never make any great proficiency. There was accordingly, among the nations of antiquity, one system, whatever it was, for the learned, and another for the illiterate. Many of the philosophers spoke out, and professed to keep the lower orders in ignorance for the general good; plainly suggesting, that the bulk of mankind was to be considered as almost of an inferior species. Aristotle himself countenanced this opinion. An opposite mode of proceeding naturally belongs to Christianity, which without distinction professes an equal regard for all human beings, and which was characterized by her first Promulgator as the messenger of "glad tidings to the poor."

But her preference of moral to intellectual excellence is not to be praised, only because it is congenial with her general character, and suitable to the ends which she professes to have in view. Itis the part of true wisdom to endeavour to excel there, where we may really attain to excellence. This consideration might be alone sufficient to direct our efforts to the acquisition of virtue rather than of knowledge.-How limited is the range of the greatest human abilities! how scanty the stores of the richest human knowledge! Those who undeniably have held the first rank both for natural and acquired endowments, instead of thinking their pre-eminence a just ground of self-exaltation, have bcommonly been the most forward to confess that their views were bounded and their attainments moderate. Had they indeed been less candid, this isa discovery which we could not have failed to make for ourselves. Experience daily furnishes us with examples of weakness, and short-sightedness, toand error, in the wisest and the most learned of men, which might serve to confound the pride of human wisdom.

Not so in morals.-Made at first in the likeness of God, and still bearing about us some faint traces of

our

our high original, we are offered by our blessed Re deemer the means of purifying ourselves from our corruptions, and of once more regaining the image of our heavenly Father *. In love, the compendious expression for almost every virtue, in fortitude junder all its forms, in justice, in humility, and in all the other graces of the Christian character, we are made capable of attaining to heights of real

elevation: and, were we but faithful in the use of the means of grace which we enjoy, the operations of the Holy Spirit, prompting and aiding our diligent endeavours, would infallibly crown our labours with success, and make us partakers of a Divine nature. The writer has himself known some who have been instances of the truth of this remark. To the memory of one (a), now no more, may he be permitted to offer the last tribute of respectful friendship? His course short, but laborious, has at length terminated in a better world; and his luminous track still shines in the sight, and animates the efforts of all who knew him, and“ marshals them the way" to Heavenly glory. Let me not be thought to undervalue any of the gifts of God, or of the fruits of human exertion : but let not these be prized beyond

their proper worth. If one of those little industrious i reptiles, to which we have been well sent for a lesson

of diligence and foresight, were to pride itself upon its strength, because it could carry off a larger grain of wheat than any other of its fellow ants, should we not laugh at the vanity which could be highly gratified with such a contemptible pre-eminence? And is it far different to the eye of reason, when man, weak, short-sighted man, is vain of surpassing others in knowledge, in which at best his progress must be so limited ; forgetting the true dígnity of

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his nature, and the path which would conduet hibu to real excellence ? 1:47T

:: The unparallelled value of the precepts of Christianity ought not to be passed over altogether unExcellence noticed in this place, though it be need of the prace less to dwell on it; since it has been often cepts of

pere justly recognized and asserted, and has Christianity, in some points been ably illustrated, and powerfully enforced by the masterly pen of a late writer. " It is by no means, however, the design of this little work to attempt to trace the various ex cellencies of Christianity; but it may not have been improper to point out a few particulars, which, in the course of investigation, have naturally fallen under our notice, and hitherto perhaps may scarcely have been enough regarded. Every such instance, it should always be remembered," is a fresh proof of Christianity being a revelation from God. - It is still less, however, the intention of the writer, to attempt to vindicate the Divine origin of our Holy Religion. This task hals often been executed by far abler advocates. In particular, every Christian, with whatever reserves his : commendations must be qualified, should be forward to confess his obligations on this head to the author before alladed to ; whose uncommon acuteness has enabled him, in a field already so much trodden, to discover arguments which had eluded the observation of all by whom he was preceded, and whose unequalled perspicuity puts his reader in complete possession of the fruits of his sagacity. Anxious, however, in my little measure, to contribute to the support of this great cause, may it be permitted me to state one argument which impresses my mind with particular force. This is, the great variety of the kinds of evidence which have been adduced in proof of Christianity, and the confirmation thereby afforded of its truth:- The proof from prophecy – from

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miracles from the character of Christ from that of his Apostles-from the nature of the doctrines of Christianity--from the nature and excellence of her practical precepts---from the accordance we have lately pointed out between the doctrinal and practical system of Christianity, whether considered each in itself or in their mutual relation to each other--from other species of internal evidence, afforded in the more abundance in proportion as the sacred records have been serutinized with greater care from the accounts of contemporary or nearly eontemporary writers from the impossibility of accounting on any other supposition, than that of the truth of Christianity, for its promulgation and early prevalence: these and other lines of argument have all been brought forward, and ably urged by different writers, in proportion as they have struck the minds of different observers more or less forcibly. Now, granting that some obscure and illiterate men, residing in a distant province of the Roman empire, had plotted to impose a forgery upon the world: though some foundation for the imposture might, and indeed must, have been attempted to be laid; it seems, to my understanding at least, morally impossible that so many different species of proofs, and all so strong, should have lent their concurrent aid, and have united their joint force in the establishment of the falsehood. It may assist the reader in estimating the value of this argument, to consider, upon how different a footing, in this respect, every other religious system which was ever proposed to the world has stood; and indeed, every other historical fact; of which the truth has been at all contested,

BRIEF INQUIRY INTO THE PRESENT STATE OF 2.CHRISTIANITY IN THIS COUNTRY, WITH SOME

OF THE CAUSES WHICH HAVE LED TO ITS 9 CRITICAL CIRCUMSTANCES., ITS IMPORTANCE TO US AS A POLITICAL COMMUNITY; AND PRACTICAL HINTS FOR WHICH THE FORR GOING CONSIDERATIONS GIVE OCCASION.

ITE
T may not be altogether improper to remind the

reader, that hitherto our discussion has been merely concerning the prevailing religious opinions of professed Christians: but now, no longer confining ourselves to persons of this description, let us extend our inquiry, and briefly investigate the general state of Christianity in this country.

The tendency of Religion in general to promote the temporal welfare of political communities, is a fact which depends on principles so obvious and even undeniable, and is so forcibly inculeated by the history of all ages, that there can be no necessity

, for entering into a formal proof of its truth. It has indeed been maintained, not merely by schoolmen and divines, but by the most celebrated philosophers and moralists and politicians of every age.si

ง The peculiar excellence in this respect also of Christianity, considered independently of its truth or falsehood, has been recognised by writers, who, to say the least, were not disposed to exaggerate its merits. Either of the above propositions being admitted, the state of religion in a country at any given period, (not to mention its connexion with the eternal happiness of the inhabitants) immediately