tined? Our capacities are manifestly above the ordinary purposes of life; and the gratifications of sense are not the elevated and refined satisfactions, of which we seem capable, and for which we sigh. It would seem reasonable, therefore, to infer, that there are nobler exercises appropriate to us, than those required to make provision for our bodies; and, that there are higher delights, than the delights of sense.

Accordingly, religion teaches us, that our first and chief duties relate to our Creator; and that the highest happiness, of which we are susceptible, is derived from his service, and from the hope of his approbation. But here, too, atheism puts a negative alike upon our premises and our conclusions: it proscribes all such duties, and affirms, that all happiness drawn from such a source is absolute delusion. Our faculties and capacities, forsooth, are only the fuller development and maturity of inferior animals-of an oyster or a tadpole, for example,our only sphere is earth,—our only end, to be brief, is

"To-draw nutrition, propagate, and rot!"

7. When we deposit in the earth, the remains of a beloved relative; or feel, that we ourselves are sinking into the grave, the heart-rending grief, in the one case ; or, the gloom and depression, in the other, is greatly relieved by the belief of a separate existence, and the hope of a renewed life, even for the body. That the whole of us does not die; that there is an immortal spark enshrined in our mortal bodies, and that our mortal parts themselves shall become immortal; that "this corruptible shall put on incorruption," has been the persuasion and solace of the most profound and splendid minds the most extraordinary geniuses, that ever appeared in this world. It may be said, that we have not mathematical proof of these pleasing hypotheses. Neither have we, of their falsehood. And, independent of Divine testimony, (which, however, to a believer, is

demonstration,) the balance of probability is greatly in their favour: And it is impossible not to perceive the superior importance which they attach to us-the honor which they confer upon our compound nature.

But, here again, atheism traverses our path, to destroy our consideration, and to extinguish our hopes. Instead of claiming an almost equality with the supposed bright intelligences of heaven, we can rank only with the animal creation!-what we fancied the dawn of our existence, is its entire day!—and, instead of inheriting an endless life, we are to be, altogether, speedily and finally extinguished, devoured by corruption, turned into absolute nothingness! No internal, conscious principle survives the wreck of our bodies!-No day is to dawn upon the darkness of the grave!-No voice is ever to command the dead back into life! Thus, immediate annihilation stares us in the face; and, like the leaves in autumn, the successive generations of the proud race of man return, to enrich the soil from which they sprang! -to be lost from the universe of conscious and percipient beings!

8. Reader! these are a few of the honors and consolations of atheism! And it is for these, that we are to exchange all that religion bestows, and promises to bestow, upon its votaries! And because we prefer our faith to the atheists' disbelief, and our assured and animating hopes to their uncertain and gloomy reveries, we are thought worthy of sneers and sarcasms, and pronounced credulous blockheads; a set of dreamers; cousins german, at least, to the inmates of a particular class of asylums!

Atheists exhaust their vocabulary and rack their inventions, to cry down the popular belief, and to represent all who entertain it, as so many knaves or fools. But, we may congratulate ourselves, that we form a vast fellowship; that we peril no important interests, by a steadfast adherence to our faith; that we gain much,

and are on the safe side, even should the issue prove us to have been dupes of an entire delusion. All generations bear testimony with us; all the appearances of Nature bear testimony with us; the seasons, as they revolve, bear testimony with us; the natural and unsophisticated feelings of every human bosom bear testimony with us, to the existence and the upholding and governing power of a Divine Creator.

ATHEISM EXPOSES US TO CERTAIN DANGER.

CHAPTER IX.

ATHEISM EXPOSES ITS DISCIPLES TO CERTAIN AND
IMMINENT DANGER.

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1. In the ordinary affairs of life, most persons are quick at discerning what would prove an advantage, or a disadvantage, to their interests. Are they importuned to embark in a commercial speculation? They calculate, with great care and precision, on the probable loss or gain-on the chances for or against them-ere they take their resolution, and yield their consent. Are they solicited, to attempt a journey through an unfrequented and dangerous pass? Before they set forward, they adopt every conceivable precaution, make provision to defend themselves, not only from what may occur, but from what can occur; and, thus, guard against every possible contingency. Is it proposed to them, to form an important and a permanent connexion? The first thought of their minds is the advantage, or the disadvantage, to accrue - - they revolve consequences, balance interests, and accept or reject the proposition, as it might seem to promise good or evil. The probability of ruin to their property, reputation, or peace, would be a sufficient reason for repelling, at once, every effort to induce compliance. These varied illustrations exhibit, more fully, our precautious character; and shew, more distinctly, one of the important instincts

with which Providence has armed us, for our security and preservation.

2. Now, it is the transference of this conduct—the application of this instinct-to our immortal interests, which constitutes religion, in the highest and best sense of the term. And, it is here, that so many egregiously fail. But, even they are disposed to make concessions, in favor of religion; to offer some excuses for their irreligious conduct. They do not theoretically repudiate religion, but practically :-they admit its reality and importance; but, it does not suit their convenience, to walk by its rules:—they would not be thought wholly destitute of religious purpose—utterly reckless, as to religious hopes; but, it is not their pleasure, at the present time, to act out their convictions of duty. They love darkness rather than light; and, are lamentable examples of criminal inconsistency: but, they are not disbelievers; they do not avowedly abandon a respect for religion, in the abstract; they do not dare cannot hold in defiance-a Supreme Power, nor scoff at the doctrine of an everlasting state of existence.

3. Atheists, however, take a directly opposite course. And their consummate folly appears in this: they do not guard against possible or probable danger, they do not make provision for the worst. In other things, they would be disciples of Bacon, rather than of Aristotle; they would wish to reason from facts, rather than from hypotheses; they would criticise, , with prodigious rigidness, all evidence, on which they might be required to found an important theory, where mistake would be followed by serious consequences to their interests. Now, we would calmly ask, What are the facts which form the basis of atheistical disbelief? By what evidence is it, or can it be proved that there is no God, which, in other grave affairs, would satisfy a reasonable man? Whence are the facts and the proofs derived? If the tremendous conclusion, that there is