that but for existing institutions the inhabitants of the world would soon arrive at a high degree of happiness;—and that he should people the regions of his fancy with beings not subject to the infirmities and miseries of men;-these are errors which very naturally proceed from the darkness and presumption of unbelief in regard to divine revelation. But surely they who receive the representations of the oracles of God respecting all that man now is, and all that man is yet to be, his apostasy from God, and the many evils to which this apostasy and consequent corruption give rise, cannot expect to be exempted from sufferings in this world, or imagine that the best human government can save sinful beings from many calamities, or convert this earth, on which the malediction of the Creator rests, into a paradise.

We are, indeed, prone to impute the evils we endure to any cause rather than to our own desert; and this propensity very naturally leads ignorant and selfconfident persons to suppose that a change of the form of government, or of the agents by whom it is administered, will remove their sufferings-like those who are affected with fever, who imagine that a mere change of position will bring them relief, till experience teaches them that the disease is within. army of cowards would most confidently ascribe the disasters to which its own cowardice gives rise to its generals, and would affirm that under other leaders they should be victorious.

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Let those who believe the divine authority of the Book which tells us that in the world we shall have tribulation, that here we have no continuing city or

place of abode,-beware of blaming man for with holding from us what the righteous government of God has denied us; and in place of criminating, or attempting to criminate, rulers, let us cherish thankfulness for the mercies we possess, and endeavour to improve them.

III. Christianity strengthens civil government by inculcating the principles of peace. I do not say, that it renders war in every case criminal; or that it, even remotely, discourages us from defending our lives, property, and privileges. But it unquestionably forms those dispositions, and enforces those principles, which naturally lead to the utter extinction of the arts of violence and destruction. It breathes so much peace and good-will to men-it expresses such a deep and overcoming earnestness in regard to the salvation of human beings, that it is impossible sincerely to embrace it without entertaining towards our fellow-creatures a kindliness of feeling, which, if it be not incompatible with war, is incompatible with the indulgence of the passions that give rise to it. Independently of its aptitude to subdue the human heart, and to eradicate its malice and envy, there is an opposition between its often-repeated injunctions, and the pride, ambition, and covetousness, in which the hostilities of nations and rebellions against lawful authority have their origin. Though christianity had contained no other precept to direct its disciples in their conduct towards those who injure them, but that which its Divine Author himself delivered, it were sufficient to make all who revere his sayings willing to err on the score of unresenting passiveness, than of

that of vindictiveness.

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say unto you, love your enemies; bless them that curse you; do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven."

The enemies of christianity will allow, that it has at least introduced humanity into the practice of war, and into the intercourse of civilized nations. It tells us of a period when its efficacy will subdue the passions of men-when to its peaceful sway all kings and legislators and tribes of the earth shall bow,-and when, according to its own beautiful language, its triumphs shall reach from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth. We can discover in what it has already done the earnest of this future age, and can discover in the purifying tendency of its doctrines,-its powerful incentives to charity and benevolence, and in the disinterestedness and selfdenial which it imposes on its disciples, the means by which, under a higher agency, it will succeed in accomplishing this, and all its predictions. Towards this blessed consummation it is at present advancing, silently but effectually removing the barriers which the corruptions of mankind oppose to its progress; augmenting the benefits of civilization and social union, while it goes on to the attainment of its final purposes; establishing the tranquillity and internal order of the communities which afford it protection; and disseminating the seeds of that glorious harvest, which will cover the face of the world with fruit. Possessing the grandeur and comprehensiveness of His plans whose institute it is, it communicates without violence, and

almost without observation, its benefits to mankind; and like the elements of nature, the operation of which, though unseen, is ever constant, it will advance with a resistless progress, till the arrival of its brightest era, when the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ, and he shall reign for ever. They shall then beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruninghooks, nation shall not lift sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."

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IV. Subjects are bound conscientiously to pay the taxes imposed by government. They are to render to all their dues; tribute to whom tribute is due, and custom to whom custom. To this part of the duty of subjects I adverted in a former part of this work; and shall now do little more than remark its very great importance in reference to our own character, and to the virtue of others.

"In the payment of taxes and of other branches of public revenue, persons who would hold themselves deeply injured, were their honesty and integrity called in question, are sometimes very blameable. They will contrive, in various articles of taxation, to pay less than they ought to pay perhaps by delivering defective accounts of the possessions or indulgences for which they are liable to taxes;-or by some other misrepresentation of which they are conscious. Commodities which have been illegally introduced they will not hesitate to purchase; because such articles may be obtained for less money than those on which custom is paid. Remember, therefore, that to defraud your governors in the discharge of taxes, is to rob the

public; is to rob all the inhabitants of the land; is to rob your honest neighbour, who must discharge his portion of new taxes rendered necessary by the dishonesty of those men who do not sustain their full share of the existing burdens. Remember that to purchase smuggled or contraband goods is not only to rob the public, but is to commit a sin resembling that of buying articles which have been stolen. It is to purchase that which does not legally belong to the seller. It is to encourage him to persevere in his habits of iniquity. Remember also, that he who has in any way been guilty of purloining, or of withholding from his country, is bound to prove his repentance by restitution *.”

* Gisborne's Christian Morals, p. 246.

VOL. II.

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