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him uniformly religious and moral in the whole tenor of his conduct. Can you reasonably suppose that you will faithfully and constantly discharge your moral duties, when you openly set yourself free from the law of all rational beings, and from all fear of a supreme inspector and judge? No, denying the existence of God, you deny at the same time all the rules of righteousness, and all the authority that can take infallible cognizance of your actions.
I have yet to consider the influence of Atheism as it respects the future destiny of man, and to enquire into the cause which produces it. And though it may not be needful to any one of you, yet I hope that it may be useful to all. The sincere believer in God will rather rejoice in the reasonableness and wisdom of his conduct, and in his happiness in escaping the ruinous folly of Atheism—those who value the interest of society, will see who are the worthiest objects of esteem and confidence—those who seek their own prosperity in the world, will see what is the wisest course to promote it—and all will learn that the denial of a deity is at once a proof of a deranged understanding—of a depraved heart—of gross folly and wickedness.
It is necessary to observe, that the destruction of all the moral principles, and of the true happiness of man, must ensue, if there be no Creator of the universe; and that all those principles and this happiness will follow in their full extent upon contemplating the true God as holy, just, and good ; and not those false fictitious beings, which ignorance, superstition, and worldly policy, have
