of his empire. We may afterwards be conveyed to an unoccupied region of immensity, where new creations, displaying new objects of glory and magnificence, are starting into existence. We may afterwards be invest

ed with the wings of a seraph, and be enabled to wing our way, in company with angels, from world to world, and to visit the most distant regions of that immense universe over which Omnipotence presides. In short, the imagination can set no limits to its excursions, when it attempts to survey the revolutions and changes that may take place, and the new scenes of glory which may burst upon the view throughout the lapse of a duration which will have no end.

Now, in whatever relation man may stand to any portion of the universal system, throughout every future period of his existence, and during all the revolutions of eter nity, love will unite him to all other holy beings with whom he may associate, however distant their abode from the spot he now occupies, however different its scenery and arrangements, and however superior they may be in point of corporeal organization and intellectual capacity. For no intelligence, in any region of the universe, in whom the principle of love predominates, can ever be supposed to disdain to associate with another, of whatever rank or order, who is actuated by a similar affection; otherwise, his love would degenerate into malevolence. This principle will unite him to angels and archangels, to cherubim and seraphim, to thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers, from whose discourses he will learn the history of the Divine dispensations, the wonders of Almighty power, and "the manifold wisdom of God." So long as it reigns uncontrolled in his heart, it will secure his happiness in all places, and in every period of his existence, by a law established by the Almighty, and founded on his perfec-tions; a law which binds together the whole intelligent system, and forms the basis of the felicity of the moral uniSo that his future blessedness is forever secure, beyond the reach of danger, and rests upon a foundation stable and permanent as the throne of the Eternal.

verse.

3. From what has been now stated we may learn, that there is but one religion throughout the universe, however vast its magnitude and boundless its extension. In this world

numerous systems of religion prevail, and thousands of different opinions in relation to its ceremonies and objects; but experience has demonstrated, that all of them, except one, are insufficient to guide rational beings to substantial felicity. And of this one system, how many foolish and inaccurate, and even contradictory opinions, have been formed, through the ignorance and perversity of the human mind! Though all its parts have a direct reference to the actions of intelligent agents, and to the cultivation of benevolent affections, yet it has been represented, even by its professed abettors, as a congeries of metaphysical dogmas and speculative, opinions; and in this point of view, it has been the source of perpetual wrangling and contentions. Though it is calculated to expand the understanding, to warm the heart, and to elevate the soul to God, yet it has been reduced, by the cunning artifice of man, to a mass of mere quibbles and unmeaning ceremonies. And though it breathes nothing but peace and good will to man, it has been employed as an engine of persecution and of human destruction. It is only in proportion as our religion approximates to the character of the religion which is common to all holy beings, that it is worthy of our veneration and our ardent pursuit. And, therefore, in order to determine the truth and importance of any particular system of religious opinions, the best test we can apply to it is, to ascertain what bearings it has upon the grand principles to which we have been adverting. "Do all the sentiments and tenets which it strenuously supports, like the lines from the circumference to the centre of a circle, converge towards the promotion of love, in all its practical ramifications? Are the opinions we now so fiercely maintain, of such a nature, that we shall probably recognise them as important practical principles a million of years hence, in the regions of distant worlds ?" If such a test were applied to hundreds of opinions which have agitated the religious world, and obstructed the operations of the benevolent affections, they would be driven away from the Christian system as chaff before the whirlwind; and Christians would feel ashamed of the importance they attached to their "mint, and anise, and cummin," while they neglected the weightier matters of the law, "judgment, mercy, and the love of

God." How many false and foolish opinions shall we leave behind us in this region of darkness and contention, when w we enter within the confines of the eternal state? How sublime, how lovely, and how beatifying will religion appear in that world, where it will be contemplated in its native simplicity, and stripped of all the foreign and adventitious circumstances which now obscure its brightness and glory!-I need scarcely say, that the one religion to which I allude, is Christianity, considered, not so much. in the scheme of mediation which it unfolds, which may have a relation solely to man viewed in his character as a sinner, but in the leading dispositions and virtues it inculcates, and in the great objects which all its doctrines, facts, and supernatural communications have a tendency to accomplish. In these points of view, it must be considered as embodying principles and laws which pervade the religious systems of all worlds.

Finally, love is a principle in the moral and intelligent system, which bears a striking analogy to the principle of attraction in the material world. Each of them unites, in its respective sphere, all the beings which compose it, in one grand and harmonious system; and both of them combined give birth to all the moral and physical phenomena which diversify the intellectual and the material universe. By the principle of attraction, the inhabitants of the earth, along with their habitations, are retained to its surface, and prevented from flying off in wild confusion through the voids of space. By the same power the mountains rest on a solid basis, the rivers flow from the mountains to the plains, and the ocean is confined within its appointed channels. It produces the various phenomena which arise from the meandering rill, the majestic river, and the roaring cataract. It produces the descent of rain and dew, and the alternate flux and reflux of the tides. It prevents the waters of the great deep from covering the mountain tops, and mingling in confusion with the clouds of heaven. It binds together the infinity of atoms which constitute the globe on which we tread; it regulates the various movements of men and other animated beings; it forms mechanical powers; and gives impulsion to numerous machines and engines. It rolls the moon, in regular succession, around the earth, and prevents her from run

ning lawlessly through the sky. It extends its influence from the sun to the remotest planets, conducting revolving worlds, with all their satellites, in their ample circuits, and preserving them all in one harmonious system. It connects the earth and the planetary globes with other systems in the distant regions of space; and carries the sun, with all his attendant orbs, around the centre of that nebula to which it belongs, and all the systems and nebulæ of the universe around the throne of God.

In like manner, love unites all holy intelligences, wherever dispersed through the amplitudes of creation, in one amiable and harmonious system. It unites man to God, and God to man. It unites the renovated inhabitants of our globe to angels and archangels, and qualifies them for entering into the closest bonds of friendship and affection, with superior intelligences that people the regions of distant worlds. It produces an expansive and harmonious spirit, and an ardent desire to diffuse happiness among all surrounding beings. It gives birth to those sublime emotions which flow out towards the Creator, in the various forms of adoration, complacency, hope, confidence, humility, joy, submission, and reverence; and it is the spring of all those virtuous dispositions which flow out towards our fellow-creatures in the form of mercy, compassion, sincerity, candour, sympathy, kindness, long-suffering, gentleness, meekness, charity, generosity, justice, and active beneficence. It impels its possessor to run to the assistance of the distressed, to support the weak, to console the desponding, to comfort the dying, to diffuse the rays of heavenly light over the benighted mind, and to rejoice in the prosperity of all around. It is "the bond of perfection" which unites the members of an affectionate family, and preserves the union of the faithful in all the churches of the saints. It unites man to man by the closest ties, however different in language, customs, colour, and complexion, and however far removed from each other in point of place. It enables the Greenlander, the Icelander, the African, the inhabitant of Hindostan, and the inhabitant of the British Isles, in whose hearts it resides, to recognise each other as the "sons of God," and as "brethren in Christ Jesus." It sends forth the imagination over every quarter of the globe, car

rying benevolent wishes, fervent prayers and intercessions for men of all kindreds and ranks; and employs every active endeavour to promote the present enjoyment, and the eternal felicity of the family of mankind. It inspires the soul with emotions of delight, when it becomes the instrument of communicating happiness to all within the sphere of its influence. It unites the host of seraphim and cherubim in one vast and harmonious association; so that no jarring affection is ever felt, and no discordant voice is ever heard, among the thousands and ten thousands of these exalted intelligences. It preserves every member of the holy and intelligent system in the rank and orbit prescribed by Infinite Wisdom, and leads them all to rejoice in accomplishing the plans of their benevolent Creator. Around Him, as the sun of the moral system-the centre of light, and love, and joy, they all revolve in their appointed order; cheered by the emanation of his love, enlightened by his beams, and reflecting a radiance upon all the beings with which they are surrounded. Though one orb differs from another, in motion, in magnitude, and in glory, yet no one interferes with another, to impede its progress, or to intercept the emanations of light and joy from the Uncreated Source and Centre of all enjoyment.

Were the principle of attraction, which binds together the atoms of our globe, and connects the planetary orbs with the sun, to be completely dissolved, the earth would be shattered to its centre; the waters of the ocean would fly upwards, and be dispersed through the highest regions of the atmosphere; rocks and mountains would be detached from their bases, and raised aloft above the clouds; forests would be torn up from their roots, and tossed about in confusion through the sky; the moon would forsake her ancient course; the planets would run lawlessly through the immensity of space, and mighty worlds would be seen dashing against each other, till they were shattered to pieces, and their fragments tossed about in disorder, throughout surrounding systems.-Effects equally disastrous to the intelligent system would be produced, were the influence of love, in all its varied emanations, to be completely suspended or annihilated. War would be proclaimed in heaven, and myriads of angels hurled from their seats of bliss. The rapturous songs and adorations of seraphs would be