it always proceeds from an opinion, that all who differ from them, are in the road to damnation. But with others the cause is more natural: they think themselves in the right, and for that reason would be happy to find the rest of the world of their opinion. Yet let every man work out his salvation in the manner most agreeable to himself. God may not be displeased with variety of thought, as variety is his own work. He may require no uniformity, except with respect to an upright mind, and a clear conscience.

Harshness or bribery, on the score of religion, are both of them in general unwise. They usually produce dissimulation. At the same time it may be questionable, whether the empress of Russia, for instance, did not use an agreeable, an efficacious, and even a laudable method for converting her Pagan subjects of Kamskatcha. She exempted such of them, as would profess Christianity, from taxes for ten years. Her situation, indeed, was peculiar; and in all rules there are exceptions, which must universally be admitted.

The diameter of the terrestrial globe is seven thousand nine hundred and seventy English miles-sixty nine miles to a degree. The sur

face,

face, therefore, in round numbers, may be saidto be two hundred millions of square miles. Of these the sea occupies four-fifths, or one hundred and sixty millions; and the land one-fifth, or forty millions. America has more than onethird; Asia, more than one fourth; Africa, onefourth ; and Europe, one-eighth. According to this measurement, the Pagans, supposing the whole earth divided into thirty parts, possess nineteen parts; the Mahommedans and Jews; six parts; the Grecian church, two parts; and the Roman Catholics and Protestants, three parts. Thus, on the most probable calculation, the Christians do not occupy more than onesixth part of the whole surface of the earth.*

Have the bulk of mankind, then, let me ask in the words of Locke, no other guide, but accident and blind chance, to conduct them to their happiness or misery? Are the current opinions and licensed guides of every country, sufficient evidence and security to every man to venture his greatest concernments on, nay, his everlasting happiness or misery? Or can those be certain and infallible oracles and standards of truth, which teach one thing in Christendom and another thing in Turkey? Or shall a poor country

*Duten's Itineraire,

Country-man be eternally happy, for having the chance to be born in Italy, or a day-labourer be unavoidably damned, because he had the illluck to be born in England? Many will be ready here to say, questions such as these are not to be examined. Questions such as these, however, it is our privilege, as rational beings, to examine. But we have already glanced at them as we have come along; and therefore any thing farther would be unnecessary.

There cannot be a more dangerous inactivity of mind, let it be again repeated, than implicitly to rely upon the opinions of others; nor can any thing be more likely to mislead, since there is much more falsehood and error, than truth and knowledge, among men. Thus, if the opinions and persuasions of others whom we know, and think well of, were absolutely to be a ground of assent, men must be Heathens in Japan, Mahommedans in Arabia, Papists in Spain, Protestants in Britain, and Lutherans in Sweden. If even learning could insure infallibility, how is it, that what passes for orthodoxy in age, shall be heterodoxy in another? But on this point also you have had my sentiments. I have even ventured to deny that God created the greatest part of mankind to be

damned

damned. On the contrary, I have asserted, that "God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him." The apostle Paul says, "The Gentiles do by nature the things contained in the law; and God will render unto every man according to his deeds."

Intolerance is, at all times, the certain way to introduce irreligion, heresy, and apathy. In every part of the world, in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, when the people are oppressed by the spiritual power, they fly to the temporal; when by the temporal, they fly to the spiritual. When both, however, aim at rendering them miserable, then arise schisms, convulsions, and that long train of civil disorders, which evermore terminates in murder and destruction. A criminal in Pagan Rome was under sentence to be starved to death. A number of days had rolled over his wasting existence. His daughter bribed, or eluded, the vigilance of his keepers. She crept into the cell. On the bare ground, and almost in the agonies of death, she found the author of her days. She wept. She kissed the pale check that was wont to beam with joy upon her. But she had no sustenance to offer. She had failedin the attempt to bring him a little succour. A thought, like inspiration, darted, however, at once

upon

upon her soul. She trembled; but casting an eager and apprehensive look behind her, lest she should be observed, she, with the rapidity of lightning, threw open her breast, and, from the same source whence her little infant drew his daily nourishment, she joyfully administered food to her father. The senate heard of the transaction. It was contrary to law. It was flying in the face of the stern justice of the country. Yet, as parents themselves, they could not resist the blessed impulse of a child's affection. They pardoned the father. They did more; they pulled down the prison, and, in its place, erected a temple to filial piety.

I now have done. I am arrived at the end of a difficult journey. But, in my labour, I have found, in some measure, my enjoyment. I have had hope, to befriend me during my fatigues: nor does she even quit me now that my labours are finished. In the prospect of rendering some service to my fellow-creatures I find my reward. As I have gone along, I have been much beholden to others. Nor have I been ashamed My design," says Marcus Aurelius," has been to discharge my duty, as it is the soldier's to storm the breach. What if, because of lameness, a man cannot of himself

to take assistance.