298 MEMOIR OF THOMAS BEWICK. 



Religion is of a pure and spotless nature ; it is 

 uniform, consistent, and of the same complexion 

 and character in all nations. Languages and cus- 

 toms may greatly differ, but the language of the 

 pure devotion of the heart to its Maker is the same 

 over the face of the whole earth. Religion, there- 

 fore, demands our utmost reverence ; and, as such, 

 that which was taught by Jesus of Nazareth. I 

 revere the sublime, and yet simple, plain doctrines 

 and truly charitable principles which Christ laid 

 down, and enforced by His own example. His life 

 was a continued scene of active benevolence : no 

 fatigue was too hard to be borne, no inconvenience 

 too great to be submitted to, provided He could 

 instruct the ignorant, reclaim the vicious, relieve 

 the destitute, and comfort the mournful. Such was 

 the religion of Jesus Christ, "who went about doing 

 good!" He spoke only of one God, and of Him 

 with the utmost reverence, as his Heavenly Father 

 and the Father of all mankind. Christianity, in its 

 purity, is the most liberal and best religion in the 

 world. Its inspired Author preached up the cheer- 

 ful doctrine of man's reviving again after death, 

 and of the certainty of his afterwards living to 

 eternity, and did His utmost to persuade all man- 

 kind to live godly lives, that their souls might 

 thereby be prepared to return to God, the Author 

 and the Giver of all Good, as unblemished as pos- 

 sible ; and thus, so far as His influence reached, 

 and His commands were acted upon, He may truly 

 be said to be the Saviour of Mankind. But, there 

 are questions connected with this subject which 

 none but the Almighty God can solve. It was by 

 the divine will, and by the providence of God, 

 that He appeared on earth. Gifted with inspired 



