fcribe to the reft. If Human Nature remains always uniformly the fame, with respect to her effential principles, they are yet influenced in their operation by so vast a diversity of external and accidental çircumstances and fituations, as to occafion, in the fucceffion of ages, appearances the moft different, and often the most oppofite, that can be imagined. The original properties of the foil may continue; but the produce may be totally changed by the ftate of the seasons, concurring with that of the culture.

We appeal to history for an instance or two, out of many which might be adduced. You will not fay, that, in the times when Polytheism univerfally reigned, there was to be found among men the fame degree of purity, of probity, or of mutual benevolence, which has been fince frequently discovered in thofe countries, where idolatry gave place to the knowledge and worship of the One Supreme. The best

days of pagan antiquity might difplay, here and there, higher flights of friendship, fortitude, and patriotifm, than have been often feen in after generations that enjoyed fuperior light; owing, we fuppose, chiefly to a stronger paffion for fame, anciently propagated, as has been before remarked, with equal affiduity and skill by lawgivers and others, who laid hold on the love of glory implanted in the human mind, as the most powerful handle they could employ for inciting to thofe actions that would aggrandize their countrymen, and reflect honour on themselves. joining with this motive inftitutions directly calculated to infpire temperance, patience of toil, fearleffness of danger, difregard to wealth, and a zeal for their country, they certainly produced wonderful effects in the way of magnanimity and heroifm. But then thofe fplendid exhibitions were unequal, interrupted, and too commonly obfcured by fcandalous vices, or great failings, which the actors feemed

By

little follicitous to avoid, for want, no doubt, of purer principles, and more comprehenfive aims, than any of a secular kind. Trust me, Gentlemen, a conduct more regular and blameless, an integrity and a generofity of wider scope, with all those qualities of the heart which are most conducive to the happiness both of this world and the next, will be cultivated extenfively in fuch parts of the earth alone as are enlightened by true religion: I mean that Divine Syftem which, whilst it enjoins and exemplifies all the duties incumbent on man, enforces them by fanctions of infinite and eternal confequence, and inftructs him by what power he may perform them. Its actual influence in meliorating the tempers, and regulating the lives, of its difciples in those nations where it was firft embraced, has been acknowledged even by fome of its greatest adverfaries.

When this light from Heaven was afterwards almost wholly intercepted by the

thick fhades of fuperftition and ignorance, that enveloped Europe in the dark ages, what became of the virtues which had flourished under its influence? Into what other regions were they tranfplanted, fo as to make amends elsewhere for the enormities and abominations which had grown up in Chriftendom during that gloomy night? Was not the world manifeftly and greatly worse than it had been for a number of generations preceding?

When a combination of caufes fufficiently known had, under Providence, brought about the bleffed Reformation from Popery; gracious God, what an im ́provement was inftantly made, by religious knowledge, in the minds and morals of mankind! And this improvement has on the whole continued in every country where a rational piety is profeffed. In Britain its efficacy is ftill proved by the exalted virtue of fome; by the decency, the humanity, and the moderation of more; by the

mild and equal temperament of the laws in general, and by the juftice and equity of those who execute them. Nevertheless we muft declare our opinion, that the age in which we live is a declining age with regard to its ruling manners and principles: it is degenerated from the principles and manners of some that went before.

Amongst other proofs of the melancholy fact, we have found in the foregoing Addrefs, that this nation is unnerved and corrupted, by luxury and effeminacy, to a degree far beyond any former period. The disease is more largely fpread, and more feriously threatening: that is to say, it has infected all claffes of men, and extinguished in most individuals that lively reverence for the Almighty, and those generous feelings for the public, which only can preserve a people from ruin. The truth is, fuperfluous riches have always, and every where, fooner or later, produced this effect. There are but few men who have faith or