EFFECTS OF STEAM. 367 



countries, once far distant, to a nearer and nearer 

 approach to his own. While thus engaged in his 

 own projects after wealth or power, he forgets 

 that he is an agent in the hands of Him, who made 

 all, and rules over all, and who guides this intel- 

 lectual power of man, in order to fulfil His own 

 designs and purposes. 



The effects of steam in promoting the civiliza- 

 tion of the world, and the dissemination of reli- 

 gious knowledge, must be great. Whenever steam 

 can be generated by matter more condensed than 

 what is at present employed for that purpose, or 

 when coal is found in intermediate stations, as it 

 probably will be, the remotest countries will change 

 their relative positions, and the intercourse of na- 

 tions will be frequent and influential. 



This intercourse, also, cannot fail, by intermar- 

 riages and other causes, to destroy the clanship of 

 nations. The bigotry of the Mahomedan, the 

 idolatry of the Chinese, and the false religion of the 

 Hindoos, may all disappear before the spread of 

 Christianity and civilization, and the intermixture 

 of one people with another. Far removed as these 

 events may now appear, and improbable as they 

 may be thought, it is impossible for any reflecting 

 mind not to see that an extraordinary revolution 

 is now going on, which it is probable may change 

 the whole relative position of this world, and pave 



