is never satisfied', and the whole earth becomes too narrow a theater for her rapacity and ambition. Alexander, in the mad career of his conquests, subdued and plundered the greater part of the known world', and had the riches and splendor of its most magnificent cities at his command'; yet, when he had finished his course, he sat down and wept like a crocodilé, because he had access to no other world that might serve as a theater for warfare and plunder. Thus it is that avarice would never curb her boundless desires, till she had glutted herself not only with the spoils of this terrestrial region', but with the treasures of the universe`; yet, like hell and destruction', she would never be satisfied. Nor would ambition'-her kinsfellow, and companion'-ever cease its career', till it had subdued every order of intellectual existence', ascended the throne of the Most High', and seized the reins of universal government.

It would be needless to bring forward illustrations of this topic', or to attempt to show that the covetous and ambitious principle' has been the main cause of the wholesale destruction of mankind', and the wide spread of human misery', for almost the whole of the records of history' contain little else than a continued series of illustrations on this point'; and I have already, under the first head, selected a few examples', which might be multiplied a thousand fold.

But, I cannot help pausing a little to reflect on the numerous evils, and the incalculable misery which this unholy affection has produced in the world. Could we take only a bird's eye view of its operations and effects', beginning at the first apostasy of man', and tracing him down the stream of time to the present day'-and could we, at the same time, stretch our eyes over the globe, from north to south', and from east to west', and contemplate the miseries which have followed in its train in every land'-what an awful and revolting picture would be presented to the view! But there is no eye save that of Omniscience', which could take in the thousandth part of the widely-extended miseries and desolations which it has in every age produced. During the period which intervened from the fall of man to the deluge', this principle appears to have operated on an extensive scale', for we are told, that "the wickedness of man was great'," and that "the earth was filled with VIOLENCE',"-evidently implying that the strong and powerful' were continually engaged in seizing on the wealth and possessions of the weak and de

fenceless', oppressing the poor', the widow', and the fatherless', plundering cities, desolating fields', and carrying bloodshed and ruin through every land'-till the state of society rose to such a pitch of depravity, as rendered it expedient that they should be swept at once', with an overflowing flood', from the face of creation.

After the deluge, it was not long before the lust of ambition began again to display itself', by an inordinate desire after wealth and aggrandizement'; and, hence, wars were recommenced among almost every tribe`, and they have continued, in constant succession, throughout every generation', to the present day. Wherever we turn our eyes over the regions of the globe, whether to the civilized nations of Europe', the empires of Southern Asia', the frozen regions of Siberia', the sultry climes of Africa', the forests and wilds of America', or even to the most diminutive islands which are spread over the Pacific Ocean', we behold COVETOUSNESS, like an insatiable monster', devouring human happiness', and feasting on the sorrows and sufferings of mankind. But who can calculate the amount of misery which has thus been accumulated'? It is more than probable, that the eighth part of the human race has been slaughtered by the wars and commotions which ambition has created'; and, consequently', more than twenty thousand millions of mankind have become its victims'; that is', twenty-five times the number of human beings which compose the present population of the globe. Along with the destruction of such a number of rational beings', we have to take into account the millions of mangled wretches whose remaining existence was rendered miserable'; the numberless widows and orphans' who were left to mourn the loss of every thing dear to them'; the thousands of infants that have been murdered', and of females that have been violated'; the famine and pestilence', and the frightful desolations', which destroying armies have always left behind them. Many spots of the earth, which were beautiful as Eden', have been turned into a hideous wilderness. The most splendid and magnificent cities have been set on flames or razed to their foundations', and "their memorials have perished with them." Even the lower animals have been dragged into battles', and have become sufferers amidst the fury of combatants and the wreck of nations. Such are some of the hideous desolations', and the vast amount of human misery' which covetousness has created'; for to avarice,

leagued with ambition', is to be attributed all the wars, commotions, and devastations', which have ever visited the world.

Besides such wholesale robberies and murders', covetous ness is accountable for numerous public frauds, and mischiefs committed on a smaller scale', by the public agents and others connected with the governments of every country. In the management of taxes', the collection of national revenues', in contracts for the supply of armies and navies', in claims for undefined perquisites', in the bestowment of places and pensions', in soliciting and receiving bribes', in the sale and purchase of government property',—in these and numerous other instances', frauds and impositions are so frequently committed', as to have become notorious, to a proverb. On such exuberant sources of wealth', multitudes are rapidly enriched'; and while nations are ground down under a load of taxation', and the industrious laborer and mechanic are groaning under the pressure of poverty', a comparatively few are rolling in the chariots of splendor', fattening on the sweat and blood of millions', and feasting on the sufferings of mankind.

It is amazing with what ease and apathy men, calling themselves Christians', will talk of the prospect of war, in the view of enriching themselves with such public plunder. Scarcely any thing is more common', and yet nothing is more diabolical. To wish for war that trade may revive and flourish', is to wish the destruction of ten thousands of our fellow-creatures that we may add a few pounds to our hoarded treasures', or have the prospect of embarking in a profitable speculation. Yet such wishes have been indulged a thousand times', by many who profess to be the followers of Christ.

LESSON CXXIV.

EFFECTS OF UNIVERSAL BENEVOLENCE.

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 delight. Frand, 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 correction', 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 solitudé, the many long days and years he had been banished from the light of day', and the society of his dearest friends. No longer should we see a hard-hearted 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 which 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 forever'," and the liar and deceiver would be hissed to the shades of hell. Our property 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.

Am

Pride, which now stalks about with stately steps and lofty looks', surveying surrounding intelligences with feelings of contempt', would be forever banished from the world. bition 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 pruninghooks.

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 inhabitants," sitting solitary'," without a voice being heard