TO DIVERSE, NOTABLE FOOLS AND ASSES.

horred? Now it is no light matter, at any time or place, for men to be under obligations to serve their country, and who yet must give up their conscience, or refuse the call. And when this is the case, as it was in Britain, it was the duty of all, in such circumstances, to have united in such a call for liberty of conscience as would have immediately reached the throne. Then, if they could not obtain redress, they would at least have had the satisfaction to reflect that they had not been duped, nor borne their burdens like asses. Let every reader, ponder upon these things, and make the application for which they are designed, in these "loco foco times." And may our ever blessed Father in heaven, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, speedily interpose, and reform and preserve our beloved. church and country, from the disgrace and ruin with which they are now threatened. Amen.

SERMON III.

NUMBERS XXII, 21-30.

AND BALAAM ROSE UP IN THE MORNING, AND SADDLED HIS ASS, AND WENT WITH THE PRINCES OF MOAB. AND THE ASS SAID UNTO BALAAM, "AM NOT I THINE ASS, UPON WHICH THOU HAST RIDDEN, EVER SINCE I WAS THINE?"

READER, thou knowest there are several methods of preaching, in practice, among the diverse professors of that gift; but the principal ones seem to be only these two: to make some text of scripture, either the foundation or occasion. of their discourse. It answers much the same purpose, whether a discourse be directly from the text, or only suggested by it. I imagine the readers of this discourse, will easily percieve which of these rules has been adopted by the preacher. Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass. It is clear to us, that there must always be some matter of importance, to induce a man of Balaam's character, to be up so early; and, no doubt, some pious purpose, is to be accomplished, when a prophet rises so soon in the morning. But we are immediately surprised to hear, that the anger of the Lord was kindled against the prophet! But the reason is given Balaam loved the wages of unrighteousness; and rose, to obtain such wages, by cursing that people, whom the Lord had blessed!

And, indeed, the whole creation groaneth, and is in bondage, until now; even the most harmless of animals, is brought into bondage, by the iniquities of man. Men of deep designs, and of rare policy, will make use of any in

OR EVANGELICAL BONUS.

strument, to accomplish their ends. And when a man is riding to the devil, an ass will serve that purpose, as well as a horse. Our covetous loco foco prophet had now a great object in his eye; the king of Moab had promised to exalt him to riches and honor, if he would curse the children of Israel; and, therefore, it is not wonderful that a man of Balaam's disposition, was up early in the morning, to look after these things. It was to serve a king, too;—loco foco prophets, and leading characters, in all nations, have been ardently disposed to serve the great. I have read of bishops who have employed themselves the same way; but how should he curse, whom God had blessed? What did the king of Moab, mean, by asking Balaam to curse Israel? Indeed, superstition has always been early in the world. Such as have had no just notions of a true God, have yet shown that they possessed some notions of a supreme power, either to bless, or to curse, at their pleasure. Balaam seems to have been one of the eastern Magi; and one of those who pretended to be hand and glove, with some powerful divinity, whose aid he could call in at his pleasure, to bless or curse whom he had a mind. It is undoubtedly correct, that all this was a corruption and perversion of the religion of the true. God, which was here used, to carry out the pious purposes of false prophets, and the politics of loco foco princes. The greatest part of the leading men, and princes of this world, have meant no more, by religion, than to make it an engine of state policy, or a tool of secular interest. Men of any degree of sagacity, can easily see that the common people will not always be subject to their authority, unless they be brought under it, by means of some temporal advantage, or the influence of religion; and as those who aspire after power, are seldom disposed to part with many worldly emoluments, they endeavor to secure the subjection of the vulgar, with what costs them nothing, and what they them

*Hence the grouping of our patron loco foco Prophets, in the frontispiece, with their most excellent Princes will be considered in good keeping, but we reserve our notes for future editions.

TO DIVERSE, NOTABLE FOOLS AND ASSES.

selves set no value upon. Severe as this reflection may seem, upon human legislators, experience has, for a long time, confirmed it; and, it is evident, from observation, that the greatest part of those who have desired to bring over religion to their side, have made it the instrument of the gratification of their pride and ambition. And, indeed, it is difficult, if not impossible, to govern mankind without some form of religion; for it may be found by observation, that where there is least religion, or where it is most perverted, there is generally the greatest barbarity among the inhabitants, in any country. Where the knowledge of the Deity is well nigh obliterated from the minds of a people, they differ but little from other animals; they are rude, savage, and untractable, until instructed in the knowledge of reliligion. It ought to be observed here, that although princes have thus made religion an engine of government, by which to manage their subjects; yet, they could never so far prevail over priests and prophets, as to make them subserve the ends of their policy, without allowing them to go snacks with them, in the profits resulting from it. It appears, indeed, from a consideration of the influence of religion upon mankind, that it is necessary to their very constitution, in a civilized capacity; for without it, they in fact differ but little from brutes; even the best uninspired civil system of policy, cannot subsist without it; for where religion is once entirely removed, there is neither law nor policy. The Christian religion softens the mind, and makes it susceptible of impressions, to which men without it, are utter strangers. Without it, we have no proper springs of action, to what is truly virtuous and noble. Some men have been possessed of a sort of animal docility, by an appeal to which, they could be more easily kept in order, than others; but without religion, the best, even of them, have been but the milder sort of savages.

It is a pity, however, that it should be made subservient to the basest ends and purposes, as it often has been. It is