establishment of the marriage bond is necessary, by the inviolable observance of which, every object of domestic happiness, mutual love, and parental tenderness is fully and happily secured.

Adultery, therefore, in a moral point of view, is one of the most heinous of crimes, for it is the breaking of the most sacred of ties, the putting of a knife to the heart of the injured partner, the involving of the innocent children in reproach and neglect, and the most demoralizing of all crimes in its influence on society.

Polygamy, that is, the marriage of one man with more than one woman, though permitted by the laws of some nations, is not conformable to the design of the Creator. This we learn from the general proportion in the human species between the number of males and that of females, from the unhappy examples of domestic discord and jealousy which have been always or generally exhibited as the result of such practices, and from the fact that one woman and one family are sufficient for the attention, for the happiness, and in most cases for the means, of one man.

The marriages of near kindred are unfavourable to the offspring, it being a known fact in physiology, that much advantage results from judicious crossings in the breed of animals, and that, by neglect of due attention to this, the species will degenerate. But there is a farther reason why, within certain degrees of relationship, mar

riage ought to be prohibited. In order to secure the chastity of young persons of different sexes, living together in the same family in unreserved intimacy, it is necessary to prevent the possibility of a thought arising of their future marriage. This being excluded, the first avenue of vice is shut. There is something holy in the affections of brother and sister, and the horrid nature of incestuous conjunction arises from the unnatural violation which it implies of that pure and hallowed regard; and so in a proportional degree within the other forbidden grades of proximity.

Seduction is a crime not less atrocious than adultery. To take advantage of the weakness and credulity of a young female, to gain her affections, and by false and treacherous promises, lead her to her own ruin, -to invade the peace and security of a family, and through the induced guilt of a sister or a daughter, to involve them in the bitterness of distress and dishonour,--requires no comment to show its cruelty, its baseness, its deep and cursed malignity. In point of moral atrocity, adultery and seduction may justly be classed with murder, and the absurd lenity of any human law cannot prevent them from being obnoxious to the severest judgment of God.

The sexual passion, if strictly governed, is a strong stimulus in youth to virtuous industry, generosity, enterprise, fortitude, and manly courage, seeking by these means, an honourable and

permanent settlement in life. But if the barriers of virtue be broken by indulgence in fornication, then the stimulus to honest industry is gone, the passion changes its character to a degraded and degrading propensity, the whole moral feelings and perceptions are blunted, the man is no longer capable of employing freely and fairly his own mental faculties, the balance of the mind is destroyed, reason, from governing and directing the whole powers, is made the slave of the lowest appetites, and the man so offending is accessory to the misery, guilt, and degradation of the unhappy prostitute. Such a state of things is most contrary to the will of God, who, in token of his severe displeasure, has sent a disgusting malady as the scourge of such excesses.

Fornication being thus criminal, all lascivious conversation, writing or reading of obscene books, or indulgence of impure imaginations, is criminal also; as being a direct incentive to it, and tending in like manner to deprave the moral taste. And, universally, it must be laid down, That, as desire is the prompter of action, all desire of improper gratifications is in itself wrong, and cognizable by the law of God, whether that desire be towards forbidden sensual indulgences, or property not honestly attainable.

III. Having briefly considered the special relations of parent and child, husband and wife, with the duties resulting from these, we come now

very shortly to advert to a man's relation to society at large. It is found in point of fact that men are deplorably prone to do wrong; and on this principle of human depravity, are founded the institutions of Civil Government. These are absolutely necessary for the maintenance of order, justice, tranquillity; and for the security of property and life. To this end special laws must been acted, and magistrates appointed to administer them. Without entering into detail on this extensive subject, we shall only lay down this general proposition: It is the duty of every individual to obey the laws of his country, and to respect the magistrate who is their representative and administrator.

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The frame of mind proper to the performance of all these duties, is, agreeably to our twenty-first Chapter, the spirit of humility. This befits even a pure and sinless creature; much more, then, one who is guilty, and obnoxious to punishment. And, tried by the moral rule which we have just laid down on the foundation of truth and reason, all men are sinners. The importance, therefore, of the principles, explained in our twenty-first chapter, comes now more and more forcibly into view for the inviolable sanctity of God's law must be upheld, and how then shall the sinner be saved?

CHAPTER XXIV.

OF THE MORAL SENTIMENTS OF MEN.

In the two preceding chapters we have considered the distinction of Right and Wrong, and the foundation of Duty or Moral Obligation. Right means adherence to the simple, direct, and harmonious order, which is the manifest design of God in nature. Duty, or Moral Obligation, results from the relation of Man as a rational creature to his Creator; being the moral substitute of physical necessity; and comprehends simply, conformity in all things to the will or design of the Creator. It will be observed that we have not stated Right and Moral Obligation to be the arbitrary imposition of his will; but the order, harmony and perfection of his one eternal and immutable design. But if, by the announcement of positive commands, he hath made known his will more specially to man, then from that special proclamation arises a redoubled obligation to obedience, because there no longer remains the plea