can give a satisfactory explanation. He is intro→ duced into a new world-not' peopled, like the one to which he has been accustomed, with natural shapes; but he, every where, meets the uncouth forms of an imaginary creation, Gorgons, and Hydras, and Chimeras dire:' he listens no longer to the well known voice of nature and reason, but his ears are assailed with the discor dant tones of mystery and incomprehensibleness. Can it be expected, that, under such circum➡ stances, he should espouse the cause of religion?

Secondly; the persecuting spirit of the professors of Christianity, is a prominent cause of infidelity. 'Time,' indeed, would fail me,' to recount the cruelties which have been perpetrated in the name of religion: time would fail me to tell of' those sons of perdition, and inquisitors of what soever creeed, who tyrannize over the consciences of men, opposing and exalting themselves above all that is called God, or that is worshipedblasphemously sitting in the judgment-seat of God, and dealing out damnation to their fellow creatures: time would fail to tell of the noble of their kind, who have perished unpitied in the dungeon's sickly gloom, or at the martyr's fiery stake, to recount the miseries inflicted, the societies annihilated, the countries depopulated, the ties, and affections, and principles, of humanity, defied, or abused, or broken, under the sacred name of religion: neither have I inclination to engage in the heart-rending task.

In fact, the professors of religion have been

cruel to themselves: they have substituted fasts, and penances, and bodily torture, for the plain and natural precepts of Jesus; and, as a necessary consequence, they have been cruel to others. They have adopted a cruel system; and their self-love has induced them to force it upon their brethren, with all the rancour of bigotry and the wantonness of power.-Hail! knowledge, thou mighty agent of the Eternal Wisdom, which art the inseparate companion of true religion: thou hast, in thy resistless course, swept away the weapons and the office of the inquisitor; mayst thou speedily destroy the shadowy remnants of his power, and the unholy relics of his spirit!

Thirdly; the indifference and insincerity of the professors of Christianity, are causes of infidelity. When a man designates himself by a name com mon to any sect, party, or profession, he does, virtually, pledge himself to a line of conduct, characteristic of the title, by which he has chosen to be distinguished, or of the profession to which he has determined to attach himself. If he fail in his duty herein, he can be deemed only an inefficient and unworthy member. Conduct, so inconsistent with his professions, is a strong proof that he is guided by convenience, or fashion, or some other secret motive, rather than by his conviction of the importance of the duties attached thereunto, or of the necessity of his diligently performing them. As it is in the ordinary affairs of life, so is it in the things pertaining to religion. If we, making a profession of religion, and, asserting

that Jesus is our forerunner and pattern, nevertheless, neglect the duties of this profession, and be heedless of conforming ourselves to our great exemplar: if we, pretending to found our hopes of a future state, on the religion of Christ, and to qualify ourselves for entering upon it, by a due observance of his precepts, and a steady and ac tive support of his cause amongst men, do, nevertheless, devote ourselves, chiefly, to the pursuits and pleasures of this fleeting life, and mind nothing so much as worldly things:we do, in fact, adopt a name and a profession to whose duties we are indifferent, we speak of a leader for whom we have no genuine respect. Alas! my brethren, how many are there, who act thus inconsistently. Yea, who are not only indifferent, as to the proper duties of their religious profession; but who seem to be indifferent also, as to what system of doctrines they support. How many add to indifference, insincerity!-in fact, the one is the parent of the other. How many are there, who, instead of earnestly inquiring, what is truth?" and of consistently adhering to what they deem to be truth, do, on the contrary, give their support, to systems which they despise, and their hearing, to doctrines which they mentally condemn! How lamentable are the effects of such conduct to themselves and to society! By it, they deprive themselves of the true, consolations of religion, and sink in their own estimation, inasmuch as they are conscious of neglecting a chief branch of the duties of life. By it, they are prevented

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from enjoying that inward satisfaction of mind which arises from a fearless avowal of what they believe to be true; and they cut themselves off from that full assurance of faith which supports the mind in the dying hour. By it, the thoughtless of all classes and degrees, are encouraged to neglect their duty. By it, the sinner is induced, still more eagerly, to pursue his vicious career. By it, the good are scandalized and the bad made worse. By it, the stedfast are grieved, and the wavering driven from their hope, and the sceptic aided in his jest, at the expense of piety and

virtue.

*

Such, my brethren, are the lamentable effects of unreasonable doctrines in religion of a persecuting spirit amongst its professors of the indifference and insincerity of those who falsely pretend to support her cause. I do not profess indeed to have mentioned herein the greater part of those causes which militate against the full action and more rapid spread of religious truth, or which aid the growth of that spirit of unbelief which unhappily distinguishes the age in which we live. Yet enough, methinks, has been said to induce a more earnest attention to the all important subject: to convince us of the necessity of inquiring what is truth?'-not from motives of curiosity-not with the languor of indifference, predetermined, never, to pursue the subject to a favourable issue-not with the sneer of the sceptic, prejudiced against every thing, but what comes within the little circuit of the view which he may

have taken of the works and providence of God; but, with the hope of ultimately attaining this great object of human desire, and of adhering to it through the whole course of our lives.,

It is your duty, and mine, my brother, thus diligently to seek truth-thus constantly to abide by what we deem to be its precepts to follow it whithersoever it may guide our steps. And if in our progress through life we should happen to form different opinions, let us put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness,' and not fall out by the way," There can be little doubt, that, if we endeavour to keep our minds free from prejudice, and open to conviction, we shall attain to all truth, necessary for our real improvement and happiness, in this life, and for qualifying us to enter, with honour, upon that which is to come. At least, if we do not succeed in the discovery, to the extent of our wishes, the merit of having sought will be ours: and be it remembered, that men will not be condemned, merely for not having obtained possession of truth, but for not having pursued it with their whole heart. When we consider, moreover, how worthless all the things of this world are, in comparison of what will qualify us for acting our parts well, while we remain here, and for entering upon a new and better life hereafter, -surely, it behoves us to be diligent, while it is called to-day,' in the things which pertain to our everlasting salvation. A few years, only, must elapse, when you, and I, and all that are dear to us, will be mouldering in the grave.

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grave. The inter

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