quisitors," and to declaim on the mild spirit of reason and philosophy, now rising to enlighten the world, and humanize the mind, but which is unfortunately still confined to infidels alone; and, after stating the ignorance and malice of priests, &c. and the miseries the poor infidels have suffered, with the firm conviction that infidel science and moderation will soon overpower the errors and vices of the Christian superstition,—he adds, "Now, sir, we have grown bolder; knowledge being no longer confined to clerical seminaries, priests are not kings. The church totters; and a single pamphlet, you say, has unsettled the faith of thousands. Now that you cannot stifle reason, you pretend to liberality of sentiment." The good Doctor is probably a little too confident respecting the success of his opinions, and perhaps expects a wider and more rapid progress than experience will justify. doubtless hopes that the good work which Thomas Paine has recommenced, will be materially forwarded, if not completed, by himself; insomuch that in a few years it may be said there was once such a thing as Christianity. A man is certanly at liberty to hope what he pleases; and the expectations of the Doctor and his friends, need neither alarm nor confound any serious Christian. We shall, on the contrary, hope, what is at least more in unison with past experience, that' his expectations will be frustrated, and that.

He

Christianity will exist long after T. Paine, S. Francis, and A. Macleod, have gone the way of all flesh; and very long after their ill advised writings have fallen into the oblivion which they merit, and from which it would have been happy for the authors, and for many ignorant and unsuspicious mem-bers of society, if they had never emerged. The remark of Bishop Watson, which excites in the mind of his opponent so much causeless animosity, and so many unjust inferences, is calculated, from the way in which it is stated, to give offence to no human being. To wish for the death of an enemy, or opponent, from a principle of revenge, is (I will not say unchristian, for that my friend the Doctor would laugh at, but) inhuman. But since death is common to, and must be the fate of all men, sooner or later, it is not only not cruel, but humane, to wish any person or persons removed from the world, before they should have it in their power to perform an action, which must not only injure themselves, but their fellow men, in their most essential concerns. I have often heard the fondest mother say, (and I have ever felt the justice of the saying,) that she would rather carry to the grave the son of her warmest love, than live to see him guilty of a mean or unworthy action. Death, to an innocent and upright man, has nothing in it that is dreadful; but life and death are alike horrible in expec

of a divine origin; of which the doctrines are sublime, and the duties simple; and which is calculated, if duly attended to, to produce the most happy effects in this world, whilst it affords the most comfortable prospects in another. If we enjoy prosperity, it teaches us to use it with moderation, that we may enjoy it; if we meet with adversity, it enables us to bear it with patience, and to turn even distress into advantage. In every situation, it impresses on our minds what universal experience confirms, that this is not our resting place. If we are happy, it affords us the prospect of an increase of happiness, without end and without alloy If we are afflicted, it comforts us with the assurance, that our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; such as eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive the glory that shall then be revealed to those who love God and the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. These comforts may be enjoyed by every Christian, and have been felt by thousands in every age.

Cloathed in the artless simplicity of historical narration, recommended and rendered familiar by the persuasive influence of example, and enforced by the mild but determined authority of Him who knows what

is in man, without abstract reasoning, and logical deductions, so often the parents of obscurity and scepticism; and without controversy, oftener still the source of prejudice and error, Christianity is calculated to enlighten, improve, and elevate the meanest understanding; and yet, in the principles it unfolds, and in the practical importance of the duties it enjoins, it surpasses the keenest efforts of human intellect,-the most accurate deductions of human science. Simple, obvious, and unperplexed, in the mode of its communication, and in the nature of its sanctions, it yet affords, to those who will attend to it, the most sublime and effectual philosophy; the most enlarged, accurate and interesting views of God, of nature and of man, which were ever conceived or taught. To the poor is this gospel preached, and by the poor as far, as is necessary for present improvement and for the attainment of future glory, it may be understood; and yet it affords scope for the efforts, and excites the admiration, of the finest human genius. Its duties are obligatory on all ranks of men, and its doctrines and principles are calculated alike to `astonish and improve the ignorant and the learned; to encourage the humble, and to resist and confound the arrogant. O pitiable reflection, that we should be negligent of information so important, and careless of duties so conducive to our happiness and L

improvement! that we should allow the malicious mouth of infidelity to accuse such a religion of inefficacy, and, from the conduct of too many amongst us, to brand it with principles which it never acknowledged, and with crimes which it abhors! But the impious insinuations, and unjust conclusions, of unbelieving opponents, and the no less dangerous and culpable conduct of too many professed Christians, affords no just argument against the power and goodness of God, or against the general beneficence and final utility of that religion which he has been pleased to give us. Millions have already been rendered happy, beyond the power of human expression, by faith in its doctrines, and obedience to its laws; and millions will yet experience its happiest influence, in spite of the baneful example of its lukewarm and guilty professors, and the malicious efforts of its avowed enemies.

"It was no ignorant or unlearned man, who said, that he counted even gain to be loss, and all things as dung, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus the Lord; and thousands in the age in which he lived, when Christianity was most derided and most depressed, enjoyed the same happy tranquillity, the same resigned submission under affliction, the same cheerful humility in circumstances more prosperous, and the same enlivening hope in the pro