UNION IN THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 



143 



days or weeks in the countries they describe, 

 who were beheld with suspicion, and were im 

 perfectly acquainted with the languages of the 

 inhabitants. But, from a familiar and confiden 

 tial intercourse, we should become acquainted 

 with the whole series of their history, so far as 

 it is known, which might not only be curious 

 and interesting in itself, but might throw a light 

 on the records of other nations, on the facts of 

 sacred history, and on the general history of the 

 world. We might thus know something of the 

 circumstances which attended the early disper 

 sion of mankind, the motives which determined 

 each tribe to choose its separate habitation in an 

 unknown region, and which induced them to 

 cross unknown arms of the sea, to traverse moun 

 tains which presented no path, and rivers which 

 had not yet received a name, and whose com 

 mencement and termination were alike un 

 known. The information which- distant tribes 

 refuse us, when we approach them like warlike 

 adventurers or ambitious merchants, would be 

 freely communicated, when we mingled with 

 them as friends and benefactors, and especially, 

 after we had been instrumental in meliorating 

 their physical and moral condition, and in com 

 municating to them our improvements. 



And, in the name of all that is sacred and be 

 nevolent, what should hinder such harmonious 

 and affectionate intercourses between nations 

 from being universally realized ? Are we not all 

 brethren of one family ? Have we not all one 

 Father ? Has not one God created us ? Does not 

 the same planet support us, and the same atmos 

 phere surround us 1 Does not the same sun cheer 

 and enlighten us ? Have we not the same physi 

 cal organization, the same mental powers, and 

 he same immortal destination ? And is it not the 

 interest of every individual of the human family 

 that such a friendly intercourse should be esta 

 blished? Are there any insuperable obstructions, 

 any impassable barriers, any natural impossibili 

 ties, that prevent such a union among the na 

 tions? No, knowledge, combined with moral 

 principle and true religion, if universally diffused, 

 would speedily effectuate this wonderful trans 

 formation. Enlighten the understandings, direct 

 the moral powers of man, extend the knowledge 

 of Christianity through the world, and a broad 

 foundation will be laid for universal improvement, 

 and universal friendship among all nations. 



But, in order that we may be instrumental in 

 preparing the way for so desirable an event, our 

 conduct towards other nations, and particularly 

 towards uncivilized tribes, must be very different 

 from what it has generally been in the ages that 

 are past. We must become, not the plunderers 

 and destroyers, but the instructors and the bene 

 factors of mankind. Instead of sending forth the 

 artillery of war, for the subjugation of distant na 

 tions, we must uniformly display the banner of 

 love and the branch af Peace ; instead of despatch- 

 10 



ing crowds of needy adventurers, 5redl witn the 

 cursed love of gold, to plunder and tckill, like th 

 Spaniards in their conquest of Mexico and Peru, 

 we must send forth armies of enlightened be- 

 nefactors, to traverse the benighted nations, to 

 carry the knowledge of divine truth within the 

 region of Pagan darkness, to impart to them the 

 blessings of instruction, and the comforts and 

 conveniences of civilized life. Instead of landing 

 on their shores swords and spears and musketry, 

 ploughshares, pruning hooks, and every other 

 agricultural implement, must be plentifully sup 

 plied to all the inhabitants. Instead of carrying 

 into slavery their children and relatives, and im- 

 bittering their lives with cruel treatment, like the 

 Spaniards and the Portuguese, in reference to the 

 African negroes, we must, proclaim&quot; liberty to 

 the captives, and the opening of the prison-doors 

 to them that are bound.&quot; In short, our conduct 

 must be almost diametrically opposite to that 

 which political intriguers have generally pursued 

 towards other states, if we would promote union 

 among the nations. Our selfishness must be 

 changed into beneficence, our pride into humility, 

 our avarice into generosity, and our malignity 

 into kindness and benevolence. Kindness and 

 benevolent attentions will sometimes subdue even 

 the most ferocious animals, and will seldom faii to 

 soften the breast of the most savage people, and 

 to win their affections. There is scarcely an in 

 dividual within the range of the human species, 

 or even within the range of animated nature, but 

 is susceptible of the impressions of love ; and if 

 such principles and affections were to direct the 

 future intercourses of nations, we might expect, 

 ere long, to behold the commencement of that 

 happy era, when &quot; the wilderness and solitary 

 place shall be glad, when nation shall no longer 

 lift up sword against nation, when righteousness 

 and praise shall spring forth before all the na 

 tions, and when there shall be nothing to hurt 

 or destroy&quot; among all the families of the earth. 



V. A general diffusion of knowledge would 

 be one general mean of promoting union in the 

 Christian Church. 



It is a lamentable fact, that throughout the 

 whole world, there is no system of religion, the 

 votaries of which are subdivided into so many 

 sectaries as rriose who profess an adherence to 

 the Christian faith. Within the limits of Great 

 Britain, there are perhaps not much fewer than 

 a hundred different denominations of Christians 

 belonging to the Protestant church. We have 

 Calvinists, Arminians. Baxterians, Antinomi- 

 ans, Arians and Unitarians, Episcopalians, 

 Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, and Inde 

 pendents, Seceders, Brownists, Sandemanians, 

 Quakers, Moravians, Svvedenborgians, Mille- 

 narians, Sabbatarians, Universalists, Sublapsa- 

 rians, Supralapsarians, Diuikers, Kilhamitrn. 



