454

CONCLUSION.

nation on earth will eventually be blessed by its purifying and ren-ovating moral triumphs. It has diminished the horrors and ca-lamities of war. The spirit of war, wherever Christianity hasbeen unknown, has been a relentless and sanguinary vengeance,knowing not how to be satisfied but by the destruction of its vic-tim. This fell spirit has, in a good measure, been softened inthe conduct of modern warfare. It has meliorated the calamitouslot of captives. Anciently, death, slavery, or an enormous ran-som, was their customary doom everywhere ; and this still con-tinues to be the case in all countries not Christian. In arbitrarygovernments, it has relaxed the stern rigor of despotic sway.It has suppressed infanticide. It has secured the life and limbsof the slave against the caprice or passion of a tyrannical master.By securing the frequent periodical recurrence of a day of rest,it has elevated the character and meliorated the condition of thelaboring classes of every Christian country. It has restored thewife, from a condition of humiliation and servitude, to be thecompanion, the associate, the confidential adviser and friend ofthe husband. It has restored marriage to the standard ordained“ at the beginning,” the indissoluble union of two individuals,and has thus furnished the only reasonable security for domestictranquillity, and the suitable nurture and education of children.Under its influence, the combats of gladiators, the impurities ofsuperstitious rites and unnatural vices, are no longer tolerated.The poor, the sick, and the forsaken are relieved by the numer-ous hospitals and asylums, which are provided in all countries in' which its authority is acknowledged. Moreover, it has beenchiefly instrumental in rendering the nations of Christendom su-perior, in virtue, freedom, intelligence, and power, to all the othernations of the earth. Nor are we to estimate its principal bene-fits by what is visible. “ The kingdom of God cometh not withobservation ; ” —’it does not consist in external splendor ; itschief influence is unseen, renewing and sanctifying the hearts ofthe multitude, who throng the obscure and humble walks of life. #

It is admitted, for it cannot in candor and truth be denied,

* See the author’s Sermon, before the Convention of the Protestant EpiscopalChurch of the Diocese of South Carolina, 13th of February, 1833; pp. 23, 24,2d edition.