77 
in one over another, it may be traced to one 
source—the influence of the Spirit of God upon the 
heart. 
Conscious of a principle of existence, superior to 
that of other animals around him, man carries his views 
beyond this life, the idea of the immortality of the soul 
being almost a natural consequence of that conscious¬ 
ness ; while the belief of a great first cause is the neces¬ 
sary result of even a slight reflection on the nature of 
things, which precludes the possibility of self-creation. # 
The mind then reverts to the obligations and the 
reverence due to so great a Being, whose perfections 
must be infinite; and the appearance of those evils 
which afflict the human race being looked upon as 
indications of his anger, the necessity of sacrifices, 
in order to avert them, is suggested. 
Such is the process by which the votaries of super¬ 
stition arrive at the height of their delusion; and 
hence those barbarous rites, which stamp the character 
of uncivilized nations with ferocity. But the delusion 
lasts no longer than the darkness which nourishes it. 
* We are apparently arguing upon the presumption, that a 
people may exist, whose progenitors, at no period of the world, 
were acquainted, by revelation, with the existence of a first 
cause. But we cannot believe this possible, if we receive the 
Old Testament history; and, therefore, we wish to be under¬ 
stood, as speaking of a people, who, by the lapse of a long 
series of ages, have lost all traces of such a revelation; and, 
having no established religion to fetter them, are left entirely to 
the light of nature, and the guidance of reason; and, by conse¬ 
quence, to the operations of their own minds and consciences. 
