"between your eyes;-and ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them, when thou "sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest

1

by the way, when thou liest down, and when "thou risest up-and thou shall write them upon the door-posts of thine house, and upon "thy gates."Neither, has the christian lawgiver ever been charged with revolutionary principles, although he commanded his disciples to teach all nations his doctrine, which was in direct opposition to that of the world; and instructed them to press upon men with all possible earnestness, the absolute wecessity of observing his directions only, upon the important subject of religion. Now, suppose again, it should be determined by the British legisla. ture, out of regard for the author of the christian religion, and his beautiful precepts of virtue and morality, that a certain number of the children of the Irish peasantry, both catholics and protestants, who were best acquainted with the doctrine and moral directions contained in St. Luke's gospel, should annually, at the public expense, be apprenticed to humble trades in England, suited to their respective turns and capacities, would not a great benefit be offered to the poor of Ireland?-An act of this kind would tend to civilize, to instruct, to give mo rality to, and to enable many of the ignorant and distressed to procure a comfortable subsistence; it would separate, and alter the habits of many who vare now brought up in

indolence and sloth;-it would stimulate to activity and industry:-it would give new ideas; and it would withdraw many from beneath the branches of the "corrupt tree" of religion, which at present overshadows a great part of Ireland, and keeps the majority of the people in gloom and darkness.-An act of this kind, dictated by proper motives, and the pure spirit of christianity, could not be otherwise than acceptable both to the catholics and protestants of Ireland, and particularly to the nobility and rich people of the Roman catholic communion, who, believing the ten commandments to be the dictation of God,—and the doctrine of Christ to come from heaven, would acknowledge it as a mark of good will and affection, and hail the rising of such a plan as having "healing in its wings."-Indeed, a plan that had for its sole object, the changing indolence into industry, error into truth, and vice into virtue, could not be objected to by any rational person-Such a revolution, every one would welcome with the utmost joy.-The most trifling symptoms of virtue ought to be encouraged, where for a great length of time, vice only has been visible.-Four hundred catholic, and two hundred protestant children, thus noticed and assisted, would in a few years make a considerable alteration in the state of the Irish poor;-especially after the spirit of emulation was once excited among them.-Let no one smile at small beginnings :—the little

rill at the fountain bead, runs not far before it becomes useful;-a little farther and it rolls along in a broad and rapid stream, and astonishes the beholder, and makes him unwilling to believe, that such an expanse of water could flow from a small and insignificant source.

(10)---CAN A MORE PERFECT EX

AMPLE BE FOLLOWED THAN THAT

OF CHRIST?--

"I came down from heaven, not to do "mine own will, but the will of him that sent me."-If Christ was not at liberty to follow his own inclination and will, in the great work inposed upon him, how can any of his followers be at liberty to do as they like, in the spiritual work they have to perform?—If this was the language of Christ, during his whole ministry, "not mine, but thy will be done;" and if his words and actions always corresponded, ought not his followers to endeavour to imitate his perfect example?—It is not in one thing only, but in every thing we are to try to imitate him. When men know the will of God, they have no longer any choice, they must do itlike Christ they must say, "not mine, but thy "will be done;" and not in any careless negli gent manner, they may choose, but exactly as God has directed.-Like Christ, they are also to endeavour to bring others out of their errors and corruptions, to do the will of God;

indifference and apathy, belong not to real chris tians." Thou sawest a thief, and in not exert ing thyself to prevent his injuring thy neigh bour, thou consentedst unto his crime," was a reproach, that an upright Jew, under the law, speak well of the

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59 and avoided.

covetous, whom God abhorreth," is an offence, and shews how careful christians ought to be, both in what they style, they do.—But

should we not be guilty of a greater offence thau this, if we were perfectly silent, when we saw around us a multitude of persons, calling themselves christians, continually breaking the second commandment, and perverting the doctrine of Christ? Well then, would not our conduct be criminal in the sight of Heaven, if we shewed these very persons special favours, upon their application, or rather demand, and thus not only consented to, but encouraged them in their iniquity?-Can any one therefore, justly charge us with oppression and injury, when we take up Christ's words against such persons; or, condemn us, for imitating his example, in preventing them from entering his temple, and defiling it with images and pictures, as the Jewish apostates polluted the house of God, with the tables of money changers and usurious transactions, forbidden by the law? Which will be most beneficial to the interest of truth, and of the world,-to describe the character of the false worshipper in the manner it deserves, or to make no remarks whatever upon

it Mistaken liberálity, says liberálity," says the "latrepikoj because men are at liberty to be of any religion they choose, and because it is wrong to interfere between a man and the object he is pleased to set up and worship. Christianity, says the former; because, the author of it drew the character of the Scribes, and Pharisees, and rulers of the people, in the colours they deserved and, if this had not been right, and beneficial to the cause of righteousness, he would never have done so.

d

*。༞,:

It is generally thought, there is at present, more deism, scepticism, and atheistical notions amongst the higher classes of people in Europe, than there were forty years ago. There must be some cause for this. When men discover they have been deceived, they feel indignant with those, who have imposed upon them.-Is matters of religion the passions are easily enflamed; and imposture detected, leads to angry separation of former friends;-it also frequently produces other effects: from being too credulous, men are apt to run into the opposite extreme, and believe nothing; and because they have been deceived, they are inclined to throw off every thing like religion, and to suppose the preachers of it only actuated by interest, and a wish to hold the human mind in bondageRome has practised great impositions in her religious ceremonies, and has much to answer for, as regards the irreligion just mentioned.Since the event took place in France, which