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Messiah was announced by a heavenly choir singing " Glory to 

 God in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will towards men!" 

 During his ministry, with whom did this divine teacher associate, 

 to whom did he preach the consolatory truths of his gospel ? Not 

 to the rich, the great, and the learned, but to the poor, the humble, 

 and the ignorant. He who spake as never man spake, not confin- 

 ing his blessings nor his invitation to any particular class of people, 

 saith, with a beneficence unparalleled, " Come unto me, all ye 

 that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest!" 



I shall not add more upon this interesting subject than be- 

 comes a christian, who in peculiar situations has endeavoured to 

 acquire a knowledge of the religious doctrines and moral practice 

 of India. I allow the benevolent Hindoo, the compassionate Ma- 

 homed an, and the follower of Zoroaster, their respective virtues ; I 

 have also met with mild and amiable characters among the Hot- 

 tentots of Africa, the Negroes of Caffraria, and the Indians of 

 South America, but nothing in their religion or morality can be 

 compared with the exalted ideas inspired by the gospel! With 

 what sublimity and purity does it clothe the divine attributes ! On 

 what a basis does it erect our faith, elevate our hope, and extend 

 our charity! What a system of moral virtue does it inculcate ! With 

 what mild persuasion, pathetic simplicity, and dignified authority 

 were these interesting truths delivered! Surely every unprejudiced 

 mind must say with the Roman centurion who witnessed the suf- 

 ferings of the Messiah, and beheld the convulsions of nature at the 

 termination of that awful scene, " Truly this was the Son of God ! " 

 For near two thousand years has this religion been spreading 

 itself over the world: in due time its saving influence will, I have 



