being with one faculty more, or one less, than man possesses, would not be man, but something else.

Besides, if men were not by nature possessed of religious faculties, revelation to them would be of as little use, as light to a man born blind. Indeed, it would be physically and morally impossible to make to them a revelation of a moral or religious character, for the plain reason, that they would be physically incapable of receiving it and the idea of a revelation made to such persons, would present as palpable a contradiction as that of REVELATION unrevealed. Neither could children be religiously educated, if they were not religious by nature. You cannot create faculties by education ;-nor can you educate faculties, which do not exist, any more than you can improve the sight of a man who has no eyes.

can educate their intellect. The plain and obvious reason is, that you cannot educate faculties, which do not exist.

But, as we have already seen, the idea would be most horrific, that brutes should possesss the intellect of men; and the effects would be no less desolating and horrific in man's erect and noble form, than in the grovelling attitude of the brute. Hence when intellect alone is educated, and the religious faculties wholly neglected, or abused, a class of beings is produced, which, for the sake of distinction, may be called HUMAN BRUTES

the Napoleons, the Murrels, the Dantons, the Marats, and the Robespierres of our race, the scourge and curse of mankind-differing from the actual brute, from lions and tigers, mainly in being accountable, and in possessing superior intellect, which It may be regarded, then, as un- capacitates them to commit ravages deniable, if not self-evident, that man so much the more fearful, and to possesses by nature religious faculties; spread havoc and desolation to a more and that the perfection and glory of alarming extent. Whereas, had the his being consist in the development moral organization of these men been and supremacy of those faculties, properly educated, they might have under the guidance of enlightened shone conspicuously among the most intellect. Were we naturally destitute distinguished benefactors of the human of a religious organization, intellect, race; might have been as immortal however exalted, could serve no in honor, as they are now in infamy other purpose, than to pander ignobly-might have lived unspeakably to the base and selfish gratification of blessed themselves, and the source of the animal passions. unnumbered blessings to their fellowmen.

Indeed, it is the religious, and not the intellectual organization, that furnishes an infallible criterion, by which to distinguish between the man and the brute. It is this, that exalts man to an immeasurable distance above the lower tribes. The distance intellectually between the highest specimens of the brute, and the lowest of the human family, is so small as to be imperceptible. Nay, it is even questionable, whether there may not be found some brutes possessing more intellect than some men. But to brutes you never can impart, by any system of education whatever, religious or moral feelings, although you

From these reflections it must be obvious, that were there no hereafter, and were our highest hopes and aspirations confined to the present life, still, the grand point in education would be, the proper training of the moral sentiments. Better neglect every thing in education than this. Nay, if this is neglected, the less intellect men have, and the less that intellect is cultivated, the better. However startling and extravagant, at first view, this sentiment may appear to some, it is but a corollary to the proposition, that lions and tigers are less mischievous and miserable

in their own nature, than they would with the dignity of the theme, must be with the superadded intellect of be the highest flights of fancy, the utmost range of created intellect, the

man.

Let it be noted here, that our rea-loftiest soarings of finite imagination. soning hitherto has proceeded purely The occasion will not allow us to do on philosophical principles-on plain more, than barely glance at this and undeniable matters of fact, pre- subject of unspeakable importance, of sented alike to the observation of all, awful, yet delightful grandeur and who can and will think. Whether, sublimity. And yet, I cannot feel therefore, revelation be true or untrue satisfied to pass it by wholly unnoticed. -whether there be, or be not a future state of rewards and punishments, such as the Bible discloses still it is undeniably plain, that in the great business of education, even with an exclusive reference to happiness in this life, a proper moral and religious training is the grand and all-important interest, the one thing needful. But, it is no less plain, that the Bible, in its doctrines and precepts, its hopes and fears, rewards and punishments, is the only perfect and infallible guide to the attainment of this grand object. Consequently, either the Bible is true, or God has designedly organized men so, that it is essential to their perfection and happiness, even in this world, TO BELIEVE A LIE. Yet, to suppose that God could have acted thus, would be blasphemy of the darkest shade. And, hence, if the Christian Scriptures be calculated, in the very nature of things, to produce the highest style of man, (as is admitted by all who understand the philosophy of man's organization, not excepting infidels themselves), then it does follow, clear as demomstration, that Christianity is from heaven; and that to deny this proposition, is to blaspheme God.

Now, if these things be so; if the education of the MORAL SENTIMENTS be so vastly important with respect to this life; and if there be a future state of rewards and punishments, such as Christianity discloses; what created intellect, cherubic, or seraphic, can ever begin to approximate a correct conception of the tremendous importance of this subject? Low, infinitely low, and grovelling, as compared

Christianity clearly reveals, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just, and of the unjust. It teaches that "God hath appointed a day, in which he will judge the world righteously by Jesus Christ, of which fact he hath given assurance unto all men by raising him from the dead." It testifies expressly, that after the final judgment, the wicked "shall go away into everlasting punishment; but the righteous into life eternal." The Author of Christianity, in whose lips no guiie was ever found, informs us distinctly, that it is better to lose a right hand, or a right eye, and enter into life halt and maimed, than, having all our members, to be cast into hell, into the lake that burneth with fire and with brimstone, where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched. "Be not afraid," (says he), "of them that kill the body, and after that have no more, that they can do. But I will forewarn you, whom you shall fear: Fear him, who, after he hath killed, hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, fear him."

In short, the most fearful images that mind can imagine, or nature furnish, are selected by the Saviour of men, to picture to our view the horrors of damnation. And it is a plain dictate of common sense, that as the shadow, in point of reality, falls infinitely below the substance which it accompanies-in like manner and in the same degree, must these images, superlatively fearful as they are, come short of the horrible reality which they are intended to represent.

But, on the other hand, the destiny

that awaits the righteous is ineffably Patrons, and Trustees. With such glorious and sublime. "It doth not views, I trust, it will ever be conyet appear what we shall be; but ducted. And, let me add, I would we know that, when he shall appear, infinitely prefer that Bacon College we shall be like him; for we shall should be blotted out of existence, see him as he is." and its very name erased from our memory, rather than see it aid in perpetuating the miserable delusion, that the proper training of the MORAL SENTIMENTS is not the chief business of education, or that this training can be properly conducted, except in harmony with the sublime, the heavenly precepts and principles of the Christian religion.

"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." "Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? And if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not, that we shall judge angels ?"

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But, on this important point, I Can heart desire, or imagination desire not to be misunderstood. conceive, a destiny more sublime than Christianity never was intended to to wear the likeness of him who is operate as a talisman, or an incanTHE BRIGHTNESS OF HIS FATHER'S tation. It can only operate in so far GLORY, the express image of his as it is understood, and reduced to person"-to have our vile bodies practice. Its effects are truly sublime fashioned like unto his glorious body; -a bright reflection of the glory of nay, more, to be delivered from all its Author. It can raise a world the sufferings, privations, and perse- lying in wickedness from the deepest cutions of this life, and be seated with abyss of misery and degradation, and our elder brother, THE SON OF GOD, restore it to happiness, to holiness, to in the throne of the Universe, being God. But, that any individual may associated with him in the final judg-be thus restored to a blissful connecment of an ungodly world, and of tion with the throne of the Eternal, apostate angels? he must be not merely a hearer, but Imagination also a DOER of the word.

I rejoice to think, that men are

Lord, 'tis enough! can conceive no more. Such, then, friends and fellow-beginning to be aroused from their citizens, is a very hasty and imperfect sketch of our leading views on this important subject. If these views be not wholly erroneous, it is manifest that every system of education which does not regard Christianity as the one thing needful, is radically defective, and pernicious in its tendency. The scriptures alone "are ABLE to make men wise unto salvation"-to conduct them to the perfection of their being to the highest attainable dignity and happiness in this world, and to glory inconceivable and everlasting in the world to come. Such were, no doubt, the views of those who founded this seminary, over which I have the honor to preside. Such are the views of its Faculty,

long slumbers, and to wake up to the importance of these things. Throughout the length and breadth of Christendom, but especially in our beloved land, the subject of education is exciting an intense interest. It is beginning to be generally felt and acknowledged, that education should be adapted to the nature of that which is to be educated; and, consequently, that, in the education of human beings, the training of the MORAL SENTIMENTS-those faculties which are peculiarly HUMAN, and the noblest part of our nature-should ever be regarded as the most important point. A spirit of emulation has gone abroad in our laud, and the different sects and parties seem to be vieing with