CONCLUSION.

REVIEW OF THE MEANS WHICH MAY BE RELIEDUPON TO IMPROVE THE MORAL CONDITION OFMANKIND, AND TO ADVANCE HUMAN HAPPINESS.

The relations, which mankind sustain to God, to their country,and to one another, have now been carefully surveyed, and themoral duties arising from these relations have been explained ;so far as was consistent with the limits of an elementary treatiseon Moral Philosophy. The personal duties of mankind, that is, theduties which they owe to themselves, have been illustrated. Themoral principles, practices, influences, and tendencies of thechief professions and employments of life, so far as regards themoral duties which they involve, have, likewise, been reviewed.Certain duties and virtues, too, of a character peculiarly Chris-tian, and certain vices and evils of a public nature which severelyafflict mankind, have been specially considered and elucidated.

It seems natural and appropriate to bring my labors to a con-clusion, by inquiring, I. into the best practical means of improv-ing the moral condition of mankind, and, II., into the best practi-cal means of advancing human happiness.

I. There are several practical means, on which we may rely,to improve the moral condition of mankind.

1. First and principally, we must rely, for the extension of soundmoral principles and practice among mankind, on the extensionof Christianity, by the stated preaching of the Gospel where it isnow known, by the labors of missionaries where it is unknown,and by the use of the press in circulating the Scriptures, and otherreligious books and tracts. Christianity has done much, very much,already, for the moral renovation of mankind. It is compared,by its Divine author, to leaven, gradually making its way until ithas leavened the entire mass subjected to its influence. * Every