“fountain” within, and the sound of _grace_ is confined to the _tongue_, as its place of residence. What, then, are the most splendid talents, the finest chain of reasoning, or the greatest extent of oratorical powers, if unaccompanied, as they certainly may be, with the temper of Christianity? And in what light are we to look upon that false fire, which has none of these glittering recommendations, but makes its bold advance in the rude garb of confidence, illiteracy, and moroseness? The former is bearable, as a display of genius; but the latter, having neither genius nor religion, is insupportably detestable: and the best antidote against the dangerous influence of both, is a close consideration of the words of St. Paul, “Put on therefore (AS THE ELECT OF GOD, holy and beloved) _bowels of mercies_, _kindness_, _humbleness_ of mind, _meekness_, _long-suffering_; Col. iii. 12: let all _bitterness_ and _wrath_, and _anger_, and _clamor_, and _evil-speaking_, be put away from you, with all _malice_; and be ye _kind_ one to another, _tender-hearted_, _forgiving_ one another, even as God, for Christ’s sake, hath forgiven you.” Ephes. iv. 31, 32. Some little acquaintance with the religious world, added, I hope, to some little knowledge of religion itself, has helped to furnish these remarks. Subjects are seen to most advantage, when placed in a contrasted point of view. And as there cannot exist a greater contrast than the essence of religion, when opposed to the spurious profession of it, or the loveliness of its character to the deformity in which it is sometimes exhibited; a regard to truth, and a sincere desire to recommend it in its native beauty to those who may have mistaken its nature, or to such as may have been prejudiced through the unlovely behaviour of its injudicious patrons, have extorted from me a discrimination of characters, which, if more amply discussed, would be proportionably useful. Let none then impute to religion, what is only imputable to fallen man, who abuses it; nor any form his ideas of it from the unsightly attire in which enthusiasm or false zeal _chooses_ to array it. To view its genuine excellence, search the scriptures. To form a collective idea of its principal _features_, take into your account the faith of Abraham, the meekness of Moses, the patience of Job, the wisdom of Solomon, with the deep repentance and sacred zeal of his father; that most noble act of forgiveness shewn by Joseph to his brethren, and by Stephen to his murderers, with the triumph of this lovely temper in the conduct of Jacob towards the enraged Esau; the holy intrepidity of prophets, the persevering boldness of apostles, together with the noble sacrifices which they made, who “took joyfully the spoiling of their goods, and who loved not their lives even unto death,” for the sake of the gospel; the invincible zeal of St. Paul, the boldness of Peter, the affectionate and amiable temper of “the beloved disciple.” But, as some