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peculiarities which mark each; and which, if they are true to those who speak or write, may not be in any degree adapted to his own state. He is led into the ordinances which those are in, who direct him: "according to their pasture, so were they filled," Hosea xiii. c. 6 v. and this priest-craft is continued from one generation to another, and forms a phalanx, which few resist.

It is much easier to float with the current than oppose it, much easier to observe the forms of religion, than to purify the heart-to read the Bible-to count beads-to be baptised or to put on a simple dress; than to accomplish that hardest of all work, sacrifice our own selflove. Thus we easily perceive why idolatry so much abounds in every country; and that those who look at the idols, are taught as they teach.

There is something naturally pleasing in the idea of doing good; and without considering that there is none good but One, and that there is nothing good but what proceeds from Him, they do what they choose to consider good, and then call it righteousness-look first to the creatures and then to God.

In critical reflections by certain Jews, or some of the works of Voltaire, is the following sentiments;-" The Patriarchs, the Priests, the ancient Jews, offered up lambs, sheep, and

bulls, the modern Jews offer up on the altar of their faith, much more costly victims; self-love, that precious incense, so hardly surrendered by vanity; posts, employments, those shortest and most effectual means, of laying up riches and of acquiring consequence in the world!" Many of the sacrifices of modern time may be compared to those of the ancient Jews, and though men profess now to be in the gospel dispensation, yet the one is no more effectual towards establishing true righteousness than the other.

People seem to believe that much can be accomplished in reforming other men, and they are willing to sacrifice their lives and fortunes. in the attempt: "It is not rare" says the grandson of Confucius, "to see men who despise sickness, refuse dignities, and brave death, but alas! it is difficult to find those, who know how to distinguish exactly the just medium, and to follow it."

The more the efforts called religious are exa-. mined into, the more perhaps it will be seen, that they have originated in saving alive that which ought to die. If men could see the state of their own hearts, they would find a vineyard there, large enough to work in; without attending so much to reform other men, or to

those deadly forms, which have no true connexion with religion.

The celebrated RammohunRoy, whose work on the Monitheistical system of the Hindoos, I have already quoted; in another work printed at Calcutta, in 1820, says, that the missionaries of Hindostan know, as well as himself, that it is in consequence of the mysterious dogmas of the religion which they inculcate: "that notwithstanding every exertion on their part, I am not aware that we can find a single respectable Mussulman or Hindoo, who were not in want of the common comforts of life, once glorified with the truth of Christianity, constantly adhering to it. Of the few hundred natives who have been nominally converted to Christianity, and who have been generally of the most ignorant class, there is ground to suspect, that the greater number have been allured to change their faith by other attractions, than by a conviction of the truth and reasonableness of those dogmas; as we find nearly all of them, are employed or fed, by their spiritual teachers; and in case of neglect are apt to manifest a rebellious spirit." And in a third treatise he quotes the following, from a work written in favour of the Hindoo worship. "If by the prescribed

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forms, in a church, a temple or a mosque, God be worshipped, how can he be dishonored, by being worshipped under the form of an image however manufactured ?" and from the Shastres, treating of God, the following words."Acts and rites, that originate in movements of the hands, and other members of the body, being perishable, cannot effect beatitude, that is eternal."

"Those that worship forms under appellations, continue subject to form and appellation: for no perishable means can effect the acquisition of an imperishable end."

"That man, who considers the Being that is infinite, incomprehensible, pure, extended as far as space, and time, and vacuity; to be finite, perceptible by the senses, limited by time and place, subject to passion and anger; what crime is such a robber of Divine Majesty not guilty of ?"*

Let the missionaries of each sect continue to preach and sectarians to labour, I have no wish to disturb them therein, but perhaps most of them will find, that their self-love stands in the way of that light which would show them the total inconsistency of many of their works with true religion. But they are afraid of the consePage 36.

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quences of trusting to the Light of God in their own souls in its simplicity; they fear the overthrow of those idols which they love more than the truth,-their sects-their order-their forms and ceremonies-the desire of doing what they call good; and of making converts to religion. Ah! say they, if only one soul should be converted, then indeed should I find a glorious reward for my labours!

Let not men suppose that their views of religion can be pure, when the slightest examination would show them, that they are really looking to God through those mediums which tradition has handed down to them, and their views and practices in religion correspond therewith; as I have said before, this is an easy kind of religion; and it will perhaps be found, that those in each sect, who are the most zealous and active in building up their own forms, and particular order, are so far from being the purest worshippers, as to be, instead thereof, the greatest idolators. Let them go on with their labours; the mind which is pure, can neither be offended nor disturbed thereat; it knows that though they are wholly inconsistent with pure and undefiled religion, yet that they are perfectly consistent with themselves; and as Divine justice has made men free agents, a

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