SECTION I.

It is impossible to banish all Religion from the World; and if it were possible, it would be the greatest Calamity which could befall the Human race.

Ir is not my object, here, to consider religion as it is a matter of duty, or a means of obtaining happiness in a future world; for, both these would be equally disregarded by those men who aim at the subversion of all religion. What I shall attempt, at present, is, to state and establish the fact, that man is so constituted that he must have some sort of religion. And the truth of this will be manifest, from an inspection of the principles of human nature, and from the history of the world. Man has naturally a sense of moral obligation, a perception of the difference between right and wrong, feelings of remorse or approbation on the review of his conduct, fears of future retribution when he has committed a crime, and a propensity to pay religious homage to some object, visible or invisible. These are what have been called his religious feelings; and from them he has re-. ceived the appellation of a religious animal. And, certainly, there is nothing by which man is so clearly distinguished from the creatures below him, as this capacity for religion; for whatever indications the brutes give of sagacity in other matters, it is impos

sible to communicate to them any ideas of morality, or any impressions of a religious nature. Now, that these feelings are natural, and not adventitious, is manifest, because they are found to exist in men of all ages, of all countries, and in every different state of society. And hence, no nation, ancient or modern, has ever been found without some kind of religion. It would be as difficult to find a whole nation without religion, as to find one destitute of speech. Some travellers, it is true, from superficial observation, have reported that some savage tribes had no ideas of religion, and no species of worship; but, on more accurate examination, it has been ascertained, that this was a mistake. And from our present knowledge of the nations of the earth, we are authorized to assert, that there is not one totally destitute of some sense of religion and some form of worship. The same thing was well known to all the wisest men of antiquity. It is a fact from which both Plato and Cicero have derived many important conclusions. And these principles of our nature are so deeply radicated, that they never can be removed. Men may be induced to abandon their old religion, and to adopt a new one; but they never can remain long free from something of the kind. Take away from them one object of worship, and they will soon attach themselves to another. If, unhappily, they

lose the knowledge of the true God, they will set up gods of their own invention; or receive them from others. The history of all nations bears such ample testimony to this fact, that it cannot be denied. Now, this universality of religion evinces, in the clearest manner, that the principle is natural, that it is an essential thing in the constitution of man; just as the fact, that men are always found living in society proves that the social principle exists, and is natural to

man.

Atheistical men have, indeed, attempted to trace all religious feelings, and all rites of worship, to the craft of priests and policy of rulers; but this opinion is not only unsupported by historical testimony, but is most unreasonable in itself. For if there had not existed a predisposition to religion in the ninds of men, such a design would never have been conceived; and if it had, all attempts to introduce into the mind of man ideas so foreign to his nature, must have been abortive. At any rate, such an imposition could not have continued for so long a time, and could not have been extended to every tribe and nation in the world. If no sense of religion had existed in the minds of men, priests and politicians, however cunning, would have had no handle to take hold of, no foundation on which to build. Besides, it seems to be forgotten by the advocates of this

hypothesis, that the existence of priests, supposes the previous existence of religion.

They have, moreover, alleged, that fear produced the gods. Be it so: it still confirms my position, that there is something in the nature of man which leads him to religion: and it is reasonable to conclude, that a cause which has operated uniformly, heretofore, will continue to produce the same effects, as long as the world stands. It is impossible, therefore, to banish all religion from the world.

To what degree atheists have succeeded in divesting themselves of all religious impression, I do not pretend to know. That some men have gone to a great length in counteracting the constitutional tendencies, and extinguishing the feelings of nature, is undoubtedly true; but there have been sufficient indications to lead to the opinion, that there is more of affectation than reality in the bravery of their profession. It is known that some of them have, above other men, been the slaves of superstitious fears; and that others, in times of extreme peril, as in a storm at sea, have for the moment, renounced their atheism, and cried as earnestly for mercy as those around them. Now if these philosophers, with all their reasoning, are not able to erase all religious impressions from their own minds, it is vain to attempt to banish all religion out of the world.

But suppose the great work achieved, and

that every vestige of religion was obliterated, what would be the result? Would men remain without any objects of religious homage? Would they never again be afraid of invisible powers? Would the feelings of remorse at no time urge them to perform some sort of penance, or attempt some kind of expiation? Would no impostors and false prophets arise to deceive the world again with their dreams, fancies, and pretended revelations? They must have made but superficial observations on human nature, who think that none of these things would ever occur.

If those persons, therefore, who oppose Christianity, hope by its subversion to get rid of all religion, they do greatly deceive themselves. This work being accomplished, they would soon have more to perform, in endless progression. Instead of the pure, mild, benignant religion of Christ, they would soon find themselves surrounded by superstitions as foul and as false, as monstrous and as absurd, as any which the hot-bed of paganism ever produced. Look into the heathen world, and see the abominations and miseries which inveterate superstition perpetuates, in some of the fairest and most populous regions of the globe. Look at the savage tribes of Africa and America, and contemplate the cruel bondage of superstition, to which the people are subjected. Evils as great would soon grow up among us, were it not for the