion and authority of truth. There is, further, a warmth in the style of the work which adds to its attractions. It bears all the marks of having been composed after years of de- liberate preparation, indeed, as to the main topics, and a thorough faculty of discussion, acquired in the best school of eloquence, in just that sort of pressure and hurry from the demands of public duties, which lend it a naturalness, and warmth, and generous urgency, which are best adapted to gain its end. It is a book which was poured out, if we may so speak, between two sessions of parlia- ment.* It is the lively and urgent expose of his views of Christianity, made by a statesman on a sudden impulse, to the vast influential body of legis- lators and men of the world amongst whom he was acting his part, and whom he had neither the oppor- tunity nor the leisure of acquainting, by any other means, with the true character of those religious * Here again we state, as we believe, very nearly the exact matter of fact. Xll principles by which he wished to govern all his own conduct, and to which he would reduce the wander- ing and unsettled notions of those with whom he habitually conversed. Accordingly, the reasonings of the book are pre- cisely adapted to the persons whom the Author wished to persuade. They are not abstract, scholastic, intri- cate; but plain, tangible, popular. They are not of that highest class of intellectual discussions, which meet the very first order of minds, but are lost to all others — the world wanted not such arguments, — but they are reasonings of that gentle, intelligible class, which suit the far larger number of persons both in the senate and in the community generally ; reason- ings, which, without disappointing the most exalted intellect, meet and convince the candid, the practical, the thoughtful, the well-disposed ; in short, the whole mass of considerate, and impressible, and amiable readers in the higher and middle orders of society. And yet the courage apparent in this work is far from being inconsiderable. The manner is mild, indeed; but the undertaking is bold and hazardous. The Author, in attempting it, risked every thing dear to a public man, and a politician as such — consideration, weight, ambition, reputation. He exposed himself to all the misapprehension and hos- tility which attach to so noble an avowal of the hu- miliating doctrines of vital Christianity in a corrupt But he writes as one who did this deliber- ately and advisedly. He shrinks not from any consequences which may follow. The unaffected fortitude and courage which real religion inspires, a consideration of its infinite moment to the nation Xlli and to each individual, a firm persuasion of the truth of the statements which he made, and an unshaken reliance on the blessing of God to accompany, his vindication of it, all manifestly un;te to sustain his mind, and carry him with calmness and dignity through the effort. We do not dwell for a moment on the only charge ever alleged against the execution of the work, that the style is sometimes diffuse and languid, and even tedious. Certainly it is not in the highest order of that close, energetic, forcible reasoning, which marked the first apologies for Christianity, and the writings of some of the Reformers. No work can embrace, in an equal degree, opposite excellencies. But the deductions, on this account, are so small, while most of the various beauties compatible with the suavity and benevolence of an affectionate heart, are so copiously displayed, that the result may be safely left to every candid reader. The work, after all, was perhaps better adapted, in its present state, to the age in which it was written, than if its faults had leaned on the side of roughness, and severity, and stricter reasoning. As the writings of Cyprian, Augustine, Wickliffe, Luther, were adapted for the ages for which they laboured, so was this volume well fitted for a reading, educated, polished period, for a free Protestant country, for a people admitting generally all the truths contended for, though they had declined from the right love and practice of them ; for a nation where equal laws, and the spirit of to- leration, admitted all the full effects of persuasion to be produced on public opinion. But to pass from the style of the work to the XIV subject matter of it, it is of more importance, in esti- mating its merits, to observe that it is a whole — a complete and adequate exposition of Christianity. Not that it is a body of divinity, or a digest of controversies ; but it fairly represents the entire scheme of Christianity, in its main doctrines, pre- cepts, spirit, tendency, and character. The Author has a fine conception of the real scope of the Chris- tian religion, and he gives a full and accurate delineation of it. He stands upon the plain old scriptural basis of broad and acknowledged truth. There are no niceties, no novel or doubtful tenets, no deductions to be made from its general excellence, on account of the omission of material truths, or the vindication of subordinate errors. Many books on the subject of religion are good on a few points, but confessedly defective or erroneous on others. But this is not the case here. The Author goes through to to the whole compass of his extensive theme. He as- signs to every thing its place. There is no excess, no overstatements, no enthusiasm, on the one hand; no concealment, no compromise of truth, on the other. The main scope of the book is kept steadily in view. The evangelical and practical topics are closely interwoven. The strong foundations of the Gospel are laid in the person, deity, and sacrifice of the Son of God, and the powerful agency of his Spirit; and the fair and ample superstructure is reared in the holy tempers, and active, useful lives, which Christians are encouraged, and exhorted, and com- manded to lead. Tli en every part of the work is carefully and, as the old writers express it, painfully wrought out. XV The ease and grace of the style are not assumed as a cloak for inconsideration. All is the result of evident reflection. Even topics occasionally touched on, are abridgments of whatever can be best said on the several questions. The allusion to the origin of evil, for example, and the hints on self-examina- tion, are as complete, in their way, as the discussion on the use of the passions in religion, and the ex- ercise of love towards an unseen object ; which last stands, as we think, almost unrivalled in English theology, and would alone entitle our senator to no mean place amongst the writers of his country. The excellence of the incidental matter may be also seen in the Author's brief, but*pointed addresses, to va- rious classes of readers — the scholar, the historian, the statesman, the philosopher, the moralist, the writer on evidences, the metaphysician, is severally considered ; and the topics suitable to each are touched in an appropriate manner. Even the criti- cal observations on authors, though evidently made in passing, are often just and striking. The originality of the work is another of its re- commendations. It is, like Lord Bacon's writings, " full of the seeds of things." The Author does not follow, but lead his age. All teems with life. You see an independent, unfettered mind is at work ; a mind richly stored with knowledge, taking its own view of every subject, and illustrating it with new, and valuable, and sometimes unlooked-for matter. The Author is one who thinks for him- self. He stamps his own features on his great sub- ject. Lastly, the sincerity and devotional spirit which XVI pervade the volume, increase its general effect. Every concession, every appeal to the heart, every remonstrance, bespeaks the Author sincere. Whilst the devotional spirit which breaks through perpe- tually, leads the reader to estimate the true end of religion, as he listens to its precepts, and to imbibe, not the temper of a partizan, but that gen- uine unaffected piety of heart before God, which becomes an accountable and sinful creature. In- deed, nothing but this sincerity of devotion could apparently have roused a man of such evident sus- ceptibility, and tenderness of natural character, to write with the firmness, the force of remonstrance, the fidelity to truth, which glow in his book.* The Author has most manifestly possessed himself of his subject, and his subject has possessed itself of him ; and the result is, that one of the most bene- volent and affectionate of human beings is intrepid and irresistible, as he ought to be, on so inspiring a theme. This is, after all, the last finish to this re- markable volume. We may have been mistaken in our estimate of its literary merit. We may have been biassed by long habits of admiration, in judging of many of the various excellencies which we ascribe to it. But no one can, for a moment, doubt the honesty and integrity of the Author. It is the production of a most sincere, as well as enlightened Christian. * It is, to our mind, a striking proof of sincerity, that the two failings to which, from his station and natural cast of character, such a writer might have heen expected to he most indulgent, he treats, in fact, with the most unsparing severity, — the love of applause, and a reliance on amiable tempers, as a substitute for religion. XVII You have his whole heart without disguise. He impresses on you only what he is most intimately persuaded of himself. This carries you away, where nothing else would do it. You might yield a mo- mentary applause to his talents; you might admit the extent of his knowledge ; you might be silenced by his arguments ; you might admire his eloquence ; you might love his amiableness and benevolence : but, at last, it is his sincerity, backed by all these other qualities, which gains your entire confidence, and ensures your permanent and fixed attention and regard. II. We now proceed to describe the reception which the work met with on its first publication. The success which it obtained, might, indeed, be supposed to be too well known to require much observation. But, after a lapse of thirty years, some details may not be superfluous. Never, per- haps, did any volume by a layman, on a religious subject, produce a deeper or more sudden effect. It came upon the whole world of statesmen, and lite- rati, and divines, quite by surprise. The Author had been long known as a public man. His benevolent character had endeared him to the country. His perpetual activity in parliament, and the just weight attached to his character and talents, had placed him full in the view of the nation. He had been long known to be devout and conscientious in private life ; but to what extent his religious principles went 2 few amongst the public men with whom he daily acted, cared to inform themselves. It was a thing quite unprecedented for a leading parliament XV1U tary speaker to publish any considerable work — much less a work on religion. The moment it ap- peared, therefore, every one stood astonished. The rank in life, and generosity of the Author, naturally led him to place an early copy in the hands of his very extensive circle of acquaintance and friends. It was thus, at the same moment, read by all the lead- ing persons of the nation. An electric shock could not be felt more vividly and instantaneously. Every one talked of it, every one was attracted by its elo- quence, every one admitted the benevolence, and talents, and sincerity of the writer. It was ac- knowledged, that, whether good or bad on a few peculiar topics, such an important work had not ap- peared for a century. The great elevation of its views and principles, stamped upon it a noble singu- larity, which did not fail to strike the experienced observer. It was the Author's first publication. It derived, therefore, an additional charm from the curiosity of his countrymen, as well as from its own intrinsic excellencies. Opposition, indeed, arose against it, as the first admiration a little subsided. This was to be ex- pected. No valuable end could have been accom- plished in a great and free country like this, if oppo- sition had not called the work into further notice, and interested men most deeply in the subjects dis- cussed in it. If it had been an unresisted remon- strance, it would soon have been a forgotten one. An edition or two would have carried it down to the gulph of oblivion. But opposition put it precisely in the position most of all to be desired for such a work. It made it more and more the subject of XIX conversation, of argument, of direct and lively in- terest. It gave it additional circulation and cur- rency. Men were surprised at what Christianity was described to be : they were offended at the pic- ture given of spiritual religion : they were dismayed at the representation of the distance to which modern Christianity had receded from its ancient limits : they knew not what to say of such an open and bold con- fession of those peculiarities of the Christian faith, which they had been accustomed to hear classed with sectarianism and folly. Nothing could be al- leged against the writer. He was not an ecclesias- tic. He was not a weak or harsh dogmatist. He was not ignorant. He could not be charged with want of benevolence and talent. He was confess- edly one of the most able legislators of the day. He had not only been long in parliament, but had been mixed up with every great public question. He was the private friend of one of the greatest and most skilful prime ministers, according to general opinion— certainly one of the most popular — which this country ever saw ; and had long been a leading supporter of his measures in parliament.* He repre- sented the most important county of England. He was not only not in office, but known to be inde- pendent, and above suspicion, in his political con- duct. He had also been actively engaged as the distinguished leader in the great question of the abolition of the Slave Trade. His private morals, his liberality, his benevolence of character, his social talents, the combination of attractive qualities, which * Mr. Pitt. XX added a charm to his conversation, and gained almost every one whom he approached — all conspired to give the work a reception the most intensely eager and interesting — and all conspired to stimulate the opposition which was made to many of his state- ments. The book was too true, too carefully guarded in all its parts, too mild and affectionate, too scrip- tural, too forcible and alarming, to be overlooked or despised. Every one allowed that the Author had much to say — that he deserved a hearing — that he was sincere — that in many things he was right — that he ought, in short, to be read : and would, and must, be attended to. The consequence was, that few volumes on such a subject, perhaps not one, ever had a more wide and rapid circulation. Three or four large editions were exhausted in the first few months. Edition upon edition followed during the succeeding years. And so permanent has been the demand, that it has now arrived at the fifteenth impression. Trans- lations have further been made into most of the European languages ; # and the re-prints in America have amounted, as we are informed, to twenty-five editions. The curiosity of the public, particularly of states- men, and the higher orders of the clergy, was quick- ened by the attacks of those who were known to fa- vour Socinian and Jacobin principles. The loyalty of the writer, and the station which he filled in par- liament, pointed him out as an object of animadver- * French, German, &c. Into the Spanish, a translation is now in hand. XXI sion and satire. In the House of Commons, sar- castic remarks were made by one or two of the more violent partizans of opposition ; and various pam- phlets were published, in which his principles of obedience to authority, and his orthodox tenets as a churchman, were equally condemned. In some cases, the daring language of Socinian writers bor- dered on open blasphemy. To not one of these did he vouchsafe to reply. Such attacks led con- siderate men to read the work with greater avidity, and disposed them to the belief, that he who was so clearly right in his parliamentary conduct, and his political principles, might not be very wrong in his estimate of the religion which he had so deeply studied, and so ably defended. An insidious and laboured article, also, of a dan- gerous character, in one of the periodical reviews,* tended to increase the eagerness with which the or- thodox and candid among the higher orders received the work. They discerned, that the common cause of Christianity was, in some measure, involved in it. They read, with softened feelings, our senator's warm appeals on spiritual religion, when they saw them united with so distinguished a regard to the religion of their country. It belongs to the history of the reception of this volume, to detail two notices of it, which contributed to its being favourably received by the churchmen and politicians of the time. * The Monthly Review, which, for a long series of years, cor- rupted our religion and literature by the diligent admixture of Socinian principles j but which has lately, as we hear, fallen into far better hands. XX11 In the British Critic,* a review then widely cir- culated among the clergy, and which continued to lead in the first rank of periodical puhlications of that class, till a change in its general tone, and what, in fact, amounted to a departure from its own spirit and principles, alienated the confidence of the pub- lic, an article appeared, which warmly defended the general tendency and scope of the work. We give some extracts : — " In recommending to the public one of the most impressive books on the subject of religion which has appeared within our memory, we entirely agree with the Author on the necessity that exists for awaken- ing many nominal believers to a recollection of the most important doctrines of Christianity, and an ac- tive and heart-felt sense of religion." " We feel very strongly that an extra-official exhortation, assisted by the credit of his station, the just and general confidence in the worth and sin- cerity of his character, the clearness of his intellect, and the force of his eloquence, will produce a more extensive, and on many minds a more powerful ef- fect, than any instructions from the pulpit, or from the pen, of a divine." " Towards this great work, the present publica- tion is perhaps intended as a providential instrument ; and we should be deficient in the truest kind of patriotism, if we neglected to afford it all the aid which our recommendation can bestow." " Of his book, the far greater part is sound and genuine Christianity ; and would as such be received, ♦ Vol. X. for the year 1798. XXU1 were not his readers more anxious to invent excuses for their own indifference, than to derive the proper advantage from a work of real piety." " Every credit is due to the author for his frank and open confession of his faith in a corrupt age. His language is correct, elevated, and energetic : his motives evidently pure, his sentiments of religion for the most part just, and his knowledge of his subject, masterly." These, it will be admitted, are high commenda- tions; but they yield in warmth to the expressions which occur in the prefatory pages of the volume, containing a half-yearly summary of literature. Un- der the head of Theology, it is there stated : — " We have no hesitation in giving the first place to Mr. Wilberforce. True it is, that he does, in a few pages, betray an adherence to a sect whose re- ligion is usually over-tinctured by enthusiasm. Yet the tenets of that sect, as distinguished from the true church of England, are no where prominent in the work ; while those of genuine Christianity glow in every page. Eloquent, animated, frequently sub- lime, how can it be read without a glow of piety and delight by any thinking Christian ? It is a book to make an era in the history of religion ; and we should blush to dwell on petty objections." The subject of enthusiasm alluded to in the last extract, and in some other passages of the review not now produced, shall be noticed presently. In the mean time, it is impossible not to feel, that such an eulogium, at its first appearance, from such a quar- ter, must have powerfully aided its circulation amongst the clergy. XXIV To statesmen and literary men, the volume was not less strongly recommended in the " Pursuits of Literature," a work whose author was never pub- licly acknowledged, but which has long been attri- buted, and it is supposed justly, to the pen of Mr. Matthias. It was a literary and political satire, in English verse, published in parts, from the spring of 1794, to about the middle of 1797. Copious notes were appended; to which additions were made at each re-publication, till as late as the year 1803, perhaps later. The work is in general distinguished for sound principle, patriotism, talent ; and especially for acute, and somewhat severe remarks, on all sorts of persons, and all sorts of writings, and almost all sorts of things. The style of the notes is clear, forcible, and eloquent* The learning, thickly sown throughout, is rich and pure. The work had a most rapid circulation. The following is the notice taken of Mr. Wilberforce : — * "To me, all heedless of proud fashion's sneer, Maurice is learn'd, and Wilberforce (p) sincere, (Though on his page some pause in sacred doubt,) As Gisborne serious, and as Pott devout. " w See ( A Practical View,' &c. Some very serious persons have their doubts as to the theolo- gical principles of this work in their full extent, and I fear it is far too rigid and exclusive in its * We quote from the fourteenth edition, 1808, p. 434. It confirms the statement we have made concerning the wide dif- fusion of Mr. Wilberforce's book, that the sale of the " Pursuits of Literature" — the most able and popular satirical and literary publication of the day — scarcely surpassed it in rapidity and ex- tent of circulation. XXV doctrines. There is also too much of a sectarian language, which cannot be approved. But of the intention, virtue, learning, and patriotism, of the eloquent and well-informed senator, I have the most honourable and decided opinion. " His work is vehement, impassioned, urgent, fervid, instant; though sometimes copious to pro- lixity, and, in a few parts, even to tediousness. Per- haps it is the production of an orator, rather than of a writer; I should think it had been dictated. Throughout the whole, there is a manly fortitude of thought, firm and unshrinking. But for my own part, for obvious reasons, I dislike the term, i Real Christianity,' as exclusively applied to any set of propositions drawn from the gospel. " From external circumstances, indeed, I would not take theology from Athanasius or Bossuet, mo- rality from Seneca, or politics from Lansdown or Sieyes. But I will own, that, from a scrutiny into the public and private character of Mr. Wilberforce, I am inclined to think that his enemies would be forced into an acknowledgment, (as it is recorded in the words of a prophet,) that they * can find no oc- casion against this man, except they find it against him concerning the law of his God.' A reader of his work must be good or bad in the extreme, who may not receive some advantage from such a com- position. I am unworthy to praise it, and I feel my- self so." These quotations tend to give a just idea of the reception which this publication met with at the time. The very exceptions which the author of B 29 XXVI " The Pursuits of Literature" made to it, served to quicken curiosity, and promote examination into the principles of the writer. Without some such deductions, strange as they seem to us now, the commendations would not then have been in general well received. Unqualified praise would have en- sured the sweeping condemnation of the large bodies whom it chiefly addressed. Such censures were the tax paid by so powerful an appeal to the nation, on its first appearance. If such reflections had not been current, the public mind must have been in a state not to have needed the animadversions which occasioned them. It is indeed a curious circumstance, and deserves notice. The very attempt to restore a decayed national piety, if such an attempt be really needed, implies, in the state of mind and principles of the great mass of influential persons, an ignorance, an indifference, or a hostility to vital religion, which will assuredly be roused to resent, in the first in- stance, the fervid remonstrance ; and the resent- ment will, of course, show itself, if it be practicable, in misrepresentations of the talents, learning, mo- tives, spirit, sentiments of the writer. If these are not easily vulnerable, then recourse will be had, as in the case before us, to the loose and more general charge of fanaticism, attachment to a sect, excessive strictness; which all mean nothing more than a petty revenge on a writer, by far too benevolent and too able to be rejected or despised. Let us, however, for a moment pause to weigh the charges preferred against our Author. In the " British Critic," besides the allusion to a sect xxvu which I have cited, the following accusations are advanced : — " It is usually censured as too severe, and on the few passages which seem to mark a tendency to a particular species of enthusiasm, more stress is placed than the occasion properly demands. Mr. Wilberforce may be connected with a sect — of this we are not anxious to inquire," &c. " He shows, in some parts, a bias towards a sect which, by the fanatical interpretation of the doctrines of grace and divine influence, has thrown the great- est discredit upon the genuine tenets on those sub- jects." The Reviewer further taxes him with " palliating the vulgarity of uninstructed teachers, — with speak- ing against public schools and universities, — with carrying his dislike to the stage to a mistaken degree of strictness." Such is the amount of the most plausible allega- tions of the theological and literary writers of the time; for we do not take into consideration the coarse objections of the Infidel and Socinian school. And of what real weight are they? Omitting the order in which we have cited them, we think they may be reduced to three sources. They either spring from misapprehensions on the great subject of religion itself, or from a begging of the question in hand, or from a fastidiousness altogether unworthy of a thoughtful and sincere inquirer. To begin with the first : the objection about " a set of propositions being drawn from the gospel, and named real Christianity," is mere misappre- hension. The main scope of any practical science b 2 XXV1U must be drawn out into certain axioms, or principles, or propositions; and if the leading doctrines and precepts of the gospel have been obscured and eluded, what is to be done by a reformer, but to appeal to the Divine Records, and to mark the dis- tinction strongly between nominal and vital religion, by such statements of doctrine and practice — call these statements " a set of propositions," or what you will — as may arouse the conscience, instruct the faith, guide th-e judgment, animate the devo- tions, elevate the principles, purify the conduct of his countrymen ; and recall them from the form of godliness to the power, from error to truth, from the shadow and image, to the substance and reality of Christianity ? The charge of over-strictness is ready to be ad- vanced, as soon as this first objection is silenced. But surely it requires no very large share of can- dour to allow, that this is a begging of the question. In a work which brings forward, against a corrupt age, a bold and well-supported ac- cusation of departure from the original purity of the Christian System, it is clearly one of the weakest imaginable replies to say, The statements are too rigid. The question is, What saith the authori- tative declaration of Scripture? A book may be far too strict for the habits and fashions of the day, and compared with the general doctrine and practice which prevail, and yet not at all too strict when compared with the demands and decisions of the gospel itself. In proportion as men have de- parted from the true standard of piety, and estab- lished a variety of false maxims of conduct, undoubt- XXIX edly all appeals to primitive Christianity must ap- pear strict. But this is not the fault of the author who detects the real state of things, but of the world which makes the detection necessary. Then let the opponent consider, that Christianity is every where represented in the New Testament as a re- straint, an effort, a series of difficulties overcome, a course of self-denial. Let him remember, also, that the abundant reward which awaits the victor, the heavenly rest, the glory above and beyond this lower world, which is the prize of the successful comba- tant, implies the previous course of difficulty, on which the whole objection rests. Nor let it be forgotten, that, in human affairs, men constantly act on the principle of denying pre- sent pleasure, and undergoing present inconvenience, for future counterbalancing advantages. And what, after all, is the sacrifice which Chris- tianity demands, for which she does not assign the reason and supply the adequate motive ? Does not the divine principle of love make every restraint practicable, nay, easy ? Does not the influence of grace fit and prepare the heart for its task ? Is there not a- heavenly bias communicated, a sacred apprehension, a new taste, a birth from above, which renders the path of duty possible, natural, necessary to the sincere Christian? Then, where is this charge of rigid and overstrained injunctions ? Where this allegation of impracticable strictness? Does it not clearly proceed on taking for granted a question which must stand or fall by the unerring sentence of the Word of God ? Driven, however, from these flimsy and insecure XXX retreats, our opponent entrenches himself in the strong fastness of general prejudice — in a fastidi- ousness ALTOGETHER UNWORTHY OF A SINCERE inquirer. " The book is of a sectarian cast. The author belongs to a sect. The spirit of the religion is over-tinctured with enthusiasm." Feeble and miserable cavil on a subject of such a momen- tous character ! And are all the nameless shades of party and prejudice, in a great and free nation, to be congregated, in order to scare away the in- quirer from the honest influence of truth ? What, is there any branch of science or art which is free from this indistinct charge of party spirit ? When was it that politics were purified from this admix- ture? What was the period when polemical divi- nity stood clear of the imputation of creating divi- sions in the Church ? And shall a book, like the one in question, the very characteristic of which is benevolence, be condemned for a supposed tincture, slight as it is confessed to be, of a sectarian lan- guage or spirit ? The fact is, no impartial reader can harbour the insinuation. The whole style and drift of the work is, perhaps, as free from any just charge of party feeling, as any religious treatise in our language. It is far too noble and generous to belong to a sect. Its leading features are manliness and independence of thought, elegance and natural- ness of style, exuberant candour and charity of spirit ; every thing the farthest removed from the narrow, artificial trammels of the minor subdivisions of the Christian Church. But we are betrayed into too great length. We XXXI shall be reminded, that after giving an account of the reception of the work, we were to consider, III. Its connection with the revival of religion in our country. The peculiar importance of the volume under re- view cannot be justly estimated, without considering the circumstances of England at the time of its pub- lication, and its wide influence upon the progress of a general restoration of Christianity among us. No wise man undervalues opportunities. The same treatise, however excellent, may at one period be of very confined service to religion; and, at an- other, acquire, from unexpected contingencies, great additional weight. It was the peculiar happiness of our Author, to write at a moment when, in the dispositions of Providence, his appeal to his fellow- countrymen was to be attended with beneficial con- sequences, which no human foresight could have pre- dicted. It was one of the principal means of awakening the minds of the leading persons in our country to the truths of spiritual religion, at that critical period of the late war, when infidelity was spreading too widely among all classes, and was threatening the destruction of the altar and the throne. We need not do more than recall to our readers' mind the state of things just previously to the year 1797, when this book first appeared. The revolu- tionary principles of France, after desolating that fine country, had infected our own. Europe be- held, with dismay, the Christian faith abjured, the Christian institution of the Sabbath abrogated, xxxu Christian morals overthrown; and a flippant, un- holy? presumptuous philosophy, pretending to sup- ply the place of Christian motives and Christian practice. The plague was secretly extending itself throughout Europe. The revolutionary govern- ments of France, succeeding rapidly one another, had few points of resemblance, except in their op- position to Christianity. England was especially marked out as the object of their hostility. Some of the political parties in our own country appeared too much to adopt the language, and aid, however undesignedly, the projects of infidelity. The mini- sters of religion were far from supplying, in an ade- quate manner, the remedy for the evil. Our national church, indeed, upheld the majestic front of Chris- tianity, and dispensed the most important benefits among our people; but the spirit and purity of her ministers were far from corresponding, in any adequate measure, with the evangelical simplicity of her doctrines, and the piety of her devotional formularies. The decline from the principles of the Reformation, which had begun under our first Charles, and had been lamentably increased by the fanaticism of the Commonwealth, and the latitudin- arianism and immorality of the times following the restoration of the Royal Family, still chilled the warmth of public devotion, and the efficiency of parochial instructions. The infidel writers, fostered by this state of things, had been refuted indeed by argument, but had not been sufficiently repelled by the most powerful of all weapons — the holy doctrines and consistent lives of the ministers of the Christian church. XXXlll Among the mass of the people, through God's goodness, a most salutary influence of religion had been revived and propagated, by the honest and persevering labours of different bodies, ranked under the general name of Methodists. But not a few evils had mingled, as might have been expected, with their pious efforts ; and their success was con- nected with an alarming secession from the national church. The controversies, also, in which their leaders had been encased, had not left a favourable impression ; and the few clergy who were supposed to listen favourably to their expostulations, were in- volved in the reproach which rested on their name. Thus a general neglect or contempt for spiritual re- ligion was but too prevalent in the influential ranks in our country. To stem the torrent of infidelity, therefore, in the higher and middle classes of society; to rouse the national establishment to the holy efforts for which it was so well adapted; to restore the standard of that pure and vital Christianity, on which all sub- jection to law, and all obedience from motives of con- science, and all real morality and piety, ultimately depend ; to sow anew the principles of loyalty, con- tentment, peace, holiness, deeply and permanently in the minds of men ; to rescue, in a word, our country from impending ruin, and render her a blessing to the nations — to these high ends some- thing more was decidedly wanting. The writings of statesmen did not meet the case. They excited, indeed, a just horror of atheism and insubordination ; they painted the miseries of revo- lutionary frenzy in its true colours ; they vindicated b3 XXXIV the national creed in general, and the national clergy; they enforced the importance of Christianity in its morals and its influence on the good order of society : but all this was partial and ineffective. There was too much of personality and acrimony in their strictures — too much of worldly policy; they understood not the full extent of the malady which they treated, nor did they rightly conceive of the nature of that heart-felt Christianity which was alone capable of producing a cure. In this state of things — the storm of the French Revolution still raging — an open renunciation of Christianity just made in a great nation- — Europe rent asunder with a war, which, after a duration of four or five years, seemed farther than ever from a close — the Church feeble, and full of apprehension — the ministers of state, and the legislature, over- whelmed with schemes of defence abroad and remi- lation at home — the minds of thoughtful men por- tending calamities — untold difficulties thickening around. In this state of tilings, who could be found to stand in the gap, who could rise with the necessary talent and reputation to calm the distracted people, who could mildly, and yet authoritatively, interpose between the clamours of party, who could recall men, with a bold and friendly voice, to the true source of their salvation, and the adequate remedy for their troubles ? One man at length appeared. Our Author was the honoured indivi- dual. He undertook the task, unconscious to him- self of the extent of service he was rendering: his country. He possessed all the various natural ad- vantages required for such an emergency ; and he XXXV was soon acknowledged to be the person who could speak with effect, at such a moment, on the subject of religion ; who could best make an open confession of its genuine doctrines before his fellow-statesmen, and appeal effectually to their hearts and consciences as to the necessity of a return to the faith and piety of their fathers. Two points especially lent weight to his remon- strances. His loyalty and attachment to his king exempted him from any suspicion of leaning towards revolu- tionary principles, in the religious feeling which he laboured to extend amongst the leading people of his day. No one could doubt the general soundness of his political principles; no one could call in ques- tion his truly English heart ; no one could insinuate, that democracy or disorder might lurk under the guise of his religious exhortations. The importance of this circumstance will be more clearly seen, if we bear in mind, that it was the nobility and gentry of the nation, the bishops and clergy, the leaders in parliament, the great mass of the warm adherents to the Church of England and the political government of the state, that required the remonstrance. Other classes among us were not without their religious writers. But who was capable of fixing the atten- tion of the great, the dignified, the elevated, the powerful ? Who could gain admission for his ad- monitions, into those circles where innovation was dreaded as a pestilence, where usage and custom and compliance with established forms bore un- divided sway ? Who could compel these persons to doubt the sufficiency of their actual views of reli- XXX VI £ion ? Who could make an address upon the most offensive of all themes, interesting to them, the object of curiosity, the topic of conversation, the attractive point of something like discussion and rational inquiry ? Who could introduce the greatest of all changes, in an agitated moment, on the most susceptible of points, without awakening fatal sus- picions ? We do not wait for the answer to all these questions, — through God's goodness, the diffi- culty was met by the work before us, and, in a great measure, lessened or removed. Nor was the other point to which we adverted, as o-ivin^ weight to his remonstrances, of less moment. The benevolence, the unaffected, deep-seated benevo- lence which pervaded the treatise, gave it a pass- port to most candid minds; and united with the • various excellencies of the work itself, which we have enumerated in a former section, to make it almost irresistible. Had the discussion been conducted in the spirit of controversy, had personal feelings been roused, had it been written, in short, in any other temper than that of uniform affection and good will, it might, and would, we think, have failed of the high purpose which it ultimately attained. An angry or disputatious reformer, however eminently gifted, would have raised his voice in vain, in the midst of the political heats and apprehensions of the times. But the language of love could not be re- pulsed ; the tender-hearted advocate of the wrongs of Africa, the sympathizing, sincere supporter of various public and private charities, was allowed to urge his peaceful suggestions — his well-known voice was recognized — his motives confessed to be pure — XXXV11 his claim to attention admitted — his advice weighed — his religious appeal suffered to arouse and stimu- late. Even when he spoke out most boldly, and advanced the most novel statements ; nay, when he attacked with penetrating force the degenerate senti- , .nents and practice of his countrymen, love opened the way to his arguments, and disposed men to con- sider, at least, the case which he endeavoured to establish. The consequence was, the work made considerable way precisely in the quarters where it was most wanted; and contributed, in no small measure, to the progress of that general revival of religion which had already been begun, and which it is our earnest wish by every line in these pages to promote. The manner in which it may be conceived that it was subservient to this great end, it is not difficult to point out. 1. It went to accredit real Christianity to states- men and legislators. It was an exposition of the unknown subject, by one of their own body. It brought it down from the region of conjecture and general prejudice, to the plain tangible question of a matter of fact. It placed it before the wide political circle in which the Author moved, as a point of investigation, to be settled by a reference to the ad- mitted oracles of the Christian faith. Religion thus became the study of those, who, by their station and influence, gave laws to the popular sentiments and manners. The peculiar doctrines of the gospel were no longer dismissed summarily, as the tenets of low uninformed sectaries, but weighed and examined as the opinions of an able and well-informed public person. XXXV111 2. It is only extending this observation to say, that the work conveyed important information to the higher classes generally in our country, and soon swayed, in some degree, the prevalent opinions on the subject of religion. The thoughtless, indeed, the dissipated, the utterly irreligious, it could not immediately reach ; but with the vast body of think- ing persons, of those who had a reverence for Chris- tianity, who adhered to the national church, and were open to a friendly, though penetrating remon- strance, it made its way rapidly. In many instances it surprised, it silenced, it informed : in others, it aroused, it alarmed, it convinced, it changed. Among the higher ranks of the clergy, also, not a few were still more powerfully influenced perhaps, though more slowly, and after a longer process of considera- tion and reflection.* Universities, chapters, digni- taries, are, from the nature of the case, less open, in the first instance, to appeals on the subject of reli- gion, than other bodies; because, from their pro- fessional studies and occupations, their minds are pre-occupied, their judgments are already formed, charges of decline in piety assume a personal aspect, new statements of Christian doctrine and practice may be construed as reflections on themselves. But * In the autumn of 1797, the late venerable Bishop of Dur- ham (Barringtoh) animadverted on the subject of the decay of spiritual religion, almost in the very words of Mr. Wilberforce's book : a subject which his Lordship resumed at length in his charge in 1801. In the year 1799, the Bishop of London (Porteous) not only urged the same complaint, but recommended expressly our Au- thor's work. We say nothing of the celebrated charges of Bishop Horsley, so well known, and so highly esteemed. XXXIX when the first access to the mind of such classes of persons is fairly opened, the influence afterwards gained is proportionally important and pregnant with wide-spread consequences. 3. Perhaps there was no order of men on whom the work, as connected with the progress of the re- vival of religion, had a more important operation, than the younger clergy. It bore powerfully on them, opened a new view of Christianity, addressed their consciences, and explained the difficulties in the state of Christianity, which they had not been able to discover. It was the book most exactly adapted for the reading, well-educated, inquiring minds of the young clergy. It was upon their own topic. It addressed them with a talent, an authority, a masterly knowledge of the subject, and yet a modesty and benevolence of style, which could not be mistaken. It took them up precisely where they stood, — told them the strongest and most offensive truths, in the most courteous manner,- — touched their feelings to the very quick, — supplied the intermediate ideas between their actual notions and real Christianity, — and strove to win them to the earnest pursuit of re- ligion as their happiness and duty. How extensively these effects were produced, we cannot venture to say. That a most important impulse was thus communi- cated and propagated in the class of the young, and intelligent, and active clergy, who at length give the tone to all others, cannot be doubted. 4. Another order of persons which we must not omit, was that numerous body whom other treatises on religion had carried on a certain way, but who needed further aid in order to penetrate into the xl interior of the Christian temple. Those whom Law, or Nelson, or the author of the " Whole Duty of Man," or Pascal, or Nicole, had trained to piety and seriousness, our Author took by the hand and led on to more evangelical views of religion — quick- ened, consoled, strengthened, cheered, animated to effort and zeal in their Christian course. 5. Then, the book tended to form a school in Divinity, — it raised up a large and important class of writers, who propagated the sentiments which they imbibed from their master, and revived and thus widened the sphere of religious truth and activity. One distinguished female writer, indeed, had already begun that admirable course of practical treatises, which has raised her to so high an elevation among the ornaments of her country. But in how large a measure the early efforts of Mrs. More were strengthened by the manly and powerful pen of our senator, we need hardly mention to those who know the similarity of sentiment, and warmth of friendship, which have, for so long a period of years, bound these distinguished individuals together.* 6. In short, when these and similar considerations are fairly weighed, it may be doubted whether many * Mrs. Morc's " Thoughts on the Manners of the Great," preceded the publication before us; but her greatest work, " The Strictures," and the numerous and valuable practical religious treatises which followed, were many years after it. We cannot here help adverting to the powerful effects pro- duced by the " Cheap Repository Tracts," of the same emi- nent lady, in stemming the torrent of revolutionary principles at that critical period which we have before noticed, and in dif- fusing among the lower classes those sound political and religious principles, which Mr. Wilberforce's work was the means of diffus- ing among the higher orders. xli single books, in any period of our history, have ex- ceeded it in valuable and durable consequences. Compare it, for instance, with any one of the best pieces of Bishop' Hall, Baxter, Owen, Archbishop Leighton, in the two centuries preceding the last, and we think we shall at once recognize the wide difference between the effects produced by any of them, and those of the work before us. Or take some of the most useful writings of his contempora- ries, or persons just before his own day — Watts, Doddridge, Archbishop Seeker, Bishop Porteous, R. Hall— -and it will be acknowledged, unless we are deceived by love to our Author, that not one of these stood in any thing like the relation to a general revival of religion which our eloquent statesman's occupied. It is readily allowed, that many of these pieces surpassed it as devotional, expository, contro- versial productions. But as a noble appeal to a degenerate age, — as a work which forms an era IN THE HISTORY OF THE TIMES, we must gO back, in order to find a parallel to it, to the primitive Church — to the days of Augustine, or the glorious period of the Reformation, — that is, to times when similar revivals of piety were promoted and extended by somewhat similar means. 7. We do not dwell on the benefit which the work produced on the minds of the faithful ministers and servants of Christ, scattered throughout our country, and who were previously labouring in the same field; because this may rather seem to fall under the head of ordinary cases. It may be doubted, however, whether the good it produced in this re- spect has been sufficiently estimated. To strengthen xlii the hands of the dispersed but faithful few in a de- clining period, to cheer them under discouraging circumstances, to unite them by a public appeal to the nation, to raise them from unmerited reproach, to open the way for their more public and energetic exertions, is, in a moment of investigation and move- ment in religion, of the very last importance.* Nor do we dwell on the important effects of the work in correcting the crude and inaccurate notions of evan- gelical religion, which were not uncommon, — notions which went to separate doctrine from practice, and to inculcate high tenets and opinions, without the proportionate admixture of moral exhortation and precept. The subserviency of the work to the ex- * As a specimen of the benefits produced on the pious clergy, we give the following extract from a letter of the late Rev. T. Scott :— " It (the work before us) is a most noble and manly stand for the gospel ; full of good sense and most useful observations on subjects quite out of our line ; and in all respects fitted for use- fulness ; and coming from such a man, it will probably be read by many thousands, who can by no means be brought to attend either to our preaching or writings. Taken in all its probable effects, I do sincerely think such a bold stand for vital Christianity has not been made in my memory. He has come out beyond all my expectations. He testifies of the noble, and amiable, and honourable, that their works are evil ; and he proves his testi- mony beyond all denial. He gives exactly the practical view of the tendency of evangelical principles for which I contend; only he seems afraid of Calvinism, and is not very systematical ; per- haps it is so much the better. It seems, likewise, a book suited to reprove and correct some timid friends, who are at least half afraid of the gospel, being far more prudent than the Apostles were, or we should never have been able to spell out Christian truths from their writings. But it is especially calculated to show those their mistake, who preach evangelical doctrines with- out a due exhibition of their practical effects. I pray God to do much good by it; and I cannot but hope that I shall get much good from it, both as a preacher and a Christian," — Life, page 347, Uh Edition. xliii tension and purity of the revival of religion in this view, can scarcely be too highly appreciated. But to return. On a review of the connection of this publication with the progress of real piety among us, we cannot help observing, further, how admirable are the ways of the Almighty, in revisiting, from time to time, his Church. Men are qualified and placed in circumstances to effect specific purposes in the order of events, for the extensive benefit of their country and the world. 8. It will, we are sure, be recollected, that in every renewed diffusion of true religion, it has pleased God to raise up certain instruments to procure that pro- tection and aid to the efforts of his servants, which governors, and legislators, and persons in authority, under certain aspects of things, can, humanly speak- ing, alone bestow. Thus " kings become nursing fathers, and queens nursing mothers to the church." At the Reformation, the influence of truth on the assembled princes, and dignitaries, and nobles, at the diet of Worms, and especially on the Elector o£ Saxony, was amongst the most evident causes of the progress of the evangelical doctrines. In like man- ner, the broad shield of authority which the Elector last named threw around Luther, preserved that magnanimous reformer from the violence of his ad- versaries. The powerful influence of Cranmer, and our Sixth Edward, in the early period of the English Reformation ; and of Elizabeth and her able minis- ters of state, in the progress of it, cannot be forgot- ten. In like manner, in our own day, if spiritual religion is to be guarded in her efforts, to be allowed the free exercise of union and co-operation, to be xliv permitted to write and preach openly to the world — if she is to send forth Bibles, and missionaries, and travellers, and agents, and propagate herself unre- strained, through heathen lands, the government of our country must, to a certain degree, concur — the general spirit of persons in authority must be favour- ably swayed — persecution and prohibitory laws must be silenced — the governors of our distant colonies must aid our labours. Worldly things must sub- serve and carry on heavenly. Now, the book before us had the effect, as it appears to us, of opening the way to all this assist- ance : it broke through the ban and barrier of pre- judice in the great — it procured for the followers and disciples of Christ, the aid which the mercy of God saw to be necessary to the wider dissemination of the gospel at home and abroad. Religion was de- fended — shown to be reasonable, pure, holy, consis- tent, benevolent. Those who would not allow every position, saw enough of the general nature of real Christianity, to aid its progress, or to be silent about its dissemination. An impulse was given to legisla- tors, and dignitaries, and sovereigns. The way was prepared for the march of the evangelical doctrines throughout the world. We are far, indeed, from referring to this volume the general revival of religion in our country. This preceded, as we have stated, our Author's efforts. There were numerous fellow- workmen in this great field. The common people had been already roused. A thousand things after- wards conspired, in the state, in the church, and in the spirit and success of various bodies separated from the national establishment, to that event. But xlv this particular book occupied a post nobly and singu- larly; it was a mighty instrument in carrying for- ward the great work, and advancing it in its pro- gress — an opportune and powerful agent, in concur- rence indeed with, and in succession to, and in ad- vance of others ; but still a powerful agent, through the mercy of God, (to which alone is every blessing to be ascribed,) in aiding and extending the revival of pure Christianity. And the work w r as this, as it was the medium of communication between the mass of religious persons, and the clergy and elevated ranks in society; the accredited and successful apology of evangelical truth, before senators, and dignitaries, and nobles, and kings. But this leads us to the con- sideration of, IV. The progress of the revival of religion, since the publication of the " Practical View" in 1797. And here the difficulty of the subject increases. To venture to give any opinion, with whatever dif- fidence, on a question so vast, fills the mind with ap- prehension ; and we are only induced to proceed, from the conviction, that in a day like the present it is no time to be silent — every one is bound to contribute his aid, small as it may be, towards an object so in- finitely momentous, and which can only be accom- plished, under the grace of God, by the united ad- vice and efforts of all of every class, who can in any measure estimate its importance. We conceive, then, that the progress of the re- vival of religion, which had been long going on in England, and which, during the last thirty years, has been so remarkably deepened and extended at home, xlvi and been propagated in almost every part of Protes- tant Europe, may be traced in several particulars. 1. The general standard of religious doctrine and practice in our country has been rising since the publication of this work. A spirit of inquiry into the great principles of Christianity has been more and more excited. The importance of religion, of vital religion, has been more generally felt. The distinction between the form and the power of godli- ness has been better recognized. The idea of a purer Christianity has prevailed, and is still more and more prevailing. The general tone, in short, and character of religion, has been elevated. Much, we know, remains to be done. Public sentiment is still far below the true standard. But we speak comparatively. We are now advanced far beyond the spot where we stood thirty years since. As a proof of this, we may observe, that much ground has been gained as to most of the peculiar truths of the gospel. Surely we must perceive, that the scriptural doctrine of the deep fall and corruption of our nature, is much more generally admitted and preached than it was in the last generation. The necessity of the special influences of grace to the pro- duction of any thing spiritually good in man, is also more generally acknowledged. We are far from saying that there is not much of defect and error on these and other great questions still, but we speak of facts as they are. Again, the fundamental and consolatory doctrine which, perhaps, most character- ized the Reformation, justification by faith only, is now, after ages of contention, almost universally ad- mitted. The favourite position, that faith and works xlvii conjointly justify man, is abandoned as no longer tenable, and the simple scriptural truth, that " works are the fruits of faith, and follow after justification,"* is commonly taught. We stand now pretty gen- erally, we think, on the ground to which Luther brought us, and on which our English reformers planted their foot — the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ, as the exclusive cause of our pardon and acceptance with God. Once more, as to the vital question of the operations of the blessed Spirit, a large advance has taken place. Let any one con- trast the secret scorn with which the influence of the Holy Spirit was too much treated in the last age, with the reverence now entertained for it ; let him contrast the timidity, the apprehension, the conceal- ment, which then obscured the beams of this vivify- ing truth, with the clear and scriptural effulgence which now surrounds it; let him weigh the plain declarations of the necessity of the Holy Spirit's grace, of the necessity of true conversion to God, of a spiritual life, and of daily supplies of influences from above, which are now made, and he will per- ceive the striking difference. We are aware that the Baptismal Controversy, as it respects the grace conveyed by the Sacrament, and the use of the term Regeneration, is not yet composed ; but the progress of real piety is what we are pointing out; and even on this particular difficulty, it is evident, we think, that the essential points are becoming less and less disputed. Again, the standard of holiness, the de- tails of Christian duty, the doctrine of morals, the * Article XI. xlviii obligation of the holy law, the necessity of effort, and vigilance, and prayer, and self-denial, and sepa- ration from the world, are all in progress. The divorce, once too common, between doctrine and practice, is now much more rarely met with. Barren orthodoxy, a cold evangelical creed, and the Anti- nomian perversion of truth, are by far less frequent than formerly. These remarks apply, of course, chiefly to our national church. But so far as we can judge, we think similar ones may be made on the prevailing theology of the orthodox bodies separated from it. The standard of pure evangelical doctrine and prac- tice is rising, and attendant excesses and errors are less considerable, far less considerable, than they were. 2. In the next place, a spirit of moderation and charity is now apparent amongst those various par- ties and subdivisions that exist, and will exist during the infirmity of the militant church, which was un- known thirty years since. Controversy has subsided.* The irritation of disputes on the Divine Decrees (a deep unfathomable) has been suffered to expire ; and far more practical questions, and conducted in a better temper — that on the grace of the Holy Spirit, for example — have occupied the place. The wall of partition between the Christian bodies not of the Establishment, and the Establishment itself, has been a good deal broken down, and a mutual intercourse of kindness and respect cultivated. A generous rivalship in doing good and saving souls, and diffus- * The valuable labours of the " Christian Observer" have much contributed to this result. xlix ing the gospel, seems now the confessed duty of all. The natural, but unhappy jealousy, also, between the great body of the national clergy, and those who have been, by a sort of anomaly, termed in reproach, evangelical, (a name which they are far from assum- ing), is rapidly disappearing. On the one side, in- formation, and piety, and energy, are augmenting ; and the conformity of the other to the scriptural standard of faith and holiness, is more justly appre- ciated, and any unnecessary peculiarities allowed to die away; whilst a spirit of love is uniting the two classes. Every year almost, distinguished persons arise in the church, who carry the great body of the clergy forward insensibly, and thus advance that general tone of evangelical sentiment, for which our Author, in the last age, stood forth almost the single defender; and which, when generally diffused, will annihilate the distinction which has so long been the reproach to our national church. 3. The progress of real piety, again, may be traced in the greater attention paid to subjects connected with morals and religion, in the nation generally, and especially in the Houses of Parliament. We speak of what lies open to daily observation. The ad- mission of Christianity into India ; the establishment of episcopal sees in the East and West Indies ; the abolition of the slave trade, and mitigation of slavery ; the investigations into the sufferings of missionaries in our colonies, and into the state of prisoners in our own country;* the erection of churches in our popu- * It is impossible for us not to notice here, the surprising effects of the labours of Mrs. Fry, who has been called, not un- just'/, the apostle of women. C 29 1 lous parishes by national grants; the encouragement of education ; the abolition of the Lottery ; the in- tense interest manifested for the moral improvement of Ireland, are most of them questions which, thirty years since, no one would have supposed it possible to bring before parliament with success. Much, much undoubtedly, must still be lamented in the religious information and temper of the legislature, but of the progress actually made, we conceive, no reason- able doubt can be entertained. Again, the active piety of no inconsiderable number of individuals amongst the nobility and gentry, the dedication which they make of their time, and wealth, and influence, to the honour of God ; -"their open and consistent pro- fession of the peculiar doctrines of the gospel; the aid they lend to our great religious societies ; and the opposition which they cheerfully endure in their own circles for the sake of the cross of Christ, are points not to be omitted in this enumeration, incom- plete as it is. And does not the diffusion of general education, also, as connected with religion, speak the language of hope as to the state of public feeling? What will not our National, and Infant, and Lancasterian Schools produce before another generation has elapsed, or rather, what are they not producing al- ready ? A source of religious principle is thus early opened in the youthful mind; talent is developed in unison with the knowledge and habits essential to its safe direction ; and the national character is rising. 4*. Once more, the increased diligence and piety of our students at the universities, deserve observation. This is like the spring in the year. All teems with the li promise of piety and devotedness in our future min- isters of religion. The spirit, likewise, which pre- vails in the most influential bodies amongst the se- niors in our universities; the higher standard of preaching there encouraged ; the vigilance exercised over the morals of the students ; the strictness of the divinity-examinations, are all so many pledges of im- portant good, and mark the progress of the revival of religion. The number, indeed, in these classes, is not great, and might seem scarcely to require a distinct notice ; but the effects are incalculable. One generation of pious and devoted candidates for ordi- nation, is the blossom of the next age. 5. The increase of piety and simplicity in our parochial clergy, is only the consequence of what has been stated in the preceding remarks. It is the seed-plot of divine grace among our population. The pious minister of religion, of whatever confession, but more especially the pious parish priest, is the guide, the comforter, the friend, the pastor of his flock. The streams of living water flow from his doctrine and his life, for the refreshment and salvation of the people. To this branch of our subject belongs a respectful notice of that very observable progress in the activity and piety of the dignitaries of the church, which unites them more closely with charitable in- stitutions, opens their affections to their pious clergy, leads to the better distribution of patronage, and augments the strictness of the previous examination of candidates for holy orders. 6. And what shall we say of the voluntary associa- tions for the diffusion of the Gospel abroad and at home, which are the glory of our day, and which c 2 Hi have reflected so much light and energy on our ministers and our people ! What can mark the pro- gress of a revival of religion, if the increased exer- tions of Christians in disseminating the Holy Scrip- tures, in planting missions, in calling back the houses of Israel and Judah to their Messiah, in scattering profusely prayer-books and homilies, and religious tracts and treatises in every quarter, in translating for foreign nations and barbarian tribes the records of our faith, do not prove it ! We confess we dwell with delight on these effects of the blessing of God on his Church in the present day. We firmly believe such a period of light and exer- tion has not appeared, taking it altogether, since the days of the apostles. We can conceive of nothing more pregnant with future blessings. The different societies, both within and without the Church, almost equally excite our joy. Had there been only one society, or societies in only one division of the Church of Christ, torpor would have soon, as in former instances, benumbed our efforts. It is com- petition, and rival exertions, and the division of labour, and mutual emulation for the dissemination of the faith, under the protection of a mild and bene- ficent Government, and with the concurrence of a tolerant Established Church, that affords the fairest prospect, considering man as he is, and the visible Church as it is and ever has been, for accomplishing the conversion of mankind. 7. And here, can we fail to add the proof of re- viving grace, which appears so distinctly in the rais- ing up of suitable instruments, in various depart- ments of labour, for carrying on the different tasks liii essential to the main result? Who formed the noble individuals that have taken the lead in the present day ? How few in number comparatively ; and yet suppose them withdrawn, and every thing would be at a stand ! Authors, compilers, transla- tors, travellers, agents, artists, schoolmasters, cate- chists, missionaries, secretaries, presidents, public speakers, — we are appealing to those who know the interior of our great societies, — have been raised up in a remarkable manner to fill their respective posts, and have displayed the appropriate talents which those posts required — a sure criterion of a divine effusion of mercy on the Church.* 8. The concurrence of the secular powers in dif- ferent nations, to succour the infant cause of the Bible Societies and Missions — the aid afforded by our own Government in their home and foreign sta- ts tions — the position of those stations, scattered on the borders of the chief Heathen and Mahommedan countries — the prodigious influence of the British name in the East, with the augmenting extent of her empire — the inventions in the arts, more parti- cularly in those connected with the press — are all subsidiary, but important particulars in such an in- quiry as the present. 9. The preparation in the mind of the Heathen and Mahommedan states, for the reception of pure * We might add the noble list of officers in the army and navy, who support the cause of religion wherever they are stationed. The Naval and Military Bible Society, which, in 1804, had only two naval and military officers on the list of contributors and friends, in 1814 numbered 109, and in 1825, 315; each of whom may be considered as a herald and agent of truth, raised up by Almighty God, from a class least likely, ordinarily speaking, to yield such characters. liv Christianity, is another mark of a divine interference. The world seems in movement. Dissatisfaction with existing error, inquiry after the records of the Chris- tian faith, openness to conviction, esteem for the British character, are indications not to be mistaken. The opposition of the courts of Rome and Constan- tinople, has only issued in the wider spread of the religious knowledge which they naturally enough wished to extinguish, and lights up brighter expec- tations as to the future. 9. Again, the protest which has been entered against the peculiar corruptions of the Church of Home, in the late controversies, cannot but be re- garded as a mark of the advance of the revival of real religion. We speak not of the questions con- nected with the political condition of the members of that Church in Ireland. We may, or may not be right in this respect. Probably there has been, and is, much of what is wrong in that part of our conduct. But we speak of the decided spirit which the Pro- testants have manifested against the religious abomi- nations of Popery. We speak of the bold and manly exposure of her anti-scriptural usurpations, which has been made before the eyes of the nation. We speak of the hallowed talent and zeal kindled against her idolatry, her superstitions, her tyranny over the conscience, her prohibition of the reading of the Bible, her opposition to the civil and religious liberty of mankind. In this view, also, the open stand made against the Apocryphal Books, though connected with some painful circumstances, is of real importance. 10. The dissemination of knowledge on the sub- lv ject of Divine Prophecy, after every deduction that must be made on the score of rashness or miscalcula- tion, is a token of reviving piety among us. " Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things that are written therein, for the time is at hand." The study of prophecy, in the best sense, is assuredly increasing, and this is one symptom of the rising zeal and acti- vity of the Church ; for prophecy shines as a lamp in a dark place — prophecy cheers the feeble efforts of our early missions — prophecy animates with hope of Divine assistance — prophecy explains the greatest mystery in the aspect of things, the Western and Eastern apostacies — prophecy holds out to us a series of times, which, by every calculation, must ere long run out — prophecy encourages, warrants, animates the efforts now making at home and abroad for the conversion of the world. 12. We must add to these particulars the ab- sence of persecution in our country. Real Chris- tians are not forced into privacy — -are not harassed by prohibitory laws — not involved in bitter hatred, and goaded by open injustice and public calumny. This is a certain criterion of a revival of mercy to a nation. The sincere servants of God are allowed to preach, and write, and labour, and extend them- selves peaceably far and wide, " none making them afraid." This marks a Divine favour to the govern- ment and country which affords such protection. Popery has ever persecuted. Mahommedanism per- secutes. Proud, declining, nominal Protestantism, is inclined to persecute. Infidelity and philosophy, after all their boasts, persecute. The revived Chris- lvi tian doctrine proclaims its Author by its meekness, its tolerance, its benevolence, its charity, its patience. 13. One point remains : the progress of personal religion amongst us, the actual increase of the Divine influence, and of its holy effects in our neighbour- hoods, and parishes, and congregations. Much, we allow, very much still remains to be done ; but surely we cannot fail to observe the large advance which has taken place in the general efficiency of our reli- gious services, during the last thirty years. With- out this, indeed, all the other criteria of a revival of religion would be fallacious. It is the diffusion of personal and family piety, of holiness in our domestic circles, of conversion to God, of love to the Saviour, devotedness to His service, watchfulness and self-denial, circumspection and zeal, which denotes the abiding mercy of God with us, and prepares for every future blessing. Let now these particulars be laid together, and we think the reader will perceive something of the progress of the revival of religion, since the publica- tion of the Work before us. It is not one or two of these particulars which would constitute this ad- vance, if separately considered ; it is the concurrence of them all — it is the conjoined effect of this renewed life and grace within the Church, and of these favour- able circumstances without it, which marks the finger of God, and forms an era of peculiar grace. The impression would be deepened, if we were to review the correspondent progress in real piety, which has been made during the same period in some of the Protestant churches in France and Germany, and other parts of Europe, as well as in the extensive lvii and powerful American States. But enough has been said for the purpose in hand. We must however observe, before we pass on, that extreme caution is necessary not to overstate these favourable appearances, and not to forget the numerous defects and sins which are still prevalent in the visible Church. The ground actually gained, is indeed considerable, compared with the point from which we set out half a century since; but let us not deceive ourselves. The distance between our pre- sent attainments, and the true elevation of primitive faith and love, is still immense. There is a mass of hatred, of bitter determined hatred, against evan- gelical truth and holiness, lurking in our country. Appearances of discord and decline, are, alas ! not wanting even in our best designs and projects. The present promise of things in the Church, seems pre- cisely to be that which may, with the Divine blessing, speedily ripen into a glorious harvest ; and may, also, if our sins should provoke the Divine displeasure, be as quickly blighted and disappear. Enough has been vouchsafed to our prayers, to encourage us to redoubled vigilance, and effort, and hope, and yet enough is still unaccomplished, to lead us to deeper humiliation, and more fervent prayers for the in- creased effusion of Divine mercy. But this leads us to our last topic. V. Some suggestions as to the manner in which this revival may be further advanced. And here it is with no affected diffidence that we profess our incompetence and apprehensions. The very attempt to speak on such a subject, affixes the c3 lviii charge almost of presumption on those who make it ; and yet we have been drawn on so far, that we must venture on a few hints, in sincere humility, we trust, and simplicity of heart. 1. Thankfulness, then, to God for what he has already wrought, must be the first duty in circum- stances like ours. We know who has said, " He that offereth praise, glorifieth me." Let our Saviour God have all the glory of what his mercy hath vouchsafed. Let us not think too much of men, or instruments, or second causes. " The work that is done upon earth, God doeth it himself." We are in danger of self-complacency, of flattering distin- guished individuals, of looking to external splendour and outward circumstances, and human policy. Let us pierce through all this, that we may approach the throne of our God, and there prostrate ourselves in humble adoration and praise. " Let no flesh glory in his presence ; but he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord."* 2. Peculiar caution against the dangers to which our situation exposes us, may next be mentioned. The great revival we have been describing, has been brought about and extended during a state of outward tranquillity and peace in the Church, at least so far as our own country is concerned. The * In this view we are not without apprehension, that we may have been betrayed into expressions too warm, and which, to strangers to the Work, may have the appearance of Mattery, in speaking of the Volume which has given occasion to these pages. Our sincere aim lias been to record only what we consider to be facts; and witli the direct design of ascribing the entire praise to the One Giver of every blessing. Still we stand condemned, if there be a single word which can fairly be considered as par- taking of adulation. lix imminent dangers springing from such a state, must be recognized and watched against with wakeful jealousy, if the revival is to advance. Religion is extended no farther, in fact, than the actual re- newal and sanctification of the heart and nature of individuals are extended. Let any one look into the declining Asiatic churches of the Apocalypse, and see how they fell, and then let him tremble for himself and the churches now. A temporizing spirit, the fear of man, conformity to the doubtful practices of the world, a dread of the offence of the cross, self-seeking, vanity, neglect of family and closet devotion, inconsistencies of temper and con- duct, the love of pleasure and indulgence, a tendency to display and ostentation, apathy and coldness of heart as to the real interests of Christ's kingdom, delight in detecting and exposing the faults of the pious and active — these, and the like sins, are the peculiar snares of a day of external ease ; and unless they are sedulously guarded against by ministers and people, the Holy Spirit will be grieved and withdraw from us ; and, with him, all our prospects and hopes will vanish as a dream. Besides these personal dangers, there are more national and public ones, — the violation of the holy Sabbath by Sun- day company, Sunday travelling, Sunday business, and more especially by Sunday Newspapers,* is * This is an evil of such portentous magnitude, and so new to this Protestant nation, that we can omit no opportunity of pointing it out to the reprobation of every friend to his country, and to the interests of religion. Every month almost witnesses some accession to the list of these open profanations of the Lord's day. From London, the plague is spreading to our pro- vincial towns. Ix one of our most flagrant national sins ; and is weak- ening, we fear, the good habits of former days in many religious families. The connection with reli- gious societies from inferior and secular motives only — the neglect of family duties by the plea of public exertions — the separation of education from direct evangelical principles — the excessive spirit of enter- prise and ambition in commercial pursuits, are perils of a public description against which we must use every fit precaution. 3. A higher reverence for the Bible is a third duty of this period of revived piety. If the present hopeful appearances are to be realized, men's fallible writings must be of less weight than they have been, and God's Book of infinitely greater. Far as we are advanced in honouring, and studying, and up- holding the inspired word of God, (and in this view the Bible Society is of incomparable value, and has in it the seeds of further blessings— blessings which its warmest supporters are little able to appre- ciate,) yet we apprehend we have scarcely passed the threshold of the great subject. The unutter- able importance of deeply imbibing, and honestly following the very spirit of the Bible, in all its parts and statements, can only be fitly illustrated by con- sidering the fatal mischiefs which have sprung from the practical neglect of this duty. All the super- stitions of Popery, are merely comments of men su- perseding the declarations of God. Socinianism is only a different and more fatal perversion of human reason to the neglect of the Bible. The conten- tions of churches, the heats of disputants, the ex- cesses of systems of theology, all spring from mul- lxi tiplying and magnifying the deductions of fallible men, and putting those deductions in place of the Bible. The general and charitable outlines of fun- damental truth indeed, which are drawn up in the Confessions and Articles of the Protestant churches, are necessary as matter of discipline ; but the insist- ing dogmatically and exclusively upon these, to the neglect of the sacred Scriptures themselves, from which they are derived, is the evil of which we com- plain. We conceive all our churches are faulty here. To exalt the divine Revelation more and more, in its plain and obvious sense, is the way to bring down the further blessing of the Holy Spirit, is the way to heal divisions, to propagate a sound and holy doctrine, to advance genuine unity and love. Let Lord Bacon's principle, which opened the way to all the discoveries in natural philosophy, be applied to divinity, and correspondent improve- ments may be expected. Instead of systems, let us seek phenomena. Instead of what agrees with principles, principles themselves. Instead of forcing nature and Scripture, let us follow them, interrogate them, obediently yield to them. Instead of framing general laws and notions, let us be content with col- lecting separate facts and statements, and proceed on cautiously from these towards general conclu- sions, in the way of induction and experiment, not in the manner of hypothesis and abstract reasoning. Thus will God's word, at length, in the hand of its divine Author, become the acknowledged stan- dard and touchstone of truth, the grand instrument of illumination and sanctification to mankind. There is nothing which we should not hope for from the lxii honest, intelligent, paramount use of the Bible, and the Bible only, in the Church of Christ. All the grand corruptions of Christianity have proceeded from men's closing that sacred book ; its revival, then, must be accompanied by their opening it again in humble faith, and implicitly following its unerr- ing dictates. 4. A bold practical avowal of the peculiar doc- trines of the gospel, is an inference from the pre- ceding remark. If the country is to be awakened, and the world converted, it must be by a full unshrinking exhibition of Christ crucified. The deep fall and impotency of man, the person and glory of Christ, the Deity and operations of the Holy Ghost, justi- fication by faith only, regeneration and progressive sanctification by the Spirit, holy love, obedience the fruit and evidence of faith, — all centering in the cross, and emanating from the atonement and righteousness, and conspiring to illustrate the power and grace, of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the doctrine which the Holy Spirit will bless. A timid, obscure gospel, is no gospel at all ; — it wants both the principles which console, and those which save ; — it never has, it never will effect considerable things in the propagation of truth. The simplicity of the cross of Christ, with the mighty power of grace which accompanies it, is all we need, and all that God has determined to use to the diffusion of his mercy throughout the world. 5. In the next place, let each individual be in- creasingly active in his personal exertions, and in his union and co-operation with others. The effects of voluntary association in a free, enlightened, opu- lxiii lent, religious nation, are incalculable. The power of the greatest monarchs is feeble compared with the combined energies of men marshalled in soci- eties, subdividing labour amongst themselves — col- lecting the thousand smaller contributions of the poor, — eliciting and employing talents and piety wherever they appear, — watching for opportunities in every quarter of the world, and entering in at each point that opens, — acting on simple broad grounds of immediate duty, — assisting, consoling, animating one another. Already we have seen wonders produced by the aggregation of numbers, who, if they had exerted themselves separately, could have effected comparatively nothing. Let our great societies be extended and multiplied, — let voluntary co-operation be pushed on to its utmost limits, — let the vast unoccupied tracts in our own country be brought into cultivation, — let every one be induced to cast in his contribution, and add his exertions, — and what may not our Bible, and Mis- sionary, and Religious Book and Tract Associations accomplish ? One penny a week, from a population like ours of fifteen millions, would produce an annual sum of above three millions of pounds sterling, — more than six times the amount of all our present charitable incomes united ! But we must exert ourselves individually, as well as in societies. Let each Christian cast about for methods of active, decisive, persevering, wise, self- denying service in his family, his connections, his neighbourhood. Let him not despise smaller acts of mercy and goodness. These are the only ele- ments of the greatest results. Pride and ignorance lxiv bid us wait for important occasions ; humility creates them by occupying the numerous, though inconsider- able opportunities of daily occurrence. — With these public and personal exertions, let an increased atten- tion to private devotion and the cultivation of the heart be joined. Then all will proceed safely. Communion with God will nourish the source whence public efforts flow, and will correct insensibly the dangers which attend them. 6. A higher tone of Christian love is, again, an indispensable requisite to further advances in a re- vival of religion. Some persons think we have made great advances in this heavenly temper already. We are of a different opinion. We have admitted, indeed, that a considerable progress in it may be observed; but this is comparative. We conceive there is no one part of the true imitation of Christ in which we are more defective still. That is not charity which requires our brother to think and act with us, and then promises him our support. That is not charity which condescends, on a few occasions, to suspend the warfare of parties. That deserves not the name of charity, which conceals only the envy or suspicion which we nourish towards a class of Christians different from our own. Nor, on the other hand, is that charity which calls for an im- practicable and confused mixture of all creeds and disciplines, and effaces the boundaries of conscience, and the rights of private judgment. Much less is that charity which magnifies and obtrudes subordi- nate points on occasions not calling for them, or beyond the occasions which call for them. But that is charity and love — oh ! may the Spirit of lxv love pour more of it into our hearts — which, leaving each Christian to think for himself, and rejoicing in the good which others do, and honestly believing they act from conscience towards God, as well as ourselves, and knowing that differences of judgment are the constant attendant on the infirmities of the militant Church, and acknowledging that they are permitted for the very trial of that temper of kind- ness, which, without them, would have little room for exertion, and renouncing the chimerical and fruitless scheme of reducing the visible Church to one model of discipline, or one confession of faith, takes the wiser and happier course of uniting all hearts, of co-operating with others in every prac- ticable method of enlarging the common ground where all agree, and narrowing the spots where they differ, and thus advancing the general interests of the kingdom of God. In heaven, all who have loved our Lord Jesus Christ, and served him in sincerity, will be one. Let them approach to this state more and more on earth. Let them rise up to the primitive standard, so beautifully described in the Acts of the Apostles, when " all were of one heart and of one soul." Let them realize the sub- lime anticipation of the Saviour himself, " That they all may be one ; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us, that the world may believe that thou hast sent me." Nor is that essential branch of charity to be over- looked, which consists in dispensing our wealth, and influence, and time, for the good of the Church. Much progress has been made here. The munifi- cence, the hallowed munificence of thousands in our lxvi rich and free country, is a sign of the times for good. Let this spirit be diffused. Let our commerce and wealth, as the prophet expresses it, be " holiness to the Lord." Let the delight of dispersing abroad, instead of hoarding by covetousness, or wasting by display and self-indulgence, be sought for as the true use of riches. What might not then, by the blessing of God, be effected ! 7. But united prayer for the larger effusion of the grace of the Holy Spirit, though it is a point which has been frequently pressed of late, is too important to be wholly omitted here. We are disposed to do any thing, rather than to pray. And yet, as the labours of the husbandman are utterly vain in the natural world, except as God vouchsafes the genial softening showers, and shines out upon them with the cheering beams of day; so in the spiritual world, every exertion of all our societies united, is hopeless, except as the God of grace vouchsafes the genial, fructifying influences of his Spirit, and shines upon them with the healing rays of the " Sun of Right- eousness." We find it generally observed, that though pious ministers are multiplying in every part of the kingdom, and good is doing in the conversion of souls, and a dew from above falls pretty widely on their fields of labour ; yet there is no where a rich effusion of the Spirit. Our ministers do not " come forth in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ." One and another, indeed, is awakened in each congregation, and in a course of years a small body of pious persons is formed around the minister; and even for such a measure of success, ardent praises are due to God. But we do not see lxvii " great grace" upon our parishes — there are no u showers of blessing" — our own hearts, as mini- sters, are not "enlarged" — our word is not "with the Holy Ghost, and with power" — numbers are not aroused and converted — " a great multitude" are not " obedient to the faith." That is, we require, we indispensably need, a large further effusion of the grace of the Holy Spirit. All languishes, and will languish, till united, fervent, humble, persevering prayer, be made of the Church to God for his pro- mised grace. Nothing can fill our sails, nor bear up our richly-freighted vessel amidst the rocks and shoals which impede her course, nor carry her on triumphantly and gloriously to her destined haven, but the wind from heaven, the favouring gale, the divine inspiration and afflatus from above. Oh, when will the Church act fully on her principles, and devote those hours to prayer which are now dis- sipated on inferior and doubtful' objects ! When, when will her humble supplications be addressed with fervour and importunity for the one blessing which comprehends, or will ensure, every other ! " The only want at present," says an acute observer, after detailing the advancement of knowledge, and the immense opportunities which England possesses, " is the want of a will, the want of a resolution of making efforts proportioned to the end to be ob- tained."* That is, the main blessing now required * " The Advancement of Society in Knowledge and Religion." By James Douglas, Esq. p. 325. A book deeply interesting, and which, we trust, the Author will follow up by similar publica- tions, or an enlarged edition of the present. We can conceive of few persons better qualified to devote themselves to the high XVlll is the more abundant grace of Him who is the di- vine Illuminator and Sanctifier of fallen man — the sacred Comforter of the Church — the peculiar Pro- mise, and characteristic gift and surpassing glory of the New Testament dispensation. 8. Hope of great things is the last suggestion we would venture to make. We cannot reasonably look for the accomplishment of the vast scope of pro- phecy and promise, till our faith and hope are in- vigorated to expect it. We judge of God from sense, and nature, and past periods of the Church, and present difficulties : let us judge of him by the word of his truth, by the power of his grace, by the efficacy of the cross of his only-begotten Son, by the almighty energy of his Spirit. Let us take our measures of hope and desire, not from ourselves and our puny wisdom and might, but from God and his omnipotent and all-glorious power. The progress of knowledge and information has just cleared away the rubbish accumulated round the Christian tem- ple — controversy, and heat, and division, have had their day — direct preparations are now, at length, making for the conversion of the world — the ma- chinery is putting together — the main questions are practically understood — the world is " labouring and travailing," as it were, for the moment of deliver- ance — our own country unites almost every conceiv- task of combining scattered information, directing to new scenes of labour, and instructing and animating his fellow-Christians; especially in the various topics of a geographical, historical, and philosophical nature, connected with the diffusion of religious knowledge throughout the world, than this able and lively writer. We owe much to his suggestions in the course of this Essay, which we take this opportunity of acknowledging. lxix able advantage for disseminating the gospel through- out the world — the roll of prophecy is developing itself — the signs of providential dispensation accu- mulate around us — all calls us to hope — all calls on us to "lift up our heads" to welcome the " redemp- tion which is drawing nigh." For the third time has the Church been led to ex- pect the close of things, and the accomplishment of the word of prophecy. At the era of the emperor Con- stantine, Christians looked up to see the empire first acknowledging the doctrine of Christ, and then tak- ing possession of the nations.* Again, at the period of the blessed Reformation, hope kindled at the threat- ened overthrow of Popery, and anticipated the conver- sion of mankind. But the time was not then come— centuries of darkness and conflict had to intervene — the Church had various important lessons to learn — " the Man of Sin" had not developed all his hideous deformity. In a word, science, and literature, and arts, and commerce,' and peace, and almost universal empire, as to the outward order of things, were to prepare for the second coming of Christ, as they did for the first. Now hope plumes her wings with more humble distrust of herself, indeed, and yet with more confi- dence and joy, because the word of prophecy within the sanctuary, seems to correspond with the leadings and openings of Providence without, to pronounce that the time is at hand. Every thing augurs * Even as early as the second century, in the time of Ignatius and Polycarp, the hope of the consummation of all things was excited ; hut the expectation was much more widely diffused in the fourth century. Ixx the coming of our Lord. The three synchronical events of the fall of the Eastern and Western Anti- christs, and the conversion of the Jews, marked hy numerous independent but converging predictions, cannot be distant. Hope is, therefore, the " hel- met" to be put on now, if ever, in entering on this holy enterprise. The disproportion, between the ordinary means of the first Christians, and their suc- cess in propagating the gospel, was incomparably greater, than between the means which Christian nations now possess, and the general conversion of mankind. But even if this were not so, faith and hope rely on the power and grace of God, first to create the adequate instruments, and then to crown them with triumphant success. May the writer of these pages be permitted to close the whole of the remarks which he has felt it his duty to offer on this great subject, by addressing a few words to two classes of his fellow-subjects and fellow-christians. He would, in the first place, respectfully remind the legislators of his country, that the hap- piness, and glory, and safety of Britain, are bound up with the question which we have been consider- ing. This reflection naturally follows from the re- markable volume of our Author. " Righteousness exalteth a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people." The ruin of the greatest commercial states, whether of those recorded in Scripture, or of those which profane annals have handed down to us, has sprung from corruption of manners, and contempt of XXI God and religion. Nineveh, Tyre, Babylon, are beacons to us. Let us beware. Riches, luxury, fame in arms, prosperity, always tend to engender pride and selfishness, and lead on to fatal declines in national character. England has no prescriptive right to the power, and wealth, and numberless ad- vantages, which have been so profusely bestowed upon her, since the appeal of our distinguished sena- tor was made thirty years back. India has not been committed to us for nothing. The empire of the seas is not an irresponsible blessing. Our colonies, scattered in every clime, are not without correspon- dent claims upon us. # Our fame and glory in de- livering oppressed Europe — our national freedom — our spirit of enterprise — our intercourse with every quarter of the globe — our augmented wealth — our skill in the sciences and arts, are not designed to be exclusive and barren advantages — all is a trust — all calls on us to moral effort. The continuance of them entirely depends on the good pleasure of God. In one moment, if such were his will, the splendid scene would vanish ; and national degradation, dis- cord, feebleness, perplexity, ruin, (as we may too fear- fully learn from late events) would start up in its place. The revival of religion, now so widely extended, de- mands of us renewed exertions. Legislators must act fully as Christians. The public mind expects this, and will bear them out in it. England must rise to her high destiny. If she remain stationary, — but she cannot remain stationary, — she will de- * O how piercing are the cries of the enslaved and oppressed African! — how surely do they enter the ears of the Lord of Sahaoth ! lxxii cline and perish, unless she press on in the noble career which Providence now opens before her.* He consults best for the good of his country, who la- bours to secure the divine protection, who speaks out boldly in her senate for God and religion, who pro- tests against national sins, who moulds her laws to the divine precepts, who rouses her nobles and go- vernment to extensive and effectual moral improve- ments, who urges her on in the sacred course of religious feeling and exertion, who strengthens the foundations of her greatness, by consecrating her empire to the honour of God, and connecting it with the illumination and conversion of mankind. Let the statesman, then, take at length the Scriptures into his hand, and purify and elevate his political projects, by the estimate which God takes of nations, and the view which He gives of the highest ends of their existence. Let him be deeply persuaded that every national sin fatally contributes to the dissolu- tion of our power; whilst every act of reformation and piety goes to arrest the deadly gangrene, and in- fuses new life and vigour into the whole body of the state. And may the writer next be allowed to address, with unaffected respect and deference, his breth- ren of the clergy. It is not on legislators, but on ministers of religion, that the progress of a re- vival of piety chiefly depends. Never did such an opportunity present itself, for our national church becoming a blessing to mankind. The station, char- * " For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted." — Isa. Ix. 12. lxxiii acter, talents, learning, and just influence of the clergy, precisely qualify them for taking the helm, now that the great tide of spiritual religion is flowing in upon us. In order to this, however, they must have themselves correct and well-fixed principles of vital Christianity. To understand thoroughly the gospel of Christ in its peculiar grace and power, to feel and live habitually under its holy influence, to preach and instruct the people in its transforming truths, this is their high vocation. The Church of England is, after all, only one means of maintaining and propagating the Gospel. Except as this is done, her great office is overlooked, and the discharge of inferior obligations can never remedy the evil. And is it not, he would ask, but too clear, from the effects of general education among our people, from the activity and talents of the various bodies separated from the church, from the bolder front of the Roman Catholic superstitions, and from the hostility of no inconsiderable party in the legislature, that nothing can long support the Church of England, but her freely admitting the light which is pouring around her ; and not only reflecting that light herself, but aiding in sending forth its glories throughout the world. The holy renewal already so much diffused in the Church of England, must go on yet more deeply and extensively, or a disruption may be too surely anticipated, In a free Protestant country, and in a day like the present, the strength of the National Establishment is not its protecting statutes, its ancient edifices, its rights, its emoluments — im- portant and necessary as these are — but its purity, its holiness, its zeal for the gospel, its activity, D 29 Ixxiv its charity. The world is now in movement. The nations are waiting for the gospel. The Eastern and Western apostacies totter to their fall. Eng- land, in general, is awaking to her duty and her privilege. And if the pure evangelical doctrines of the Reformation be not still more decidedly espoused bv her bishops and dignitaries, and taught and pro- pagated by her priesthood and missionaries, " help will come in from some other quarter ;" other bodies of Christians amongst us will be elevated to the post of honourable service, and the vast designs of the divine mercy will be accomplished by some less con- spicuous, but more willing instruments. These are bold and startling truths, he is aware, but if they are truths, as the writer is deeply per- suaded is the Cease, he is the best friend to the Church of England who shrinks not from avowing them. At present it is not too late. The National Church ought and may — and we trust and believe, will, rise to her obvious duty. The body of our people are attached to her sound and holy forms of devotion; her articles and homilies are the most purely evangelical of any of the Reformed com- munities ; the spirit generally prevalent in her hier- archy is tolerant and charitable ; her capacities of extensive usefulness are daily multiplying ; in pro- portion as her ministers discharge their vocation aright, affection and respect for their persons, esteem for their instructions, and a cheerful, fixed adherence to the communion of the Church at whose altars they serve, spontaneously follow. Every thing com- bines to urge the clergy forward. Let them not lxxv look back, to dispute about the past. Let them not stop to settle to what extent a decline had taken place among us. The fact sufficiently speaks for itself. And who can look impartially for one instant into the history of the Jewish Church, or read the remonstrances of the prophets, or remember the Apostolic warnings to the first Christian con- verts, or recur to the case of the falling Churches of the Apocalypse, — to say nothing of the uniform testimony of Ecclesiastical History since, — without acknowledging that declines in National Churches are the perpetual effect of human depravity? No personal reflections are conveyed by such statements; nor is any presumptuous claim implied on the part of those who make them. The one question is, What is Truth ? — what is the Gospel ?— what the call of divine mercy? — what the circumstances of the times ? — what the necessity with which we are urged? — what the duty of each one in aiding the general result? And these considerations all invite, at the present juncture, with a force never before paralleled, the Established Clergy to the discharge of their peculiar office as heralds of the gospel of Christ. As their guide in such a course, let them take in hand the writings of the men who have fought the battle of Christianity in somewhat similar periods. Let them imbibe the spirit of Cyprian or Augustine. Let them meditate on the magnani- mous character of Luther, and the noble army of Reformers. Let them take up afterwards the milder, but kindred appeal of the Author whose work we have been reviewing. Let them above all, study the sacred Scriptures themselves, and drink into the D 2 lxxvi very mind of the Apostles and Evangelists. Let them do this honestly and diligently; adding fer- vent and persevering prayers to God for the guidance of his Spirit — and the result may be anticipated. They will be brought, as it were, into a new world. New views will open before them ; new feelings agi- tate, new hopes enliven, new motives impel them. All the prejudices, and fears, and objections, formerly lurking in their breasts, will yield to the overpower- ing force and dignity of truth. Distrust and appre- hension will be turned into admiration and love. — What more ? — Our reverend brethren will be be- forehand with us in the conclusion to which we are hastening. Such a course will lead them to discern their truest interest, their real strength, their para- mount obligation. A revival of piety, thus diffused, will save the Church of England. It will do more than this — though we are far from under- valuing this, — it will bring her back to those doc- trines and principles which her reformers first asserted at the price of their blood; and it will thus make her, what she is so well adapted to become, the benevolent, and charitable, and tolerant leader of all that is good in our own country, as well as the herald of blessings yet untold to the most distant regions of the earth. D. W. Islington, October, 1826. CONTENTS. Page Introduction. — Author's Apology, Design of the Work, 89 CHAPTER I. INADEQUATE CONCEPTIONS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF CHRISTIANITY. The popular notions concerning the importance of Christi- anity extremely inadequate, 93 Religious ignorance criminal, ...... 98 Unreasonable to expect to become proficients in Christianity, without inquiry and pains, 99 Scripture representations of the importance of Christianity, 100 The maxim, that it is of no importance what a man believes, exposed, ........ 103 Also the maxim, that sincerity is all in all, . . . ib. True sincerity, what included in it, . . . 105 Concluding reflections, 106 CHAPTER II. CORRUPTION OF HUMAN NATURE. Sect. I. — Inadequate conceptions of the corruption of Human Nature. Popular notions concerning human corruption, . . 108 The different lessons on this subject which Christianity teaches, proved by the contrast between what we might expect from man, and what we find him practise, . ib. First, in the most polished nations of antiquity, . . 109 Next, in the inhabitants of the New World on its first dis- covery, ... 112 Next, in the general state of the Christian world, . .113 Lastly, even among true Christians, . . . . 116 The argument summed up and enforced, . . .117 The Scripture representation of human corruption, . 120 IXXVlll CONTENTS. Sect. II. — Evil Spirit. — Natural state of Man. Page Existence and agency of the Evil Spirit, though plainly taught in Scripture, generally exploded, . . . 121 Nothing unreasonable in this doctrine, . . . 122 Scripture representations of the Supreme Being calculated to inspire awe, 123 The same awful impressions excited by the divine threaten- ings and punishments recorded in Scripture, and by the moral order of the world, ..... ib. Christianity breaks in, ....... 12G Practical importance and uses of the doctrine of human cor- ruption, ib. Practical advice in relation to this subject, . . .127 Sect. III. — Corruption of Human Nature — Objection. The objection, that our corruption and weakness being na- tural to us, will be excused or allowed for, stated and con- sidered, 129 The objection how best treated* 130 Fallacy of this objection proved by Scripture, . . 131 Danger of admitting the above objection, . . . ib. Humility becomes man, 133 Folly of busying ourselves with what is above our compre- hension, and neglecting what is plain and practical, . 134 CHAPTER III. CHIEF DEFECTS OF THE RELIGIOUS SYSTEM OF THE BULK OF PROFESSED CHRISTIANS, IN WHAT RE- GARDS OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT WITH A DISSERTATION CONCERNING THE USE OF THE PASSIONS IN RELIGION. Sect. I.— Inadequate conceptions concerning our Savi~ our and the Holy Spirit. Leading doctrines concerning Christ and the Holy Spirit, as stated in Scripture, 136 Inadequate conceptions in the above respects charged on the bulk of professed Christians, and enforced, . . . 138 Great ingratitude hereby evinced, .... 142 Inadequate notions concerning the Holy Spirit, . . ib. Language of one who objects against the religious affections towards our Saviour, 143 CONTENTS. Ixxix Page And against the Holy Spirit's operations, . . . 144- Reply to the ahove ; unreasonableness of arguing from the abuse of a thing against its use, .... 145 Religious vulgarity, not to be too much disgusted by it, . 14-7 Sect. II. — On the admission of the Passions into Re- ligion. The opinion, that the affections are misplaced in religion, discussed and refuted, . . . . . . 150 By reason of the thing, . ib. By the nature of man, 151 By the authority of the Scriptures and of Scripture charac- ters, 152 True test and measure of the religious affections, . 155 Religious affections different according to natural temper, 157 The affections not merely allowable in Religion, but highly necessary, proved by analogy, ..... 158 Christ the just object of our warm affections, . . . 162 The objection, that we are not susceptible of affections to- wards an invisible Being, discussed, . . . 163 Close contact between subject and object, necessary to pro- duce affection, . . . . . . . .160 And sufficient to produce affection without sight, . 167 This explains why public misfortunes affect us less than pri- vate or personal, 168 Means of strengthening our affection towards any object, 169 Special groundsfor the affections towards our Saviour, . 1 70 Divine help promised for producing religious affections, 171 Unreasonable conduct of objectors in this instance, . 172 Appeal to facts, in proof of the reality of the religious affec- tions. — The martyrs of our own church, and the apostles, 173 Sect. III. — Inadequate conceptions concerning the Holy Spirit's operations. Scripture doctrine concerning the Holy Spirit's operations, 175 Sect. IV. — Mistaken conceptions entertained by Nominal Christians of the terms of acceptance with God. Inference afforded by the inadequate conceptions already noted, that mistaken conceptions commonly entertained of the means of a sinner's acceptance with God, . 177 Different degrees of error, . . . . . .179 Nature and proofs of this error, ib. Their fundamental misconception of the scheme and essen- tial principle of the Gospel, 181 Practical consequences and confirmation of the above mis- conception, 182 Ixxx CONTENTS. Page Condemnation of those who abuse the doctrine of grace, 184 Believing in Christ, what really implied in it, . . 185 Answer to objection, that we insist on metaphysical nice- ties, 186 The atonement and grace of Christ further pressed, as the subjects of our habitual regard, .... 187 Advantage justly taken by the Socinian of the above defects, 188 Practical application and address, . . . . .191 CHAPTER IV. ON THE PREVAILING INADEQUATE CONCEPTIONS CON- CERNING THE NATURE AND THE STRICTNESS OF PRACTICAL CHRISTIANITY. Sect. I. Inadequate conceptions of the practical strictness required by Christianity, generally prevalent, .... 194- Strong presumption against their notions, . . . 196 Practical strictness of Christianity, as stated in Scripture, 198 Essential practical characteristic of true Christians, . . 200 Excellence of this principle, 201 The principle further opened, and shown to include the love of God, ib. The above principle of general application proved by the general terms of Scripture precepts, .... 202 Because resulting from relations common to all Christians, 205 Proof from the strong practical precepts of Scripture, . 206 From God's requiring the heart, ..... 207 From the glory of God being prescribed to us as our great object, and from the criminality of idolatry, . . 208 Extreme importance of the above considerations, . . 209 Sect. II. Notions of practical Christianity generally prevalent, . 210 They allow to religion only a partial jurisdiction, . .211 Mischievous consequences of the above error, . . 212 The preceding statement confirmed by an appeal to various classes of nominal Christians, particularly of the higher order, 214 To the idle and dissipated, 215 To the votaries of sensual pleasure, .... 217 To the votaries of pomp and parade, . . . . 218 To the votaries of wealth and ambition, . . . .219 To other classes, 220 CONTENTS. IXXXI Page Conclusion from the preceding review, and general fault in principle of all the above classes, that of transferring the heart from God to some other master, . . .221 Effects of the fundamental error above mentioned, on our judgments and practice in the case of others, . . 224 Further effects ; religion degraded into a set of statutes, and quibbled away accordingly, 225 Another effect — Religion placed in external actions, rather than habits of mind, 229 Yet the internal principle all in all, .... ib. As an evil resulting from the last-mentioned error, Christian dispositions are not cultivated, . . . . 230 Instances of the preceding position ; the generality forget that the Christian's life is a life of faith, tuid the true Christian's character in this respect, . . . 231 Another distinction between nominal and real Christians, grounded on their different tastes and relish for religious subjects, 233 Proof drawn from the different manner of their employing the Sunday, and hints on that head, .... 235 Other internal defects; particularly in meekness and hu- mility, 240 Sect. III. — On the desire of human estimation and ap- plause. — The generally prevailing opinions contrasted with those of Hie true Christian. Universality of the desire of human estimation, . . 241 Common eulogium of this passion, both as to its nature and effects, 242 The above vindication questioned, even by the Pagan mo- ralists . . . 245 Essentially defective and vicious nature of this passion, stated and explained in Scripture, .... 246 The world's commendations naturally misplaced, . 248 Yet Christians taught in Scripture to cultivate with modera- tion the good opinion of the world, as an instrument of usefulness, ib. But points out a higher object of our ambition, . . 250 The inordinate love of human estimation generally preva- lent, and the natural result, 251 Proofs from various considerations; from the House of Commons, 253 From duelling, 254 Duelling, wherein its essential guilt consists, . . ib. A peculiarity in respect of this vice, .... 255 Commonly supposed value of the inordinate love of human estimation, questioned and disproved, . . . 256 d3 l.XXxii CONTENTS. Page Reasonings of Christian moralists on this head often bear few traces of Christian morality, .... 258 Conduct of the true Christian, in what regards the love of human estimation, ....... ib. The most effectual method of moderating this love, . . 265 The true Christian guards against it on small, no less than on great occasions ; in religion, no less than elsewhere, 267 Parting counsel to those who wish to bring this passion under due regulation; particularly to cultivate love and humility, 269 Sect. IV. — The generally prevailing error of substituting amiable tempers and useful lives in the place of Reli- gion, stated and confided ; tvith hints to real Christians. Amiable tempers and useful lives, their merit commonly ex- aggerated, 274 Stated to be the sum of religion, in substance, if not in name, ib. The distinction between morality and religion fatal, . 275 The worth of amiable tempers, as estimated by the standard of unassisted reason, commonly overrated, . . . ib. CNIany false pretenders to them, ..... 276 Essentially defective nature of amiable tempers when not grounded in religion, . . . . . . ib. Their precarious and short duration, .... 277 Worth of useful lives, when estimated by the standard of unassisted reason, overrated, ..... 280 The particular good of them more than countervailed by the general evil, 281 Worth of amiable tempers and useful lives, when not grounded in religion, proved to be greatly overrated, if estimated on Christian principles, .... ib. Their nature essentially corrupt, .... 283 The true Christian really the mostamiableanduseful character, 286 Admonitions to true Christians in the above respects, . 287 To the naturally sweet-tempered and active, . . 288 To the naturally rough and austere, .... 289 Amiable tempers and useful lives, their just praise, . 292 Apt to be deceived by them in our own case, . . 294- Danger to true Christians from mixing too much in worldly business, ........ ib. Advice to those who suspect this to be their case, . . 295 Exquisite sensibility, its flimsy texture; School of Rousseau and Sterne, 300 Sterne reprobated for indecency, 301 Sect. V. — Some other grand defects in the practical sys- tem of the bulk of Nominal Christians. Inadequate conceptions generally prevalent of the guilt and evil of sin, ........ 302 contents. lxxxiii Page Proofs from our common language, .... 304 Different standard in the word of God, . . . 305 Inadequate fear of God generally prevalent, . . . 30G Sin, its baneful nature, ...... ib. The future punishments of the wicked represented in Scrip- ture as resulting from established relations, . . 307 State of the world at the time of the Deluge, . . 308 Inadequate sense of the difficulty of getting to heaven, . 309 And of the necessity of acquiring a peculiar character, in order to fit us for it, 310 True Christian's efforts in this great work, . . .312 The Christian's life, represented under the character of a journey through a strange country, .... 313 The bulk of nominal Christians defective in the love of God, 315 Practical excellence of this quality, . . . . 316 The stage tried by this test, ib. Ourreferring the stage to this test justified by political analogy, 319 Bulk of nominal Christians defective in love of their fellow- creatures, ........ 320 True marks of love of our neighbour, .... 322 The stage tried by reference to this test, . . . 325 Sect. VI — Grand defect. — Neglect of the peculiar doc- trines of Christianity. Grand defect in the practical system of nominal Christians — their neglect of the peculiar doctrines of Christianity; and practical evils resulting therefrom, in the case of persons desirous of repentance and reformation, . . . 327 Advice of modern religionists to persons of this description, 330 Advice given to them by the Holy Scriptures, and by the Church of England, . 331 Extreme importance of this point — nature of true holiness, and Christian method of obtaining it, ... 332 Practical use made by the true Christian of the peculiar doctrines of Christianity, 333 The same use of them made in the Scriptures, . . 334 Use of the peculiar doctrines of Christianity, in enforcing its importance, 335 In enforcing an unconditional surrender of ourselves to God, 336 In enforcing the guilt of sin, and the dread of its punish- ment, ib. In promoting the love of God, 337 In promoting the love of our fellow-creatures, . . 339 In promoting humility and meekness, .... 340 In promoting a spirit of moderation in earthly pursuits, and cheerfulness in suffering, 341 In promoting courage, confidence in danger, and heavenly- mindedness, 343 Ixxxiv CONTENTS. Page Grand distinction between nominal and real Christians, the place practically assigned by them to the peculiar doc- trines of Christianity, ...... 346 CHAPTER V. ON THE EXCELLENCE OF CHRISTIANITY IN CERTAIN IMPORTANT PARTICULARS. ARGUMENT WHICH RESULTS THENCE IN PROOF OF ITS DIVINE ORIGIN. Consistency between the leading doctrines, and practical precepts of Christianity, ...... 348 Between the leading doctrines of Christianity among each other, 349 Between the practical precepts of Christianity among each other, . ib, Higher value set by Christianity, on moral, than on intel- lectual attainments, 353 Intrinsic excellence of the practical precepts of Christianity, 356 Strong evidence of the truth of Christianity, afforded by the number and variety of the kinds of evidence by which its divine origin is proved, ...... ib. CHAPTER VI. BRIEF INQUIRY INTO THE PRESENT STATE OF CHRIS- TIANITY IN THIS COUNTRY, WITH SOME OF THE CAUSES WHICH HAVE LED TO ITS CRITICAL CIR- CUMSTANCES ITS IMPORTANCE TO US AS A POLI- TICAL COMMUNITY, AND PRACTICAL HINTS FOR WHICH THE FOREGOING CONSIDERATIONS GIVE OC- CASION. Tendency of religion, and especially of Christianity, to pro- mote the well-being of political communities, . . 359 A general standard or tone of moral practice, in every com- munity, 360 Christianity has raised this general standard or tone, . 361 Effects on religion, of adversity and prosperity respectively, 362 Natural presumption concerning the present state of reli- gion among us, afforded by the preceding consideration, 364 Causes from which the peculiarities of Christianity slide into disuse, 366 Still farther decline to be expected, .... 367 The above presumptive statements justified by facts, . 368 One cause assigned which has principally operated in reduc- ing Christianity among us to a mere system of ethics, 369 CONTENTS. 1XXXV Page Christianity, such as it is stated in the present work, the re- ligion of the pillars of our church, .... 370 Its corruption accelerated by the civil commotions of the last century, . . 37 1 The peculiar doctrines of Christianity, at length almost left out of the system : this position confirmed by an appeal to our best novels, ....... 373 The literati of our days, sceptically disposed, . . 375 Consequences to be expected, 376 The objection, that the author's system so strict, that if it were to prevail the world could not go on, stated and re- futed, ....... . 37'*' Happy effects to us as a political community, from the pre- valence of vital Christianity, 380 The position, that Christianity is hostile to patriotism, op- posed, . 382 Superior nature and extent of true Christian benevolence, 383 Christianity peculiarly adapted to promote the well-being of political communities, from its hostility to selfishness, 381 Political expedients for preventing the mischievous effects of selfishness on civil communities, and superior efficacy of Christianity in this respect, 385 Means by which Christianity produces the above effect, ib. Vital Christianity can alone produce them, . . . 389 In the present circumstances of this country, we must either have vital Christianity, or we shall have none at all, . ib. Appeal to experience, in confirmation of the above position, 392 Political good effects from the revival of vital Christianity among us, and bad ones from its further decline, . 393 A state of great civilization, no security against great moral corruption, 395 Practical hints for the conduct of men in power, suggested by the above statements, 396 No time for half measures. — A decided line of conduct called for, 39 Duty enforced on us of checking open profaneness, and, above all, of giving religious instruction to the rising gen- eration, ib. Evangelical Christianity alone likely to produce any real amendment, 390 The above remark pressed on the bishops, the clergy, and our universities, ib. Apology for having treated of religion so much with a view to its political effects, 401 lxxxvi CONTENTS. CHAPTER VII. PRACTICAL HINTS TO VARIOUS DESCRIPTIONS OF PERSONS. Sect I. Page The common sort of Christianity does not deserve the name, 403 Some consideration preparatory to self-examination ; one of them peculiarly awful, ...... ib. Causes of self-deception suggested, .... 405 One cause of self-deception, the mistaking our merely out- growing or changing our vices, for forsaking all sin ; ap- peal to life, 40G Charge of being uncharitable repelled, and what really charity and uncharitableness, ...... 409 Women naturally more disposed to religion than men ; do- mestic advantages therefrom, . . . . . 41(1 Innocent young people, the term how much abused, . 413 The reformation held sufficient by the world, how much it falls short of true Christian regeneration, . . 414 Practical hints to such as having hitherto been careless and irreligious, wish to become true Christians, . . 41 (i Excellent nature and practical benefits of humility, . 420 Love enforced, . . . . . . . .421 Base and mercenary nature of the religion of the bulk of nominal Christians, and opposite character of true Chris- tianity, 132 The charge repelled, that we render Christianity a gloomy sen-ice, ......... 424 Multiplied sources of pleasure to Christians, . . 426 Superior situation of true Christians over men of the world in point of comfort, especially in our days, . . . 429 Sect. II. — Advice to some who profess their full assent to the fundamental doctrines of the Gospel. A loose way of holding the true doctrines of Christianity, too generally prevalent in our relaxed days, . . 431 Its danger and mischievous effects, .... 433 Watchfulness and diligence enforced ; and the study of the lives of eminent Christians recommended, . . 434 CONTENTS. Ixxxvii Sect. III. — Brief observations addressed to Sceptics and Unitarians. Page Presumption in favour of the truth of Christianity, from the greatest and wisest men having embraced it, . . 4-35 Infidelity gradually growing on young men as they advance in years, ......... 436 The above natural history of scepticism confirmed by ex- perience, and by the written lives of sceptics, . . 438 Infidelity, a disease of the heart rather than of the under- standing, 439 Unitarianism often resorted to, from a wish to escape from the strictness of Christianity, 441 Deists and Unitarians have possessed a great advantage in contending with the orthodox Christian, from being the assailants ; practical hint which this suggests, . . 442 Half unbelievers ; their system peculiarly irrational and criminal, ........ 444 Increasing evidence of the truth of Christianity, . . 445 Unbelievers must stand the issue, .... 446 Sect. IV. — Advice suggested by the state of the times to true Christians. Real Christians peculiarly bound to exert themselves in the present times, ....... 447 Bound in particular to be earnest in prayer for their country, 450 Avowal of the Author, That to the decline of Religion, he chiefly ascribes our National jnisfortunes, and that his best hopes are grounded on the persuasion, that ive have among us many real Christians, ...... 451 Motives which have powerfully prompted the Author to the prosecution of the present work, .... 452 INTRODUCTION. It has been, for several years, the earnest wish of the writer of the following pages, to address his countrymen on the important subject of religion; but the various duties of his public station, and a constitution incapable of much labour, have ob- structed the execution of his purpose. Long has he been looking forward to some vacant season, in which he might devote his whole time and attention to this interesting service, free from the interruption of all other concerns; and he has the rather wished for this opportunity of undistracted reflection, from a desire that what he might send into the world might thus be rendered less undeserving of the public eye. Meanwhile life is wearing away, and he daily be- comes more and more convinced, that he might wait in vain for this season of complete vacancy. He must be content, therefore, to improve such occa- sional intervals of leisure as may occur to him in the course of an active and busy life, and to throw him- self on the reader's indulgence for the pardon of such imperfections, as the opportunity of undiverted attention and maturer reflection might have enabled him to discover and correct. 90 But the plea here suggested is by no means in- tended as an excuse for the opinions which he shall express, if they be found mistaken. Here, if he be in an error, he freely acknowledges it to be a deli- berate error. He would indeed account himself un- pardonable, were he to obtrude upon the public his first crude thoughts on a subject of such vast impor- tance ; and he can truly declare, that what he shall offer is the result of close observation, serious in- quiry, much reading, and long and repeated consi- deration. It is not improbable that he may be accused of deviating from his proper line, and of impertinently interfering in the concerns of a profession to which he does not belong. If it were necessary, however, to defend himself against this charge, he might shel- ter himself under the authority of many most re- spectable examples. But to such an accusation surely it may be sufficient to reply, that it is the duty of every man to promote the happiness of his fellow-creatures to the utmost of his power ; and that he who thinks he sees many around him, whom he esteems and loves, labouring under a fatal error, must have a cold heart, or a most confined notion of benevolence, if he could withhold his endeavours to set them right, from an apprehension of incurring the imputation of offlciousness. But he might also allege, as a full justification, not only that religion is the business of every one, but that its advancement or decline in any country is so intimately connected with the temporal interests of society, as to render it the peculiar concern of a political man ; and that what he may presume to offer 91 on the subject of religion may perhaps be perused with less jealousy and more candour, from the very circumstance of its having been written by a Lay- man, which must at least exclude the idea, (an idea sometimes illiberally suggested to take off the effect of the works of Ecclesiastics,) that it is prompted by motives of self-interest, or of professional prejudice. But if the writer's apology should not be found in the work itself, and in his avowed motive for under- taking it, in vain would he endeavour to satisfy his readers by any excuses: he will therefore proceed, without farther preamble, to lay before them a gen- eral statement of his design. The main object which he has in view is, not to convince the sceptic, or to answer the arguments of persons who avowedly oppose the fundamental doc- trines of our religion ; but to point out the scanty and erroneous system of the bulk of those who be- long to the class of orthodox Christians, and to con- trast their defective scheme with a representation of what the author apprehends to be real Christianity. Often has it filled him with deep concern, to observe, in this description of persons, scarcely any distinct knowledge of the real nature and principles of the religion which they profess. The subject is of in- finite importance; let it not be driven out of our minds by the bustle or dissipation of life. This present scene, with all its cares and all its gaieties, will soon be rolled away, and " we must stand be- fore the judgment-seat of Christ." This awful con- sideration will prompt the writer to express himself with greater freedom than he should otherwise be disposed to use. And he trusts that this considera- 92 tion, while it justifies its frankness, will secure to him a serious and patient perusal. But it would be trespassing on the indulgence of the reader to detain him with introductory remarks. Let it only be further premised, that if what shall be stated should to any appear needlessly austere and rigid, the writer must lay in his claim, not to be condemned, without a fair inquiry whether his statements do or do not accord with the language of the sacred writings. To that test he refers with confidence. And it must be conceded, by those who admit the authority of Scripture, that from the decision of the word of God there can be no appeal. 4U £) A PRACTICAL VIEW, Sgc. CHAPTER I. INADEQUATE CONCEPTIONS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF CHRISTIANITY. Popular Notions. — Scripture Account. — Ignorance in this case criminal. — Two false Maxims ex- posed. Before we proceed to the consideration of any par- ticular defects in the religious system of the bulk of professed Christians, it may be proper to point out the very inadequate conception which they entertain of the importance of Christianity in general, of its peculiar nature, and superior excellence. If we listen to their conversation, virtue is praised, and vice is censured ; piety is, perhaps, applauded, and pro- faneness condemned. So far all is well : but let any one, who would not be deceived by these " barren generalities/' examine a little more closely, and he will find, that not to Christianity in particular, but at best to Religion in general, perhaps to mere Morality, their homage is intended to be paid. With 94 Christianity, as distinct from these, they are little acquainted; their views of it have been so cursory and superficial, that, far from discerning its peculiar characteristics, they have little more than perceived those exterior circumstances which distinguish it from other forms of Religion. There are some few facts, and perhaps some leading doctrines and prin- ciples, of which they cannot be wholly ignorant ; but of the consequences, and relations, and practical uses of these, they have few ideas, or none at all. Does this language seem too strong in speaking of professed Christians? View then their plan of life and their ordinary conduct; and let us ask, wherein can we discern the points of discrimination between them and acknowledged unbelievers ? In an age wherein it is confessed and lamented that in- fidelity abounds, do we observe in them any remark- able care to instruct their children in the principles of the faith which they profess, and to furnish them with arguments for the defence of it? They would blush, on their child's coming out into the world, to think him defective in any branch of that knowledge, or of those accomplishments, which belong to his station in life; and accordingly these are cultivated with becoming assiduity. But he is left to collect his religion as he may : the study of Christianity has formed no part of his education ; and his attachment to it, where any attachment to it exists at all, is, too often, not the preference of sober reason and con- viction, but merely the result of early and groundless prepossession. He was born in a Christian country ; of course he is a Christian : his father was a member of the church of England ; so is he. When such is 95 the religion handed down among us by hereditary succession, it cannot surprise us to observe young men of sense and spirit beginning to doubt altogether of the truth of the system in which they have been brought up, and ready to abandon a station which they are unable to defend. Knowing Christianity chiefly in the difficulties which it contains, and in the impossibilities which are falsely imputed to it, they fall, perhaps, into the company of infidels : where they are shaken by frivolous objections and profane cavils, which, had their religious persuasion been grounded in reason and argument, would have passed by them " as the idle wind." Let us beware before it be too late. No one can say into what discredit Christianity may hereby grow, at a time when the unrestrained intercourse, sub- sisting among the several ranks and classes of society, so much favours the general diffusion of the senti- ments of the higher orders. To a similar ignorance may perhaps be ascribed, in no small degree, the success with which, in a neighbouring country, Christianity has of late years been attacked. Had she not been wholly unarmed for the contest, how- ever she might have been forced from her untenable posts, and compelled to disembarrass herself from her load of encumbrances, she never could have been driven altogether out of the field by her puny assail- ants, with all their cavils, and gibes, and sarcasms ; for in these consisted the main strength of their petty artillery. Let us beware, lest we also suffer from a like cause ; nor let it be our crime and our reproach, that in schools, perhaps even in colleges, Christianity is almost, if not altogether neglected. 96 It cannot be expected, that they who pay so little regard to this great object in the education of their children, should be more attentive to it in other parts of their conduct, where less strongly stimulated by affection, and less obviously loaded with responsi- bility. They are of course, therefore, little regard- ful of the state of Christianity in their own country ; and still more indifferent about communicating the light of divine truth to the nations which " still sit in darkness." But religion, it may be replied, is not noisy and ostentatious : it is modest and private in its nature ; it resides in a man's own bosom, and shuns the ob- servation of the multitude. Be it so. From the transient and distant view, then, which we have been taking of these unassuming Christians, let us approach a little nearer, and listen to the un- reserved conversation of their confidential hours. Here, if any where, the interior of the heart is laid open, and we may ascertain the true principles of their regards and aversions ; the scale by which they measure the good and evil of life. Here, however, you will discover few or no traces of Christianity. She scarcely finds herself a place amidst the many objects of their hopes, and fears, and joys, and sor- rows. Grateful perhaps, as well indeed they may b.e grateful, for health, and talents, and affluence, and other temporal possessions, they scarcely reckon in the number of their blessings this grand dis- tinguishing mark of the bounty of Providence. Or, if thev mention it at all, it is noticed coldly and for- mally, like one of those obsolete claims, to which, though but of small account in the estimate of our 97 wealth or power, we think it as well to put in our title from considerations of family decorum or of national usage. But what more than all the rest establishes the point in question : let their conversation take a graver turn. Here at length their religion, modest and re- tired as we are now presuming it to be, must be ex- pected to disclose itself. Here however you will look in vain for the religion of Jesus. Their standard of right and wrong is not the standard of the gos- pel : they approve and condemn by a different rule : they advance principles and maintain opinions alto- gether opposite to the genius and character of Chris- tianity. You would fancy yourself rather among the followers of the old schools of philosophy : nor is it easy to guess how any one could satisfy himself to the contrary, unless, by mentioning the name of some acknowledged heretic, he should afford them an occasion of demonstrating their zeal for the reli- gion of their country. The truth is, their opinions on the subject of re- ligion are not formed from the perusal of the word of God. The Bible lies on the shelf unopened : and they would be wholly ignorant of its contents, except for what they hear occasionally at church, or for the faint traces which their memories may still retain of the lessons of their earliest infancy. How different, nay, in many respects, how con- tradictory, would be the two systems of mere morals, of which the one should be formed from the com- monly received maxims of the Christian world, and the other from the study of the Holy Scriptures ! It would be curious to remark in any one, who had E 29 98 hitherto satisfied himself with the former, the aston- ishment which would be excited on his first intro- duction to the latter. We are not left here to bare conjecture. This was, in fact, the effect produced on the mind of a late ingenious writer,* of whose little work, though it bear some marks of his cus- tomary love of paradox, we must at least confess, that it exposes, in a strong point of view, the poverty of that superficial religion which prevails in our dav ; and that it throughout displays that happy perspicuity and grace, which so eminently characterize the com- positions of its author. But after this willing tri- bute of commendation, we are reluctantly compelled to remark, that the work in question discredits the cause which it was meant to serve, by many crude and extravagant positions; a defect from which no one can be secure who forms a hasty judgment of a deep and comprehensive subject, the several relations of which have been imperfectly surveyed ; and above all, it must be lamented, that it treats the great question which it professes to discuss, rather as a matter of mere speculation, than as one wherein our everlasting interests are involved. Surely the writer's object should have been, to convince his readers of their guilt still more than of their ignorance, and to leave them impressed rather with a sense of their danger than of their folly. It were needless to multiply arguments in order to prove how criminal the voluntary ignorance, of which we have been speaking, must appear in the sight of God. It must be confessed by all, who * It is almost superfluous to name Mr. Soame Jenyns. 99 believe that we are accountable creatures, and to such only the writer is addressing himself, that* we shall have to answer hereafter to the Almighty for all the means we have here enjoyed of improving ourselves, or of promoting the happiness of others. If, when summoned to give an account of our stewardship, we shall be called upon to answer for the use which we have made of our bodily organs, and of our means of relieving the wants of our fellow-creatures ; how much more for the exercise of the nobler faculties of our nature, of invention, memory, and judgment, and for our employment of every instrument and oppor- tunity of diligent application, and serious reflection, and honest decision ? And to what subject might we in all reason be expected to apply more earnestly, than to that wherein our own eternal interests are at issue? When God of his goodness hath vouch- safed to grant us such abundant means of instruction, in that which we are most concerned to know, how great must be the guilt, and how awful the punish- ment, of voluntary ignorance ! And why are we in this pursuit alone to expect knowledge without inquiry, and success without en- deavour? The whole analogy of nature inculcates a different lesson ; and our own judgments, in matters of temporal interest and worldly policy, confirm the truth of her suggestions. Bountiful as is the hand of Providence, its gifts are not so bestowed as to seduce us into indolence, but to rouse us to exertion ; and no one expects to attain to the height of learn- ing, or arts, or power, or wealth, or military glory, without vigorous resolution, and strenuous diligence, and steady perseverance. Yet we expect to be E 2 100 Christians without labour, study, or inquiry ! This is the more preposterous, because Christianity, being a revelation from God, and not the invention of man, discovering to us new relations, with their corre- spondent duties; containing also doctrines, motives, and precepts, peculiar to itself; we cannot reasonably expect to become proficients in it by the accidental intercourses of life, as one might learn insensibly the maxims of worldly policy, or a scheme of mere morals. The diligent perusal of the Holy Scriptures would discover to us our past ignorance. We should cease to be deceived by superficial appearances, and to con- found the gospel of Christ with the systems of phi- losophers; we should become impressed with the weighty truth, so much forgotten in the present day, that Christianity calls on us, as we value our im- mortal souls, not merely in general, to be religious and moral, but specially to believe the doctrines, imbibe the principles, and practise the precepts of Christ. It might be to run into too great length to confirm this position beyond dispute by express quotations from the word of God. And, not to an- ticipate what belongs more properly to a subsequent part of the work, it may be sufficient here to remark in general, that Christianity is always represented in Scripture as the grand, the unparalleled instance of God's bounty to mankind. This unspeakable gift was graciously held forth in the original promise to our first parents ; it was predicted by a long-con- tinued series of prophets; the subject of their prayers, inquiries, and longing expectations. In a world which opposed and persecuted them, it was their 101 source of peace, and hope, and consolation. At length it approached — the desire of all nations, — the long-expected star announced its presence — a multitude of the heavenly host hailed its introduction, and proclaimed its character : " Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good-will towards men." The gospel is every where represented in Scripture by such figures as are most strongly calculated to impress on our minds a sense of its value ; it is spoken of as light from darkness, as release from prison, as deliverance from captivity, as life from death. " Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation !" was the ex- clamation with which it was welcomed by the pious Simeon ; and it was universally received among the early converts with thankfulness and joy. At one time, the communication of it is promised as a reward ; at another, the loss of it is threatened as a punish- ment. And, short as is the form of prayer taught us by our blessed Saviour, the more general exten- sion of the kingdom of Christ constitutes one of its leading petitions. With what exalted conceptions of the importance of Christianity ought we to be filled by such descrip- tions as these ! Yet, in vain have we " line upon line, and precept upon precept." — Thus predicted, thus prayed and longed for, thus announced, charac- terized, and rejoiced in, this heavenly treasure, though poured into our lap in rich abundance, we scarcely accept. We turn from it coldly, or at best possess it negligently as a thing of no estimation. But a due sense of its value would assuredly be impressed upon us by the diligent study of the word of God, 102 that blessed repository of heavenly truth and conso- lation. Thence it is that we are to learn what we ought to believe and what to practise. And, surely, one would think that much importunity would not be requisite, to induce men to a perusal of the sacred volume. Reason dictates, Revelation commands — " Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God," — " Search the Scriptures," — " Be ready to give to every one a reason of the hope that is in you." Such are the declarations and injunctions of the inspired writers ; injunctions confirmed by com- mendations of those who obey the admonition. Yet is it not undeniable, that with the Bible in our houses, we are ignorant of its contents ; and that hence, in a great measure, it arises, that the bulk of the Chris- tian world know so little, and mistake so greatly, in what regards the religion which they profess ? This is not the place for inquiring at large, whence it is that those who assent to the position, that the Bible is the word of God, and who profess to rest their hopes on the Christian basis, contentedly ac- quiesce in a state of such lamentable ignorance. But it may not be improper here to touch on two kindred opinions ; from which, in the minds of the more thoughtful and serious, this acquiescence appears to derive much secret support. The one is, that it signifies little what a man believes ; look to his prac- tice. The other (of the same family) that sincerity is all in all. Let a man's opinions and conduct be what they may, yet, provided he be sincerely con- vinced that they are right, however the exigencies of civil society may require him to be dealt with among men, in the sight of God he cannot be criminal. 103 It would detain us too long fully to set forth the various evils inherent in these favourite positions, of which it is surely not the* least, that they are of unbounded application, comprehending within their capacious limits, most of the errors which have been received, and many of the most desperate crimes which have been perpetrated among men. Of the former of these maxims we may remark, that it pro- ceeds on the monstrous supposition already noticed, that although accountable creatures, we shall not be called to account for the exercise of our intellectual and mental powers. Moreover, it is founded on that grossly fallacious assumption, that a man's opinions will not influence his practice. The advo- cates of this fashionable principle require to be re- minded, that the judgment often receives a corrupt bias from the heart and the affections; that vice is the fruitful mother of prejudice and error. Forget- ful of these acknowledged truths, and confounding the most important moral distinctions, they place on the same level those who, carefully weeding from their hearts every false principle, occupy themselves in a sincere and warm pursuit of truth, and those who yield themselves implicitly to the opinions, what- ever they may be, which early prepossession may have infused, or which passion or interest, or even acquiescing indolence, may have imposed upon their minds. The latter of the foregoing maxims, that sincerity is all in all, proceeds on this groundless supposition, that the Supreme Being has not afforded us suffi- cient means of discriminating truth from falsehood, right from wrong; and it implies, that be a man's 104 opinions or conduct ever so wild and extravagant, we are to presume, that they are as much the result of impartial inquiry and honest conviction, as if his sentiments and actions had been strictly conformable to the rules of reason and sobriety. Never indeed was there a principle more general in its use, more sovereign in its potency. How does its beautiful sim- plicity also, and compendious brevity, give it rank be- fore the laborious subtleties of Bellarmin ! Clement, and Ravaillac, and other worthies of a similar stamp, from whose purity of intention the world has hitherto withheld its due tribute of applause, would here have found a ready plea: and their injured innocence should now at length receive its full though tardy vindication. i; These, however," it may be replied, •• are excepted cases." Certainly they are cases of which any one, who maintains the opinion in ques- tion, would be glad to disencumber himself, because they clearly expose the unsoundness of his principle. But it will be incumbent on such a one first to ex- plain with precision why they are to be exempted from its operation ; and this he will find an impossible task : for sincerity^ in its popular sense, cannot be made the criterion of guilt and innocence on any ground, which will not equally serve to justify the assassins who have been instanced. The conclusion cannot be eluded : no man was ever more fully per- suaded of the innocence of any action, than those men were convinced, that the horrid deed they were about to perpetrate was, not merely lawful, but highly meritorious. Thus Clement and Ravaillac beino- o unquestionably sincere, they were therefore indubi- tably innocent. Nay, the absurd and pernicious 105 tendency of this principle might be shown to be even greater than what has yet been stated. It would scarcely be going too far to assert, that whilst it scorns the defence of petty villains, who still retain the sense of good and evil, it holds forth, like some well-frequented sanctuary, a secure asylum to more finished criminals, who, from long habits of wicked- ness, are lost to the perception no less than to the practice of virtue ; and that it selects a scared con- science, and a callous heart, and a mind insensible to all moral distinctions, as the special objects of its vindication. Nor is it only in profane history that instances are to be found like those which we have mentioned, of persons committing the greatest crimes with a sincere conviction of the rectitude of their con- duct. Scripture will afford us parallels ; and it was surely to guard us against the very error which we have been now exposing, that our blessed Saviour forewarned his disciples : " The time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service." A principle like this must then be abandoned, and the advocates for sincerity must be compelled to restore this absurd term to its genuine signification ; and to acknowledge, that it must imply honesty of mind, a faithful use of the means of knowledge and improvement, a desire of being instructed, humble inquiry, impartial consideration, and unprejudiced judgment. It is to these we would earnestly call v u; and to such dispositions of mind, ever to be accompanied with fervent prayer for the divine bless- ing, Scripture every where holds forth the most e 3 106 animating promises. " Ask, and ye shall receive j seek, and ye .shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Ih>' every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters." Such are the comfortable assuram such the gracious encouragements held out to the truly sincere inquirer. How deep will be our guilt if we slight all these benevolent offers! " How many prophets and kings have desired to hoar the things that we hear, and have not hoard them !" Great indeed are our opportunities, great also is our >nsibiiity. Let us awake to a true sense of our tion. Every consideration Is presented to us that can alarm our fears, or animate our industry. in may the brightness of our meridian sun be darkened! Or, should the lone-suffering of God still continue to us the mercies which we so much abuse, this W Q] only aggravate our crime, and in the end enhance our punishment. The time of reckon- ing will at length arrive. And when finally sum- moned to the bar of God, to give an account of our stewardship, what plea can we have to urge in our defence, if we remain willingly and obstinately igno- rant of the way which h ids to life, with such tran- ndent moans of knowing it, and such urgent mo- tives to its pursuit ? 107 CHAPTER II. CORRUPTION ol' III .MAN NATxrRE. Sect. I. Inadequate conceptions of the Corruption of Human Nature, A i iii: considering the defective notions of the importance of Christianity in general, which pre- vail among the higher orders of professed Christians, the particular misconceptions which first conic under our notice, respect the corruption and weakness of human nature. This is a topic on which it is pos- sible that many into whose hands the present work shall fall, may not have bestowed much attention. If the case be so, it may he requisite to entreat them to lend a patient and a serious ear. The Bubject is of the deepest import. Nor are we afraid of going too far when we assert, that it lies at the very root of all true religion, and is eminently the basis and ground-work of Christianity. 80 far as the writer has had an opportunity of remarking, the generality of professed Christians among the higher classes, either altogether overlook or deny, or at least greatly extenuate, the corruption and weakness here in question. They acknowledge indeed that there is, and ever has been in the world, a great portion of vice and wickedness; that man- kind have been ever prone to sensuality and selfish- ness, in disobedience to the more refined and liberal 108 principles of their nature ; that in all ages and coun- tries, in public and in private life, innumerable in- stances have been afforded of oppression, of rapacity, of cruelty, of fraud, of envy, and of malice. They own that it is too often in vain that you inform the understanding, and convince the judgment. They admit that you do not thereby reform the hearts of men. Though they know their duty, they will not practise it : no, not even when you have forced them to acknowledge that the path of virtue is also that of real interest, and of solid enjoyment. These facts are certain ; they cannot be disputed ; and they are at the same time so obvious, that one would have thought the celebrated apophthegm of the Grecian sage, " The majority are wicked," would scarcely have established his claim to intellectual superiority. But though these effects of human depravity are every where acknowledged and lamented, we must not expect to find them traced to their true origin. Causa latet, vis est notissima. Prepare yourself to hear rather of frailty and infir- mity, of petty transgressions, of occasional failings, of sudden surprisals, and of such other qualifying terms as may serve to keep out of view the true source of the evil, and, without shocking the under- standing, may administer consolation to the pride of human nature. The bulk of professed Christians are used to speak of man as of a being, who, naturally pure, and inclined to all virtue, is sometimes, almost involuntarily, drawn out of the right course, or is overpowered by the violence of temptation. Vice 109 with them is rather an accidental and temporary, than a constitutional and habitual distemper ; a noxious plant, which, though found to live and even to thrive in the human mind, is not the natural growth and production of the soil. Far different is the humiliating language of Chris- tianity. From it we learn that man is an apostate creature, fallen from his high original, -degraded in his nature, and depraved in his faculties : indisposed to good, and disposed to evil ; prone to vice — it is natural and easy to him ; disinclined to virtue — it is difficult and .laborious; he is tainted with sin, not slightly and superficially, but radically and to the very core. That such is the Scripture account of man, however mortifying the acknowledgment of it may be to our pride, one would think, if this very corruption itself did not warp the judgment, none would be hardy enough to attempt to controvert. I know nothing which brings home so forcibly to my own feelings the truth of this representation, as the consideration of what still remains to us of our primitive dignity, when contrasted with our present state of moral degrada- tion — " Into what depth thou seest, From what height fallen." Examine first with attention the natural powers and faculties of man — invention, reason, judgment, memory ; a mind of " large discourse," " looking before and after," reviewing the past, thence deter- mining for the present, and anticipating the future ; discerning, collecting, combining, comparing; capable, not merely of apprehending, but of admiring, the 110 beauty of moral excellence : with fear and hope to warm and animate; with joy and sorrow to solace and soften ; with love to attach, with sympathy to harmonize, with courage to attempt, with patience to endure, and with the power of conscience, that faith- ful monitor within the breast, to enforce the conclu- sions of reason, and direct and regulate the passions of the soul. Truly we must pronounce him "majestic, though in ruin." " Happy, happy world !" would be the exclamation of the inhabitant of some other planet, on being told of a globe like ours, peopled with such creatures as these, and abounding with situations and occasions to call forth the multiplied excellencies of their nature — " Happy, happy world ! with what delight must your great Creator and Governor witness your conduct, and what a glorious recompense awaits you when your term of probation shall have expired !" " I bone, quo virtus tua te vocat: i pede fausto, Grandia laturus meritorum prsemia." But we have indulged too long in these delight- ful speculations. A sad reverse presents itself on our survey of the actual state of man : when, from viewing his natural powers, we follow him into prac- tice, and see the uses to which he applies them. Take in the whole of the prospect — view him in every age, and climate, and nation, in every condition and period of society. Where now do you discover the characters of his exalted nature ? " How is the gold become dim, and the fine gold changed !" How is his reason clouded, his affections perverted, his conscience stupified ! How do anger, and env\ r , and Ill hatred, and revenge, spring up in his wretched bosom ! How is he a slave to the meanest of his appetites ! What fatal propensities does he discover to evil ! What inaptitude to good ! Dwell awhile on the state of the ancient world ; not merely on that benighted part of it where all lay buried in brutish ignorance and barbarism, but on the seats of civilized and polished nations, on the empire of taste, and learning, and philosophy: yet in these chosen regions, with whatever lustre the sun of sci- ence poured forth its rays, the moral darkness was so thick " that it might be felt." Behold their sottish idolatries, their absurd superstitions, their want of natural affection, their brutal excesses, their unfeeling oppression, their savage cruelty ! Look not to the illiterate and the vulgar, but to the learned and refined. Form not your ideas from the conduct of the less restrained and more licentious; you will turn away with disgust and shame from the allo.wed and familiar habits of the decent and the moral. St. Paul best states the facts, and furnishes the explanation : " Because they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, he gave them over to a reprobate mind."* * Exempla duo, quae pravitatis humanae vim animo meo lueu- lentur exlnbent, non proferre non possum. Alteram, decens ille Virgilius, alteram Cicero, probus idem verique studiosus, suppe- ditat. Virgilius, innocuam certe pastorum vitam depicturas, ita incipit, " Formosum pastor Corydon ardebat Alexim." Cicero in libro de Olticiis primo, ubi de actionibus prout inter se apte et convenientes shit, loci temporis, et agentis rati one habita, disserit, argumentum sic illustrat: " Turpe est enim, val deque vitiosum, in re severa, cohvivio dignum, aut delicatUm, aliquem inferre sermonem. Bene Pericles, quum haberet colle- 1V2 Now direct your view to another quarter, to the inhabitants of a new hemisphere, where the baneful practices and contagious example of the old world had never travelled. Surely, among these children of nature we may expect to find those virtuous ten- dencies, for which we have hitherto looked in vain ! Alas ! our search will still be fruitless ! They are represented by the historian of America, whose ac- count is more favourable than those of some other great authorities, as being a compound of pride, in- dolence, selfishness, cunning, and cruelty ;* full of a revenge which nothing could satiate, of a ferocity which nothing could soften; strangers to the most amiable sensibilities of nature.f They appeared in- capable of conjugal affection, or parental fondness, or filial reverence, or social attachments; uniting too with their state of barbarism, many of the vices and weaknesses of polished society. Their horrid treat- ment of captives taken in war, on whose bodies they feasted, after putting them to death by the most cruel tortures, is so well known, that we may spare the disgusting recital. No commendable qualities relieve gam in praetura Sophoclem poetarn, hique de communi officio convenissent, et casu formosus puer praeteriret, dixissetque So- phocles, O puerum pulchrum Pericle ! At enim, inquit Pericles, praetorem Sophoclem decet non solum manus, sed etiam oculos abstinentes habere. Atqui hoc idem Sophocles, si in athletarum probatione dixisset, justa reprehensione caruisset, tarda vis est, et loci et lemporis." Quomodo sese res habuisse necesse est, cum vir antiquorum prestantissimis adscribendus, philosophiam, immo mores et officia tractans, talia doceret ! Qualem sibi ipse virtutis norman pro- posuerat, satis liquet. Vide inter alia, justa reprehensione, &c. et tanta vis est, &c. &c. * Robertson, Vol. ii. p. 130. f Ibid. Book iv. Sect. 2. Head, Condition of Women, Vol. ii. 8vo. 90, 91. 113 this gloomy picture, except fortitude, and perseve- rance, and zeal for the welfare of their little com- munity : if this last quality, exercised and directed as it was, can be thought deserving of commendation. But yon give up the heathen nations as indefen- sible, and wish rather to form your estimate of man from a view of countries which have been blessed with the light of Revelation. — True it is, and with joy let us record the concession, Christianity has set the general tone of morals much higher than it was ever found in the Pagan world. She has every where improved the character of man, and multiplied the comforts of society, particularly to the poor and the weak, whom from the beginning she professed to take under her special patronage. Like her divine Author, " who sends his rain on the evil and on the good," she showers down unnumbered blessings on thousands who profit from her bounty, while they forget or deny her power, and set at nought her au- thority. Yet even in this more favoured situation, we shall discover too many lamentable proofs of the depravity of man. Nay, this depravity will now become even more apparent and less excusable. For what bars does it not now overleap? Over what motives is it not now victorious ? Consider well the superior light and advantages which we enjoy, and then appreciate the superior obligations which are imposed on us. Consider in how many cases our evil propensities are now kept from breaking forth, by the superior restraints under which vice is laid among us by positive laws, and by the amended standard of public opinion ; and we may be assisted in conjecturing what force is to be assigned to these 114 motives, by the dreadful proofs which have been lately exhibited in a neighbouring country, that when their influence is withdrawn, the most atrocious crimes can be perpetrated shamelessly, and in the face of day. Consider then the superior excellence of our moral code, the new principles of obedience furnished by the gospel, and, above all, the awful sanction which the doctrines and precepts of Christianity derive from the clear discovery of a future state of retribution, and from the annunciation of that tre- mendous day, " when we shall stand before the judgment-seat of Christ." Yet, in spite of all our knowledge, thus enforced and pressed home by so solemn a notice, how little has been our progress in virtue ! It has been by no means such as to prevent the adoption, in our days, of various maxims of anti- quity, which, when well considered, too clearly esta- blish the depravity of man. It may not be amiss to adduce a few instances in proof of this assertion. It is now no less acknowledged than heretofore, that prosperity hardens the heart; that unlimited power is ever abused, instead of being rendered the instru- ment of diffusing happiness; that habits of vice grow up of themselves, whilst those of virtue are of slow and difficult formation ; that they who draw the finest pictures of virtue, and seem most enamoured of her charms, are often the least under her influence, and by the merest trifles are drawn aside from that line of conduct which they most seriously recommend to others : that all this takes place, though most of the pleasures of vice are to be found with less alloy in the paths of virtue ; whilst, at the same time, these paths afford superior and more exquisite delights, 115 peculiar to themselves, and are free from the diseases and bitter remorse, at the price of which vicious gra- tifications are so often purchased. It may suffice to touch very slightly on some other arguments, which it would hardly be right to leave altogether unnoticed. One of these, the justice of which, however denied by superficial moralists, pa- rents of strict principles can abundantly testify, may be drawn from the perverse and froward dispositions perceivable in children, the correction of which too often baffles the most strenuous efforts of the wise and good. Another may be drawn from the various deceits we are apt to practise on ourselves, to which no one can be a stranger who has ever contemplated the operations of his own mind with serious atten- tion. To the influence of this species of corruption it has been in a great degree owing, that Christianity itself has been too often disgraced. The gospel of peace has been turned into an engine of cruelty, and, amidst the bitterness of persecution, every trace has disappeared of the mild and beneficent spirit of the religion of Jesus. In what degree must the taint have wrought itself into the frame, and corrupted the habit, when the most wholesome nutriment can be thus converted into the deadliest poison ! Wish- ing always to argue from such premises as are not only really sound, but from such as cannot even be questioned by those to whom this work is addressed, little was said in representing the deplorable state of the heathen world, respecting their defective and unworthy conceptions in what regards the Supreme Being, who even then " left not himself without witness, but gave them rain and fruitful seasons 5 116 filling their hearts with food and gladness." But surely to any who call themselves Christians, it may be justly urged, as an astonishing instance of human depravity, that we ourselves, who enjoy the full light of Revelation ; to whom God has vouchsafed such clear discoveries of what we are concerned to know of his being and attributes ; who profess to believe that " in him we live, and move, and have our be- ing;" that to him we owe all the comforts we here enjoy, and the offer of eternal glory, purchased for us by the atoning blood of his own Son, — " thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift," — that we, thus loaded with mercies, should be continually chargeable with forgetting his authority, and being ungrateful for his benefits: with slighting his gracious proposals, or, at best, receiving them with cold and unaffected hearts. But to put the question concerning the natural depravity of man to the severest test; take the best of the human species, the watchful, self-denying Christian, and let him decide the controversy ; not by inferences drawn from the practices of a thought- less and dissolute world, but by an appeal to his per- sonal experience. Go with him into his closet ; ask him his opinion of the corruption of the heart ; and he will tell you that he is deeply sensible of its power, for that he has learned it from much self- observation and long acquaintance with the workings of his own mind. He will tell you, that every day strengthens this conviction; yea, that hourly he sees fresh reason to deplore his want of simplicity in in- tention, his infirmity of purpose, his low views, his selfish unworthy desires, his backwardness to set 117 about his duty, his languor and coldness in per- forming it : that he finds himself obliged continually to confess, that he feels within him two opposite principles, and that " he cannot do the things that he would." He cries out in the language of the excellent Hooker: — " The little fruit which we have in holiness, it is, God knoweth, corrupt and unsound : we put no confidence at all in it, we chal- lenge nothing in the world for it, we dare not call God to reckoning, as if we had him in our debt- books ; our continual suit to him is, and must be, to bear with our infirmities, and pardon our offences." Such is the moral history, such the condition of man. The figures of the piece may vary, and the colouring may sometimes be of a darker, sometimes of a lighter hue ; but the principles of the composi- tion, the grand outlines are every where the same. Wherever we direct our view, we discover the me- lancholy proofs of our depravity ; whether we look to ancient or modern times, to barbarous or civilized nations, to the conduct of the world around us, or to the monitor within the breast ; whether we read, or hear, or act, or think, or feel, the same humiliat- ing lesson is forced upon us, Jupiter est quodcunque vides, quocunque moveris. Now, when we look back to the picture which was formerly drawn of the natural powers of man, and compare this his actual state with that for which, from a consideration of those powers, he seems to have been originally designed, how are we to account for the astonishing contrast ? Will frailty or infirmity, or occasional lapses, or sudden surprisals, or any 118 such qualifying terms, convey an adequate idea of the nature of the distemper, or point out its cause ? How, on any principles of common reasoning, can we account for it, but by conceiving that man, since he came out of the hands of his Creator, has contracted a taint, and that the venom of this subtle poison has been communicated throughout the race of Adam, every where exhibiting incontestable marks of its fatal malignity ? Hence it has arisen, that the appetites deriving new strength, and the powers of reason and conscience being weakened, the latter have feebly and impotently pleaded against those forbidden in- dulgences which the former have solicited. Sensual gratifications and illicit affections have debased our nobler powers, and indisposed our hearts to the discovery of God, and to the consideration of his perfections ; to a constant willing submission to his authority, and obedience to his laws. By a repeti- tion of vicious acts, evil habits have been formed within us, and have rivetted the fetters of sin. Left to the consequences of our own folly, the under- standing has grown darker, and the heart more obdurate ; reason has at length betrayed her trust, and even conscience herself has aided the delusion, till, instead of deploring our miserable condition, we have too often hugged our chains, and even gloried in our ignominious bondage. Such is the general account of the progress of vice, where it is suffered to attain to its full growth in the human heart. The circumstances of indivi- duals indeed will be found to differ : to continue a figure so exactly descriptive of the case, the servi- tude of some is more rigorous than that of others, 119 their bonds more galling, their degradation more complete. Some, too, have for a while appeared almost to have escaped from their confinement; but none are altogether free : all, without exception, in a greater or less degree, bear about them more visibly or more concealed, the disgraceful marks of their captivity. Such, on a full and fair investigation, must be confessed to be the state of facts ; and how can this be accounted for on any other supposition, than that of some original taint, some radical principle of cor- ruption ? All other solutions are unsatisfactory, whilst the potent cause which has been assigned, does abundantly, and can alone sufficiently, account for the effect. It appears then, that the corruption of human nature is proved by the same mode of reasoning, as that which hath been deemed conclu- sive in establishing the existence of the principle of gravitation, and in ascertaining its laws; that the doctrine rests on that solid basis on which Newton hath raised the superstructure of his sublime philo- sophy ; that it is not a mere speculation ; an uncer- tain, though perhaps an ingenious theory; but the sure result of large and actual experiment, deduced from incontestable facts, and still more fully approv- ing its truth by harmonizing with the several parts, and accounting for the various phenomena, jarring otherwise, and inexplicable, of the great system of the universe. Here, however, Revelation interposes, and sus- tains the fallible conjectures of our unassisted reason. The Holy Scriptures speak of us as fallen creatures; in almost every page we shall find something that is calculated to abate the loftiness, and silence the pre- tension! Q. " The imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth." " What is man. that he should be clean ? and he which is bora of a woman, that he should be as?" " How much more abominable and filthy is man, who drink eth iniquity " The Lord looked down from heaven the children of men. to see if there were anv that did understand, and seek God. T. aside : they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one." " Who can say, 1 have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin :" " The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperateh can know i: .-" "Be- hold, 1 was shapen in wickedness, and in sin hath my mother conceived me," " We were bv nature the children of wrath, e s ::he:s. fulfilling the - of the flesh and of the mind." •* wit man that I am, who shall deliver me from the bodv of this death !" — Passages might be multiplied upon - igeSj which speak the same language, and these again might be illustrated and confirmed bv various other considerations, drawn from the same - source : such as those which represent a thorough change, a renovation of our nature, as being neces- sary to our becoming true Christians : or which are suggested by observing that holv men refer their good dispositions and affections to the immediate agency of the Supreme Being. 121 Sect. II. Evil Spirit. — Natural state of Man. But the word of God instructs us that we have to contend not only with our own natural depravity, but with the power of darkness, the Evil Spirit, who rules in the hearts of the wicked, and whose domin- ion we learn from Scripture to be so general, as to entitle him to the denomination of u the Prince of this world." There cannot be a stronger proof of the difference which exists between the religious system of the Scriptures, and that of the bulk of nominal Christians, than the proof which is afforded by the subject now in question. The existence and agency of the Evil Spirit, though so distinctly and repeatedly affirmed in Scripture, are almost univer- sally exploded in a country- which professes to admit the authority of the sacred volume. Some other doctrines of Revelation, the force and meaning of which are commonly in a great degree explained awav, are vet conceded in general terms. But tins seems almost on the point of being universally aban- doned, as a post no longer tenable. It is regarded as an evanescent prejudice which it would now be a discredit to any man of understanding to believe. Like ghosts and witches and other phantoms, which haunted the night of superstition, it cannot in these more enlightened times stand the test of our severer scrutiny. To be suffered to pass away quietly, is as much as it can hope for; and it might rather ex- pect to be laughed off the stage as a just object of contempt and derision. F 29 1JJ But although the Scripture doctrine concerning the Evil Spirit is thus generally exploded) yet • ire to consider the matter seriously and fairly, ire should nrohahlv find ground for believing that there dd for its being abandoned, than that many absurd stories, concerning spirits and ap- paritions, have been commonly propagated amongst weak and credulous people; and thai the Evil spirit not being the ol our bodily eyes, it would e weaki i ive credit to the doc- trine of it- existence and agency. Hut to be vow- I :it with ourselves, WS might almost as well, on the same principle, 'he reality of all other in- real beings. What is there, in truth, in the trine, which is m itself improbable, or winch is d by anal W . . thai there are wicked men, to God, and malig- nant towards their fellow-creatures, who take plea- . and often BUOCCed, in seducing other- to the mission of eviL \Vh\ then should it be deemed • dible, that there may be spiritual intelligi milar J > r . ; . iy, in like manner. U permitted to 1 to the practice of sin? Surely lay retort upon our o] 1 ab- surdity, and justh • '. Qcy, in admitting, without difficulty, tin- existence and . ition of these qualities in a being like man. compounded of matter and spirit, and vet denying them in a purely spiritual being, in direct contradic- tion to the authority of Scripture, which they allow to he conclusive, when they cannot pretend lor a .cut that there is any thing belonging to the na- ture of matter, to which these qualities naturally • re. 123 But it is needless to dilate further on a topic which, however it may excite the ridicule of the in- considerate, will suggest matter of serious apprchen- >ion to all who form their opinions on a sincere and impartial examination of the word of God. It fills up the measure of our natural misery and helpless- ness. Such then being our condition, thus depraved and weakened within, and tempted from without, it may well lill our hearts with anxiety to reflect, "that the day will come," when "the Heavens being on file shall he dissolved) and the elements shall melt with fervent heat :" " when the dead, small and great] shall stand before tin tribunal of God," and hall have to give account of all things done in the body. We are naturally prompted to turn ovei the page of Revelation with solicitude, in order to discover the attributes and character of our Judge; but these only serve to turn painful spprehension into fixed and certain terror. First, with regard to the attributes of our Judge. A .ill nature bears witness to his irresistible power. id in ScriptUN that nothi: | hi- observation, or elude his discovery; not only our actions, but our most secret cogitations are open to his view. '* He is ahout our path and ahout our bed, and spieth out all our way-." M The Lord heth all hearts, and understandeth all the ima- ginations of the thoughts." M And he will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the heart." Now hear his character, and the rule of his award: M The Lord our God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God«" — " He is of purer eves than F 2 124. to behold iniquity." — " The soul that sinneth, it shall die." — " The wages of sin is death." — " Without holiness no man shall see the Lord." These positive declarations are enforced by the ac- counts which, for our warning, we read in sacred history, of the terrible vengeance of the Almighty : His punishment of " the angels who kept not their first estate, and whom he hath reserved in everlast- ing chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day :" The fate of Sodom and Gomorrah : The sentence issued against the idolatrous nations of Canaan, and of which the execution was assigned to the Israelites, by the express command of God, at their own peril in case of disobedience : The ruin of Babylon, of Tyre, of Nineveh, and of Jerusalem, prophetically denounced as the punishment of their crimes, and taking place in an exact and terrible ac- cordance with the divine predictions. Surely these examples may suffice to confound that fallacious con- fidence, which, presuming on the Creator's know- ledge of our weakness, and his disposition to allow for it, should allege, that instead of giving way to gloomy apprehensions, we might throw ourselves, in full assurance of hope, on the infinite benevolence of the Supreme Being. It is true, indeed, that with the threatenings of the word of God, there are mixed many gracious declarations of pardon, on repentance and thorough amendment. But, alas ! who is there among us whose conscience must not reproach him with having trifled with the long-suffering of God, and with having but ill kept the resolutions of amendment which had been formed in the seasons of recollection and remorse ?— And how is the dis- 125 quietude naturally excited by such a retrospect, con- firmed and heightened by passages like these ? " Be- cause I have called, and ye refused ; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded ; but ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my re- proof: I also will laugh at your calamity, I will mock when your fear cometh ; when your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirl- wind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer : they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me : for that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord." The apprehensions, which must be excited by thus reading the recorded judg- ments and awful language of Scripture, are confirmed to the inquisitive and attentive mind by a close ob- servation of the moral constitution of the world. In fact, all that has been suggested of the final conse- quences of vice, is strictly analogous to what we may observe in the ordinary course of human affairs; from a careful survey of which it will appear, that God hath established such an order of causes and effects, as, however interrupted here below, bv hin- drances and obstructions apparently of a temporary nature, loudly proclaim the principles of his moral government, and strongly suggest that vice and im- prudence will finally terminate in misery.* Not that this species of proof was wanted ; for that which we must acknowledge, on weighing the evidence, to be a revelation from God, requires not the aid of such a confirmation : but yet, as this accordance * Vide Butler's Analogy. 126 might be expected between the words and the works of the same Almighty Being, it is no idle specula- tion to remark, that the visible constitution of things in the world around us, falls in with the scriptural representations of the dreadful consequences of vice, nay, even of what is commonly termed inconsiderate- ness and imprudence. If such then be indeed our sad condition, what is to be done ? Is there no hope ? Nothing left for us " but a fearful looking-for of judgment, and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries ?" Blessed be Clod ! we are not shut up irrecoverably in this sad condition : " Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope ;" hear one who proclaims his designation, " to heal the broken-hearted, to preach liberty to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind." They who have formed a true notion of their lost and helpless state, will most gladlyjisten to the sound, and most justly estimate the value, of such a deliverance. And hence appears the impor- tance of not passing over in a cursory manner, those important topics of the original and superinduced corruption and weakness of man; a discussion pain- ful and humiliating to the pride of human nature, to which the mind listens with difficulty, nay, with a mixture of anger and disgust ; but well suited to our case, and like the distasteful lessons of adversity, permanently useful in its consequences. It is here, never let it be forgotten, that our foundation must be laid; otherwise our superstructure, whatever we may think of it, will one day prove tottering and in- secure. This therefore is not a metaphysical specu- 127 lation, but a practical matter. Slight and superficial conceptions of our state of natural degradation, and of our insufficiency to recover from it by our own unassisted powers, fall in too well with our natural inconsiderateness, and produce that fatal insensibility to the divine threatenings which we cannot but ob- serve to prevail so generally. Having no due sense of the malignity of our disease, and of its dreadful issue, we do not set ourselves to work in earnest to obtain the remedy, and it can only be thus obtained ; for let it be remembered, that deliverance is not forced on us, but offered to us ,- we are furnished in- deed with every help, and are always to bear in mind that we are unable of ourselves to will or to do rightly. but we are plainly admonished to " work out our own salvation with fear and trembling ;" — to be watchful, " because we are encompassed with dangers ;" — to " put on the whole armour of God," because " we are beset with enemies." May we be enabled to shake off that lethargy which is so apt to creep upon us ! For this end, a deep practical conviction of our natural depravity and weakness will be found of eminent advantage. As it is by this we must at first be roused from our fal- lacious security, so by this we must be kept wakeful and active unto the end. Let us therefore make it our business to have this doctrine firmly seated in our understandings, and radically implanted in our hearts. With a view to our conviction of the truth of this doctrine, we should seriously and attentively consider the firm grounds on which it rests. It is plainly made known to us by the light of nature, 128 and irresistibly enforced on us by tlie dictates of our unassisted understandings. But lest there should be any so obstinately dull, as not to discern the force of the evidence suggested to our reason, and con- firmed by all experience, or rather so heedless as not to notice it, the authoritative stamp of Revelation is superadded, as we have seen, to complete the proof; and we must therefore be altogether inexcusable, if we still remain unconvinced by such an accumulated mass of argument. But it is not sufficient to assent to the doctrine, we must vXsofeel it. To this end, let the power of habit be called in to our aid. Let us accustom our- selves to refer to our natural depravity, as to their primary cause, the sad instances of vice and folly of which we read, or which we see around us, or to which we feel the propensities in our own bosoms; ever vigilant and distrustful of ourselves, and looking with an eye of kindness and pity on the faults and infirmities of others, whom we should learn to regard with the same tender concern as that with which the sick are used to sympathize with those who are suffering under the same distemper. This lesson once well acquired, we shall feel the benefit of it in all our future progress ; and though it be a lesson which we are slow to learn, it is one in which study and experience, the incidents of every day, and every fresh observation of the workings of our own hearts, will gradually concur to perfect us. Let it not, after all then, be our reproach, and at length our ruin, that these abundant means of instruction are pos- sessed in vain. 129 Sect. III. Corruption of Human Nature. — Objection. But there is one difficulty still behind, more for- midable than all the rest. The pride of man is loth to be humbled. Forced to abandon the plea of in- nocence, and pressed so closely that he can no longer escape from the conclusion to which we would drive him, some more bold objector faces about and stands at bay, endeavouring to justify what he cannot deny. " Whatever I am," he contends, " I am what my Creator made me. I inherit a nature, you yourself confess, depraved, and prone to evil ; how then can I withstand the temptations to sin by which I am environed ? If this plea cannot establish my inno- cence, it must excuse or at least extenuate my guilt. Frail and weak as I am, a Being of infinite justice and goodness will never try me by a rule, which, however equitable in the case of creatures of a higher nature, is altogether disproportionate to mine." Let not my readers be alarmed ! The writer is not going to enter into the discussion of the grand question concerning the origin of moral evil, or to attempt to reconcile its existence and consequent punishment with the acknowledged attributes and perfections of God. These are questions, of which, if one may judge from the little success with which the acutest and profoundest reasoners have been ever labouring to solve the difficulties they contain, the full and clear comprehension is above the intellect of man. Yet, as the objection above mentioned is sometimes heard from the mouths of professed Chris- f3 ISO tians, it must not be passed by without a few short observations. Were the language in question to be addressed to us by an avowed sceptic, though it might not be very difficult to expose to him the futility of his reason- ings, we should almost despair of satisfying him of the soundness of our own. We should perhaps suggest impossibilities, which might stand in the way of such a system as he would establish : arguing from concessions which he would freely make, we might indeed point out wherein his pre-conceptions concerning the conduct of the Supreme Being, had been in fact already contradicted, particularly by the undeniable existence of natural or moral evil : and if thus proved erroneous in one instance, why might they not be so likewise in another? But though by these and similar arguments we might at length si- lence our objector, we could not much expect to bring him over to our opinions. W T e should probably do better, if we were to endeavour rather to draw him off from those dark and slippery regions, slippery in truth they are to every human foot, and to contend with him, where we might tread with firmness and freedom, on sure ground, and in the light of day. Then we might fairly lay before him all the various arguments for the truth of our holy religion ; argu- ments which have been sufficient to satisfy the wisest, and the best, and the ablest of men. We might afterwards insist on the abundant confirmation Chris- tianity receives from its being exactly suited to the nature and wants of man; and we might conclude with fairly putting it to him, whether all this weight of evidence were to be overbalanced by one difficulty, 131 on a subject so confessedly high and mysterious, considering too that he must allow we see but a part, (O how small a part !) of the universal creation of God, and that our faculties are wholly incompetent to judge of the schemes of his infinite wisdom. This, if the writer may be permitted to offer his own judgment, is, at least in general, the best mode, in the case of the objection we are now considering, of dealing with unbelievers ; and to adopt the contrary plan, seems somewhat like that of any one, who, having to convince some untutored Indian of the truth of the Copernican system, instead of beginning with plain and simple propositions, and leading him on to what is more abstruse and remote, should state to him at the outset some startling problems, to which the understanding can only yield its slow as- sent, when constrained by the decisive force of de- monstration. The novice, instead of lending him- self to such a mistaken method of instruction, would turn away in disgust, and be only hardened against his preceptor. But it must be remembered, that the present work is addressed to those who acknow- ledge the authority of the Holy Scriptures. And in order to convince all these that there is, somewhere or other, a fallacy in our objector's reasoning, it will be sufficient to establish, that, though the word of God clearly asserts the justice and goodness of the Supreme Being, and also the natural depravity of man, yet it no less clearly lays down, that this na- tural depravity shall never be admitted as an excuse for sin, but that " they which have done evil, shall rise to the resurrection of damnation," — that " the wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the people 132 that forget God." And it is worthy of remark, that, as it is for the very purpose of more effectually silencing those unbelieving doubts which are ever springing up in the human heart, our blessed Saviour, though the messenger of peace and good will to man, has again and again repeated these awful denuncia- tions. Nor are the Holy Scriptures less clear and full in guarding us against supposing our sins, or the dreadful consequences of them, to be chargeable on God. — " Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God : for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man :" " The Lord is not willing that any should perish." And in other passages, where the idea is repelled as injurious to his character, — " Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die, saith the Lord God ; and not that he should return from his ways, and live?" " For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God." Indeed almost every page of the word of God contains some warning or invitation to sinners ; and all these, to a considerate mind, must be unquestionable proofs of our present position. It has been the more necessary not to leave un- noticed the objection which we have been now refut- ing, because, where not admitted to such an unqua- lified extent as altogether to take away the moral responsibility of man, and when not avowed in the daring language in which it has been above stated, it may frequently be observed to exist in an inferior degree : and often, when not distinctly formed into shape, it lurks in secret, diffusing a general cloud of doubt or unbelief; or lowering our standard of right, 133 or whispering fallacious comfort, and producing a ruinous tranquillity. It is of the utmost importance to remark, that though the Holy Scriptures so clearly state the natural corruption and weakness of man, yet they never, in the remotest degree, countenance, but throughout directly oppose, the supposition, to which we are often too forward to listen, that our natural corruption and weakness will be admitted as lowering the demands of divine justice, and, in some sort, palliating our transgressions of the laws of God. It would not be difficult to show that such a notion is at war with the whole scheme of redemption by the atonement of Christ. But perhaps it may be enough, when any such suggestions as those which we are condemning force themselves into the imagi- nation of a Christian, to recommend it to him to silence them by what is their best practical answer — that if our natural condition be depraved and weak, our temptations numerous, and our Almighty Judge infinitely holy, yet that the offers of pardon, grace, and strength to penitent sinners, are universal and unlimited. Let it not however surprise us, if in all this there seem to be involved difficulties which we cannot fully comprehend. How many such pre- sent themselves on all sides ! Scarcely is there an object around us, that does not afford endless matter of doubt and argument. The meanest reptile which crawls on the earth, nay, every herb and flower which we behold, baffles the imbecility of our limited inquiries. All nature calls upon us to be humble. Can it then be surprising if we are at a loss on this question, which respects, not the properties of matter, or of numbers, but the councils and ways of Him 134 whose " understanding is infinite ;" u whose judg- ments" are declared to be "unsearchable, and his ways past finding out?" In this our ignorance, however, we may calmly repose ourselves on his own declaration, " that though clouds and darkness are round about him, yet righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne." Let it also be remembered, that it in Christianity some things are difficult, that which we are most concerned to know, is plain and obvious. To this it is true wisdom to attach ourselves, assenting to what is revealed, where it is above our comprehension, (we do not say con- trary to our reason,) and believing it on the credit of what is clearly discerned, and satisfactorily esta- blished. In truth, we are all perhaps too apt to plunge into depths, which it is beyond our power to fathom; and it was to warn us against this very error, that the inspired writer, having threatened the people, whom God had selected as the objects of his special favour, with the most dreadful punishments, if they should forsake the law of the Lord, and bavins in- troduced surrounding nations as asking the meaning of the severe infliction, winds up the whole with this instructive admonition : " Secret things belong- unto the Lord our God : but those which are revealed belong unto us, and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law." To any one who is seriously impressed with a sense of the critical state in which we are here placed — a short and uncertain space in which to make our peace with God, and this little span of life followed by the last judgment, and an eternity of unspeakable happiness or misery — it is indeed an awful and an 135 affecting spectacle, to see men thus busying them- selves in vain speculations of an arrogant curiosity, and trifling with their dearest, their everlasting in- terests. It is but a feeble illustration of this exquisite folly, to compare it to the conduct of some convicted rebel, who, when brought into the presence of his sovereign, instead of seizing the occasion to sue for mercy, should even treat with neglect and contempt the pardon which should be offered to him, and inso- lently employ himself in prying into his sovereign's designs, and criticising his counsels. But our case, too similar as it is to that of the convicted rebel, differs from it in this grand particular, that, at the best, his success must be uncertain, ours, if it be not our own fault, is sure ; and while, on the one hand, our guilt is unspeakably greater than that of any rebel against an earthly monarch, so, on the other, we know that our Sovereign is " long-suffering, and easy to be entreated :" more ready to grant forgive- ness than we to ask it. Well then may we adopt the language of the poet : — What better can we do, than prostrate fall Before him reverent; and there confess Humbly our faults, and pardon beg ; with tears Watering the ground, and with our sighs the air Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite, in sign Of sorrow unfeigned, and humiliation meek ? Milton. 136 CHAPTER III. CHIEF DEFECTS OF THE RELIGIOUS SYSTEM OF THE BULK OF PROFESSED CHRISTIANS IN WHAT RE- GARDS OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT WITH A DISSERTATION CONCERNING THE USE OF THE PASSIONS IN RELIGION. Sect. I. Inadequate conceptions concerning our Saviour and the Holy Spirit. That " God so loved the world, as of his tender mercy to give his only Son Jesus Christ for our re- demption :" That our blessed Lord willingly left the glory of the Father, and was made man : That "he was despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief:'' That " he was wounded for our transgressions ; that he was bruised for our iniquities :" That " the Lord laid on him the iniquity of us all :" That at length " he humbled himself even to the death of the cross, for us miserable sinners ; to the end that all who with hearty repentance and true faith should come to him, might not perish, but have everlasting life :" That he " is now at the right hand of God, making intercession" for his people: That " being reconciled to God by the death of 137 his Son, we may come boldly unto the throne of grace, to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need :" That our heavenly Father " will surely give his Holy Spirit to them that ask him :" That " the Spirit of God must dwell in us ;" and that " if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his :" That, by this divine influence, " we are to be re- newed in knowledge after the image of Him who created us," and " to be filled with the fruits of righteousness, to the praise of the glory of his grace;" — that, "being thus made meet for the in- heritance of the saints in light," we shall sleep in the Lord; and that when the last trumpet shall sound, this corruption shall put on incorruption — and that, being at length perfected after his likeness, we shall be admitted into his heavenly kingdom. These are the leading doctrines concerning our Saviour, and the Holy Spirit, which are taught in the Holy Scriptures, and held by the Church of England. The truth of them, agreeably to our general plan, will be taken for granted. Few of those, who have been used to join in the established form of worship, can have been, it is hoped, so in- attentive, as to be ignorant of these grand truths, which are to be found every where dispersed through- out our excellent Liturgy. Would to God it could be presumed, with equal confidence, that all who as- sent to them in terms, discern in the understanding their force and excellency, and feel their power in the affections, and their transforming influence in the heart. What lively emotions are they calculated 138 to excite in us of deep self-abasement, and abhor- rence of our sins ; together with humble hope, and firm faith, and heavenly joy, and ardent love, and active unceasing gratitude ! But here, it is to be feared, will be found a grand defect in the religion of the bulk of professed Chris- tians; a defect like the palsy at the heart, which, while in its first attack, it changes but little the ex- terior appearance of the body, extinguishes the in- ternal principle of heat and motion, and soon extends its benumbing influence to the remotest fibres of the frame. This defect is closely connected with that which was the chief subject of the last chapter : " they that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick." Had we duly felt the burden of our sins, accompanied with a deep conviction that the weight of them must finally sink us into perdi- tion, our hearts would have danced at the sound of the gracious invitation, " Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." But in those who have scarcely felt their sins as any encumbrance, it would be mere affectation to pretend to very exalted conceptions of the value and accept- ableness of the proffered deliverance. This pretence accordingly, is seldom now kept up; and the most superficial observer, comparing the sentiments and views of the bulk of the Christian world, with the articles still retained in their creed, and with the strong language of Scripture, must be struck with the amazing disproportion. To pass over the throng from whose minds reli- gion is altogether excluded by the business or the 139 vanities of life, how is it with the more decent and moral? To what criterion shall we appeal? Are their hearts really filled with these things, and warmed by the love which they are adapted to in- spire ? Then surely their minds are apt to stray to them almost unseasonably ; or at least to hasten back to them with eagerness, when escaped from the estrangement imposed by the necessary cares and business of life. He was a masterly describer of human nature, who thus portrayed the characters of an undissembled affection : " Unstaid and fickle in all other things, Save in the constant image of the object That is beloved." Shakespeare. " And how," it may be perhaps replied, " do you know, but that the minds of these people are thus occupied? Can you look into the bosoms of men?" Let us appeal to a test to which we resorted in a former instance. " Out of the abundance of the heart," it has been pronounced, " the mouth speak- eth." Take these persons then in some well-selected hour, and lead the conversation to the subject of Religion. The utmost which can be effected is, to bring them to talk of things in the gross. They appear lost in generalities ; there is nothing precise and determinate, nothing which implies a mind used to the contemplation of its object. In vain you strive to bring them to speak on that topic, which one might expect to be ever uppermost in the hearts of redeemed sinners. They elude all your endea- vours ; and if you make mention of it yourself, it is received with no very cordial welcome at least, if not 140 with unequivocal disgust : it is, at the host, a forced and forma] discussion. TTie excellence of* our Sa- viour's moral precepts, the kindness and simplicity) the self-denial and unblemished purity of his life, his patience and meekness in the hour of death, can- not indeed be Bpoken of but with admiration, when spoken of at all, as they have often extorted un- willing praise from the most daring and malignant infidels. But are not these mentioned as qualities in the abstract, rather than as the perfections and lineaments of OUT patron and benefactor and friend, "who loved US, and gave himself for us:" of liim "who died for our offences, and rose again for our justification;' 1 "who is even now at the right hand of God, making intercession for us . >, ' Who would think that the kindness, and humanity, and self- denial, and patience in Buffering, which we -"drily commend, had been exerted towards ourselves, in acts of more than finite benevolence, of which we were to derive the benefit; in condescensions and lahours submitted to for our sakes; in pain and ig- nominy endured lor our deliverance ? 15nt these grand truths are not suffered to vanish altogether from our remembrance. Thanks to the compilers of our Liturgy, more than to too many of the occupiers of our pulpits, they arc forced upon our notice in their just bearings and connections, as often as we attend the service of the church. Vet is it too much to affirm, that, though there entertained with decorum, as what belong to the day and place and occupation, they are yet too generally heard of with little interest; like the legendary tales of some venerable historian, or like other transactions of 5 so in that also of worldly honour, he dreads, lest his supreme affections being thereby gratified, it should be hereafter said to him, " Remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things." He is enjoined by his holy calling to be victorious over the world ; and to this victory, an indifference to its disesteem aud dishonour is essentially and in- dispensably required. He reflects on those holy men who " had trial of cruel mockings ;" he remem- bers that our blessed Saviour himself " was despised and rejected of men ;" and what is he, that he should be exempted from the common lot, or think it much to bear the scandal of his profession ? If therefore he is creditable and popular, he considers this, if the phrase may be pardoned, as something beyond his bargain ; and he watches himself with double care, lest he should grow over-fond of what he may be shortly called upon to relinquish. He meditates often on the probability of his being involved in such circumstances as may render it necessary for him to subject himself to disgrace and obloquy; thus fami- liarizing himself with them betimes, and preparing himself, that, when the trying hour arrives, they may not take him unawares. But the cultivation of the desire of " that honour which cometh from God," he finds the most effec- tual means of bringing his mind into a proper tem- per, in what regards the love of human approbation. Christian - !* wouldst thou indeed reduce this affection under just control ? — sursum corda ! Rise on the wings of contemplation, until the praises and the censures of men die away upon the ear, and the still small voice of conscience is no longer drowned by M 29 266 the din of this nether world. Here the sight is apt to be occupied with earthly objects, and the hearing to be engrossed with earthly sounds ; but there thou shalt come within the view of that resplendent and incorruptible crown, which is held forth to thine ac- ceptance in the realms of light, and thine ear shall be regaled with heavenly melody ! Here we dwell in a variable atmosphere — the prospect is at one time darkened by the gloom of disgrace, and at another the eye is dazzled by the gleamings of glory : but thou hast now ascended above this inconstant region ; no storms agitate, no clouds obscure the air ; the lightnings play, and the thunders roll beneath thee. Thus, at chosen seasons, the Christian exercises himself; and when, from this elevated region, he descends into the plain below, and mixes in the bustle of life, he still retains the impressions of his more retired hours. By these he realizes to himself the unseen world ; he accustoms himself to speak and act as in the presence of " an innumerable company of angels, and of the spirits of just men made perfect, and of God the Judge of all." The consciousness of their approbation cheers and gladdens his soul, under the scoffs and reproaches of an undiscerning world ; and to his delighted ear, their united praises form a harmony, which a few discordant earthly voices cannot interrupt. But though the Christian be sometimes enabled thus to triumph over the inordinate love of human applause, he does not therefore deem himself secure from its encroachments. On the contrary, he is aware, so strong and active is its principle of vitality, that even where it seems extinct, let but circumstances 207 favour its revival, and it will spring forth again in renewed vigour. And as his watchfulness must thus during life know no termination, because the enemy will ever be at hand ; so it must be the more close and vigilant, because he is no where free from danger, but is on every side open to attack. " Sume superbiam quresitam meritis," was the maxim of a worldly moralist : but the Christian is aware, that he is particularly assailable where he really excels ; there he is in especial danger, lest his motives, originally pure, being insensibly corrupted, he should be be- trayed into an anxiety about worldly favour, false in principle or excessive in degree, when he is endea- vouring to render his virtue amiable and respected in the eyes of others, and, in obedience to the scripture injunction, is willing to let his " light so shine before men, that they may see his good works, and glorify his Father which is in heaven." He watches himself also on small as well as on great occasions : the latter indeed, in the case of many persons, can hardly ever be expected to occur ; whereas the former are continually presenting them- selves : and thus, whilst, on the one hand, they may be rendered highly useful in forming and strength- ening a just habit of mind with respect to the opin- ion of the world, so, on the other, they are the means most at hand for enabling us to discover our own real character. Let not this be slightly passed over. If any one finds himself shrinking from disre- pute or disesteem in little instances, but apt to solace himself with the persuasion, that, his spirits being fully called forth to the encounter, he could boldly stand the brunt of sharper trials : let him be slow to m 2 268 give entertainment to so beguiling a suggestion ; and let him not forget, that these little instances, where no credit is to be got, and the vainest can find small room for self-complacency, furnish perhaps the truest tests whether we are ashamed of the gospel of Christ, and are willing, on principles really pure, to bear re- proach for the name of Jesus. The Christian too is well aware, that the excessive desire of human approbation is a passion of so sub- tile a nature, that there is nothing into which it cannot penetrate : and, from much experience, learning to discover it where it would lurk unseen, and to detect it under its more specious disguises, he finds, that, elsewhere disallowed and excluded, it is apt to insin- uate itself into his very religion, where it especially delights to dwell, and obstinately maintains its resi- dence. Proud piety and ostentatious charity, and all the more open effects it there produces, have been often condemned, and we may discover the tendencies to them in ourselves, without difficulty. But where it appears not so large in bulk, and in shape so un- ambiguous, let its operation be still suspected. Let not the Christian suffer himself to be deceived by any external dissimilitudes between himself and the world around him, trusting perhaps to the sincerity of the principle to which they originally owed their rise ; but let him beware lest, through the insensible encroachments of the subtile usurper, his religion should at length have " only a name to live," being gradually robbed of its vivifying principle; lest he should be chiefly reserved in his religious course by the dread of incurring the charge of levity, for quitting a path on which he had deliberately entered. Or 209 where, on a strict and impartial scrutiny of his gov- erning motives, he may fairly conclude this not to be the case, let him beware lest he be influenced by this principle in particular parts of his character, and especially where any external singularities are in question ; closely scrutinizing his apparent motives, lest he should be prompted to his more than ordinary religious observances, and be kept from participating in the licentious pleasures of a dissipated age, not so much by a vigorous principle of internal holiness, as by a fear of lessening himself in the good opinion of the stricter circle of his associates, or of suffering even in the estimation of the world at large, by vio- lating the properties of his assumed character. To those who, in the important particular which we have been so long discussing, wish to conform themselves to the injunctions of the word of God, we must advise a laborious watchfulness, a jealous guard, a close and frequent scrutiny of their own hearts, that they may not mistake their real character, and too late find themselves to have been mistaken, as to what they had conceived to be their governing motives. Above all, let them labour, with humble prayers for the divine assistance, to fix in themselves a deep, habitual, and practical sense of the excellence of " that honour which cometh from God," and of the comparative woithlessness of all earthly estima- tion and pre-eminence. In truth, unless the affections of the soul be thus predominantly engaged on the side of heavenly, in preference to that of human, honour, though we may have relinquished the pur- suit of fame, we shall not have acquired that firm 270 contexture of mind, which can bear disgrace and shame without yielding to the pressure. Between these two states, the disregarding of fame, and the bearing of disgrace, there is a wide interval ; and he who, on a sober review of his conduct and motives, finds reason to believe he has arrived at the one, must not therefore conclude he has reached the other. To the one, a little natural moderation and quietness of temper may be sufficient to conduct us ; but to the other, we can only attain by much discipline and slow advances ; and when we think we have made great way, we shall often find reason to confess in the hour of trial, that we had greatly, far too greatly, over-rated our progress. When engaged too in the prosecution of this course, we must be aware of the snares which lie in our way, and of the deceits to which we are liable : and we must be provided against these impositions, by obtaining a full and distinct conception of the temper of mind with regard to human favour, which is prescribed to us in the Scriptures ; and, by con- tinually examining our hearts and lives, to ascertain how far we correspond with it. This will keep us from substituting contemplation in the place of ac- tion, and from giving ourselves too much up to those religious meditations which were formerly recom- mended ; in which we must not indulge to the ne- glect of the common duties of life. This will keep us also from mistaking the gratification of an indolent temper for the Christian's disregard of fame : for, let it never be forgotten, we must deserve estimation, though we should not possess it; we must force the men of the world to acknowledge, that we do not 271 want their boasted spring of action to set us in motion ; but that its place is better supplied to us by another, which produces all the good of theirs without its evil: thus demonstrating the superiority of the principle which animates us, by the superior utility and excel- lence of its effects. The worldly principle may in- deed render us kind, friendly, and beneficent ; but it will no longer instigate us to promote the happiness or comfort of others, than whilst we are stimulated by the desire of their applause ; which desire, what- ever may be vaunted of its effects on social intercourse, is often nothing better than selfishness, ill concealed under a superficial covering of exterior courtesy. The Christian principle, on the contrary, will operate uniformly, whether approved or not : it must, however, in order to approve itself genuine, be nerved indeed with more than mortal firmness, but at the same time be sweetened by love, and tempered with humility. Humility, again, reducing us in our own value, will moderate our claims on worldly estimation. It will check our tendency to ostentation and display, prompting us rather to avoid, than to attract notice. It will dispose us to sit down in quiet obscurity, though, judging ourselves impartially, we believe ourselves better entitled to credit than those on whom it is conferred ; closing the entrance against a proud, painful, and malignant passion, from which, under such circumstances, we can otherwise be hardly free, the passion of " high disdain from sense of in- jured merit." Love and humility will concur in producing a frame of mind, not more distinct from an ardent thirst of glory, than from that frigid disregard, or insolent contempt, or ostentatious renunciation of human favour and distinction, which we have some- times seen opposed to it. These latter qualities may not unfrequently be traced to a slothful, sensual, and selfish temper; to the consciousness of being unequal to any great and generous attempts; to the disappointment of schemes of ambition or of glory; to a little personal experience of the world's capri- cious and inconstant humour. The renunciation in these cases, however sententious, is often far from sincere ; and it is even made, not unfrequently, with a view to the attainment of that very distinction which it affects to disclaim. In some other of these in- stances, the over-valuation and inordinate desire of worldly credit, however disavowed, are abundantly evident, from the merit which is assumed for relin- quishing them ; or from that sour and surly humour, which betrays a gloomy and a corroded mind, galled and fretting under the irritating sense of the want of that which it most wishes to possess. But far different is the temper of a Christian. Not a temper of sordid sensuality, or lazy apathy, or dogmatizing pride, or disappointed ambition : more truly independent of worldly estimation than philo- sophy with all her boasts, it forms a perfect contrast to Epicurean selfishness, and to Stoical pride, and to Cynical brutality. It is a temper compounded of firmness, and complacency, and peace, and love ; and manifesting itself in acts of kindness and of courtesy; a kindness, not pretended, but genuine; a courtesy, not false and superficial, but cordial and sincere. In the hour of popularity, it is not intoxicated or inso- 273 lent : in the hour of unpopularity, it is not despond- ing or morose ; unshaken in constancy, unwearied in benevolence, firm without roughness, and assiduous without servility. Notwithstanding the great importance of the topic which we have been investigating, it will require much indulgence on the part of the reader, to excuse the disproportionate length into which the discussion has been almost insensibly drawn out : yet this, it is hoped, may not be without its uses, if the writer have in any degree succeeded in his endeavour, to point out the dangerous qualities and unchristian tendencies of a principle, of such general predomi- nance throughout the higher classes of society, and to suggest to the serious inquirer some practical hints for its regulation and control. Since the principle too, of which we have been treating, is one of the most ordinary modifications of pride ; the discussion may also serve in some degree to supply a manifest deficiency, a deficiency to be ascribed to the fear of trespassing too far on the reader's patience, in having but slightly touched on the allowed prevalence of that master-passion, and on the allowed neglect of its opposite, humility. Sect. IV. The generally prevailing Error, of substituting ami- able Tempers and useful Lives in the place of Religion, stated and confuted ; with hints to real Christians. There is another practical error very generally prevalent, the effects of which are highly injurious M 3 274 to the cause of religion ; and which, in particular, is often brought forward when, upon Christian princi- ples, any advocates for Christianity would press the practice of Christian virtues. The error to which we allude, is that of exag- gerating the merit of certain amiable and useful qualities, and of considering them as of themselves sufficient to compensate for the want of the supreme love and fear of God. It seems to be an opinion pretty generally pre- valent, that kindness and sweetness of temper; sympathizing, benevolent, and generous affections; attention to what in the world's estimation are the domestic, relative, and social duties; and, above all, a life of general activity and usefulness, may well be allowed in our imperfect state, to make up for the defect of what, in strict propriety of speech, is termed religion. Many indeed will unreservedly declare, and more will hint the opinion, that " the difference between the qualities above-mentioned and religion, is rather a verbal or logical, than a real and essential differ- ence; for, in truth, what are they but religion in sub- stance if not in name? Is it not the great end of religion, and in particular the glory of Christianity, to extinguish the malignant passions; to curb the violence, to control the appetites, and to smooth the asperities of man; to make us compassionate and kind, and forgiving one to another; to make us good husbands, good fathers, good friends, and to render us active and useful in the discharge of the relative, social, and civil duties ? We do not deny that, in t winter there were twenty open every night, and all crowded. It should not be left unobserved, and it is seriously submitted to the consideration of those who regard the stage as a school of morals, that the pieces which were best composed, best acted, and most warmly and generally applauded, were such as abounded in touches of delicate sensibility. The people of Paris have never been imagined to be more susceptible, than the generality of mankind, of these emotions, and this is not the particular period when the Parisians have been commonly conceived most under their in- fluence. (Vide Journal d'un Voyageur Neutre.) The author of the work expressed himself as astonished by the phenomenon, and as unable to account for it. f The author is almost afraid of using the terms, lest they should convey an impression of party feelings, of which he wishes this book to exhibit no traces; but he here means by Democrats and Jacobins, not persons on whom party violence fastens the epithet, but persons who are really and avowedly such. 3'20 within the strict precision of any legal limits, but yet palpably contrary to the spirit of monarchical govern- ment; which, farther, the highest authorities had recommended as sovereign specifics for cooling the warmth, and enlarging the narrowness of an exces- sive loyalty ! What opinion should we form of the delicacy of that friendship, or of the fidelity of that love, which, in relation to their respective objects, should exhibit the same contradictions ? In truth, the hard measure, if the phrase may be pardoned, which we give to God ; and the very dif- ferent way in which we allow ourselves to act, and speak, and feel, where he is concerned, from that which we require, or even practise, in the case of our fellow-creatures, is in itself the most decisive proof that the principle of the love of God, if not altogether extinct hi us, is at least in the lowest pos- sible degree of languor. From examining the degree in which the bulk of nominal Christians are defective in the love of God, if we proceed to inquire concerning the strength of their love towards their fellow -creatures, the writer is well aware of its being generally held, that here at least they may rather challenge praise than sub- mit to censure. And the many beneficent insti- tutions in which this country abounds, probably above every other, whether in ancient or modern times, may be perhaps appealed to in proof of the opinion. Much of what might have been otherwise urged in the discussion of this topic, has been anti- cipated in the inquiry into the grounds of the extra- vagant estimation, assigned to amiable tempers and useful lives, when unconnected with religious prin- 3-21 ciple. What was then stated may serve in many cases to lower, in the present instance, the loftiness of the pretensions of these nominal Christians ; and we shall hereafter have occasion to mention another consideration, of which the effect must be still fur- ther to reduce their claims. Meanwhile, let it suffice to remark, that we must not rest satisfied with merely superficial appearances, if we would form a fair estimate of the degree of purity and vigour, in which the principle of good-will towards men warms the bosoms of the generality of professed Christians in t he higher and more .opulent classes in this coun- try. In a highly polished state of society, for in- stance, we do not expect to find moroseness; and in an age of great profusion, though we may reflect with pleasure on those numerous charitable institu- tions, which are justly the honour of Great Britain, we are not too hastily to infer a strong principle of internal benevolence, from liberal contributions to the relief of indigence and misery. When these con- tributions, indeed, are equally abundant in frugal times, or from individuals personally economical, the source from which they originate becomes less ques- tionable. But a vigorous principle of philanthropy must not be at once conceded, on the ground of liberal benefactions to the poor, in the case of one, who, by his liberality in this respect, is curtailed in no necessary, is abridged of no luxury, is put to no trouble either of thought or of action ; who, not to impute a desire of being praised for his benevolence, is injured in no man's estimation; in whom also familiarity with large sums has produced that freedom in the expenditure of money, which it never fails to o3 322 operate, except in minds under the influence of a strong principle of avarice. Our conclusion, perhaps, would be less favourable, but not less fair, if we were to try the characters in question by those surer tests, which are stated by the apostle to be less ambiguous marks of a real spirit of philanthropy. The strength of every pas- sion is to be estimated by its victory over passions of an opposite nature. What judgment then shall we form of the force of the benevolence of the age, when measured by this standard ? How does it stand the shock, when it comes into encounter with our pride, our vanity, our self-love, our self-interest, our love of ease or of pleasure, our ambition, our desire of worldly estimation ? Does it make us self-denying, that we may be liberal in relieving others? Does it make us persevere in doing good in spite of ingrati- tude ; and only pity the ignorance, or prejudice, or malice which misrepresents our conduct, or miscon- strues our motives ? Does it make us forbear what we conceive may prove the occasion of harm to a fellow-creature, though the harm should not seem naturally, or even fairly, to flow from our conduct, but to be the result only of his own obstinacy or weakness ? Are we slow to believe any thing to our neighbour's disadvantage? and, when we cannot but credit it, are we disposed rather to cover, and, as tar as we justly can, to palliate, than to divulge or ag- gravate it ? Suppose an opportunity to occur of per- forming a kindness to one who, from pride or vanity, should be loth to receive, or to be known to receive, a favour from us ; should we honestly endeavour, so 3-23 far as we could with truth, to lessen in his own mind, and in that of others, the merit, of our good offices, and, hy so doing, dispose him to receive them with diminished reluctance and a less painful weight ol ohligation? This end, however, must be accom- plished, if accomplished at all, not by speeches of affected disparagement, which we might easily foresee would produce the contrary effect; but by a simple and fair explanation of the circumstances which ren- der the action in nowise inconvenient to ourselves, though highly beneficial to him. Can we, from mo- tives of kindness, incur or risk the charge of being deficient in spirit, in penetration, or in foresight i Do we tell another of his faults, when the communi- cation, though probably beneficial to him, cannot be made without embarrassment or pain to ourselves, and may probably lessen his regard for our person, or his opinion of our judgment ? Can we stifle a repartee which would wound another, though the utterance of it would gratify our vanity, and the sup- pression of it may disparage our character for wit ? If any one advance a mistaken proposition, in an in- stance wherein the error may be mischievous to him, can we, to the prejudice perhaps of our credit for discernment, forbear to contradict him in public, lest, by piquing his pride, we should only harden him in his error ? and can we reserve our counsel for some more favourable season, the " mollia tempora fandi," when it may be communicated without offence ? If we have recommended to any one a particular line of conduct, or have pointed out the probable mis- chiefs of the opposite course, and if our admonitions have been neglected, are we really hurt when our 324 predictions of evil are accomplished ? Is our love superior to envy, and jealousy, and emulation ? Are we acute to discern, and forward to embrace, any fair opportunity of promoting the interests of another; if it be in a line wherein we ourselves also are moving, and in which we think our progress has not been proportionate to our desert ? Can we take pleasure in bringing his merits into notice, and in obviating the prejudices which may have damped his efforts, or in removing the obstacles which may have retarded his advancement ? If even to this extent we should be able to stand the scrutiny, let it be further asked, how, in the case of our enemies, do we correspond with the scripture representations of love ? Are we meek under provocations, ready to forgive, and apt to forget injuries ? Can we, with sincerity, " bless them that curse us, do good to them that hate us, and pray for them who despitefully use us, and per- secute us ?" Do we prove to the Searcher of hearts a real spirit of forgiveness, by our forbearing, not only from avenging an injury when it is in our power, but even from telling to any one how ill we have been used; and that, too, when we are not kept silent by a consciousness that we should lose credit by di- vulging the circumstance ? And, lastly, can we not only be content to return our enemies good for evil, (for this return, as has been remarked by one of the greatest of uninspired authorities,* may be prompted by pride, and repaid by self-complacency,) but, when they are successful or unsuccessful without our hav- ing contributed to their good or ill fortune, can we * Lord Bacon. 325 not only be content, but cordially rejoice in their prosperity, or sympathize with their distresses ? These are but a few specimens of the character- istic marks which might be stated of a true predo- minant benevolence; yet even these may serve to convince us how far the bulk of nominal Christians fall short of the requisitions of Scripture, even in that particular which exhibits their character in the most favourable point of view. The truth is, we do not enough call to mind the exalted tone of scrip- ture morality ; and are therefore apt to value our- selves on the heights to which we attain, when a better acquaintance with our standard would have convinced us of our falling far short of the elevation prescribed to us. It is in the very instance of the most difficult of the duties lately specified, the for- giveness and love of enemies, that our Saviour points out to our imitation the example of our Supreme Benefactor. After stating that, by being kind and courteous to those who, even in the world's opinion, had a title to our good offices and good will, we should in vain set up a claim to Christian benevo- lence, he emphatically adds, " Be ye therefore per- fect, even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect." We must here again resort to a topic which was lately touched on, that of theatrical amusements ; and recommend it to their advocates to consider them in connection with the duty, of which we have now been exhibiting some of the leading characters. It is an undeniable fact, for the truth of which we may safely appeal to every age and nation, that the situation of the performers, particularly of those 3Z6 of the female sex, is remarkably unfavourable to the maintenance and growth of the religious and moral principle, and of course highly dangerous to their eternal interests. Might it not then be fairly asked, how far, in all who confess the truth of this position, it is consistent with the sensibility of Christian be- nevolence, merely for the entertainment of an idle hour, to encourage the continuance of any of their fellow-creatures in such a way of life, and to take a part in tempting any others to enter into it ? how far, considering that, by their own concession, they are employing whatever they spend in this way, in sus- taining and advancing the cause of vice, and conse- quently in promoting misery, they are herein be- stowing this share of their wealth in a manner agree- able to the intentions of their holy and benevolent Benefactor? how far also they are not in this in- stance the rather criminal, from their being so many sources of innocent pleasure open to their enjoy- ment? how far they are acting conformably to that golden principle of doing to others as we would they should do to us ? how far they harmonize with the spirit of the apostle's affectionate declaration, that he would deny himself for his whole life the most innocent indulgence, nay, what might seem almost an absolute necessary, rather than cause his weak fellow- Christian to offend? or, lastly, how far they are influenced by the solemn language of our Savi- our himself: " It must needs be that offences come, but wo to that man by whom the offence cometh ; it were better for him that a mill-stone were hanged about his neck, and that he were cast into the depths of the sea?" — The present instance is perhaps 327 another example of our taking greater concern in the temporal, than in the spiritual interests of our fel- low-creatures. That man would be deemed, and justly deemed, of an inhuman temper, who in these days were to seek his amusement in the combats of gladiators and prize-fighters ; yet Christians appear conscious of no inconsistency, in finding their plea- sure in spectacles maintained at the risk at least, if not the ruin, of the eternal happiness of those who perform in them ! Sect. VI. Grand Defect — Neglect of the peculiar Doctrines of Christianity. But the grand radical defect in the practical sys- tem of these nominal Christians, is their forgetful- ness of all the peculiar doctrines of the religion which they profess — the corruption of human nature — the atonement of the Saviour — and the sanctifying in- fluence of the Holy Spirit. Here, then, we come again to the grand distinc- tion between the religion of Christ and that of the bulk of nominal Christians in the present day. The point is of the utmost practical importance, and we would therefore trace it into its actual effects. There are, it is to be apprehended, not a few, who, having been for some time hurried down the stream of dissipation, in the indulgence of all their natural appetites, (except, perhaps, that they were restrained from very gross vice by a regard to charac- ter, or by the yet unsubdued voice of conscience) ; 328 and who, having all the while thought little, or scarcely at all about religion, (" living," to use the emphatical language of Scripture, " without God in the world,") become at length in some degree im- pressed with a sense of the infinite importance of religion. A fit of sickness, perhaps, or the loss of some friend or much-loved relative, or some other stroke of adverse fortune, damps their spirits, awakens them to a practical conviction of the precariousness of all human things, and turns them to seek for some more stable foundation of happiness than this world can afford. Looking into themselves ever so little, they become sensible that they must have offended God. They resolve accordingly to set about the work of reformation. — Here it is that we shall recoo-- D nize the fatal effects of the prevailing ignorance of the real nature of Christianity, and the general for- getfulness of its grand peculiarities. These men wish to reform, but they know neither the real nature of their disease, nor its true remedy. They are aware, indeed, that they must " cease to do evil, and learn to do well;" that they must relinquish their habits of vice, and attend more or less to the duties of religion ; but, having no conception of the actual malignity of the disease under which they labour, or of the perfect cure which the gospel has provided for it, or of the manner in which that cure is to be effected, — " They do but skin and film the ulcerous place, While rank corruption, mining all within, Infects unseen." It often happens, therefore, but too naturally in this case, that where they do not soon desist from 329 their attempt at reformation, and relapse into their old habits of sin, they take up with a partial and scanty amendment, and fondly flatter themselves that it is a thorough change. They now conceive that they have a right to take to themselves the comforts of Christianity. Not being able to raise their prac- tice up to their standard of right, they lower their standard to their practice : they sit down for life, contented with their present attainments, beguiled by the complacencies of their own minds, and by the favourable testimony of surrounding friends ; and it often happens, particularly where there is any degree of strictness in formal and ceremonial observances, that there are no people more jealous of their charac- ter for religion. Others perhaps go farther than this. The dread of the wrath to come has sunk deeper in their hearts ; and for a while they strive with all their might to resist their evil propensities, and to walk without stumbling in the path of duty. Again and again they resolve : again and again they break their reso- lutions.* All their endeavours are foiled, and they become more and more convinced of their own moral weakness, and of the strength of their inherent cor- * It' any one would read a description of this process, en- livened and enforced by the powers of the most exquisite poetry, let him peruse the middle and latter part of the fifth Book of Cowper's Task. My warm attachment to the beautifully natural compositions of this truly Christian poet, may perhaps hias my judgment ; but the part of the work to which I refer, appears to me scarcely surpassed by any thing in our language. The hon- ourable epithet of Christian may justly be assigned to a poet, whose writings, while they fascinate the reader by their mani- festly coming from the heart, breathe throughout the spirit of that character of Christianity with which she was announced to the world: " Glory to God, peace on earth, good-will towards men." 330 ruption. Thus groaning under the enslaving power of sin, and experiencing the futility of the utmost efforts which they can use for effecting their deliver- ance, they are tempted (sometimes it is to be feared they yield to the temptation) to give up all in de- spair, and to acquiesce in their wretched captivity, conceiving it impossible to break their chains. Some- times, probably, it even happens that they are driven to seek for refuge from their disquietude in the sug- gestions of infidelity ; and to quiet their troublesome consciences by arguments which they themselves scarcely believe, at the very moment in which they surfer themselves to be lulled asleep by them. In the mean time, while this conflict has been going on, their walk is sad and comfortless, and their couch is nightly watered with tears. These men are pursu- ing the right object, but they mistake the way in which it is to be obtained. The path in which they are now treading, is not that which the gospel has provided for conducting them to true holiness, nor will they find in it any solid peace. Persons under these circumstances naturally seek for religious instruction. They turn over the works of our modern religionists, and, as well as they can, collect the advice addressed to men in their situa- tion ; the substance of which is, at best, of this sort : " Be sorry indeed for your sins, and discontinue the practice of them; but do not make yourselves so un- easy. Christ died for the sins of the whole world. Do your utmost ; discharge with fidelity the duties of your stations, not neglecting your religious of- fices ; and fear not but that, in the end, all will go 331 well ; and that, having thus performed the conditions required on your part, you will at last obtain forgive- ness of our merciful Creator, through the merits of Jesus Christ, and be aided, where your own strength shall be insufficient, by the assistance of his Holy Spirit. Meanwhile you cannot do better than read carefully such books of practical divinity, as will in- struct you in the principles of a Christian life. We are excellently furnished with works of this nature ; and it is by the diligent study of them, that you will gradually become a proficient in the lessons of the gospel." But the Holy Scriptures, and with them the Church of England, call upon those who are in the circumstances above stated, to lay afresh the whole foundation of their religion. In concurrence with the Scripture, that Church calls upon them, in the first place, gratefully to adore that undeserved good- ness which has awakened them from the sleep of death ; to prostrate themselves before the cross of Christ with humble penitence and deep self-abhor- rence ; solemnly resolving to forsake all their sins, but relying on the grace of God alone for power to keep their resolution. Thus, and thus only, she assures them that all their crimes will be blotted out, and that they will receive from above a new living principle of holiness. She produces from the word of God the ground and warrant of her counsel : — " Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." — " No man," says our blessed Saviour, " cometh unto the Father but by me." — " I am the true vine. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself 33% except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me." — " He that abideth in me and I in him, the same bringeth forth mucli fruit ; for with- out" (or severed from) " me ye can do nothing." — " By grace ye are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God ; not of works, lest any man should boast : for we are his workman- ship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works." Let me not be thought tedious, or be accused of running into needless repetitions, in pressing this point with so much earnestness. It is in fact a point which can never be too much insisted on. It is the cardinal point on which the whole of Christianity turns ; on which it is peculiarly proper in this place to be perfectly distinct. There have been some who have imagined, that the wrath of God was to be de- precated, or his favour conciliated, by austerities and penances, or even by forms and ceremonies, and external observances. But all men of enlightened understandings, who acknowledge the moral govern- ment of God, must also acknowledge, that vice must offend, and virtue delight him. In short, they must, more or less, assent to the scripture declaration — " Without holiness no man shall see the Lord." But the grand distinction which subsists between the true Christian and all other religionists, (the class of persons in particular whom it is my object to ad- dress,) is concerning the nature of this holiness, and the way in which it is to be obtained. The views entertained by the latter of the nature of holiness, are of all degrees of inadequateness ; and they con- ceive it is to be obtained by their own natural un- 333 assisted efforts : or, if they admit some vague indis- tinct notion of the assistance of the Holy Spirit, it is unquestionably obvious, on conversing with them, that this does not constitute the main practical ground of their dependence. But the nature of that holi- ness which the true Christian seeks to possess, is no other than the restoration of the image of God to his soul : and, as to the manner of acquiring it, dis- claiming with indignation every idea of attaining it by his own strength, he rests altogether on the ope- ration of God's Holy Spirit, which is promised to all who cordially embrace the gospel. He knows, therefore, that this holiness is not to precede his reconciliation with God, and be its cause ; but to follow it, and be its effect. That, in short, it is by faith in Christ only * that he is to be justified in the sight of God ; to be delivered from the condi- tion of a child of wrath and a slave of Satan ; to be adopted into the family of God; to become an heir of God and a joint-heir with Christ, entitled to all the privileges which belong to this high relation : here, to the Spirit of Grace, and a partial renewal after the image of his Creator ; hereafter, to the more perfect possession of the divine likeness, and an in- heritance of eternal glory. And as it is in this way, that, in obedience to the dictates of the gospel, the true Christian must ori- ginally become possessed of the vital spirit and living principle of universal holiness ; so, in order to grow * Here again let it be remarked, that faith, where genuine, is always accompanied with repentance, abhorrence of sin, &c. 334 in grace, he must also study in the same school; finding, in the consideration of the peculiar doctrines of the gospel, and in the contemplation of the life, and character, and sufferings of our blessed Saviour, the elements of all practical wisdom, and an inex- haustible storehouse of instructions and motives, no otherwise to be so well supplied. From the neglect of these peculiar doctrines, arise the main practical errors of the bulk of professed Christians. These gigantic truths retained in view, would put to shame the littleness of their dwarfish morality. It would be impossible for them to make these harmonize with their inadequate conceptions of the wretchedness and danger of our natural state, which is represented in Scripture as having so powerfully called forth the compassion of God, that he sent his only-begotten Son to rescue us. Where now are their low views of the worth of the soul, when means like these were taken to redeem it ? Where now their inadequate conceptions of the guilt of sin, for which, in the di- vine counsels, it seemed requisite that an atonement no less costly should be made, than that of the blood of the only-begotten Son of God? How can they reconcile their low standard of Christian practice, with the representation of oar being " temples of the Holy Ghost ;" their cold sense of obligation, and scanty grudged returns of service, with the glowing gratitude of those, who, having been " delivered from the power of darkness, and translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son," may well conceive, that the labours of a whole life will be but an imperfect expression of their thankfulness ? The peculiar doctrines of the gospel being once 335 admitted, the conclusions which have been now sug- gested are clear and obvious deductions of reason. But our neglect of these important truths is still less pardonable, because they are distinctly and repeatedly applied in Scripture to the very purposes in question ; and the whole superstructure of Christian morals is grounded on their deep and ample basis. Some- times these truths are represented in Scripture gen- erally, as furnishing Christians with a vigorous and ever-present principle of universal obedience; and almost every particular Christian duty is occasionally traced to them as to its proper source. They are every where represented as warming the hearts of the people of God on earth with continual admira- tion, and thankfulness, and love, and joy ; as enabling them to triumph over the attack of the last great enemy, and as calling forth afresh in heaven the ar- dent effusions of their unexhausted gratitude. If, then, we would indeed be "filled with wisdom and spiritual understanding," — if we would " walk worthy of the Lord unto all well pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God ;" here let us fix our eyes ! " Lay- ing aside every weight, and the sin that does so easily beset us, let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Here best we may learn the infinite importance of Christianity ; how little it deserves to be treated in 336 that slight and superficial way, in which it is in these days regarded by the bulk of nominal Christians, who are apt to think it enough, and almost equally pleasing to God, to be religious in any way, and upon any system. What exquisite folly must it be to risk the soul on such a presumption, in direct op- position to the dictates of reason, and the express declaration of the word of God ! " How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation ?" Looking unto Jesus ! — Here we shall best learn the duty and reasonableness of an absolute and unconditional surrender of soul and body to the will and service of God ! — -" We are not our own;" for " we are bought with a price," and must therefore make it our grand concern to "glorify God with our bodies and our spirits, which are God's." Should we be base enough, even if we could do it with safety, to make any reserves in our returns of ser- vice to that gracious Saviour, who " gave up himself for us ?" If we have formerly talked of compounding by the performance of some commands for the breach of others, can we now bear the mention of a compo- sition of duties, or of retaining to ourselves the right of practising little sins? The very suggestion of such an idea fills us with indignation and shame, if our hearts be not dead to every sense of gratitude. Looking unto Jesus ! — Here we find dis- played, in the most lively colours, the guilt of sin ; and how hateful it must be to the perfect holiness of that Being, who is of " purer eyes than to be- hold iniquity." When we see that rather than sin 337 should go unpunished, " God spared not his own Son," but " was pleased to bruise him and put him to grief" for our sakes; how vainly must impenitent sinners flatter themselves with the hope of escaping the vengeance of heaven, and buoy themselves up with I know not what desperate dreams of the divine benignity ! Here too we may anticipate the dreadful suffer- ings of that state, " where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth;" when rather than that we should undergo them, "the Son of God" himself, who " thought it no robbery to be equal with God," con- sented to take upon him our degraded nature, with all its weaknesses and infirmities : to be " a man of sorrows;" "to hide not his face from shame and spitting ;" " to be wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities," and at length to en- dure the sharpness of death, " even the death of the cross ;" that he might deliver us from the " wrath to come," and open the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Lookixg unto Jesus ! — Here best ye may learn to grow in the love of God ! The certainty of his pity and love towards repenting sinners, thus ine- fragably demonstrated, chases away the sense of tor- menting fear, and best lays the ground in us of re- ciprocal affection. And while we steadily contem- plate this wonderful transaction, and consider in its several relations the amazing truth, " that God spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all:" if our minds be not utterly dead to every impulse of sensibility, the emotions of admiration, P 29 338 of preference, of hope, and trust, and joy, cannot but spring up within us, chastened with reverential fear, and softened and quickened by overflowing grati- tude.* Here we shall become animated by an abid- ing disposition to endeavour to please our great Benefactor; and by an humble persuasion, that the weakest endeavours of this nature will not be de- spised by a Being, who has already proved himself so kindly affected towards us.f Here we cannot fail to imbibe an earnest desire of possessing his fa- vour, and a conviction, founded on his own declara- tions thus unquestionably confirmed, that the desire shall not be disappointed. Whenever we are con- scious that we have offended this gracious Being, a single thought of the great work of redemption will be enough to fill us with compunction. We shall feel a deep concern, grief mingled with indig- nant shame, for having conducted ourselves so un- worthily towards one, who to us has been infinite in kindness : we shall not rest till we have reason to hope that he is reconciled to us ; and we shall watch over our hearts and conduct in future with a re- newed jealousy, lest we should again offend him. To those who are ever so little acquainted with the nature of the human mind, it were superfluous to remark, that the affections and tempers which have been enumerated, are the infallible marks of the constituent properties of love. Let him then, who would abound and grow in this Christian principle, be much conversant with the great doctrines of the gospel. * Vide Chap. III. where these were shown to he the elemen- tary principles of the passion of love, f Rom. v. 9, 10. 339 It is obvious, that the attentive and frequent con- sideration of these great doctrines, must have a still more direct tendency to produce and cherish in our minds the principle of the love of Christ. But on this head so much was said in a former chapter, that any farther observations upon it are unnecessary. Much also has been already observed concerning the love of our fellow-creatures ; and it has been dis- tinctly stated to be the indispensable, and indeed the characteristic duty of Christians. It remains, how- ever, to be here farther remarked, that this grace can no where be cultivated with more advantage than at the foot of the cross. No where can our Saviour's dying injunction to the exercise of this virtue be re- collected with more effect : " This is my command- ment, that ye love one another as I have loved you." No where can the admonition of the apostle more powerfully affect us : " Be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ's sake, hath forgiven you." The view of mankind which is here presented to us, as being all involved in one common ruin; and the offer of deliverance held out to all, through the atoning sac- rifice of the Son of God, are well calculated to pro- duce that sympathy towards our fellow-creatures, which, by the constitution of our nature, seldom fails to result from the consciousness of an identity of in- terests and a similarity of fortunes. Pity for an unthinking world assists this impression. Our en- mities soften and melt away : we are ashamed of thinking much of the petty injuries which we may have suffered, when we consider what the Son of p2 340 God, " who did no wrong, neither was guile found in his mouth," patiently endured. Our hearts be- come tender while we contemplate this signal act of loving-kindness. We grow desirous of imitating what we cannot but admire. A vigorous principle of enlarged and active charity springs up within us; and we go forth with alacrity, desirous of treading in the steps of our blessed Master, and of manifest- ing our gratitude for his unmerited goodness, by bear- ing each other's burthens, and abounding in the dis- interested labours of benevolence. Looking unto Jesus ! — He was meek and lowly of heart, and from the study of his character we shall best learn the lessons of humility. Con- templating the work of redemption, we become more and more impressed with the sense of our natural darkness, and helplessness, and misery, from which it was requisite to ransom us at such a price; moie and more conscious, that we are utterly unworthy of all the amazing condescension and love which have been manifested towards us ; ashamed of the callous- ness of our tenderest sensibility, and of the poor re- turns of our most active services. Considerations like these, abating our pride, and reducing our opin- ions of ourselves, naturally moderate our pretensions towards others. We become less disposed to exact that respect for our persons, and that deference for our authority, which we naturally covet : we less sen- sibly feel a slight, and less hotly resent it; we grow less irritable, less prone to be dissatisfied; more soft, and meek, and courteous, and placable, and conde- scending. We are not literally required to practise 3M the same humiliating submissions, to which our blessed Saviour himself was not ashamed to stoop;* but the spirit of the remark applies to us, " the servant is not greater than his Lord:" and we should especially bear this truth in mind, when the occasion calls upon us to discharge some duty, or patiently to suffer some ill-treatment, whereby our pride will be wounded, and we are likely to be in some degree degraded from the rank we had possessed in the world's estimation. At the same time the sacred Scriptures assuring us, that to the powerful operations of the Holy Spirit, purchased for us by the death of Christ, we must be indebted for the success of all our endeavours after improvement in virtue : the conviction of this truth tends to render us diffident of our own powers, and to suppress the first risings of vanity. Thus, while we are conducted to heights of virtue, no otherwise attainable, due care is taken to prevent our becoming giddy from our elevation.f It is the scripture characteristic of the gospel system, that by it all disposition to exalt ourselves is excluded ; and if we really grow in grace, we shall grow also in humility. Looking unto Jesus I — " He endured the cross, despising the shame." — While we steadily contemplate this solemn scene, that sober frame of spirit is produced within us, which best befits the Christian militant here on earth. We become im- • John xiii. 13 — 17. " If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another's feet," &c. f Vide Pascal's Thoughts on Religion. — A book abounding in the deepest views of practical Christianity. 342 pressed with a sense of the shortness and uncertainty of time, and with the necessity of being diligent in making provision for eternity. In such a temper of mind, the pomps and vanities of life are cast behind us as the baubles of children. We lose our relish for the frolics of gaiety, the race of ambition, or the grosser gratifications of voluptuousness. In the case even of those objects, which may more justly claim the attention of reasonable and immortal beings ; in our family arrangements, in our plans of life, in our schemes of business, we become, without relinquish- ing the path of duty, more moderate in pursuit, and more indifferent about the issue. Here also we learn to correct the world's false estimate of things, and to "look through the shallowness of earthly grandeur;" to venerate what is truly excellent and noble, though under a despised and degraded form ; and to cultivate within ourselves that true magnanimity, which can make us rise superior to the smiles or frowns of this world; that dignified composure of soul which no earthly incidents can destroy or ruffle. Instead of repining at any of the little occasional inconveniences we may meet with in our passage through life, we are almost ashamed of the mutiplied comforts and enjoyments of our condition, when we think of him, who, though " the Lord of glory," " had not where to lay his head." And if it be our lot to undergo evils of more than ordinary magnitude, we are ani- mated under them by reflecting, that we are hereby more conformed to the example of our blessed Mas- ter; though we must ever recollect one important difference, that the sufferings of Christ were volun- tarily borne for our benefit, and were probably far 3i3 more exquisitely agonizing than any which we are called upon to undergo. Besides, it must be a solid support to us amidst all our troubles to know, that they do not happen to us by chance; that they are not even merely the punishment of sin; but that they are the dispensations of a kind Providence, and sent on messages of mercy. — " The cup that our Father hath given us, shall we not drink it ?" — " Blessed Saviour ! by the bitterness of thy pains we may estimate the force of thy love ; we are sure of thy kindness and compassion ; thou wouldst not willingly call on us to suffer ; thou hast declared unto us, that all things shall finally work together for good to them that love thee; and therefore, if thou so ordainest it, welcome disappointment and poverty; welcome sickness and pain; welcome even shame, and contempt, and calumny. If this be a rough and thorny path, it is one in which thou hast gone before us. Where we see thy footsteps, we cannot repine. Meanwhile, thou wilt support us with the consola- tions of thy grace ; and even here thou canst more than compensate any temporal sufferings, by the pos- session of that peace which the world can neither give nor take away." Looking unto Jesus ! — " The Author and Finisher of our faith, who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of God." From the scene of our Saviour's weakness and degradation, we follow him, in idea, into the realms of glory, where " he is on the right hand of God; angels, and principalities, and powers being made subject unto 344 him." — But, though changed in place, yet not in nature ; he is still full of sympathy and love ; and, having died " to save his people from their sins," " he ever liveth to make intercession for them." Cheered by this animating view, the Christian's fainting spi- rits revive. Under the heaviest burthens, he feels his strength recruited ; and when all around him is dark and stormy, he can lift up an eye to heaven, radiant with hope, and glistening with gratitude. At such a season, no dangers can alarm, no opposi- tion can move, no provocations can irritate. He may almost adopt, as the language of his sober ex- ultation, what in the philosopher was but an idle rant ; and, considering that it is only the garment of mor- tality which is subject to the rents of fortune, his spirit, cheered with divine support, keeps its place within, secure and unassailable; so that he can al- most triumph at the stake or on the scaffold, and cry out, amidst the severest buffets of adversity, " Thou beatest but the case of Anaxarchus." But it is rarely that the Christian is elevated with this " joy unspeakable and full of glory;" he even lends him- self to these views with moderation and reserve. Often, alas ! emotions of another kind fill him with grief and confusion. Conscious, perhaps, of having acted unworthy of his high calling, and of having exposed himself to the just censure of a world ready enough to spy out his infirmities, he seems to him- self almost " to have crucified the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame." But let neither his joys intoxicate, nor his sorrows too much depress him. Let him still remember, that his chief business while on earth is not to meditate, but to act; that 34,5 the seeds of moral corruption are apt to spring up within him; and that it is requisite for him to watch over his own heart with incessant care. That he is to discharge with fidelity the duties of his particular sta- tion, and to conduct himself, according to his measure, after the example of his hlessed Master, whose meat and drink it was to do the work of his heavenly Fa- ther. That he is diligently to cultivate the talents with which God has entrusted him, and assiduously to employ them in doing justice and showing mercy, while he guards against the assaults of any internal enemy. In short, he is to demean himself, in all the common affairs of life, like an accountable crea- ture, who, in correspondence with the scripture char- acter of Christians, is " waiting for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ." Often therefore he ques- tions himself, " Am I employing my time, my for- tune, my bodily and mental powers, so as to be able to £ render up my account with joy, and not with grief?' Am I * adorning the doctrine of God my Saviour in all things ;' and proving that the servants of Christ, animated by a principle of filial affection, which renders their work a service of perfect freedom, are capable of as active and as persevering exertions, as the votaries of fame, or the slaves of ambition, or the drudges of avarice ?" Thus, without interruption to his labours, he may interpose occasional thoughts of things unseen : and amidst the many little intervals of business, may calmly look upwards to the heavenly Advocate, who is ever pleading the cause of his people, and obtain- ing for them needful supplies of grace and consola- tion. It is these realizing views, which give the p3 346 Christian a relish for the worship and service of the heavenly world. And if these blessed images, "seen but through a glass darkly," can thus refresh the soul, what must be its state, when, on the morning of the resurrection, it shall awake to the unclouded vision of celestial glory ! when, " to them that look for him, the Son of God shall appear a second time without sin unto salvation !" when, " sighing and sorrow be- ing fled away," — when, doubts and fears no more disquieting, and the painful consciousness of remain- ing imperfections no longer weighing down the spirit, they shall enter upon the fruition of u those joys, which eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man to conceive;" and shall bear their part in that blessed anthem, " Sal- vation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb," for ever and ever [ Thus, never let it be forgotten, the main distinc- tion between real Christianity, and the system of the bulk of nominal Christians,, chiefly consists in the different place which is assigned in the two schemes to the peculiar doctrines of the gospel. These, in the scheme of nominal Christians, if admitted at all, appear but like the stars of the firmament to the or- dinary eye. Those splendid luminaries draw forth, perhaps, occasionally a transient expression of ad- miration, when we behold their beauty, or hear of their distances, magnitudes, or properties ; now and then too we are led, perhaps, to muse upon their possible uses : but however curious as subjects of speculation, it must, after all, be confessed, they twinkle to the common observer with a vain and 347 "idle" lustre; and, except in the dreams of the as- trologer, have no influence on human happiness, or any concern with the course and order of the world. But to the real Christian, on the contrary, these peculiar doctrines constitute the centre to which he gravitates ! the very sun of his system ! the origin of all that is excellent and lovely ! the source of light, and life, and motion, and genial warmth, and plastic energy! Dim is the light of reason, and cold and comfortless our state, while left to her unassisted guidance. Even the Old Testament itself, though a revelation from heaven, shines but with feeble and scanty rays. But the blessed truths of the gospel are now unveiled to our eyes, and we are called upon to behold and to enjoy " the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ," in the full radiance of its meridian splendour. The words of inspiration best express our highly-favoured state: " We all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." Thou art the source and centre of all minds, Their only point of rest, eternal word ; From Thee departing, they are lost, and rove At random, without honour, hope, or peace: From Thee is all that soothes the life of man ; His high endeavour, and his glad success ; His strength to suffer, and his will to serve. But O ! Thou Bounteous Giver of all good ! Thou art of all thy gifts Thyself the crown: Give what Thou canst, without Thee we are poor, And with Thee rich, take what Thou wilt away. 3iS CHAPTER V. ON THE EXCELLENCE OF CHRISTIANITY IN CER- TAIN IMPORTANT PARTICULARS. ARGUMENT WHICH RESULTS THENCE IN PROOF OF ITS DI- VINE ORIGIN. The writer of the present work, having now com- pleted a faint delineation of the leading features of real Christianity, may be permitted to suspend for a few moments the farther execution of his plan, for the purpose of pointing out some excellencies which she really possesses ; but which, as they are not to be found in that superficial system which so unworthily usurps her name, appear scarcely to have attracted sufficient notice. If he should seem to be deviat- ing from the plan which he proposed to himself, he would suggest, as his excuse, that the observations which he is about to offer, will furnish a strong argu- ment in favour of the correctness of his preceding representation of the nature and characters of that religion which alone deserves to be called Chris- tianity. It holds true, indeed, in the case of Christianity, as in that of all the works of God, that though a superficial and cursory view cannot fail to discover to us somewhat of their beauty ; yet when on a more careful and accurate scrutiny we become better ac- quainted with their properties, we become also more deeply impressed by a conviction of their excellence. We may begin by referring to the last chapter for 349 an instance of the truth of this assertion. Therein was pointed out that intimate connection, that per- fect harmony, between the leading doctrines and the practical precepts of Christianity, which is apt to escape the attention of the ordinary eye. It may not be improper also to remark, though the position be so obvious as almost to render the statement of it needless, that there is the same close connection in the leading doctrines of Christianity with each other, and the same perfect harmony be- tween them. It is self-evident, that the corruption of human nature, that our reconciliation to God by the atonement of Christ, and that the restoration of our primitive dignity by the sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit, are all parts of one whole, united in close dependence and mutual congruity. Perhaps, however, it has not been sufficiently no- ticed, that, in the chief practical precepts of Chris- tianity, there is the same essential agreement, the same mutual dependency of one upon another. Let us survey this fresh instance of the wisdom of that system, which is the only solid foundation of our present or future happiness. The virtues most strongly and repeatedly enjoined in Scripture, and by our progress in which we may best measure our advancement in holiness, are the fear and love of God and of Christ ; love, kindness, and meekness towards our fellow-creatures; indif- ference to the possessions and events of this life, in comparison with our concern about eternal things ; self-denial, and humility. 350 It has been already pointed out in many parti- culars, how essentially such of these Christian graces as respect the Divine Being, are connected with those which have more directly for their objects our fellow- creatures and ourselves. But, in the case of these two last descriptions of Christian graces, the more attentively we consider them with reference to the acknowledged principles of human nature, and to indisputable facts, the more we shall be convinced that they afford mutual aid towards the acquisition of each other; and that, when acquired, they all harmonize with each other in perfect and essential union. This truth may perhaps be sufficiently appa- rent from what has been already remarked, but it may not be useless to dwell on it a little more in detaiL Take, then, the instances of loving-kindness and meekness towards others; and observe the solid foundation which is laid for them in self-denial, in moderation as to the good things of this life, and in humility. The chief causes of enmity among men are, pride and self-importance, the high opinion which men entertain of themselves, and the conse- quent deference which they exact from others; the over-valuation of worldly possessions, and of worldly honours, and, in consequence, a too eager competi- tion for them. The rough edges of one man rub against those of another, (if the expression may be allowed;) and the friction is often such as to injure the works, and disturb the just arrangements and re- gular motions of the social machine. But by Chris- tianity all these roughnesses are filed down; every wheel rolls round smoothly in the performance of its- appointed function, and there is nothing to retard the 351 several movements, or break in upon the general or- der. The religious system, indeed, of the bulk of nominal Christians, is satisfied with some tolerable appearance of virtue : and, accordingly, while it re- commends love and beneficence, it tolerates pride and vanity in many cases; it even countenances and com- mends the excessive valuation of character ; and at least allows a man's whole soul to be absorbed in the pursuit of the object which he is following, be it what it may of personal or professional success. But though these latter qualities may, for the most part, fairly enough consist with a soft exterior and courtly demeanour, they cannot so well accord with the genu- ine internal principle of love. Some cause of dis- content, some ground of jealousy or of envy will arise, some suspicion will corrode, some disappointment will sour, some slight or calumny will irritate and provoke reprisals. In the higher walks of life, in- deed, we learn to disguise our emotions ; but such will be the real inward feelings of the soul, and they will frequently betray themselves when we are off* our guard, or when we are not likely to be disparaged by the discovery. This state of the higher orders, in which men are scuffling eagerly for the same ob- jects, and wearing all the while such an appearance of sweetness and complacency, has often appeared to me to be not ill illustrated by the image of a gaming- table. There, every man is intent only on his own profit ; the good success of one is the ill success of another, and therefore the general state of mind of the parties engaged may be pretty well conjectured. All this, however, does not prevent, in well-bred societies, an exterior of perfect gentleness and good 3,52 humour. But let the same employment be carried on among the lower orders, who are not so well schooled in the art of disguising their feelings ; or in places where, by general connivance, people are al- lowed to give vent to their real emotions ; and every passion will display itself, by which the " human face divine " can be distorted and deformed. For those who never have been present at so humiliating a scene, the pencil of Hogarth has provided a repre- sentation of it, which is scarcely exaggerated; and the horrid name,* by which it is familiarly known among its frequenters, sufficiently attests the fidelity of its resemblance. But Christianity is not satisfied with producing merely the specious guise of virtue. She requires the substantial reality, which may stand the scruti- nizing eye of that Being " who searches the heart." Meaning therefore that the Christian should live and breathe, in an atmosphere, as it were, of benevolence, she forbids whatever can tend to obstruct its diffu- sion, or vitiate its purity. It is on this principle that emulation is forbidden : for, besides that this passion almost insensibly degenerates into envy, and that it derives its origin chiefly from pride and a desire of self-exaltation ; how can we easily love our neighbour as ourselves, if we consider him at the same time as our rival, and are intent upon surpassing him in the pursuit of whatever is the subject of our competition ? Christianity, again, teaches us not to set our hearts on earthly possessions and earthly honours; * The Hell, so called, let it be observed, not by way of re- proach, but familiarity, by those who frequent it. 353 and thereby provides for our really loving, or even cordially forgiving, those who have been more suc- cessful than ourselves in the attainment of them, or who have even designedly thwarted us in the pur- suit. " Mind not high things," says the apostle. How can he who means to attempt, in any degree, to obey this precept, and the many other passages of Scripture which speak a similar language, be irrecon- cilably hostile towards any one who may have been instrumental in his depression ? Christianity also teaches us not to prize human estimation at a very high rate ; and thereby provides for the practice of her injunction, to love from the heart those who, justly or unjustly, may have at- tacked our reputation, and wounded our character. She commands not the show, but the reality, of meekness and gentleness ; and by thus taking away the aliment of anger and the fomenters of discord, she provides for the maintenance of peace, and the restoration of good temper among men, when it may have sustained a temporary interruption. It is another capital excellence of Christianity, that she values moral attainments at a far higher rate than intellectual acquisitions, and proposes to con- duct her followers to the heights of virtue rather than of knowledge. On the contrary, most of the false religious systems which have prevailed in the world, have proposed to reward the labour of their votary, by drawing aside the veil which concealed from the vulgar eye their hidden mysteries, and by introducing him to the knowledge of their deeper and more sacred doctrines. 35i This is eminently the case in the Hindoo, and in the Mahometan religion, in that of China, and, for the most part, in the various modifications of ancient Paganism. In systems which proceed on this prin- ciple, it is obvious that the bulk of mankind can never make any great proficiency. There was accordingly, among the nations of antiquity, one system, whatever it was, for the learned, and another for the illiterate. Many of the philosophers spoke out, and professed to keep the lower orders in ignorance for the general good ; plainly suggesting, that the bulk of mankind was to be considered as almost of an inferior species. Aristotle himself countenanced this opinion. An opposite mode of proceeding naturally belongs to Christianity, which, without distinction, professes an equal regard for all human beings, and which was characterized by her first Promulgator as the messen- ger of " glad tidings to the poor." But her preference of moral to intellectual excel- lence is not to be praised, only because it is congenial with her general character, and suitable to the ends which she professes to have in view. It is the part of true wisdom to endeavour to excel there, where we may really attain to excellence. This considera- tion might be alone sufficient to direct our efforts to the acquisition of virtue rather than of know- ledge. — How limited is the range of the greatest human abilities ! how scanty the stores of the richest human knowledge ! Those who undeniably have held the first rank both for natural and acquired en- dowments, instead of thinking their pre-eminence a just ground of self-exaltation, have commonly been the most forward to confess, that their views were 355 bounded and their attainments moderate. Had they indeed been less candid, this is a discovery which we could not have failed to make for ourselves. Ex- perience daily furnishes us with examples of weak- ness, and short-sightedness, and error, in the wisest and the most learned of men, which might serve to confound the pride of human wisdom. Not so in morals. — Made at first in the likeness of God, and still bearing about us some faint traces of our high original, we are offered by our blessed Redeemer the means of purifying ourselves from our corruptions, and of once more regaining the image of our heavenly Father.* In love, the compendious expression for almost every virtue, in fortitude under all its forms, in justice, in humility, and in all the other graces of the Christian character, we are made capable of attaining to heights of real elevation : and, were we but faithful in the use of the means of grace which we enjoy, the operations of the Holy Spirit, prompting and aiding our diligent endeavours, would infallibly crown our labours with success, and make us partakers of a divine nature. The writer has himself known some who have been instances of the truth of this remark. To the memory of one,f now no more, may he be permitted to offer the last tribute of respectful friendship ? His course, short but laborious, has at length terminated in a better world ; and his luminous track still shines in the sight, and animates the efforts of all who knew him, and " marshals them the way" to heavenly glory. — Let * Ephesians ii. f The Rev. Matthew Babington, of Rothley, in Leicestershire, who (lied lately at Lisbon, 356 me not be thought to undervalue any of the gifts of God, or of the fruits of human exertion : but let not these be prized beyond their proper worth. If one of those little industrious reptiles, to which we have been well sent for a lesson of diligence and foresight, were to pride itself upon its strength, because it could carry off a larger grain of wheat than any other of its fellow ants, should we not laugh at the vanity which could be highly gratified with such a contemptible pre-eminence ? And is it far different to the eye of reason, when man, weak, short-sighted man, is vain of surpassing others in knowledge, in which, at best, his progress must be so limited ; forgetting the true dignity of his nature, and the path which would con- duct him to real excellence? The unparalleled value of the precepts of Christi- anity ought not to be passed over altogether unnoticed in this place, though it be needless to dwell on it ; since it has been often justly recognised and asserted, and has in some points been ably illustrated, and powerfully enforced by the masterly pen of a late writer. It is by no means, however, the design of this little work to attempt to trace the various excel- lencies of Christianity ; but it may not have been im- proper to point out a few particulars, which, in the course of investigation, have naturally fallen under our notice, and hitherto perhaps may scarcely have been enough regarded. Every such instance, it should always be remembered, is a fresh proof of Christianity being a revelation from God. It is still less, however, the intention of the writer, to attempt to vindicate the divine origin of our holy 35? religion. This task has often been executed by far abler advocates. In particular, every Christian, with whatever reserves his commendations must be quali- fied, should be forward to confess his obligations on this head to the author before alluded to; whose un- common acuteness has enabled him, in a field already so much trodden, to discover arguments which had eluded the observation of all by whom he was pre- ceded, and whose unequalled perspicuity puts his reader in complete possession of the fruits of his sagacity. Anxious, however^ in my little measure, to contribute to the support of this great cause, may it be permitted me to state one argument which im- presses my mind with particular force. This is, the great variety of the kinds of evidence which have been adduced in proof of Christianity, and the con- firmation thereby afforded of its truth : — The proof from prophecy — from miracles — from the character of Christ — from that of his apostles — -from the na- ture of the doctrines of Christianity — from the na- ture and excellence of her practical precepts — from the accordance we have lately pointed out between the doctrinal and practical system of Christianity, whether considered each in itself or in their mutual relation to each other — from other species of internal evidence, afforded in the more abundance in propor- tion as the sacred records have been scrutinized with greater care — from the accounts of contemporary or nearly contemporary writers — from the impossibility of accounting on any other supposition, than that of the truth of Christianity, for its promulgation and early prevalence : these and other lines of argument have all been brought forward, and ably urged by 358 different writers, in proportion as they have struck the minds of different observers more or less forcibly. Now, granting that some obscure and illiterate men, residing in a distant province of the Roman empire, had plotted to impose a forgery upon the world ; though some foundation for the imposture might, and indeed must, have been attempted to be laid : it seems, to my understanding at least, morally im- possible that so many different species of proofs, and all so strong, should have lent their concurrent aid, and have united their joint force, in the establishment of the falsehood. It may assist the reader in esti- mating the value of this argument, to consider, upon how different a footing, in this respect, every other religious system which was ever proposed to the world has stood : and indeed, every other historical fact, of which the truth has been at all contested. 359 CHAPTER VI. BRIEF INQUIRY INTO THE PRESENT STATE OF CHRISTIANITY IN THIS COUNTRY, WITH SOME OF THE CAUSES WHICH HAVE LED TO ITS CRITI- CAL CIRCUMSTANCES. ITS IMPORTANCE TO US AS A POLITICAL COMMUNITY; AND PRACTICAL HINTS FOR WHICH THE FOREGOING CONSIDERA- TIONS GIVE OCCASION. It may not be altogether improper to remind the reader, that hitherto our discussion has been merely concerning the prevailing religious opinions of pro- fessed Christians : but now, no longer confining our- selves to persons of this description, let us extend our inquiry, and briefly investigate the general state of Christianity in this country. The tendency of religion, in general, to promote the temporal welfare of political communities, is a fact which depends on principles so obvious and even undeniable, and is so forcibly inculcated by the his- tory of all ages, that there can be no necessity for entering into a formal proof of its truth. It has in- deed been maintained, not merely by schoolmen and divines, but by the most celebrated philosophers and moralists and politicians of every age. The peculiar excellence in this respect also of Christianity, considered independently of its truth or | falsehood, has been recognised by writers, who, to say the least, were not disposed to exaggerate its ; merits. Either of the above propositions being ad- 360 nritted, the state of religion in a country at any given period, (not to mention its connexion with the eternal happiness of the inhabitants,) immediately becomes a question of great political importance : and, in par- ticular, it must be material to ascertain, whether re- ligion be in an advancing or a declining state ; and, if the latter be the case, whether there be any prac- tical means for preventing at least its farther declen- sion. If the foregoing representations of the state of Christianity among the bulk of professed Christians be not very erroneous, they may well excite serious apprehensions in the mind of every reader, consi- dered merely in a political view. And these appre- hensions would be increased, if there should appear reason to believe, that, for some time past, religion has been on the decline amongst us, and that it continues to decline at the present moment. When it is proposed, however, to inquire into the actual state of religion in any country, and, in particular, to compare that state with its condition at any former period, there is one preliminary ob- servation to be made, if we would not subject our- selves to gross error. There exists, established by tacit consent in every country, what may be called a general standard or tone of morals, varying in the same community at different periods, and differing at the same period in the different ranks of societv. Whoever falls below this standard, (and, not unfre- quently, whoever also rises above it, ) offending against this general rule, suffers proportionably in the gen- eral estimation. Thus a regard for character, (which 361 is commonly the governing principle among men) becomes, to a certain degree, though no farther, an incitement to morality and virtue. It follows, of course, that where the practice does no more than come up to the required level, it will be no sufficient evidence of the existence, much less will it furnish a means of estimating the force, of a real internal prin- ciple of religion. Christians, Jews, Turks, Infidels, and Heretics, persons of ten thousand different sorts of passions and opinions, being members at the same time of the same community, and all conscious that they will be examined by this same standard, will regulate their conduct accordingly, and, with no great difference, will all adjust themselves to the required measure. It must also be remarked, that the causes which tend to raise or to depress this standard, commonly produce their effects by slow and almost insensible degrees ; and that it often continues for some time nearly the same, .when the circumstances, by which it was fixed, have materially altered. It is a truth which will hardly be contested, that Christianity, whenever it has at all prevailed, has raised the general standard of morals to a height before unknown. Some actions, which among the ancients were scarcely held to be blemishes in the most excellent characters, have been justly considered, by the laws of every Christian community, as merit- ing the severest punishments. In other instances, virtues formerly rare, have become common; and, in particular, a merciful and courteous temper has softened the rugged manners, and humanized the brutal ferocity, prevalent among the most polished Q 29 362 nations of the heathen world. But from what has been recently observed, it is manifest, that, so far as external appearances are concerned, these effects, when once produced by Christianity, are produced alike in those who deny, and in those who admit, her divine original; I had almost said, in those who reject, and those who cordially embrace, the doctrines of the gospel ; and these effects might, and probably would, remain for a while without any great apparent alteration, however her spirit might languish, or even her authority decline. The form of the temple, as was once beautifully remarked, may continue, when the dii tutelar es have left it. When, therefore, we are inquiring into the real state of Christianity at any period, if we would not be deceived in this im- portant investigation, we must be so much the more careful not to take up with superficial appearances. It may perhaps help us to ascertain the advancing or declining state of Christianity in Great Britain at the present moment, and still more, to discover some of the causes by which that state has been produced, to employ a little time in considering what might naturally be expected to be its actual situation ; and what advantages or disadvantages such a religion might be expected to derive from the circumstances in which it has been placed among us, and from those in which it still continues. Experience warrants, and reason justifies and ex- plains, the assertion, that persecution generally tends to quicken the vigour, and extend the prevalence, of the opinions which she would eradicate. For the peace of mankind, it has grown at length almost 363 into an axiom, that 285, 376. Soame Jenyns, his View of the internal Evidence of Christianity referred to, 98, 377. Sophistry with which religion is explained away, 227. Stage, the, proof from its being frequented by nominal Christians of their defective love of God, 317—320, 325—327. proof from, illustrated by political analogy, 319. Statutes, religion made a set of, 225, 226. Sterne, strongly censured, 300, 301. Strictness of true practical Christianity, 198, 199. of our system objected to, as not suited to the state of the world, 377. the charge refuted, 377, &c. Sunday, hints for its employment, 235, 236. common modes of unhallowing it, 237, 238. Supreme regard to be set on God, 153, 206—223. Swift's Tale of a Tub, quoted, 227. Taste, votaries of, 220. Tempers, Christian, not cultivated, 230 — 210. respecting human estimation, 259 — 264. respecting calumny and disgrace, 265, 266. when too mucb immersed in worldly business, 296 — 299. Theatres, Parisian, 319. Theatrical entertainments prove defective love of God, 320. prove defective love of our neighbour, 318. illustrated by political analogy, 319. Unbelievers, half, a class of them, 444. Uncharitableness, what falsely so called, 409, 410. 464 Unitarianism often results from same causes as absolute scepti- cism, 441. Useful lives, discussion concerning, 273. substituted for religion, 274. value of, estimated by standard of mere reason, 280, 281. real worth of, on Christian principles, 281, 282. life, the Christian's life the most so, 286. Christians urged to, 287. life, its just praise given to, 291. apt to mislead us, 292. Vice, some one always excused, 407, 408. Vices, out-growing or changing them, mistaken for forsaking all sins, 407. Vulgarity in religion, as to language, to be expected from vulgar men, 147, 148. Wealth, votaries of, 219. Women, more disposed than men to religion, and uses to be made of this, 410, 411. exalted office assigned to them, 412. Witherspoon, 372. Youth, simplicity of, mistaken for religion, 410. FINIS. Printed by W. Collins & Co. Glasgow. 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