tion we are encouraged to hope by every appearance of increasing interest in religion.

One more remark respecting the habits of feeling which prevail. The moral sentiment of the times is in advance of that of earlier periods, and is still in a progress of elevation and refinement. The value of moral excellence is more acknowledged. Religion and goodness are not set in opposition, as in other times they have been. The treacherous and sanguinary men whom the gross devotion of other times has canonized, would attract no reverence in this period of the world; and, tenaciously as the argument is still maintained, that moral worth, the true perfection of man,-is of no account in the sight of God, there is still no theory which does not provide some method, however circuitous, to enforce its obligation. The omen is a good one. In proportion as the worth of moral excellence is perceived, the nature of Christianity, as an instrument for forming that excellence, will reveal itself also; and there is no principle, more essential than this of its practical character,its moral design,-to a consistent and comprehensive view of its truths.

There is another way in which an improved moral sentiment favours a right understanding of our religion. It tends to correct very erroneous conceptions of the divine character, which, taking their rise from a rude state of moral feeling, have done in past times deep discredit to our holy faith. It is within a recent period, that the doctrine of the damnation of infants was commonly maintained. The better moral sentiment of these times so revolts from it, that it is now very rarely, at least, avowed.There is reason to hope, that a still greater sensibility to reproaches on the character of God, will before long silence that heart-withering charge against it, which is conveyed in the doctrine of election and reprobation. Already it is perceived to be critical ground, and that doctrine is set forth, not in its horrible nakedness, but in phraseology, which, by perplexing the subject, evades or qualifies the

strong disgust, with which it would otherwise be generally met. This alone is a great gain. The publick mind, no longer plied with arguments for believing things of God, which it would abhor in man, has not, to the same extent as formerly, its moral judgments confounded, and its devout affections repelled; and, restored to its healthy tone, will soon be incapable of looking on such errours except with shuddering and loathing.

V. We form encouraging anticipations concerning the future,from the EXPERIENCE OF THE PAST, limited though it be. The principles of improved religious knowledge, to which we have referred, though as yet only tending towards their mature strength, have already borne excellent fruit; and it is to be observed, that the parts of Christendom in which rational views of religion have made the greatest progress, have been those, in which the scriptures have been studied with the liveliest interest, and under the best advantages. In Geneva, the spontaneous soil, the central point and strong hold of orthodoxy, where, from the first establishment of Protestantism, religious studies have been industriously pursued by a select, accomplished, and, for a long time, bigotted clergy, they have already triumphed over the creeds of Calvin, and superseded his doctrine in the churches. In England, the secure establishment of the national church against the attempts of Popery on the one hand,and nonconformity on the other, had afforded no long time for calm investigation, before we find a large and most respectable portion of its clergy petitioning for relief from the obligation of subscription to articles, which they perceived to contain essential errours. In Holland, though it is but lately that a rigid censorship over the press has ceased, rational opinions in religion are understood already to prevail to no inconsiderable extent; and in America they have diffused and are diffusing themselves with a rapidity, which has surprized even their advocates. Nor are we to estimate their progress merely by the numbers of those, who have adopted them. They are justly considered to have gained ground in pro

portion as the tone of the opposite errours is lowered; and the controversies, by which they have been maintained, have undeniably had the effect, not only of making converts to them, but of bringing the views of their opponents much nearer to scripture and reason than they had been. With the same causes in continually stronger operation, which have actually reformed the views of so many of this generation, may not a great progress of religious opinion be reasonably looked for in the next?

Such are some of the signs of the times, which we interpret to mean that a better day for Christianity is approaching. Can any prospect be more delightful to the eye of philanthropy or devotion? Our religion was revealed to train men for all the various and excellent happiness, which their constitution makes them capable of enjoying. But it was revealed to an ignorant and wicked world, and it suffered cruel injury from the errours and vices which it came to correct. Philosophy first, in its vain pride, and then worldliness, in its base policy, took it into their charge; and through many a gloomy century it was made to hold the mind in bondage, and the heart in barrenness. At length the great work of reformation was entrusted to men gifted for that office with the spirit of knowledge and might, of understanding and of the fear of the Lord. They addressed themselves to the task with an energy proportioned to its vastness, and the monstrous edifice of false religion shook to its base before their vigorous onset. But their undertaking was by no means of a magnitude to be summarily accomplished. The abuses which had prevailed had not been inattentive to their own preservation. They had used well the long period of their sway in disguising and fortifying themselves; so that the reformers entered upon their work with very inadequate conceptions of its extent; they prosecuted it, under such a disadvantage, against an almost

overpowering opposition; and it is no wonder that they died and left it greatly incomplete. Meanwhile, the errours, which had escaped their animadversion or won their favour, had become in their turn established errours, and governments were pledged and prejudices enlisted in their behalf. There was no short period in Protestant history when the reformation seemed to be at a stand; when the mind appeared to have been struggling under a load too heavy for it; when there was cause to fear that religious liberty had only been wrested from its oppressors to be laid by in neglect. But it was an unjust fear. The mighty agent of intellectual and moral power, when it had burst its prison-house, only stood for a time to survey the field of its labours, and collect its strength. It is no inactive principle. It is either weighed down by fetters stronger than can now be forged, or it is working with all but omnipotent energy at all the springs of society and thought Already some of the most grievous abuses have fallen in the dust before it; and already errours, which have not yet ceased to maintain a confident bearing, are quaking at the speed of its noiseless march. We live at the happy age to witness its triumphs. Our eyes are privileged to see the progress of this great salvation of the Lord.

I am far from maintaining, that the work of religious reform is mainly effected. There are mighty instruments in operation to forward it; but it is a great and difficult work, and will find occasion for all the force they can exert.— There is much indifference on the subject, which is only to be aroused by vivid, and various, and seasonable exhibitions of its importance. There remains a lamentable degree of ignorance concerning it, which is only to be informed by much time and patient industry. There are still many deeply seated prejudices, which it is a delicate and a slow task to root out. The chain, with which errours in religion have bound themselves to men's interests and passions needs to be broken link by link. To expose them is often to encounter displeasure and distrust, and here is a discour

agement and a disadvantage. But the situation of him who, in this period of the world, contends for the pure faith once delivered to the saints, is still far different from theirs who have assumed the same office in other times. They indeed had reason to believe,-for the word of God was their assurance, that the counsel of the Lord should at length and permanently stand. They had a warrant for the persuasion, that every plant which their heavenly father had not planted, deep as it might have struck its roots, and many as there might be unwilling to resign its shade, must at length be rooted up; and, little as the condition of the world seemed to favour the diffusion of Christian truth, to doubt that it would one day prevail would have been a distrust of providence; for he who made Christianity for man no doubt fitted it for his cordial reception in some period of his progress. But still their faith was confirmed by nothing within the compass of their sight; and often must the impatient inquiry have risen to their lips; how long, oh Lord! how long? The day, so anxiously looked for, of a thorough religious reformation, has dawned upon us. The mists of the morning still obscure its rising sun; but it is melting them fast as it climbs to its meridian, and scatters healing from its wings. We rejoice in its light. We bless the kind providence that sends its animating influences, and welcome to their happy destiny them who shall watch it, as it sheds the perfect day.

Meanwhile, to what purpose is it to discern these favourable signs of the times, unless it be to encourage us to follow the leadings of providence, and do our endeavour that the signs we rejoice in may be fulfilled? While we profess so much satisfaction that we have been led to adopt the faith of Christ in its primitive simplicity, let me ask the question, whether we are sufficiently in the habit of regarding it as a trust; whether we perceive distinctly enough that an obligation lies upon us to pray, give, and labour for its diffusion? I am confident in affirming, that no man, who has received it, can consistently observe its progress with uncon