86 GEOGRAPHICAL AND LOCAL 



in different climates. There is a time fixed upon 

 in the divine counsels when the curse shall cease ; 

 and it will then be found that by reversing the 

 course that has degraded so many nations, the 

 apostacy, namely, from God to idolatries of the 

 most debasing kind which has yielded them up 

 a prey to sensuality, clouded their understandings, 

 and, instead of universal good-will, has taught 

 them to regard those that are not of their own 

 tribe or caste as objects of just hatred and injury 

 when this course has been reversed and they 

 are brought back to God, which will take place 

 in his time and at his word ; and by the means 

 and instruments that he empowers and com- 

 missions, 1 they will become more elevated in 

 their character, and assume a higher rank among 

 the nations : and they will make good their claim 

 to the same inheritance with the other members 

 of the Christian family. He who decreed the 

 end, decrees also the means. When the Lord 

 gave the word, great was the company of those 

 that published it. This was the case at the first 

 preaching of the Gospel, when the gross darkness 

 of heathen idolatry covered the earth ; this also 

 was the case at what may be called its republi- 

 cation at the time of the Reformation, when the 

 gross darkness of papal idolatry had almost put 

 out the light of truth in the church ; and so shall 



1 See Appendix, note 16. 



