among men is one of the most important achievements of the Christian mission. By this single effect, it proves its infinite superiority to all the boasted wisdom of this world. To the extent of its prevalence it wholly supersedes the necessity of the penal provisions of human laws. The true disciples of the missionary become a law to themselves. "Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things of good report,"-these things they habitually endeavour to perform. They therefore present a character immensely superior to that which could be moulded by the exactest obedience to the best code of laws that human wisdom ever framed; and, to the same extent, they more abundantly provide for the happiness of mankind. The greatest merely philosophic legislator is but a babe in the knowledge of human nature as compared with the missionary, nor is the power of his principles to renovate and to reform it, superior to his knowledge. Human law, in its most improved forms, can do but little as compared with gospel doctrine, to promote the happiness of men. Depraved men, while their depravity remains unsubdued, must be miserable; they cannot be legislated into felicity! Government is simply a system of restraint and of punishment. It knows nothing of the means of moral cure. This is the exclusive prerogative and glory of Christianity, which, while it heals the moral maladies of man, also corrects his habits and practice. How simple is the experimental process! It just awakens in the soul a new sense, and by that sense it governs. This sense renders the Christian desirous to please his brethren, and averse to offend them;

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among men is one of the most important achievements of the Christian mission. By this single effect, it proves its infinite superiority to all the boasted wisdom of this world. To the extent of its prevalence it wholly supersedes the necessity of the penal provisions of human laws. The true disciples of the missionary become a law to themselves. "Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things of good report,"-these things they habitually endeavour to perform. They therefore present a character immensely superior to that which could be moulded by the exactest obedience to the best code of laws that human wisdom ever framed; and, to the same extent, they more abundantly provide for the happiness of mankind. The greatest merely philosophic legislator is but a babe in the knowledge of human nature as compared with the missionary, nor is the power of his principles to renovate and to reform it, superior to his knowledge. Human law, in its most improved forms, can do but little as compared with gospel doctrine, to promote the happiness of men. Depraved men, while their depravity remains unsubdued, must be miserable; they cannot be legislated into felicity! Government is simply a system of restraint and of punishment. It knows nothing of the means of moral cure. This is the exclusive prerogative and glory of Christianity, which, while it heals the moral maladies of man, also corrects his habits and practice. How simple is the experimental process! It just awakens in the soul a new sense, and by that sense it governs. This sense renders the Christian desirous to please his brethren, and averse to offend them; it

renders him keenly susceptible of pain from their frown, and of delight from their smile. On this principle, the plan of discipline laid down in the missionary's book, the New Testament, is entirely founded; and on this principle the kingdom of which it speaks is entirely governed. But while this moral power exerts its highest influence among those whom the missionary has persuaded to abandon their idols, and turn to the living God, it extends its control, in a modified form, to multitudes who have not surrendered their hearts to the Saviour of mankind. We see it affecting nations and empires. It is now, however, divested of its principal element, the fear and love of God: and its effects are, accordingly, impaired in their magnitude, and marred in their beauty. Thus changed, the name it bears is Public opinion, which, while its regards rise no higher than man, is yet an organ of power almost unlimited. In this way every individual exerts a control over his fellow; in this way subjects restrain the wickedness of sovereigns, and direct the movements of senates; in this way nation acts upon nation, and the whole family of nations upon each other. Public opinion is a power which nothing can ultimately resist. "Compared with the contempt of mankind, all other external evils are easily supported.'

In the hour when the first missionary entered Europe this power began to be developed, and it has ever since been gathering strength. During the first centuries, every generation added mightily to its conquests. Even during the Middle Ages it sometimes displayed its energy on a scale of stupendous magnitude, however marred

*Adam Smith.

by fantastic circumstances. But its empire has been exceedingly enlarged since the Reformation. "It is already able to oppose the most formidable obstruction to the progress of injustice and oppression; and, as it grows more intelligent and more intense, it will be more and more formidable. It may be silenced by military power, but it cannot be conquered. It is elastic, irrepressible, and invulnerable to the weapons of ordinary warfare. It is that impassable, unextinguishable enemy of mere violence and arbitrary rule, which, like Milton's angels,

'Vital in every part,

Cannot, but by annihilation, die!'"*

It has already, in the centre of Europe, and in the American Republics, established its supremacy over all other power. The most ruthless and potent despotisms of the Old World tremble before it! Every species of tyranny is perilled by its presence. Hence all arbitrary power labours as for life to prevent its formation, and to stifle its expression. Hence the despot gags every mouth among his subjects, fetters the pens of the literati, and sends forth his myrmidons with vulture eye to watch the working of the Printing Press! In all countries where man has ceased to be a wretched serf, a crouching slave, a debased beast of burden, where both mind and body are stamped with the heavenly impress of freedom, public opinion is irresistible. It is absolute. Governments and parliaments exist only by its permission. It speaks, and they live! It speaks

*Hon. Daniel Webster.