22 TRANSACTIONS. 



not perverted by a wicked life, capable of forming a proper 

 estimate of this world in relation to the next, and of correctly 

 balancing the evidence for and against Christianity. And we 

 have shown that the tendency of agricultural pursuits is to pro- 

 duce such a state of mind and of heart. Accordingly, among 

 no class of men do the advocates of true religion find a more 

 ready reception of its principles, and a better exemplification 

 of its spirit, than among the cultivators of the soil. When 

 they yield their hearts to its influence, it is a deliberate conse- 

 cration ; not the result of animal excitement, or partial views ; 

 and therefore, likely to be thorough and enduring as life. In 

 short, the influence of these pursuits is seen in the religion of 

 t heir cultivators, as well as in every thing else. 



But, though agriculture may thus in some degree subserve 

 the cause of religion, far greater is the benefit conferred by re- 

 ligion upon every agriculturist who adopts and practises it. 

 To him, and his family, it is literally true, that in a pecuniary 

 respect, godliness is great gain. There is no motive to indus- 

 try and economy that vt'ill compare in power with a religious 

 one. If love to God and love to man reign in the farmer's 

 heart, and to do good to others be the grand object for which 

 he lives and acts, how cheerfully, how judiciously, how perse" 

 veringly will he labor ! He who labors merely to gratify his 

 inferior appetites, or his selfish passions, or a sordid love of 

 gain, will be very likely to grasp so much, and be so little scru- 

 pulous as to the means he employs, as to lose the whole ; or, 

 at least to be subject to continual vexation and collision with 

 others. Take away religion from the farm house, and you 

 have robbed it of its brightest jewel. What spectacle can be 

 more beautiful and impressive, than to see the well ordered 

 and affectionate family of the farmer, bowing in unison at the 

 still hour of the rising sun, around the domestic altar, and to 

 hear the hymn of praise from sweet voices, stealing softly 

 through the morning air, followed by the tones of prayer from 

 the priest of the family ? What a preparation for the labors 

 of the day ! And how happily, when its toils are ended, will 

 they repeat over this delightful service ! With what unison 



