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CHAPTER XI.

PROPENSITIES.

Birth-United States-Foreigners - Religion

Pagans-Chris

The sober and frantic-But few honest-Bear the whole load of -The rest complain-Lazy-Rude-Cheat-Corporations-Hy

ire

-Church-Revolutions-Illuminations-Office-Taverns-Gamcompanies-Lynching-Mobs-Riots-Hatred-Extract-Lee votes-Banks-Bankrupts-Orders-Labor-Extracts-Debtheating—Forgery--Fraud-Embezzlement-Judges--Office huntroperty--Character-Rabble-True distinctions-St. Augustine's -Depravity-Motives-Changes.

as already been stated that education will not change y the natural depravities of the human heart, and that e inherent and radical, and secretly constitute the perand invincible propensities of our nature.

vidence has been so conclusive of these facts as the total of the extraordinary facilities and encouragement furby the United States for the moral and mental improvethe millions of emigrants to this country. Fortunately ope, and unfortunately for us, they are of the worst This is acknowledged by all respectable foreigners. ffspring, whatever may have been their opportunities rovement, constantly betray the bad blood and degraded f their ancestors.

n these inherent elements of human nature are irritated oked, they dart out like an adder, in defiance of all the s and constraints of education, which will no more rer destroy them than a mountain piled upon a diamond will ish its inherent powers of brightness. A strong evidence › general facts, and also of the truth of religion, is, that or conscience is a primary and overruling impulse; that Ost quick and lively with the wicked: and that it involy starts up with, and rebukes all sinful emotions of the

Supreme Cause, and, however hardened, secretly rors of hereafter. The pagans make fervent d dels believe in an overruling spirit; and atheist a Divine essence.

They all crouch before the inward and secret conscience. It may be baffled and defied, but it

tinguished.

The forms and outward professions employed monstrate the sincerity of their faith and worsh ous as their natures, and range from the silent Sp of the Quaker, up to the furious ranting of the haps a quiet and solemn communion with the so proof of true religion than vanity, ostentation, o castigation or boisterous vociferations of praise

RELIGION.

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"If religion were a thing altogether externa appliances and means of operation which are set i be of some avail. If it consisted wholly in in preaching or praying, or any sort of excitem so called, why then it would be well to multiply out number. But I fear that the tendency of in general, to abstract the attention of mankind tial character, its vital principles and habits, a substitute, which is comparatively of little value

"After not a short experience, I am strongly all extraordinary means of promoting religion, are useless; that the tendency of extraordinar to make men hypocrites: and, that anything ex the regular observance of the Lord's Day and tl punctual support of religious instruction and doubtful expediency."-(REV. HENRY COLMA Life and Manners, vol. i., pages 150 and 151.)

Yet, all pretensions and professions of reli treated with respect, and never made an obj They evidence at least an effort to do right; and

are imbued with a solemn sense of religious fervor, and are grievously disturbed by some besetting sin, against the r of which in this way they wrestle, and struggle, and to make resistance, and in which efforts they find mos athy and comfort, amidst the active and refreshing excite s of public worship. A proper medium upon this subjec d therefore be maintained.

too often happens that such persons have not accorded to sufficient credit for their good intentions; and, indeed, the 1, by way of excuse for its aversion to sacred things, i to entertain feelings and language of uncharitableness to s everything which concerns religion.

eat allowances are to be made too for differences of opin temperament, education, associations, and habits. And the main, there is evidence of an inclination to lead a re us life, there can be no excuse for withholding a cordial and respect for it.

here is true religion. There are saints on earth as well a eaven. We should beware how we insult them, lest w Heaven.

eligion should be largely and generously encouraged. Ther much wickedness, and the evil which comes from it so ex ve, that the bare appearance of good is refreshing and de ful; and, perhaps, the time may come when we shall learn ur great sorrow and bitter anguish, that the derision o ion and its followers, by reason of their nonconformity t notions of good taste and sincerity, is blasphemy; much e should we be careful not to incur the terrible denuncia which has recorded in letters of wrath that," The fool hot in his heart, there is no God." If it was not for the right , the fate of Sodom might again fall upon the earth. he honest portions of society sustain a heavy task, and ar sed to perpetual alarm and peril.

heir numbers in proportion to the whole are few; and th re fabric of support and order rests on them.

t is their productive labor that maintains, and their exampl authority that restrain, the whole mass.

hey find subsistence for the millions of helpless and wicke

ntributo nothing by mind or moong for the nuhlia wee

Every man, who enjoys the advantage of a comfo a good character, and the means of independence, object of envy, jealousy, and hatred, by those who wicked, and whose predominating purpose is to thing down to their own level.

These are the rank and dangerous aristocrats of States; they are the men who have no respect for the characters, or the rights of others.

They insult virtue, deride talents and learning. They get up plots for frauds and gambling, in 1 porations, monopolies, politics, and elections; the riots and fires, and fill the prisons.

Their predominating spirit is for evil, and the nation of man's passions incites, and the example encourages to wickedness.

IT IS CALLED HUMAN DEPRAVITY.

Some are inherent and irreclaimably depraved, r nothing but interest and cowardice; some have gli moral light, but never obtain settled views of prop are not favored with virtuous resolutions till they for the temptations of sin, and still fewer are up and choice independently pure.

It requires self-government and firmness in vi share of mental vigor and divine assistance, seldom tained under the age of fifty years, for rigid honest

The propensities also involve inclination for r severity of deportment, a sort of haughty insolenc and speech where there is no interest to consult; and to cringe and fawn if any advantage is to be gaine

The instances are very rare of men or women mination and charity, self-esteem and judgment, ar strong to maintain a steady course of complaisant a deportment towards every one they meet.

This is a perfection of character which exclusi to strength of intellect and lofty independence; imitated; it has no condescension or familiarity firm, elevated, and benevolent, and more strongly

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en; they are apt to be envious, jealous, suspicious, sly, ar h; always very much pleased with themselves, but not ki oliging to each other; they are haughty and dogmatical cotemporaries and equals; love to talk incessantly of ther es; boasting, contradicting, blustering, abusing, and fighting ⚫ compacts and associations are generally formed to mainta carry out these propensities; hence they form fishing, boa free and easy clubs, and fire companies; meet each oth illiard and gaming rooms, under the pretext of sociable a nless intercourse, but really to obtain encouragement f indulgence of their brutal propensities; and from the for ssociations, to swell the power of conflict in party strife, btain encouragement and countenance for coarse, obscen profane conversation, drunkenness, and gluttony.

hey prefer to spend their time amidst the spit and smok disgusting, degrading, and promiscuous gatherings at ba ns, oyster-cellars, and other rum-holes; about fire-plug ine-houses, and brothels; leaving at home anxious father is mothers, sisters, wives, and innocent children; and retu nem debauched, polluted, and debased; obliging their frien families to suffer these coarse and unmitigated wrongs arnful silence.

The rush made into the degrading employment of dram-sellin only be accounted for in a preference for noise, filth, b: pany, and gambling, certainly not for idleness and want ger capital, for many other occupations suit even laziness an

rt means.

There is no more rent, capital, or labor required for an ap cary, tin, crockery, tailor, hat or shoe shop, and numero er similar in-door and light employments, than for a grogger all these there are peace, order, and respectability, with nce to improve and rise, if there is a wish for it; with t er there are noise, filth, brutality, and open or secret gamblin grog-seller ever obtained the respect of virtuous persons. Their constant employment and associations are with drun s. There is no room or opportunities afforded for mental a ral improvement; no such man or his family can ever ris wever civil and harmless. There is a dead weight upon ther Whenever, therefore, a man is seen in this business, or a

tox of choice be should be marked

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