and indignation should we not feel at the recollection of that pride and disaffection which led us to act so basely towards a fellow-immortal, whom it was in our power to have trained to wisdom, to excellence, and to a happy immortality? When, therefore, we behold individuals withholding their benevolent regard from their brethren of mankind, and treating them with haughtiness and contempt, we must conclude, that such persons overlook the true dignity of man, and secretly disbelieve the reality of an immortal state of existence, whatever professions they may make to the contrary. For, the consideration of the eternal destiny of mankind reflects a dignity on the meanest human being, and attaches an importance to all our affections and actions in relation to him, unspeakably greater than if his existence were circumscribed within the narrow limits of time, and throws completely into the shade all the degrading circumstances with which he is now surrounded.

When we consider our brethren of the human family in the light of immortal intelligences, and look forward to the scenes of the eternal world, a crowd of interesting reflections naturally arises in the mind. A wide and unbounded prospect opens before us. Amidst new creations, and the revolutions of systems and worlds, new displays of the Creator's power and providence burst upon the view. We behold ourselves placed on a theatre of action and enjoyment, and passing through "scenes and changes" which bear no resemblance to the transactions and events of this sublunary world. We behold ourselves mingling with beings of a superior order, cultivating nobler affections, and engaged in more sublime employments than those which now occupy our attention. We behold ourselves associated with men of all nations and kindreds, and with those who lived in the remotest periods of time. Millions of years roll on, after millions, our capacities and powers of intellect are still expanding, and new scenes of beauty and magnificence are perpetually bursting on the astonished mind, without any prospect of a termination. Amidst those eternal scenes, we shall, doubtless, enter into the most intimate connections with persons whom we have never seen, from whom we are now separated by continents and oceans, with those whose bo

dies are now mouldering in the dust, with those who have not yet entered on the stage of existence, and with those with whom we now refuse to associate on account of their rank and station, and religious opinions. That man into whose dwelling we would not at present deign to enter, and with whom we would abhor to mingle in the public services of religion, may then be one of our chief companions in the regions of bliss, in directing and expanding our views of the glory and magnificence of God. The man whom we now hate and despise, and whose offers of assistance we would treat with disdain, may, in that happier world, be a principal agent in opening to our view new sources of contemplation and delight. That servant whom we now treat as a being of inferior species, at whom we frown and scold with feelings of proud superiority, may be our instructor and director, and every way our superior in that region where earthly distinctions are unknown. That humble instructor whom we now despise, and whose sentiments we treat with contempt, may, in that world of intelligence and love, be our teacher, and our guide to direct our views of the attributes of the Deity, of the arrangements of his providence, and of the glories of his empire. There, the prince may yield precedence to his subjects, the master to the slave, and the peer to the humblest peasant. For no pre-eminence of birth, fortune, or learning, no excellence but that which is founded on holiness and virtue, on moral and intellectual endowments, will have any place in the arrangements of that world where human distinctions are for ever abolished and unknown. And, shall we now refuse to acknowledge those who are to be our friends and companions in that future world? Is it not agreeable to the dictates of reason, and to the voice of God, that we should regard them with complacency and affection, whatever be the garb they now wear, whatever be their colour or features, and in whatever island or continent they may now reside?

It must, indeed, be admitted, that all the inhabitants of our world will not be exalted to dignity and happiness in the future state. A great proportion of them, in their present state of depravity and degradation, are altogether unqualified for participating in the exercises and enjoyments of celestial intelligences. Whole nations are still

overspread with intellectual darkness, ignorant of their eternal destination, and immersed in imoralities and vile abominations. And, even in those countries where the light of revelation has dispelled the gloom of heathenism, a vast mass of human beings are to be found, " ing their understandings darkened, alienated from the life of God," and sunk into the mire of every moral pollution Still, we have no reason, on this account to overlook their native dignity, and their high destination. Exery human being we see around us, however low in rank, or degraded by vice, is endowed with an immortal nature, and is capable of being raised to the dignity of an inhabitant of heaven; and there is not a single individual to whom we can point, either in our own country or in other lands, in relation to whom we are authorized to affirm, that he will not be a participator in immortal bliss. And, therefore, every man with whom we associate, and whom we recogniz in the circle of society around us, ought to be viewed as one with whom we may associate in the world to come. And as to those who appear to be partially enlightened and renovated in their minds, we ought not to withhold our affection and complacency on account of their ignorance, their contracted views,

or

erroneous opinions. We should view them, not as they are in their present state of infancy and weakness, but as they will be when arrived at maturity and manhood, not as they appear in the first weak essays of their intellectual powers, and in the lowest step of their existence, but as they will appear in their career of improvement after the lapse of millions of ages. Carrying forward our views to those eternal scenes, and accompanying, our brethren of the human family through all the gradations of their existence in future worlds, we behold their faculties in progressive expansion, their minds approximating nearer to the source of eternal wisdom, their views of the empire of Omnipotence continually enlarging, their knowledge of the plan of redemption, and its numerous bearings, for ever increasing; their love and affection to God and to fellow intelligences waxing into a more ardent flame; every evil propensity corrected, every imperfection removed, every blossom of virtue fully expanded, and "joy unspeakable and full of glory" pervading every faculty of their souls. And can we behold intelligent

minds capable of so high and dignified attainments, and the companions of our future destiny, with indifference or contempt? Is there not here a broad foundation laid for the most expansive emanations of love towards every member of the great, family of mankind, however much he may be obscured, and sullied by folly and sin in this fest stage of his existence ?

In the mean time, while the greater part of mankind are immersed in ignorance and vice, while the image of their Maker is defaced, and their immortal powers prostituted to the vilest passions, the most noble and honourable operation in which love can be engaged, is to devise and execute schemes by which our degraded brethren may be raised to intellectual and moral excellence; to train up young immortals in eligion and virtue to diffuse the principles of useful knowledge among all ranks; to counteract the diabolical spirit of war and contention; to abolish slavery in every shape; to meliorate the social and domestic condition of the lower orders of society; to publish the revelation of God in every language, and to send forth the messengers of salvation to every land, to instruct men of all nations and kindreds and tongues in the knowledge of the true God, and of the path which leads to a blessed immortality. Thus shall we be enabled to manifest our love towards all our brethren of the human family; thus shall we contribute to render them worthy of our highest affection, and to prepare them for the exalted exercises and employments of the life to come.

SECTION IV.

Love to God and our Neighbour enforced, and illustrated, from a consideration of the miserable effects which would ensue were these principles reversed, and were rational beings to act accordingly.

THE two leading principles which I have endeavoured to illustrate, in the preceding pages, form the basis of the moral order of the intelligent universe. Consequently, were these principles reversed, and were moral agents to

act accordingly, the moral world would soon be transformed into a scene of the most dismal anarchy and confusion. Every action would be dictated by feelings of pure malevolence, and misery in every shape would be the great object which human beings would exert their powers to accomplish. Could we suppose for a moment, that society could subist for any length of time under the unrestrained operation of such a principle, the following, among many thousands of similar effects, would be the natural and necessary results.

Every individual would exhibit, in every action, the character of a fiend; and every family would display a miniature picture of hell. Between the husband and wife there would be nothing but incessant brawling, dissension, and execration. Whatever was ardently desired by the one would be as resolutely and obstinately opposed by the other; and the fury and resentment excited by unsatisfied desires, and disappointed hopes, would destroy every vestige of peace and tranquillity, and stimulate a host of infernal passions to rage without control. Their children would be actuated by the same diabolical tempers. The son would take an infernal pleasure in cursing, insulting and reproaching "the father that begat him," and in trampling with scorn and indignation on the mother who gave him birth. Brothers and sisters would live under the continual influence of malice and envy, "hateful, and hating one another." Whatever actions tended to irritate, to torment, and to enrage the passions of each other, and to frustrate their desires and expectations, would be performed with a grin of infernal delight. Mutual scuffles and execrations would ensue. One would have his eye-ball bruised, or knocked out of its socket, another would have his teeth driven out of his jaws; one would have his hair torn from its roots, another, his skull fractured with repeated blows; the legs of one would be full of bruises and putrifying sores, and the face of another all over covered with blotches and scars, most hideous to behold; and, in the progress of contention, the hand of a brother would plunge his dagger into a brother's heart. In larger societies, fraud, falsehood, deceit, seduction, quarrels, oppression, plun