On the Moral Influence ofllislqnj. 553 



least, I have charged to the account of history. 

 While in the page of history we contemplate 

 the degraded state to which vice, ignorance, 

 and the dominion of false and illiberal pre- 

 judices have so greatly subjected man, it does 

 indeed, rcquirq a strong and well prepared 

 mind to look on this degraded picture of hu- 

 manity, without having, our own principles of 

 integrity and benevolence weakened and per- 

 haps subverted i or our confidence in, the su- 

 perintendence of an over-ruling Providence 

 endangered. All the events of histor^r which 

 are opprobrious to humanity will, by t^e judi- 

 cious reader, be referred to their pro])er cause, 

 to the corruption, not to the deprayitv of 

 human nature ; that -easy refuge of men, who 

 are themselves corrupted ; nor in the sentence 

 of one,, or, a, thousand villains, will he involve 

 the whole human race ; and thus by a rash and 

 unjust inference, rob man at once of his God, 

 and of all generous confidence in the work of 

 God. In fine, the fascinations of splendid 

 crime should not screen the criminal, but the 

 natural abhorrence of wickedness, risino- in 

 proportion to the enormity of its /examples, 

 should strengthen the virtuous inclination of 

 the reader's heart. To read history with truth 

 and with advantage, the nicest discrimination 

 of causes is often requisite. Folly and error 



