maintained its ground, and was making rapid advances in the days of Gildas.

During the dismal night of error, that covered the people again with thick darkness, after the promulgation of Christianity, the weeds of error sprang up, grew rank, and the nations of Europe were covered with the poisonous effluvia: the Romish priests did not fail to make use of these powerful engines to serve their avaricious purposes; they well knew that reputation was power, and they invented a thousand tales to instil into the minds of the people an idea of sanctity they never possessed; till, by shackling the mind with an influence at their own disposal, their unfortunate votaries became the constant dupes of hypocritical extortion. That they were the framers of some, and the modellers of many, no doubt can be entertained,; for, as Brown facetiously observes, "They seem to have the most right to inventions of this nature, whose brains are so fruitful of folly as to invent that Dunstan took the Devil by the nose with a pair of hot tongs till he roared again." Antiq. Vulg. Thanks to the great Author of Light and Truth, this night is past; the light of the Reformation has dispelled the darkness; yet, still here and there a few clouds disfigure the atmosphere of truth. Though no one can be a stronger advocate for Religion in its most perfect purity, or wish more strongly for the emancipation of the human mind from the worst of all slavery, Superstition; yet, must I question, whether good has been obtained by divesting the mind of all religious fear, under the

name of Superstition? Especially when it is considered, that it had a tendency to recommend virtue and discountenance vice.

The philosophic religion that has nearly had its short-lived reign, is like the logic of the Pyrrhonian School, that pulls down every thing and erects nothing. Man must have some decisive principle on which to act, and some powerful motives to induce him to action. He must be persuaded that vice has the dread of punishment, and virtue the sanction of reward, before he will uniformly perform the relative duties life.

Religion is the grand cement of society, the only sufficient guarantee of order and safety. If the people are so gross and blind as not to be able, without assistance, to look through Nature up to Nature's GOD; if their minds are not sufficiently spiritual to form just and adequate ideas of their real nature and indispensable obligations; shall we refuse them the necessary helps, because they are not compatible with philosophic perfection? If they cannot yet act from higher and juster motives, shall we therefore deprive them of all? Blot out every trace of hope and fear, and break even the slenderest tie that connects them with the spiritual world?.

Recollecting the answer of the learned author of The Evidences of Christianity, (Addison) to the unbeliever," That, if Christianity be true, then Christians will have infinitely the advantage; and if it should not, they will then be equal with the Infidel.:" I cannot help concluding it safer to believe

too much than two little; and that truth blended with error is far more eligible than error alone. Every lover of his country and his neighbour must feel his indignation excited when he sees a set of men under the usurped title of Philosophers, endeavouring to undermine religion, loosen the bands of society, and destroy all adequate motives for moral actions, under the plausible pretence of delivering mankind from the yoke of superstition!

Amidst all these superstitions, however, it appears the principles of religion are not lost; a considerable portion of devotional spirit occupies the bosoms of the lower classes of the Welsh. A disposition, which, while it contributes to their own comfort, administers no less to the happiness of society. And to this as a cause, must be referred the prevalence of moral excellence, the general spirit of subordination, respect to their superiors, and submission to the laws, discoverable through this happy country. Indeed it must be acknowledged, that the only foundation for solid morality, is Religion. A knowledge of the great duties it enjoins, and the obligations to perform them, imposed on beings who must give a final account of the talents they have received. The philosopher may make his calculations on the force of habit, and expatiate on the superior merit of suffering virtue; while the moralist boasts of the principles of truth and justice, exercised for their own reward. But the high morality contained in that Golden sentence, "Do unto others as You would they should do unto you," is only to be supported by

the motives of the gospel, and only can be practised by the disciples of the Saviour.

Religion appears among this people to be what it really is, the most important concern of man. In the churches the service was performed with a degree of solemnity not generally observable in England; and the decorous behaviour of the congregations was a convincing proof in what high veneration they held the temples of the Deity. The energy of the preachers, and the looks of the audience, plainly indicated that both were in earnest; and no one could help feeling a desire to join in the worship, though a stranger to the language in which it was performed.

How lamentable, said I, that divine truths should ever be delivered in an irreverent manner!!! And that the offices of religion should be performed without that devoutness such sacred and important ceremonies so justly demand!!! Perhaps more of this spirit was discoverable out of the church than in it; and without any diparagement to the clergy of North Wales, many of whom are highly respectable in their official, as well as social capacities, may it not be asked whether the reason is not obvious in the conduct of some of the clergy?

It has been asserted, and it is to be feared not entirely without foundation, that the late increase of dissenters has been occasioned by the clergy themselves. The dissolute lives of some, the carelessness and irreverence of many, added perhaps to some errors in preaching by more; these have all in their turns and unitedly proved stumbling blocks to the weak, and afforded pleas to the schismatic.

It is an aweful consideration, and well becomes · the ostensible messengers of grace, and more especially the Episcopal Guardians of the Establishment, to pause-and seriously inquire into the causes of such defalcations; and, by a timely removal of the offence where it exists, to prevent the mischiefs of separation. If Religion be made a stalking-horse for interest and ambition, even by a few, the Established Church will lose much of its respect and dignity. If the bees that have been regularly hived, are transformed into drones, and indolently neglect to sip the mellifluous flowers around them, is it surprising if the wilder insects of the woods take their stations and bear away the nectareous treasure? If the appointed shepherds neglect their important charge, suffer the ravenous wolf to disperse the flock, and remain careless whether the wanderers are restored to the fold; then will that August Being, whose purposes cannot be defeated, have rccourse to other means for their accomplishment. He will call up men from the dunghill to the dignified office of priesthood; give them popularity from usefulness, and thus put to open shame the more learned and regular of the function: "Call them a people which were no people, and of these reputed stones, raise up children to Abraham.”

In the towns and large villages, some building is generally appropriated for the accommodation of those who wish information on the interesting theme. But it is common to see thousands assembling to hear a plain man exppund the scriptures on the hills