# American Pocket Library of Useful Knowledge/Religion

RELIGION.
GENERAL ENUMERATION.
PRINCIPAL RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES.
Making together, 4,859,030 professors of religion, and allowing three or four among the family or friends of each, and the number so ascertained will include very near, the entire population of the United States as professors, friends, or believers in the eternal truths of Divine Revelation.
It has been truly observed that the Christian is the only religion which will bear the test of a rational investigation; that it is the only system which can pretend to a divine origin, and the only one to which mankind can look for a remedy against the various moral evils which prevail over the world.
THE ATHEIST.
The assaults of reckless men, the cavilling of sceptics, the sneers of the scoffer, from the most powerful in times past down to the miserable atheist of the present day, have accomplished nothing. Their denunciations, and revilings, and labours, have all resulted in creating no good, in advancing no interest, in defending, or comforting, or elevating none; in administering to the wants, the sufferings, or hopes of no human being. Their labours, like their minds, are a blank–a blank as cold and comfortless, as destitute of good here or hope hereafter; a blank as dark and appalling as the void to which they would drag down and degrade the eternal and immortal soul.
THE CHRISTIAN.
How wonderful the contrast religion presents!! But without adverting to the fruits of Christian love and enterprize, witness throughout the civilized world, the noon-daylight of Christianity, every where abounding in proportion as the human race rises in the scale of intelligence and civilization; and without denying the evils of bigotry, or the hypocrisy of pretenders, alike inimical to true religion–without appealing to the long line of heroes, statesmen, and philosophers; and the host of great intellects, who have made religion the study of their lives, and sealed it with their deaths; without enquiring if men are so bad with religion, how much worse would they be without any–in short, without the multitude of reasons that urge men to prefer the hope of immortal life, to the death of a brute, let it be asked, Is it not true that the firm believers in the Gospel have great advantage overall others?–for this simple reason, that if true, they will have their reward hereafter; and if there be no hereafter, they can be but with the infidel in his eternal sleep, having had the assistance of an exalted hope through life.
Among the great multitude of the wise and good who have recorded their testimony in behalf of Christianity, the American citizen may proudly dwell on the memory of Washington. A model of true greatness; through his whole life he exhibited an example, in all the relations of life, political and social, public and private, which challenges the admiration of the world. In his Farewell Address he says–
“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labour to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connexions with private and public felicity.
“’Tis substantially true, that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government. The rule indeed extends with more or less force to every species of free government. Who that is a sincere friend to it can look with indifference upon attempts to shake the foundation of the fabric?”
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
THE CHRISTIAN WORLD.
This is the title of a periodical published in Philadelphia at one dollar and twenty-five cents per annum, without advocating any particular sect. It is devoted to the advancement of Christianity–“Bible Christianity in its essential, peculiar, and incomparable glory.” Edited by T. H. Stockton.