beads and the crucifix, which the church so appropriately designates, "the books of the ignorant," are the only manuals of instruction on which the wretched slave may fix his vacant mind. We may then walk unfettered in the light of human knowledge, and cultivate those habits of close thinking and correct reasoning-that reflective disposition of mind, to which the Bible is addressed, and by which we are enabled rightly to appreciate the cogency of its arguments, and the pungency of its appeals. I am acquainted with many men, now successfully labouring in the cause of Christ, whose power of reading was the means of their emancipation from what I must call the errors of your church; but I do not remember more than one or two cases of conversion, where the parties were previously ignorant of reading; and in one of these cases, it was while learning at an advanced period of life to read the Bible that the light of truth insinuated itself into the mind. Therefore, as a friend to true religion, I would strenuously advocate the unlimited and unconditional diffusion of the power of reading. But I must observe that this power is not education: it is merely an instrument. And the great object of a sound education is, to teach us how this mighty instrument may be most effectually employed in strengthening the faculties, regulating INDIFFERENCE. 65 the affections, and directing the conduct for time and eternity. Instead, therefore, of endeavouring to impede the progress of this art, the friends of truth should endeavour to render religious knowledge co-extensive with it. When my own eyes were opened to the delusions of Romanism, I took up the writings of infidels, because, unhappily, no better guides were at hand. Had I some friend to direct my studies, to put into my hands such books as were calculated to enlighten my mind as to the nature of genuine religion, my passage from the Church of Rome to the Church of Christ might have been short and pleasant. But, like a mariner, ignorant of the art of navigation, whose frail bark has been drifted out on the pathless ocean, where bouy or land-mark is no longer visible, I felt perplexed as to the course I should pursue, and therefore cast anchor where I was, endeavouring to sleep amidst the agitation of the billows. If the infidel could not administer some opiate to the mind, if he did not sink into a state of indifference and apathy on religious subjects, his lot would be miserable indeed. It is sometimes asked, how can persons of superior minds and extensive knowledge hold errors so absurd and doctrines so pernicious? But the simple answer to this inquiry is, they do not think about the matter! Satan finds other occupation for their minds. They are engaged in the toilsome pursuits of science, or the elegant recreations of literature;—they are distracted with the cares of business, or whirled in the vortex of pleasure or of politics; and it is only in the brief pauses of the varying tumult, that the voice of conscience can be heard, and then the unhappy man addresses the faithful monitor, as King Ahab did the Prophet Elijah:- "Hast thou found me, O mine enemy ?" Yes, sooner or later, conscience will find us alone. We carry the enemy with us go where we may. A certain writer has well remarked that God is able, without touching in the slightest degree a man's health, or character, or property, to stir up such an agony in his soul as will render life itself almost insupportable. This I experienced, to a certain degree, myself. I thank God that I was restrained, by those powerful influences which he has appointed to control the conduct of those that spurn his authority, from running into excesses that bring disgrace on the character. But if my life was irreproachable in the sight of men, this was not owing to any regard which I paid to the will or the glory of God, of whose true character, indeed, I was VAGUE ASPIRATIONS. 67 profoundly ignorant, but to the force of circumstances and the counterpoise of pride. Yet was I perpetually harassed with a keen sense of responsibility, and a self-loathing consciousness of depravity. Often did I go forth at the midnight hour, when the bright stars "rained influence;" and, as I contemplated the immensity of space, and endeavoured to take in the vast conception of innumerable worlds governed by the omnipresent energy of one Almighty BEING, I felt overwhelmed with a sense of my own littleness and vileness. Frequently as the "cold round moon shone deeply down," and shed her pale melancholy light on the dewy meadows, or the sombrous groves, did I fall prostrate on my knees, and lifting up my eyes to the starry throne of the eternal Creator, give utterance to those undefineable aspirations those longings after bliss and glory, which indicate an "aching void" in the heart that the world can never fill. Oh, happiness, our being's end and aim, Good, pleasure, ease, content, whate'er thy name;— Where shall we find thee? No where but in GoD as he is revealed in JESUS CHRIST! But I knew not how to approach him. I did not understand the atonement, and the notion of spiritual influence I treated with contempt and ridicule. Alas! how inconsistent-what a compound of contradictions is man! While I strenuously defended the flattering theory of the dignity and perfectibility of human nature, I was doomed to experience the most humiliating and agonising proofs of my moral impotency and degradation. Borne aloft by an inflated imagination, beyond the region of the clouds by which our globe is encircled, I might feel for a time, like the aeronaut, enraptured at the elevation to which I had attained; but I very soon found myself again helplessly struggling in the mire. So powerful are the attractions that draw us down to earth!" I saw and approved the best, but still the worst pursued." This painful contrariety, in my nature, sometimes occasioned me such distress that I wished myself dead. Remorse preyed on my spirit, embittered my feelings, and shed a dark hue over all the arrangements of Providence. I dared to accuse the blessed God of injustice, in placing so many human beings in a world where the conflict between reason and passion could be terminated only by the blindness of conscience, or the extinction of hope. But had I attended to the dictates of reason and experience, I would have cherished very |