The Sun.
London, England, 1841-07-23 00:00:00

DIFFUSION OF RELIGION.

"One of the great distinctions of our times, is found in
the more clear and vital perception of the truth, that the
universal impartial love, which is the glory of God, is the
characteristic spirit and glory of Christianity. To this
we owe the extension of philanthropic and religious ef-
fort, beyond all former experience. How much we are
better, on the whole, than former times, I do not say ;
but that benevolence is acting on a larger scale, in more
various forms, to more distant objects, this we cannot
deny. Call it pretension or enthusiasm, or what
you will, the fact remains ; and it attests the diffu-
sive tendencies of our times. Benevolence now
gathers together her armies. Vast associations are
spread over whole countries for assailing evils, which, it
is thought, cannot be met by the single-handed. There
is hardly a form of evil, which has not awakened some
antagonist effort. Associated benevolence gives eyes to
the blind and ears to the deaf, and is achieving even
greater wonders ; that is, it approaches the mind without
the avenues of eye and ear, and gives to the hopelessly
blind and deaf the invaluable knowledge which these
senses afford to others. Benevolence now shuts out no
human being, however low, from its regard. It goes to
the cell of the criminal with words of hope, and is labour-
ing to mitigate public punishment, to make it the in-
strument not of vengeance but reform. It remembers
the slave, pleads his cause with God and man, recognises
in him a human brother, respects in him the sacred
rights of humanity, and claims for him, not as a boon, but
as a right, that freedom, without which humanity withers
and God's child is degraded into a tool or a brute. Still
more, benevolence now is passing all limits of country
and ocean. It would send our own best blessing to the
ends of the earth. It would make the wilderness of
heathenism bloom, and join all nations in the bonds of
one holy and loving faith. Thus, if we look at the re-
ligious movements of the age, we see in them that ten-
dency to diffusion and universality, which I have named
as its most striking characteristic."
TUE DIFFUSION AND UNIVERSALITY OF INDUSTRY.

" How numberless are the forms which this takes
passion
subsistence,
p
Into how many channels is human labouru for acquisi-
tion, pouring itsel
tiforthoil,
n! 0
tHfoorw simplewidely
spread
means
übtshinee, but for wealth!
o f
What vast enterprises agitate the
rush into all the departments of tradecomm linitY ! What a
universal, the insanity of speculatio l ! How next to
spring up ! Industry pierces the speculation
What new arts
with her axe the everlasting silence.()rests, and startles
men, commerce is the Commandi To you, Gentle-
has no limits but the habitable commanding interest ; and this
creeps along the shore, or lingers world. It no longer
but penetrates into ever inlet, ers in accustomed tracks,
of uncivilised lands, sends plunges into the heart
rivers, girdles the earth withs steam-ships up unexplored
railroads, and thus breaks
down the estrangements
noble calling. It of nations. Commerce is a
mediates between distant nations, and
makes men's wants, not as formerly, stimulants to war,
but bonds of peace. The universal intellectual activity
of which I have spoken, is due in no small degree, to
commerce, which spreads the thoughts,
inventions,
and
writings of great men over the earth, and gathers scien-
tificand literary men everywhere into an intellectual re-
public. So it carries abroad the missionary, the Bible,
the Cross, and is giving universality to true religion.
Gentlemen, allow me to express an earnest desire and
hope, that the merchants of this country will carry on
their calling with these generous views. Let them not
pursue it for themselves alone. Let them rejoice to
spread improvements far and wide, and to unite men in
more friendly ties. Let them adopt maxims of trade,
which will establish general confidence. Especially in
their intercourse with less civilised tribes, let them feel
themselves bound to be harbingers of civilisation. Let
their voyages be missions of humanity, useful arts,
science, and religion. It is a painful thought, that com-
merce, instead of enlightening and purifying less privi-
leged communities, has too often made the name of
ristian hateful to them, has carried to the savage,
not our useful arts and mild faith, but weapons of war
and the intoxicating draught. I call not on God to
smite with his lightnings, to overwhelm with his storms,
the accursed ship which goes to the ignorant, rude na-
tive, freighted with poison and death ; which goes to
add new ferocity to savage life, new licentiousness to
savage sensuality. I have learned not to call down fire
from heaven. But, in the name of humanity, of religion,
of God, I implore the merchants of this country, not
to use the light of a higher civilisation to corrupt,y'
to
are
Establish
destroy our uncivilised brethren. Brethren they
in those rude huts, in that wild attire. ..lish with
and charit
y.
Before an intercourse of usefulness, justice,
Before they can understand the name of Christ,
hrist, let
them see his spirit in those by whom it • is borne. It
has been said, that the commerce of our country is not
only corrupting uncivilised countries, but that
it wears
& deeper, more damning stain ; that, in spi •
te of the laws