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SPECIAL PUBLIC EVILS.

[Part VI.

is to fix him for ever in an unalterable condition of felicity or woe.The former perceives in death nothing but its physical circum-stances ; the latter is impressed with the magnitude of its moralconsequences. It is the moral relation which man is believed tobear to a superior power, the awful idea of accountability, theinfluence which his present dispositions and actions are conceivedto have upon his eternal destiny, more than any superiority ofintellectual powers, abstracted from these considerations, whichinvest him with such mysterious grandeur, and constitute thefirmest guard on the sanctuary of human life.

As the advantage of the armed over the unarmed, is not seenuntil the moment of attack, so in that tranquil state of society inwhich law and order maintain their ascendency, it is not perceiv-ed, perhaps not even suspected, to what an alarming degree theprinciples of modern infidelity leave us naked and defenceless.But, let the state be convulsed, let the mounds of regular authori-ty be once overflowed, and the still, small voice of law drownedin the tempest of popular fury, (events which the experience ofthe present century shows to be possible,) it will then be seenthat atheism is a school of ferocity and barbarism ; and that, hav-ing taught its disciples to consider mankind as little better than anest of insects, they will be prepared, in the fierce conflicts ofparty, to trample upon them without pity, and extinguish themwithout remorse.

Having shown that the principles of infidelity facilitate thecommission of crimes, by removing the restraints of fear ; andthat they foster the arrogance of the individual, while they incul-cate the most despicable opinion of the species ; the inevitableresult is, that a haughty self-confidence, a contempt of mankind,together with a daring defiance of religious restraints, are thenatural ingredients of the atheistical character. Nor is it lessevident that these are, of all others, the dispositions which mostforcibly stimulate to violence and cruelty. We may, therefore,settle it in our minds, as a maxim never to be effaced or forgot-ten, that atheism is an inhuman, sanguinary, ferocious system,equally hostile to every useful restraint, and to every virtuousaffection ; that leaving nothing above us to excite awe, nor aroundus to awaken tenderness, it wages war with heaven and with