its effects, is not once adverted to, is not even known, and is consequently only a dead letter.

Again, it is by no means a certain fact that there is a person existing who would be influenced to correct his vices by the belief of eternal torment, but who would persevere in them, if he knew that the consequence would be, the loss of immortal life, an exclusion from the society of the blessed in heaven, anguish and remorse, and a second death. If there be such a person in existence, his love of his vices would render him an unqualified subject for the highest honours in the kingdom of heaven, and a proper subject of corrective punish

ment,

Perhaps there may be other cases in which it would not be difficult to point out instances of conversion, as it is called, before the time. Before we attempt to

2

teach

7

teach a person any thing, it is necessary we should know that he is capable of being taught. If the soil were prepared before the seed is sown, as is at this time attempted to be done by the society called Quakers in Pennsylvania, the process of intellectual and moral culture, though it might be more gradual, would probably be found to be carried on with more certainty, and eventually to be attended with more success.

"Knowing the terrors of the Lord," says the apostle,

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we persuade men." It is an affecting consideration, that though the hope of Eternal Life is the animating motive of the righteous, yet the terrors of the Lord are not presented to the minds of sinners, who stand in need of every motive to rouse them to repentance, and to excite them to reformation. In this state of things, it must surely be the wish of every friend of the Gospel, of every friend to the best

interests

interests of mankind, to see all the sanctions of the Gospel, which appeal to both the strongest passions of human nature, Hope and Fear, in their full operation.

But are there no instances in which the doctrine of the Eternity of hell-torments is applied by a person to himself? Those to whom the care of persons la bouring under the most pitiable of human maladies is intrusted, can best answer this question. Within their daily increasing enclosures, these miserable victims of superstition chiefly reside. And among them I am confident would my lot have been cast, if the cloud which darkened my morning of life had not been dispelled by the rays which proceeded from the sun of righteousness. If in a single instance the doctrine which necessarily follows from our text, and which is confirmed by every text of Scripture, should prevent this malady, (and I doubt

I doubt not that the general reception of it would produce this effect in a multitude of cases,) I am willing to undergo any degree of obloquy, or to sustain any inconvenience to which my well meant endeavours to propagate it may expose me.

Once more, my friends, the features of the times are peculiarly striking. Ignorant of the nature of the causes which are now operating, although we are sensible that every part of the moral as well as of the natural world is in a state of agitation, "we know not what lies before us." The veil of futurity has, at present, in it no transparency. The monster Persecution, which is not dead, but asleep and in chains, may awake from his slumber. I trust, in this country, he will never again be permitted to stalk at large. Let it not be forgotten, that the belief of the doctrine of the Eternity of hell-torments constitutes the principal

principal ingredient in the composition of the Bigot-the Persecutor-the Inquisitor.

From the extensive circulation of the Bible, and the institution of schools for the instruction of the poor, it is impossible not to augur the best effects. Whatever else may be circulated with this sacred book, let us endeavour to circulate with it, what we derive from it, just views of the Perfections of its Author. These, we may hope, will lead

to

* Those who think they believe all the doctrines con tained in the book of Common Prayer act consistently with their principles, and a regard to practical religion, in circulating this with the Bible. I say think they believe, because, apprehending there are in this book direct contradictions, I consider a real belief in all its contents, as impossible. The short and chiefly practical lessons contained in the Epistles and Gospels are peculiarly useful. Whatever may be said in favour of circulating the Bible in our translation, and without Note or Comment, no excuse can be admitted for retaining a word to which, in consequence of the changes which languages undergo, secondary ideas of so offensive a nature are now annexed,

that