LECTURE V.

THE

PERILS OF ATHEISM

то

THE NATION.

2 PETER, III. 3, 4.

KNOWING THIS FIRST, THAT THERE SHALL COME IN THE LAST DAYS

SCOFFERS, WALKING AFTER THEIR OWN LUSTS, AND SAYING, WHERE IS THE PROMISE OF HIS COMING? FOR SINCE THE FATHERS FELL ASLEEP, ALL THINGS CONTINUE AS THEY WERE FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE CREATION.

THE persons described in this passage, denied the providence of God, as the administration of a moral government, by rewards and punishments, and asserted the indiscriminating empire of the laws of nature. From the uniformity of his providential government, they inferred that no intelligent moral government existed. They were scoffers at God and religion, walking after their own lusts. They are a particular development of wickedness in the last time-the gospel dis

pensation. Their appearance commenced early, and in modern days has come out in ample desolation.

We have given some account of this class of men in modern Europe, and have entered upon the consideration of their efforts in this country.

It is proposed in this lecture, to illustrate ir continuation, the perils of the entire system of scepticism, organized and unorganized, which goes to suspend the action of the government of God, and the influence of christianity upon this nation; and

1. The extent of our country renders the efficient supervision of our laws impossible, without a vigorous all-pervading tone of intelligence and moral principle. Our interests are, in fact, one; but our vision is limited, and our information imperfect, and our selfishness, and pride, and passion are great, and impatient of self-denial, and contradiction; and misinformation, and jealousy, and local prejudice are of spontaneous growth, and, with the sinister culture of reckless ambition, of rampant vegetation.

When, therefore, we consider the vigor of our national intellect-the freedom of our habits-the self-will and self-sufficiency of our republican character-our boundless enterprise, our corrupting abundance, and voluptuous dissipation, and fractious impatience of rebuke or control-is this a nation, so fearfully and wonderfully made, and so eminently fitted for self-destruction, to say unto God, "depart from us, for we desire not

the knowledge of thy ways?" and to Christ, "let us alone, thou Jesus of Nazareth, for what have we to do with thee?"

Our danger is greatly augmented if we consider, moreover, that beside the collisions of individuals, with law and order, some of our most perilous movements are the conflicts of independent statesof mighty nations, condensed for particular purposes into one nation, by the individual suffrage of the entire people; and that often one half the nation is roused in furious political strife, to counteract the desires of the other half.

Now, what motives of human origin and application can extend. their all-pervading and efficient ⚫ control over such a mass of mind, so diversified by circumstances, and so delicately, and complexly, and slenderly allied, and so infuriated often by passion, pride, and discontent?

Who but God can speak efficaciously to the waves of such an unquiet sea? What but the omnipotent attractions of his glory, and the sanctions of his eternal government, and the tranquillizing influence of his gospel upon renovated mind, can bring and hold such discordant and powerful materials in prosperous social alliance? These atheists might as well form a project to annihilate the sun, and hold the material universe together by cobwebs instead of his attractions, as to withdraw from masses of depraved mind the moral influence of his government and the institutions of christianity.

It was with the utmost difficulty that our union

was formed. Nothing but an urgent necessity, and wisdom, and prudence, and patience, and condescension, and confidence in God, and his protection and blessing, saved us. When our numbers were small, our extent limited, our capital, and credit, and enterprise in embryo; and at an age of relative purity of morals, and before the agitations of party spirit assumed their fiery aspect, and terrific power, the patriots whom nature and the revolution had made great, and invested with unlimited influence, found it extremely difficult to achieve the compromise that made us one. And when it was done, it was with trembling that the patriot navigators, with Washington at the helm, launched forth upon the untried deep; and though, as yet, we have not foundered, not one of the patriot band have died in full and certain hope. Nor is the danger past. Dark clouds environ our horizon now, and rocks and

quicksands are about our way. Our ablest captains, who in ordinary times conceal their fears, open their eyes and tell us that there are breakers, and a stiff wind, and a lee shore, and that they cannot be answerable for the safety of the ship. That she will weather the storm they hope, but fear that in evil hour she may strike or founder. The concussions of party spirit now, are not the healthful conflicts of jealous liberty, but the paroxysms of envy, and desperate ambition, and deadly hate-not the breath of zephyrs, and the gentle undulations of the lake, to prevent stagnation; but the perilous commotion of powerful elements.