A

markable distinction of dress at all times, and add something to it, I believe, when an instructress delivers admonitions to the congregation. But if this were not the case, their exception would not contravene the decisions of a great majority of mankind in favour of ceremonies, in all ages, and in every climate:-It is the voice of nature that approves them; and revelation has not prohibited but encouraged them, especially by the examples recorded in the Old Testament. I hope, therefore, that no man will think himself a promoter of religion and a benefactor of society, by divesting the rites of the Christian religion which still remain among the reformed, of their power to excite awe, to banish worldly ideas, and to prepare the mind for spiritual improvement. Whoever employs his reasoning faculties and his learning to such a purpose, displays his want of philosophy, his want of knowledge of human nature, no less than the coldness of his devotional sentiments.

A caviller of antiquity maintained, that a GROVE Consecrated to religious worship, and inspiring by its gloomy grandeur a religious awe, was nothing more than a plan

tation

tation of timber trees. Every man of common sense knows as well as he, that it was but a wood; but every man of common sense, knew also that, by an association of ideas, a GROVE as well as a piece of architecture, may constitute in effect a TEMPLE, and contribute to inspire the mind with sentiments favourable to devotion,

There never can be many, among the myriads that form the mass of human beings, who will not be affected by associating religious ideas with material forms properly adapted to the purpose; but the attempt to prevent such an affection is always mischievous as far as it is successful. It robs the mind of a great and pure pleasure, and has a tendency to produce infidelity or atheism. It seems paradoxical, but, I believe, experience will prove, that a man may reason himself by sophistical cavilling, not only out of all his comforts, all his virtues, all his religion, but out of

common sense.

Heavenly things are so far above all human languages, that it is necessary to

* Lucum Ligna.

HOR.

Q 4

attempt

attempt a supply of the defect by allusive imagery,by hieroglyphical figures, by ritual performances; and, to speak more particu larly to our present purpose, by the ele ments of bread, of wine, and water, in the two Sacraments. Nor can I think the man entitled to the renown of peculiar sagacity, who, with much self-applause, sits down to inform the world that bread used in the rite is but grain; that wine is but the juice of the grape; and that water, only particles of matter so formed as to yield and change their places on the slight

est motion.

These SIGNS are the language of our RELIGION, who does not express herself by sounds only, differing in their meaning in different nations of the earth, but by MATERIAL Substances, which,rightly used,are significant to all men, and form an UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE. Let us revere the signs for the sake of the things signified, which are so transcendent in their nature, as to exceed all power of words formed by human articulation. It may not be improper to advert in this place to the well-known circumstance, that signs were the favourite

modes

modes of expressing ideas or thoughts in the Oriental countries whence our religion derived its origin. Information by actions and images was not in those regions confined to religious topics, but was a familiar made of common conversation, and almost general in matters political, philosophical, and theological. Neither has the mode of speaking by signs and actions ceased in this age. Did not the inhabitants of the islands in the Pacific Ocean, unacquainted with our language, hold out branches, when they intended to signify their peaceful intentions to their European visitors, approaching in tremendous floating castles to their unprotected shore? The branches spoke and were understood, while their language (if it could have been heard at the distance described) would have wanted an interpreter, who could not have been procured; and would have been comparatively slow and feeble in expressing the general wish for peace and amity.

Symbols, emblems, tropes, allegories, fables, expressive actions; all these are used, and must of necessity be used, on some occasions to supply the defect of language.

language. Their use in the Sacrament is in every respect highly proper. They have spoken with effect to millions of the human race, who understood them well, who received solace from them, in the pilgrimage of life, and who, in consequence of them, laid themselves down at the close of life, to sleep in peace, and with the hope of a blessed immortality.

SECT.