Page images
PDF
EPUB

those men they are sentiments natural to every man, who has no interest of his own to serve- this is not the case of those whose principles I have examined— many of them have what is commonly called, good places-and these places are dependent upon the system which supports them-Every attack upon the system, is consequently an attack upon the interests of many individuals; and hence the passions of many individuals are aroused-and hence calumnies, backbitings, mockeries, and even robbery and blood-I am not barbarous enough to feel unmoved at such a train of evils; nor yet sufficiently inhuman, to feel indifferent about the social interests of my fellow men-I would promote these interests if it were in my power, in a way conformable to reason and public safety-but this is not the work of a private individual-it lyes with a higher power.

My principles would lead me to see and embrace these men, if my affections met with a correspondent principle-they would absolutely incline me, to open my house to them if they were virtuous strangers, and even to ward off the blow which might descend to injure them—I would respect their good qualities; and if I felt the power, would pray, that their difficulties might be removed by such means, as might produce the least affliction; and finally that they might be restored to society, in a character worthy of them as men, citizens and christians.

I do not know that I have ever in a social way, enjoyed a more sublime satisfaction in my life, than once in com

pany with a Catholic Clergyman and two Methodist Missionaries the novelty of such society might have "heightened the enjoyment-but the perfect harmony and good humour, with which the parties disputed on the different points of doctrine, which divide the English and Romish churches, was really admirable--Oh Ganganelli! I have not forgotten thee;-and much do i apprehend, that if thy successors and their followers since, had trod in thy footsteps, that you would have gone near to tread down the notion of your Antichristian church-Thou commenced the destruction of this sentiment, but too many of them alas! have revived and esta

blished it.

I am not vain enough to suppose, that any sentiment of mine, however true; can effect any alteration in the established order of thingsThe sentiments of men who were the acknowledged oracles of unerring truth, remain in our possession, and produce but partial effects-And why? Because our passions and interests remain also, and oppose them-We cannot make ourselves what we would wishbold to take up, firm to sustain the consecrated cross"-patient in affliction, moderate in prosperity, ready to repay injuries with kindness-active in all good services-how then can we produce these virtues in others?Are we then to sit down and do nothing?—No-we are to make the best approach we can toward these virtues-We may not be able

to row against wind and tide-but we may sail when the wind favours us-We may not have influence with men to put away the poison which is consuming them-but we

we

may express our sentiments of its noxious quality. may be still less successful in persuading them, that conformity to the law, and submission to the will of God, is the true secret of happiness but we may labor to bring ourselves and others to this standard, by improving the opportunities he has given us, in application for his pardoning mercy, his preserving power, and grace so to regulate our conversation and example, as that all who are not on the Devil's side, may see something in them to admire. -Our propensity by nature, is to take from each other, poison which destroys or flattery which intoxicates-they are sure of being universally acceptable to the world, who have the largest portion of these wares, and know how to administer them with superior grace!-but the man who presumes to present us with that intellectual bread, which produceth health and vigour in the social body-must be our enemy-a troublesome and impertinent fellow-an arch hypocrite-or any thing but a sinner fleeing from the wrath to come, and laboring to bring his fellow sinners with him to the heavenly shore-Alas! we always feel ourselves insulted by those blind beggars, whose eyes have been opened*-We cannot bear the impertinence of those fellows, informing us of prospects which they see at a distance and they have so seldom wealth or rank, or regal authority to recommend them, that mankind must be endowed both with patience and philosophy, to suffer them to live!

* John ix. 34.

APPARENT EVIL PRODUCTIVE OF REAL GOOD.

Is it not astonishing how bonds and imprisonments, disappointments and death, have been pregnant with blessings to mankind-Could reason discover, that the seeds of knowledge and happiness were ever generated in such dark regions, did not experience resulting from matter of fact lend her assistance-from hence we may calculate, that blessings unfathomable by the feeble powers of man, have been gencrating in the troubled womb of time since its formation-and which nothing at this side eternity, save divine revelation can develope; and that perhaps but partially, on account of the frailty of our natureWho would suppose, that Abraham, an exile by the command of God, should become a mighty prince?-Who that met him without one foot of territory, would dream of his being afterwards sufficiently powerful, to rescue Lot and his family from the united forces of seven kings, who led them captive-and that the son of his old age, whom for a trial of his faith he had received a command to destroy, should be restored to him by the same divine authority, to become the father of a great and mighty nation?-Who that saw Joseph in prison, would suspect him to be kept there, for the preservation of his father's house from famine; and for this and other providential reasons, raised almost to the throne of Egypt?-Who that saw Moses a child in the ark of bulrushes by the water side, would suppose him the destined deliverer of his countrymen from Egyptian slavery,

and the lawgiver of a mighty nation?--Who that in the commencement of christianity, saw the powers of the world united against it, could calculate by unassisted reason, its triumph over those powers without sword or shield? And who that saw it in possession of these latter, by the same light could calculate its corruption and decline?-So feeble are the powers of man, and yet it is upon those powers alone, that he usually dependeth for wisdom to direct, and for ability to execute what he undertaketh but to proceed-who that groaned under the tyranny of the feudal system; could then foresee, that the celebrated crusades of their masters, would lay the foundations of liberty, and confer upon Europe, arts, sciences, and the enfranchisement of cities? And who could foresee, that the religious persecutions of Europe, would open a door for the introduction of the pure gospel into America; and that the despised objects of persecuting scorn, flying from their native country, should carry in their right hand the tidings of life and immortality, and in their left, the blessings of civilized prosperity and social happiness?—It experienced in every possible acceptation, the fulfilment of the ancient prophecy" Instead of the thorn shall grow up the fir-tree, and instead of the briar, the myrtle-tree, and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.". -Thus it has ever been the misfortune of human nature, to reject with contempt the remedy of its own miseries, and to undervalue the blessings it has in possession, until it is brought to feel their value and importance-In the mean time, the temporary

« PreviousContinue »