digested arguments, fairly ftated, and ftrongly enforced. A fingle dart may be made to fink deeper, than a cloud of arrows ill directed. An inftance to this purpofe I once experienced; the hiftory of which, with your permiffion, I will lay before you. In one of thofe years, when I was in camp with your truly Noble Father, the Duke of Marlborough; an officer of my acquaintance defired me, upon my making a short excurfion, to take him with me in my carriage. Qur converfation was rather defultory, as is ufual upon fuch occafions: and among other things he asked me, rather abruptly, what were my notions about religion. I answered evasively, or at least indeterminately, as his inquiry feemed to proceed merely from an idle curiofity; and I did not see that any happy confequence could enfue from an explanation. However fome time afterwards he made me a vifit at my house A 4 ti house, and stayed with me a few days. During this interval, one evening he put the question to me again; and at the fame time added, that he should be really obliged, if I would give him my thoughts in general upon the fubject. Upon this I turned towards him, and after a short pause told him, that my opinion lay in a small compass: and he should have it in as compendious a manner, as the fubject would permit. either true, or falfe. Religion, I faid, is This is the alterna ve: there is no medium. If it be the latter,―merely an idle system, and a cunmingly-devised fable: let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. us, The world is before For we have no let us take all due advantage, and choose, what may feem best. profpect of any life to come; much less any affurances. But if religion be a truth, it is the most ferious, truth of any, with which we can poffibly be engaged: an article of the greatest importance. It demands our most moft diligent inquiry to obtain a knowledge of it; and a fixed resolution to abide by it, when obtained. For religion teaches us, that this life bears no proportion to the life to come. You fee then, my good friend, that an alternative of the utmost consequence lies before you. Make therefore your election, as you may judge beft; and Heaven direct you in your determination. He told me that he was much affected with the crifis, to which I brought the object of inquiry: and I truft, that it was attended with happy confequences afterwards. Such, Madam, is our fituation: and on whichever fide the truth may lie, the subject, as I faid above, merits our most diligent inquiry. But from whence are we to begin? Undoubtedly from the existence, and attributes of the Supreme Being. For as religion, about which we are to inquire, is a law; there must be a lawgiver to give it a fanction: and that lawgiver must be ultimately mately the Creator, and Conservator, of all things; otherwise it cannot be of divine inftitution. Upon this foundation the whole fabric refts. It will therefore be neceffary to afcertain this great truth, before we proceed to others, which are deducible from it. Such then is my purpose; which with the most true regard and deference is humbly fubmitted to your candour by, MADAM, Your much obliged And most obedient humble Servant, JACOB BRYANT. CON |