43⁰ A PPENDIX.

make a right uſe of our privileges! What a glorious face ot things would ſoon appear among us, if, as we have the beſt religion in the world, we took care to govern ourſelves by its ſacred rules, and to act under the influence of its divine in- ſtructions and important motives! Virtue, ſupported and ani- mated by the glorious hopes of the Goſpel, would appear in its genuine ſacred charms, and in its lovely beauty and excellence. Love, the true ſpirit of Chriſtianity, would prevail, and pro- duce a mutual forbearance in leſſer différences, at the ſame time that there would be a happy agreement in matters of the high- eſt importance; there would be a zeal without bigotry, a liberty without licentiouſneſs. The natural conſequence of all this would be peace and harmony in lärger and leſſer ſocieties. Such would be the face of things among us, as far as could be ex- pected in this ſtate of imperfection, if the religion of jeſus were ficmly believed, and duly conſidered, and men would be more generally perſuaded to give up themſelves to its divine conduçt. This would render perſons in high ſtations ſignally uſeful to the public, and ornaments as well as fuphorts to their country. And at the ſame time ſobriety, induſtry, temperance, and good order, Would ſpread among the body of the people. Nor would true bravery and fortitude be wanting. For though fuerſtition tendeth to produce mean and unmanly fears, true religion, and a fteady belief of a wiſe and righteous Providence, hath a tendency to fortify and eſtabliſſ the mind, and to pro- duce a real courage and greatneſs Joul, which will enable a man to meet death with a calm intrepidity in a noble and juſt cauſe, and ſtand the ſhock of the greateſt terrors.

It is a reflection which hath frequently occurred to my mind, eſpecially on occaſion of the late dreadful judgments of God, how different, under the appreheoſion or preſſure of an amazing calamity, muſt be the ſtate of one that firmly believeth Chriſti- anity, and endeavoureth to govern his practice by its excellent rules, from that of the Athelſt and Unbeliever, or of the man who though he profeſſeth to believe the Chriſtian religion, liveth in a plain contradiction to its ſacred obligations. The former, however black and diſaſtrous the face of things may appear to be, which naturally tend to create fears in the hu⸗ man mind, yet is perſuaded, that all things are under the di- rection of infinite wiſdom, righteoufneſs, and goodneſs, and that we live in a world where every thing above, beneath, and on every ſide of us, is in the hand of God, and under the direction of his providence; who, as he can arm all his crea- tures againſt us, and make them the inſtruments of his juſt

dit.