in the land; what if they all preached natural religion —piety, morality,—and natural theology, the philosophy of
that religion I What a world it would soon become! There
are more than forty thousand congregations in the
one-and- thirty States; what if they all were penetrated
with the idea of God's infinite perfection—his perfect
power, wisdom, justice, holiness, and love; sought normal inspiration from the soul of all, in whom we live, and move, and have our being; who lives, and moves, and has his being in the world of matter and of mind, yet far
transcending both—and served Him by aspirations after
great, magnanimous, and manly life! One day it will be
so—and these great truths will, like the early light, move around the world waking a morning psalm of beauty in the material heaven above and earth beneath; and from all animated things, and chief of all from spiritual man, persuading forth a conscious hymn of adoration, thanks, and trust, and love, wherein, with well-accordant voice, island shall call to island, and continent respond to continent, and mortal with the immortal go quiring on the eternal and aspiring harmony!
"Nearer, my God, to Thee!
Nearer to Thee !
E'en though it he
A cross that raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be,—
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!"
