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of escaping "the wrath to come," unless the moral constitution of the intelligent universe were entirely subverted.

If, then, it appears, that such dismal consequences would flow from the subversion of this principle, or law, it is obvious, that the law itself must be "holy, just, and good," and calculated to promote the perfection and happiness of all created intelligences, among whom it is found in full operation. And, in a world such as ours, where this law is partially violated, the consequent misery which is suffered, will be nearly in proportion to the extent to which this violation is carried, and to the number of individuals who are actuated by a principle of opposition to its requirements.

In like manner, it might be shown, that the most dismal effects would be produced, were the first principle of the moral law reversed, and the malevolence of intelligent beings directed towards their Creator. In this case, instead of assembled multitudes joining in solemn adorations of the divine character and perfections, the God of heaven would be blasphemed, and his name abhorred in every land. Instead of reverence and profound humility in the presence of Jehovah, a spirit of pride and independency, and an impatience of control would pervade every mind. Instead of thanksgivings for the bounties of his providence, the basest ingratitude would be manifested, and the most marked contempt of all his favours. Instead of cordial submission to his wise arrangements, nothing but murmurings, and repinings would be heard, and the most presumptuous decisions uttered against all the dispensations of his providence. Instead of complacency and delight in his character and operations, insults and reproaches would burst forth at every display of his wisdom, justice, and omnipotence. Instead of admiration of the beauty and grandeur of his wonderful works in heaven and earth, feelings of contempt and disdain would be mingled with all their surveys of the operations of nature. His omnipotence would be disregarded, his benevolence called in question or despised, and his wisdom and intelligence arraigned. Like Alphonso king of Castile, they would not hesitate to affirm," If we had been of God's privy council when he made the world, we would have advised him

better." Under the influence of such diabolical dispositions, the harmony of the visible creation would be at tempted to be deranged, and its beauties defaced, in so far as their limited powers would be able to effect. The fields would be stripped of their verdure; the forests would be torn up by the roots, and strewed in shapeless masses along the plains; the vegetable beauties which now diversify the rural landscape would be effaced; the rivers would be turned out of their courses to overflow the adjacent plains, and to transform them into stagnant marshes and standing pools; the air would be impregnated with pestilential vapours; and the grand, and beautiful, and picturesque scenes of nature would be stripped of their glory, leaving nothing but naked rocks and barren. deserts covered with the wrecks of nature, to mark the operations of malevolence.

Such would be the dispositions and the conduct of intelligent beings, were the first principle of the moral law reversed, and their actions regulated by a principle of malevolence; and such, in a greater or less degree, are the dispositions of every man in whose heart the love of God has never taken up its residence. Revolting as the scenes now supposed must appear to every mind possessed of moral feeling, they must be admitted to be the necessary results of malignant passions raging without control. And, if there be any region of creation in which pure malevolence actuates its inhabitants, we must suppose the restraining influence of the Almighty interposed, to preserve their malignant operations within those bounds which are consistent with the plans of his moral government, and the general happiness of the intelligent universe. That principles and practices have existed among mankind, which, if left to operate without restraint, would produce all the effects now supposed, appears from the description which the Apostle Paul gives of the character of the Gentile world, and even of that portion of it which had been brought into a civilized state. He declares that " they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, but changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things," that they were "filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness,

maliciousness;" that they were "full of envy, murder, deceit, malignity, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents; without understanding, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful. Who knowing the judgment of God, that they who commit such things are worthy of death, not only do " Were the same, but have pleasure in them that do them." practices and passions of this description, which are all directly opposed to the principle of benevolence, to operate without control, the universe would soon be transformed into a boundless scene of devastation and sterility, of misery and horror, of lamentation and wo.

Turning our eyes from such revolting scenes, I shall now direct the attention of my readers to a more pleasing picture, and endeavour to delineate some of the happy effects which would naturally result from a complete conformity in thought and action, to the principles of the di

vine law.

SECTION V.

Effects which would flow from the full operation of the principle of Love to God and to Man.

WERE this divine principle in full operation among the intelligences that people our globe, this world would be transformed into a paradise, the moral desert would be changed into a fruitful field, and "blossom as the rose," and Eden would again appear in all its beauty and delights. Fraud, deceit, and artifice, with all their concomitant train of evils, would no longer walk rampant in every land. Prosecutions, lawsuits, and all the innumerable vexatious litigations which now disturb the peace of society, would cease from among men. Every debt would be punctually paid; every commodity sold at its just value; every article of merchandise exhibited in its true character; every promise faithfully performed; every dispute amicably adjusted; every man's character held in estimation; every rogue and cheat banished from society; and every jail, bridewell, and house of correc

tion, would either be swept away, or transformed into the abodes of honesty, industry, and peace. Injustice and oppression would no longer walk triumphant through the world, while the poor, the widow, and the fatherless, were groaning under the iron rod of those who had deprived them of every comfort. No longer would the captive be chained to a dungeon, and doomed to count, in sorrow and solitude, the many long days and years he has been banished from the light of day, and the society of his dearest friends. No longer should we see a hardhearted creditor doom a poor unfortunate man, for the sake of a few shillings or pounds, to rot in a jail, while his family, deprived of his industry, were pining away in wretchedness and want. No longer should we hear the harsh creaking of iron doors, ponderous bolts, and the clanking of the chains of criminals; nor the sighs and groans of the poor slave, fainting under the lash, and the reproaches of a cruel master. The bands of the oppressed would be loosed, the captives would be set at liberty, the iron fetters would be burst asunder, and a universal jubilee proclaimed throughout every land. The haunts of riot and debauchery would be forsaken, and their inmates hissed from the abodes of men. The victims of seduction would no longer crowd our streets at the dead hour of night, to entice the "simple ones" into the paths of vice and destruction; but purity, righteousness, and peace would " run down our streets like a river," distributing safety, happiness, and repose.

The tongue of the slanderer, and the whisperings of the backbiter would no longer be heard in their malicious attempts to sow the seeds of discord and contention among brethren. Falsehood in all its ramifications, with the numerous train of evils it now produces, would be banished from the intercourses of society; nor would treachery prove the ruin of families and societies, and interrupt the harmony of the commercial and the moral world. No longer should we hear of the embezzling of property by unfaithful servants; nor of the blasted hopes, the cruel disappointments, and the ruin of credit and of reputation now produced by the votaries of falsehood. "The lips of truth would be established for ever," and the ceiver would be hissed to the shades of hell.

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ty would remain sacred and secure from the thief and the midnight robber, and our persons from the attacks of the murderer and the assassin. We should no longer hesitate to prosecute our journeys by day or by night for fear of the footpad or the highwayman; but should recognize every passenger as a friend and protector. Plunder and devastation would cease from the earth: "violence would no more be heard in our land; nor wasting, nor destruction in all our borders." Execrations and malicious insults would never harrow up the feelings of our fellow-men, nor would a single instance of revenge be heard of among all the inhabitants of the earth.

Pride, which now stalks about, with stately steps and lofty looks, surveying surrounding intelligences with feelings of contempt, would be for ever banished from the world. Ambition would no longer wade through slaughter to a throne, nor trample on the rights of an injured people. Wars would cease to the ends of the earth, and the instruments of human destruction would be beaten into ploughshares and pruning hooks. That scourge which has drenched the earth with human gore-which has convulsed every nation under heaven-which has produced tenfold more misery than all the destructive elements of nature, and which has swept from existence so many millions of mankind-would be regarded as the eternal disgrace of the human character, and the most shocking display of depravity in the annals of our race. No longer should we hear "the sound of the trumpet and the alarm of war," the confused noise of "the horseman and the bowman," and of mighty armies encamping around "the city of the innocent," to hurl against its walls the instruments of destruction. No longer should we behold the fires blazing on the mountain tops to spread the alarm of invading armies; nor the city which was once full of inhabitantssitting solitary," without a voice being heard within its dwellings, but the sighs of the disconsolate, and the groans of the dying. Human wolves thirsting for the blood of nations, would cease to prowl among men. Nation would not lift up sword against nation, neither would they learn war any more. The instruments of cruelty, the stake, the rack, the knout, and the lash, would no longer lacerate and torture the wretched culprit; can

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