48 



THE PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION. 



contempt on each other, or even behold with in 

 difference the condition of the meanest member 

 of the family to which they belong. On the other 

 hand, it is consistent with the dictates of enlight 

 ened reason, congenial to the best feelings of hu 

 man nature, and indispensably requisite to the 

 promotion of universal happiness, that such be 

 ings should be united in the bonds of affection 

 and harmony, that they should sympathize with 

 the distressed, delight in beholding the happi 

 ness of all, &quot;rejoice with them that do rejoice, 

 and weep with them that weep ;&quot; that every one, 

 whether he be near or far off, whether he be rich 

 or poor, whether he be learned or unlearned, 

 whether he belong to this or the other civil or 

 religious society, whether his colour be black or 

 white, whether he be blind, or deaf, or lame, 

 whether he be an inhabitant of Greenland, Ice 

 land, Barbary, Germany, France, or Spain, 

 whatever may be his language, manners, or cus 

 toms, should be recognized, wherever he may be 

 found, as a friend and brother ; and a cordial in 

 terest felt in every thing that concerns his welfare 

 and comfort. Such a recognition of man as man, 

 is a duty which necessarily flows from the na 

 tural equality of mankind, and is congenial to the 

 conduct of the Universal Parent towards all his 

 human offspring. For, in his love to his numerous 

 family, and without respect of persons, he makes 

 the same vital air to give play to their lungs, the 

 same sun to cheer and enlighten them, and the 

 same rains and dews to refresh their fields, and 

 to ripen the fruits of harvest. 



Let it not, however, be inferred, from what 

 has been now stated, that we mean to sap the 

 foundations of that subordination of ranks which 

 exists in this world. This gradation in society 

 is the appointment of God, and necessarily flows 

 from the circumstances and relations in which 

 man is placed in this first stage of his existence ; 

 and^ were it completely overthrown, society 

 would be plunged into a scene of anarchy and 

 confusion ; and the greater part of the individuals 

 which compose it, would become a lawless ban 

 ditti. Whether or not there exists a subordina 

 tion of office and rank among superior intelligen 

 ces of the same species, or among the inhabitants 

 of other globes, we are unable at present to de- 

 i.ermine ; but in the actual condition of society 

 in the world in which we dwell, a state of com 

 plete independence, and a perfect equality of 

 wealth, station, and rank, are impossible, so long 

 as there exists a diversity in the capacities, 

 tempers, and pursuits of men. On the diversity 

 of rank, and the relations which subsist between 

 the different classes of society, as parents and 

 children, masters and servants, princes and sub 

 jects, is founded a great proportion of those 

 moral laws which God hath promulgated in his 

 word, for regulating the inclinations and the con 

 duct of mankind. 

 Diversity of fortune and station appears abso 



lutely inevitable in a world where moral evil ex 

 ists, and where its inhabitants are exposed to 

 dangers, difficulties, and distress. Whether the 

 inhabitants of a world, where moral perfection 

 reigns triumphant, can exist in a state of perfect 

 felicity, and move forward in progressive im 

 provement, without a subordination of rank, it is 

 not, for us to determine. But in such a world as 

 ours, it is a wise and gracious appointment of 

 the Creator, and is attended with many and im 

 portant advantages. Were there no diversity of 

 wealth and station, we should be deprived of 

 many of the comforts, conveniences, and assis 

 tances which we now enjoy. Every one would 

 be obliged to provide for himself food, drink, 

 clothing, furniture, shelter, medicines, and re 

 creations; and in the season of sickness, danger, 

 and distress, he would have few or none to alle 

 viate his affliction, and contribute to his com 

 fort. But, in consequence ofthe diversity which 

 now exists, an opportunity is afforded of em 

 ploying he several capacities and endowments 

 of mankind in those lines of active exertion, for 

 which they are respectively fitted, and of render 

 ing them subservient for the improvement and 

 happiness of general society. One exercises thd 

 trade of a weaver, another that of a baker ; ono 

 is a shoemaker, another a tailor; one is an archi 

 tect, another a farmer ; one is a teacher of sci 

 ence or religion ; others have their minds enter 

 tained and improved by his instructions. One is 

 appointed a ruler over a city, another over a 

 kingdom ; one is employed in writing for the 

 amusement and instruction of mankind, another 

 is employed in printing and publishing his writ 

 ings. By this arrangement, the powers and ca 

 pacities in which individuals excel, are gradually 

 carried to the highest degree of attainable per 

 fection ; and the exertions of a single individual 

 are rendered subservient to the ease, the conve 

 nience, and the mental improvement of thou 

 sands. 



It is not to the diversity of rank and station, 

 that the evils which exist among the various 

 classes of society are to be attributed ; but to the 

 influence of a spirit of pride, on the one hand, 

 and a spirit of insubordination on the other to 

 the want of a disposition to discharge the duties 

 peculiar to each station, and to the deficiency of 

 those kindly affections which ought to be mani 

 fested towards every human being, by men in all 

 the ranks and departments of life. If love, in all 

 its benevolent ramifications, were to pervade the 

 various ranks of social life, kings would never 

 oppress their subjects, nor masters act unjustly 

 towards their servants ; nor would subjects and 

 servants refuse to submit to just laws, and equi 

 table regulations. All would act their parts with 

 harmony and delight in this great moral machine, 

 and every station and rank would contribute, in 

 its sphere, to the prosperity and happiness of 

 another. For the poor cannot do without the 



