Ch. ii. of moral Restraint. 279 



fixed a stigma on barrenness and celibacy, and 

 honoured marriage. The popular religions fol- 

 lowed these prevailing opinions. In many coun- 

 tries the prolific power of nature was the object 

 of solemn worship. In the religion of Mahomet, 

 which was established by the sword, and the pro- 

 mulgation of which in consequence could not be 

 unaccompanied by an extraordinary destruction of 

 its followers, the procreation of children to glorify 

 the Creator was laid down as one of the principal 

 duties of man; and he, who had the most nu- 

 merous offspring, was considered as having best 

 answered the end of his creation. The prevalence 

 of such moral sentiments had naturally a great 

 effect in encoui'aging marriage ; and the rapid pro- 

 creation, which followed, was partly the effect and 

 partly the cause of incessant war. The vacancies 

 occasioned by former desolations made room for 

 the rearing of fresh supplies ; and the overflowing 

 rapidity, with which these supplies followed, 

 constantly furnished fresh incitements and fresh 

 instruments for renewed hostilities. Under the 

 influence of such moral sentiments, it is difficult 

 to conceive how the fury of incessant war should 

 ever abate. 



It is a pleasing confirmation of the truth and 

 divinity of the Christian religion, and of its being 

 adapted to a more improved state of human so- 

 ciety, that it places our duties respecting marriage 

 and the procreation of children in a different light 

 from that in which they were before beheld. 



Without entering minutely into tl)e subject. 



