who purchased it is mine, and I am his; and the mansion where he dwells is mine, by covenant right, by gratuitous donation, by unalterable promise, by rich redemption. Unworthy of admission, his righteousness alone is my title and recommendation. Ah! what are now the little busy scenes of earth, that perplex the mind and engross so much time and thought? or what the gilded trifles of the world, riches, honors, and pleasures? They all die away and disappear, absorbed in this delightful prospect, as stars that vanish before the mid-day sun. The world recedes, heaven opens to my view, death is advancing to fix the period, where my happiness begins, that shall never conclude. Soon shall I see Him, in whom all my hopes and happiness are wrapt up, and cast my crown in deep humility before his throne. Let the world change, time flow with its wonted velocity, the outward man decay, and death put on his most terrific form: still this can make no alteration in my state, or impede my prospects into glory. I rejoice in hope of it, and shall one day enter upon the possession of what ‘eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, and which it hath not entered into the heart of man to conceive.’” Whether we consider religion in its origin, foundation, nature, influence, fruits, and evidences; or examine the consolations it imparts, the attractive loveliness it displays, and the prospects it opens to its happy votaries; it must, in every point of view, be a concern of great importance. The _importance_ of religion. This an inspired writer comprehends in the following short sentence, “Godliness is profitable for all things.” Man’s best interests here and hereafter, are essentially interwoven with the experience and practice of it. As a dependent, dying, sinful creature, he can never act his part honorably through life, or meet death without dismay or stupefaction, but as supported by the guidance and consolations of true religion. In every line of life it is of infinite utility. By making sin hateful, it guards against the false maxims or vicious examples, that would hide the deformity, or give sanction to the practice of that great abomination. If we ask, Why do fraud, injustice, oppression, predominate, to the overturning of all the rights of humanity, the laws of conscience, and the claims of civil liberty? The answer is at hand. Because the sacred mandates of religion, which transfer these privileges as the unalienable claim of human nature, have been disregarded. Had the voice of religion been only heard, and her merciful dictates obeyed, an inhuman traffic would not, for so long a season, have transmitted its bitter fruits to this country, at the expense of the blood, the sweat and toil, the lives and liberties of millions of our fellow-creatures. Barbarous traffic! that begins, and is prompted by avarice, is conducted by desolation, oppression, and unprovoked hostilities, and that ends in a species of slavery, which, in