466

CONCLUSION.

standing, are accustomed to wield a commanding influence overthose who are strangers to the moral and religious influence im-parted by the pulpit. The pulpit, too, has a manifest advantageover the press, in respect to its use of the living voice, with whichto make impression arid convey instruction ; in respect to itshaving an assembly drawn together on a day specially consecratedto the purpose of its instructions, and whose attention, therefore,is neither absorbed by the allurements of pleasure, nor by thecares and perplexities of business ; and, again, in respect to moralsand religion being the province, which it is its office specially toguard, illustrate, and enforce. And it may well be doubted,whether the pulpit has ever yet availed itself of the full measureof “its legitimate, peculiar powers,” to give effective moral andreligious instruction to mankind. Its efficiency must depend onthe education, piety, and devotedness of the Christian ministry.

II. It only remains, that I give a very brief review of thebest practical means of advancing human happiness.

In general terms, it may be said, that every thing promotive ofgood morals, is preeminently productive of happiness. In thisview, Christianity, as it is the basis and sanction of Christianmorals, is more effective than any, or every, other means of ad-vancing the welfare of mankind. Again, knowledge is happiness,as well as power and virtue, — happiness, both in the acquisitionand in the possession. And were the pursuit of it nothing morethan an amusement, it would deserve the preference over allother amusements, for many reasons. Of these, indeed, thechief is, that it must, almost of necessity, become superior to amere amusement; it must invigorate the mind as well as entertainit, and refine and elevate the character, while it gives to listless-ness and weariness their most agreeable excitement and relaxa-tion. But, omitting this consideration, it is still of all amuse-ments the best, for other reasons. So far from losing any partof its zest with time, the longer it is known, the more it is loved.There is no other pastime that can be compared with it in varie-ty. Even to him who has been longest conversant with it, it hasstill as much novelty to offer as at first. It may be resorted toby all, in all circumstances ; by both sexes, by the young and theold, in the city and in the country, by him who has only his