with nations and individuals under every variety of situation, the clearer is our demonstration. Accordingly, in the cases alleged, all with whom we are concerned-that is, all who allow the existence and perfections of Almighty God—admit the conclusion. They find that reason succeeds and works its beneficial effects in exact proportion as hindrances are removed. They find that this holds under all circumstances, in all places, and all times. They perceive that, in certain positions of things, brute force may gain the day for a moment; and that it never wholly disappears, or rarely so, even when overcome. But remarking the uniform power which reason puts forth, as extrinsic hindrances are cleared away, they draw their inference as to its essential and innate tendency. So with regard to virtue and the religion of nature.

And thus we argue as it respects Christianity. We appeal to facts. Let us take the religion under very different circumstances; let us examine it in various places and at various times; let us look to nations and individuals, under all peculiarities of advantage or disadvantage; let us consider its operation as it is now in progress before our eyes; let us recollect the new and unexpected principles which it set at work; let us bear in mind the warning which its records afford us of many of its chief obstacles. The proof will be strengthened by every step in the argument. Grant me your attention.

ING THE ESTABLISHMENT

I say nothing of the first propagation of Christianity, because such means were then employed by the Almighty as exempt it from ordinary rules. But take the AGE followOF THE GOSPEL. I ask what is the tendency which Christianity actually put forth. What is the evidence of facts? What did the religion do for human happiness, both individual and national? I ask, what were the Corinthians, the Thessalonians, and other converts, before Christianity reached them, and in the age after it had begun its operation? Had it not brought them from darkness to light, from degrading ignorance, superstition, vice, misery; to knowledge, holiness, joy? And when it had done this in some considerable measure, did it not go

on as a leaven, to leaven, as it were, the whole mass, of their intellectual and moral character? And continually as new converts were made, were not these a seed of activity in their several stations? Did not Christianity soon put to shame many of the grossest vices of heathenism? Was not an influence generated all around, which, like a heavenly fragrance, diffused refreshment and life far and near?

Take the NEXT AGES. See the progress of the religion under the Roman emperors. Mark its sway when the first Christian emperor removed so many external obstacles. What did Christianity do? how did she put forth her virtues? how did she break out, as a fountain whose streams had been choked, when relieved from hindrances?

Trace the religion in the FOLLOWING CENTURIES, as human corruption accumulated around it again, and almost extinguished its light and grace in the East and West. See it working its way amongst the Waldenses and Albigenses; see Claudius of Turin, and Waldo and Bernard, and others, defending the sacred doctrine, and demonstrating again its genuine tendencies on human happiness.

Come down to the glorious period of the REFORMATION, when, after ten centuries of darkness, and neglect of real Christianity, and of the triumph, though not universal, of superstition and idolatry, Luther and his associate reformers brought the gospel again to light, and appealed from the traditions of men to the inspired word of God. What was the tendency? what bearing had Christianity? what progress did it make, in proportion as the outward hindrances were removed?

Take any SUBSEQUENT AGE. Consider the individuals and nations gained from time to time from heathenism, or from gross corruptions of Christianity. Examine the benefits, the positive benefits, which Christianity first produced, and then pushed forth its tendencies to the highest measure of attainable happiness. I appeal now, not to reasoning, but to matters of fact. Mark any individual who has, in any age, really received the religion. I ask, what has been the bearing of Christianity upon his intellectual and moral powers, upon his conscience, his heart, his domestic affec

tions? What has his religion tended to make him? How far, and in what direction, has it aimed at carrying him beyond the point of his actual attainments? Watch him through life. Compare the tendency of one year's growth, with that of forty or fifty years. Compare it when circumstances have been most favorable for its development; when they have been less favorable; and when they have been positively disadvantageous; and you will find the effects proportionate. The man has been advancing in all the essentials of happiness; in all the elements of inward peace and external tranquillity; in all the passive as well as active virtues, which render him a blessing to himself and a blessing to others.

The proportion holds with regard to NATIONAL WELFARE. The tendency becomes discernible as soon as a country has received the Christian faith; it becomes more distinct the longer the operation continues. As public opinion is elevated, and princes and legislators are swayed by its dictates, the spirit of improvement grows; one evil after another is detected; institutions, in harmony with Christian benevolence, arise; habits and practices of a contrary nature drop off; all becomes more pure in domestic life, more paternal in government, more pacific and secure in public council.

In a word, wherever the moral engine has been employed, it has brought its new and unlooked-for means to bear; the inward mechanism has put forth its powers; the play and subservience of its parts one on the other has shown their wonderful effects. In proportion to the opportunity which has been afforded, and the extrinsical hindrances which have been removed, its genuine operation has gone on. It has raised up man from the depths of misery, and has blessed him in every relation of life-as a subject of civil society, as a member of the domestic circle, as a reasonable and accountable creature, as an heir of immortality.

But this tendency is STILL IN PROGRESS. It is at work before our eyes. It is not an operation which took place merely in other times, and which is recorded by the pen of the ecclesiastical historian; but it is now going on. Look around you. See the Christian faith exerting its genuine

virtue every day, just as the incumbent weight of hindrances is lightened. The symptoms of a general amendment in individuals, and the nations of the world, wherever Revelation is in force, are numerous and undoubted. The work of God not only began at the first dawn of Revelation, and received a new impulse at the promulgation of the gospel, but is still in progress in the present day. The spirit of Christianity is gaining more and more an ascendancy, in proportion as the known obstacles are lessened, and by that gradual process, in which, from the very nature of the means employed, the work must be expected to proceed.i For God puts in use, ordinarily, no other means than truth, persuasion, example, accompanied by the secret influences of grace. The progress of the work, therefore, will not only be gradual, but will be liable to temporary interruptions; so that at times it may seem not only to stand still, but even to go back, as often as particular circumstances in the affairs of men raise up extraordinary opposition to the doctrines or precepts of the gospel. But the progress upon the whole is undoubted. During the last thirty years, the virtue of Christianity has been making its way strenuously; it has undone the mischiefs of a declining religion, and of semi-infidelity in some countries; and has repaired the desolations of open unbelief in others. As these obstacles have been removed, it has diffused a revived sense of religion in the Old and the New World. It has circulated Bibles; sent forth missionaries; set in motion universal education; raised the tone of public sentiment; abolished many old unchristian practices; carried men on towards substantial happiness.

Christianity is not an exhausted mine; its treasures are not impoverished-they are not even diminished by the lapse of ages: but, like some rich and extensive, though latent, bed of ore, it opens its wealth in proportion as the oppressive hindrances are cleared away; it presents new veins on every side according as it is explored, and retains all its power of rewarding most abundantly the toil of the workmen. (i) Horsley, Sermon xl.

This conclusion is strengthened by considering that almost all the tendency of our religion ARISES FROM PRÍNCIPLES NEW TO MAN, which have worked themselves into confidence by the progress of time and the testimony of experience. The tendencies of reason, of virtue, of religion in its general acceptation, are indeed such as men might always have expected. We understand the grounds on which they are constantly making their way against the opposing impediments. But look at Christianity. Who amongst the wise of this world ever conceived that this new religion, the scoff of the Greek, and the object of contempt to the Jew, contained in it the principles of human happiness, the only vital seeds of individual and national improvement! Who at first conceived that supreme love to one almighty Creator; confession of guilt and depravity; renunciation of any desert of our own; reliance on the death of the Son of God, crucified as a malefactor; dependance on the agency of the Holy Spirit; humility, meekness, and love to our enemies; submission of the understanding to a Revelation, in many respects mysterious and incomprehensible; a predominant regard for the favor of God and the concerns of eternity; who ever dreamed that these, and such-like principles, contained the germ of all felicity; when the very terms could not be understood without difficulty, and, when understood, conveyed ideas in open hostility with the intellectual habits of mankind? And yet it is by these principles, brought out into action, that Christianity has been achieving her triumphs; and achieving them just as the known obstacles, pride and prejudice, were overcome. The positive effects of Christianity, by means of such principles, are so many declarations of the great Governor of all in their favor. They prove that there attends Christianity something more than truth, and knowledge, and persuasion; that there is an operation of grace, secret to us, which goes along with it, and infuses into it a virtue and bias, which only requires scope for its development, to expand into the highest measure of individual and national happiness.

(j) Bishop J. Bird Sumner.

(k) Butler.