much improved information of their tendency and effect. To cite but one instance: less than half a century since, it was very generally believed in this country, that the Hindoos were about the most innocent, gentle, kindly disposed beings on the face of the earth. Nay, not half that time since, it was by some in this country represented and asseverated, that their religion made them such that it was not desirable to introduce among them another religion, for the purpose of altering them. But now we need not say how all this delusion is exploded-how irresistibly it has been demonstrated, that their false religion has a most hateful practical effect, and that it has so consistently and naturally.

It is pleasing to follow such gloomy statements, with the observation that—our increased knowledge of different portions of mankind, furnishes illustrations also of the tendency and influence of Christianity-genuine Christianity; it evinces its tendency and efficacy to purify-to raise-to impart noble motives,-to inspire consolation-to dispose to duty and good order. Look at Greenland, Labrador,—the Negroes in the West Indies,-some islands of the South Sea, a spot or two of Africa, the Christian communities on the Malabar coast, the converts gained in Bengal and Ceylon. And it is peculiarly striking to observe one circumstance, namely, the sameness in all parts of the world, of the operation on the mind, of the converting Christian truth. Every where it impresses a deep sense of guilt,— a profound humiliating conviction of the wretched, depraved, ruined condition of man; and of the absolute necessity of such a resource and remedy as that manifested in Jesus Christ;-that is to say, a sacrifice of atonement,— a pardon through that medium,-and an influence of a Divine Spirit.

March 20, 1823.

LECTURE XXIX.

SOCIAL CHANGES SUBSERVIENT TO THE KINGDOM

OF CHRIST.

EZEKIEL XXi. 27.

"I will overturn, overturn, overturn it, and it shall be no more until he come whose right it is, and I will give it him."

THIS chapter contains a prophecy of the alienation,—the subversion, the overthrow,-of the high and independent dominion in the Jewish nation; a prediction of successive upsettings and ruinous confusions; a declaration that the dominion should "be no more," (in a high and perfect state), till a personage should come whose "right" it would be. This personage, in the opinion of the best expositors, is no other than the Messiah.

The solemn sentence we have read will perhaps authorize us in a more extensive application than any mere reference to the Jewish nation and dominion,-an application no less than to the general state of the world, and especially in the present and approaching times. It is certainly under the great law and destiny of being "overturned, overturned." And well that it is so! There is a well-known phrase, which has been applied by one and another, to various things in the world, just as anything happened to be a favourite of prejudice or fancy, "ESTO PERPETUA." But, methinks, a sober and enlightened looker on the world will not find very many things on which he can deliberately pronounce it. He certainly cannot begin with it at home (in

the strict sense), that is, the state of his own mind taken entire and as it is. There is no conceivable thing that he would more earnestly deprecate. And if he shall cast a rapid glance of survey over the world, his attention will very soon be arrested by many things which he would not wish exempted from such a denunciation as that of the text. Let him look abroad with this plain question on his thoughts,— What prevents that there should be far more true religion, practical justice, genuine liberty, and peace, in the world? What prevents? We do not so much refer to the general cause (the radical perversity of human nature) as to the more special and formal ones. Now, if he be a genuine friend to God and man, nothing that is thus preventive and hostile will, on any account, find favour with him, so that he should deprecate the sentence being passed upon it, "overturn! overturn!". Not even though a selfinterest, or a supposed national interest, might be served by the continuance. For an example of such supposed national interest,—but a few years since, it was advanced, without any apparent shame, as an argument against all attempts at christianizing the people of India, that if such a design were effected, the consequence would be, that those nations would throw off our yoke, ultimately.

Perhaps we should not proceed on such a subject without first joining in the protest against the passion for mere change and commotion; a restless discontent that everything should continue as it is. Certainly there has in late times been a measure of this diseased passion at work; and accompanied by something worse, that is, an unprincipled purpose, set upon grasping unrighteous, selfish advantages, at all costs and hazards to mankind. But this is so very evidently pernicious, and so palpably against the general interest and will, that it never can be long or extensively prevalent. Yet Providence may, occasionally, make use

even of this for its great purposes; may let loose the wild violence, and direct its operation, on what is decreed to be demolished.

However, a good man wants not to excite to activity any such spirit while he beholds the things he wishes overturned. What things?—You have only to reflect a moment what has, at one time or another, struck you the most forcibly as obstructing religion, improvement, happiness, among men, and inflicting mischief and misery. At dif ferent times, you have been moved with regret, and indignation and almost horror, as the several grand evils, that are oppressing and blasting the world, have unfolded their deformity and malignant effects to your view. One mighty system of iniquity crushing down a great portion of the order of human welfare. Another gigantic shape of mischief devouring a share of what would remain. And yet another, -like the successive plagues of Egypt. So that, if they could be presented all at once in the view, you would feel yourself surrounded by such a combination of monsters as poetry never feigned; (never in one exhibition.)

Perhaps the first that will occur to the mind is,—false, pernicious Religion. But there is something dreadful in the conjunction of these terms,-Religion-false-pernicious,— and we might add, infernal! Religion! the light of the world! turned into error, delusion, and darkness! Religion! the sacred bond of the creature to the glorious Creator! rent and re-formed into a bondage to all that is in opposition to him! Religion! designed as the purifier and elevator of man,-transformed into the promoter, even the creator, and the sanction, of his corruptions and degradation! Religion, in short, the happiness of man on earth, and the preparation for eternal happiness,-converted into a cause of misery, here and hereafter!

Then, "Overturn! overturn!" Will not any possible

concussions and convulsions,-any kind of moral earthquake, that may contribute to demolish,-be a blessing? To annihilate such a pest as Sodom, the vale of Siddim was well lost! To exterminate a legion of murderers, the reduction of the surrounding country to a temporary desert, would be a cheap sacrifice. And by whatever it shall cost to destroy false religion, the world will be a gainer. Let it fall! though the world should tremble to its centre at the crash! At the view of each great division of this enormous iniquity (the Pagan-Mohammedan-Popish), the imprecation will still be, " overturn, overturn!" At the view of each great distinguishing property and characteristic of false religion, we shall utter the same word! For instance: -that property or principle of it by which it strikes down prostrate on the ground unnumbered myriads of immortal spirits in homage to some piece of inanimate matter, as once on the plains of Dura;-that, by which it invests a class of men with a reputed sanctity and power, to delude and overawe their fellow mortals;-that, by which it enjoins, or sanctions, cruelty and all wickedness as pious service;that, by which it repels and curses knowledge as a mortal plague; that, by which it amuses and dissipates the mind, and lays conscience dead, with an infinity of ceremonies ;that, by which (in some of the nations called Christian) it takes the very doctrines and facts of the true religion, and perverts them to wicked purposes. At the sight of each and all of these, we shall exclaim, "Overturn! overturn!"

A vast system of military fortifications, of the Infernal King, is spread over the whole earth; the glaring evidence of his invasion, and usurped, continued dominion. It is delightful to see, at any quarter, the cracks and rents of a commencing dilapidation; to see the ground beginning to heave and tremble under the odious weight. Imagine, in any country, a mighty fortress of a cruel tyrant, consti