steam-engine. At length he constructed his stone axe, and, by degrees, his saw and sledge-hammer. Then he forsook his cave-home and dwelt in his rude hut. But he tarried not here; for while the bear is only and always a bear, no more and no less, from age to age-boasting only of his fur coat, his claws and his teeth-there is something divine in man which prompts him to activity and improvement, and to look beyond the mere supply of his necessities, and aim at comfort, elegance and beauty. Hence the rude hut gradually passed into a habitation of refinement. Simple studs and rafters became columns, arches and domes; and so, at length, followed out in all their detail of order and beauty, the plinth, die, cornice, base, capital, architrave and mouldings, to give symmetry, finish and perfection to the structure; and thus architecture became, by degrees, a fine art. And what have we now? Lift up your eyes and behold the thousands of magnificent cities that dot the earth;-the grandeur of their temples and public edifices;-our mills, with their millions of spindles and thundering looms ;our work shops, with their multiplied implements for construction; our improvements in the arts of husbandry and in the modes of commerce. Behold oceans spanned, and nations linked by steam-ships-and countries welded by iron bars, over which people of a thousand realms pass in flying palaces drawn by fiery steeds. The same law of development prevails in Philosophy and Science.

The crucible and the telescope, the galvanic battery. and the revelations of philosophy, as directed by human research and ingenuity, have astonished the world. The earth, once thought to be the center and bulk of the universe, now dwindles beneath our feet to a mere point; while the twinkling stars, regarded by the ancients as

so many lamps suspended in the midway heavens for the convenience of our earth, now burst upon us with all the grandeur of stupendous worlds, peopled with millions of sentient beings, and spinning through the heavens with the velocity of lightning, and the order and precision of mathematical certainty.

I suppose there are but few or none in any community disposed to contradict, or even to doubt, the development of which I speak, as connected with the Material or the Intellectual. All men of thought, who know anything of the past, are certain that the world is progressing in learning, philosophy, science, art, political economy and a true civilization. But all men of thought are not certain that the race is progressing in HUMANITY. On the contrary, many affirm that the world, like a patient hopelessly sick, is getting no better, but worse continually; more corrupt, wicked and oppressive, and less kind, benevolent and humane. Such persons are always doubting the mollifying influences of the Christian religion, and the prophetic declarations of the Bible with reference to the growth of humanity among the nations. And not only so, but they are constantly regretting that they were born into the world at so late a period. "Ah!" they groan, "the times are not what they once were! The days of our good old fathers were happy days. There was less oppression and more humanity than now, and a great deal more true enjoyment." So chime the croakers.

It is strange that while society is moving forward with eager speed, that so many should be filled with doubt, and, dissatisfied with the present, should look back and with regrets so tender, sigh for the "good old days" of the dark ages.

I desire, then, in the beginning, to show to this class, and to all, the sure growth of the human soul in the

divine principle of benevolence. I wish to demonstrate to every reader the certainty of such a growth; and further, that the developments of humanity are never deleterious to society, but, on the contrary, serve to soften and subdue the sinful. I am specially desirous to impress this important truth on the hearts of all professed Christians, and to convince them that Christianity has something to do with the progression of which I speak.

Now, to me, the thought is a glorious one, and full of encouragement, that while the public mind of all civilized society is ripening with wisdom, it is softening with benevolence. What are nations and communities, destitute of benevolence or humanity? What the power of millions of men-each as learned as the seven wise men -boasting of philosophy, science, riches, without humanity to control and direct their energies? Such power would prove but a dreadful engine of cruelty and oppression. What every good man desires above all else, is to behold a development that, while it mollifies and civilizes society generally, it shall benefit man, especially the poor and unfortunate classes of our race, the criminal,the little ones and the weak, by kindness, instruction and assistance. There is hope in such a progression-hope for the suffering, toiling poor, inhabiting the wretched cellars and garrets of our pent up cities-hope for the intemperate and ignorant-hope for the "widow and the fatherless," cursed with poverty, rags and tears; in short, hope for the doomed millions of enslaved Europe and America, who live beneath the very spires, and sit in the very shadow of our thousand churches, consecrated to Him who was the "sinner's friend," and who exclaimed, when on earth-" The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to

preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind; to set at liberty them that are bruised, and to preach the acceptable year of the Lord."

Is there such a progression now going forward in the heart of all civilized society?

Let us see. We shall appeal to facts, and shall demonstrate by contrasting the past with the present. And look you, first, at a few historical relations showing the want of humanity-the extreme cruelty, that existed in the most civilized and enlightened nations, on the introduction of Christianity into the world, eighteen centuries ago.

We have all read, in the Gospel, the simple but touching account of the massacre which took place by the order of Herod the Great, on the birth of Christ, in Bethlehem of Judea; but did we ever reflect on the inhumanity-the perfect savageness of the society and the age, which could have tolerated an act so terribly cruel? This man was born in Judea, of one of the first families of that realm, and was regarded as one of the greatest men of his time. His abilities as a politician and commander were of the first order, and such was the magnificence he displayed in decorating his palace and other public buildings, that Augustus said, "His soul was too great for his kingdom." And yet, in the 33d year of his reign as king of Judea, when Christ was born, being unable to find the infant Savior that he might destroy him, "he sent forth and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem and all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under," in order to make sure of his victim.

Can we conceive of a more cruel and heartless act? And yet we are not told that the people, being filled with horror, arose en masse and tore the unfeeling wretch from his throne and consigned him to the flames. To be sure,

weeping and lamentations were heard throughout the land, by wretched mothers who refused to be comforted. But what then? This was of no consequence! Cruelty and blood were common with kings, and familiar with the people; and the terrible act was passed without note or comment. Herod was still reverenced and lauded as the king of Judea. He put to death his innocent wife, and butchered his sons, and still was reverenced and lauded as the king of Judea. And, according to Josephus, he planned a scene of posthumous cruelty which shows how barbarous must have been the age that would suggest a thought so terrible. It was this: He summoned the chief persons among the Jews to the city of Jericho, and caused them to be shut up in the royal circus. He was now near seventy years of age and very sick, and he gave strict orders to his sister Salome, to have all the men massacred at his death, that every great family in Judea might weep at his funeral. His savage order, however, was never executed.

Now here is a question: Is there a Prince on earth in our age who would be guilty of acts so dreadfully cruel? Or if so, is there a people on earth, civilized or savage, that would not execrate the monster who could be thus heartless? If not, then has not the world progressed in humanity since that religion, which is peace on earth, good will to men, was proclaimed?

I am aware that Herod bears the character of having been a very cruel and blood-thirsty wretch, far worse than most men of his time. Permit me, therefore, to mention one other historical fact to show the inhumanity of society at that period. About thirty years subsequently to the death of Christ, the Roman army invaded Judea and destroyed the great city of the Jews, under Titus, the Roman general, who in consequence of his many