356 Oil the Moral Influence of History, 



increase both of vice and atheism inlhe world. 

 It docs not repel the charge, that liistory is 

 abliorrent to such intention ; this I am as 

 firmly persuaded of as the greatest admirer of 

 history -can be, but the more I consider the 

 subject, I am also the more persuaded that 

 the charge is just. If vice in a high degree, 

 and atheism altogether, be unnatural to man. 

 there must be some singular cause of the pro- 

 pagation of both. 1 will ask. a few plain 



questions. 



Is the exhibition of human character in 

 history a fair representation of human nature ? 

 Is it the representation of man at all, consi- 

 dered in the abstract ? Is it not the portrai.t 

 of a single class of men, who, from very ob- 

 vious causes are the most vicious and depraved 

 of men ? Considered as the picture of man, 

 is it not a horrid and disgustful one ? And 

 yet, as history appears to treat of man in every 

 aire and nation, is it not by manv considered 

 to be the picture of human nature ? Can this 

 fail to have the most malignant effect, to break 

 down the human mind, and reconcile it, tq 

 vice, as being in the order and course of 

 human nature ? Irritated by the^e passions, 

 which introduce vice at all, man is corrupted 

 beyond redemption by what he conceives to b<;, 

 general example; for, i^t is in the manner , of gcw 



