should again put it together, and frame it for immortality. This was an idea so totally novel to them, that when Paul preached at the Areopagus, before the polished and enlightened Athenians, "Jesus and the resurrection of the "dead, some mocked:" others said, "He seemeth "to be a setter forth of new Gods;" while a few concluded that they would "hear him again of "this matter."

Revelation has done that for man, which neither reason nor philosophy could effect. In the exercise of the powers of our mind, upon the scenery by which we are surrounded, we rise to the great Parent of all; and deduce some conclusions respecting his nature, from the operations of his hand: yet have we seen that these conclusions were frequently erroneous. The religion of nature cannot go further than to teach us, that there is a God, all-powerful, all-wise, all-good; and this is more than it taught the heathen world perfectly. But it leaves us ignorant of our relation to him: it is unable to unravel the more interesting parts of his character; it cannot develope the harmony of his attributes. A thousand enquiries are suggested, to which we receive no answer. We are placed in circumstances for which, on principles of reason, we cannot account; and perceive the existence of evil, unable to discover it's source. We la

bour under a curse, from which, by the light of nature, we see no deliverance; and are in possession of an existence, for which we perceive no adequate end. Those things which are the most interesting, are also the most uncertain; and that which we know naturally, only serves to kindle a thirst to learn more, which, on the principles of nature and reason merely, cannot be satiated. For what has the light of philosophy done, but rendered darkness visible? It has strained the powers of reason and imagination, till they could be stretched no further; yet without bringing one hidden truth to light. It has perplexed and bewildered the mind by contradictory hypotheses. It has exhausted the charms of eloquence, and enervated the force of argument, in establishing favourite systems upon the ruins of those which preceded them, only to be pulled down in their turns, to make way for others equally absurd, and equally false. After dragging us through mazes of intricate reasoning, it leaves us precisely at the point at which it found us, all uncertainty, obscurity, and suspense. "The world "by wisdom know not God." We appeal to factsthey are before you-and we confidently expect your decision upon their testimony.

pro

It is here that Revelation takes up the cess, and disperses the mist of uncertainty. It

professes not indeed to reason upon subjects beyond the comprehension of the human mind; but it reveals the fact and requires our assent to it: which we may safely give, although we do not comprehend the whole of that which is revealed. Those parts which we do comprehend, we conceive to be true and wise: may we not reasonably conclude that those which we do not completely understand are equally so; and that the deficiency is in our natural powers, and not in the subject investigated? Those who call upon you to relinquish your Bibles, have not attempted to fathom the depths of futurity. They rather wish you to consider the scanty period of "three-score years and ten," the boundary of the hopes, the joys, and the expectations of man. They place beyond deathANNIHILATION! The thought is insufferable! Say, you who have dropped the parting tear into the grave of those whom you loved,-is this a consoling system? Are the most tender connections dissolved to be renewed no more? Must I resign my brother, my parent, my friend, my child- -FOR EVER? What an awful import these words bear! Standing upon the grave of my family, must I say to it's departed members,

"Farewell! ye who were once the partners "of my joys and sorrows! I leaned upon you "for support; I poured my tears into your bo

som; I received from your hands the balm "of sympathy-But it is no more! No more "shall I receive your kindness; no more shall I "behold you! The cold embrace of death clasps your mouldering bodies; and the shadows of

an impenetrable midnight brood FOR EVER

upon your sepulchres!"-No! We cannot relinquish Christianity for a system which conducts us to this fearful close! When scepticism shall have provided a substitute for our present hopes, we will listen with more confidence to it's proposals.

And yet the cry of modern philosophy is against the only pledge of immortality afforded the human race. Where is the gratitude of such conduct? Are we not indebted to it for all the illumination which we enjoy? Did Paganism disappear, till Christianity exerted her benign influence? Did not man in a state of nature demand and offer human victims? And did not Revelation stay the effusion of blood, and abolish these infamous rites? Is it not friendly to science and civilization? Is it not inimical to whatever is injurious to the interests of man? Where is the wisdom of such an opposition? Before you banish this, produce a better system: shew us a more excellent way:" teach us morality more sublime! What is it's crime? Sedition? Impossible! It "puts us in mind to be

subject to principalities and powers, to obey "magistrates, to be ready to every good work." Want of philanthropy? Surely not! Some may bear it's name who do not breathe it's spirit: but their bigotry and illiberality are not chargeable upon Christianity Christianity, which teaches" to speak evil of no man, to be no "brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness "unto all men." It substitutes faith for good works; and it's professed teachers set up opinion against morality! It is a gross calumny! It blends these nominally jarring principles: it assigns to each it's proper place: it requires the influence, and commands the agency, both of the one and the other: it joins together those things which men frequently separate; and with equal consistency and plainness, traces the causes and effects of salvation: it has prescribed" these things I will that thou affirm

constantly, that they which have believed in God, be careful to maintain good works."

Extinguish the light afforded by this despised volume, and you are precisely in the situation of the heathen world. I close the Bible; and there remains to you a hope without a foundation, assaulted by a thousand dismal apprehensions. The planets which roll over your head, declare matchless wisdom, and incalculable immensity. They write in the hea