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tinies of immortal beings accountable to the bar of God. They are deeply interwoven, and essentially connected with the whole of divine revelation. How important is it to have an indisputable line of distinction drawn between the highest grade of the animal creation, and the lowest class of human beings! As the volume of divine truth is addressed to man; so, whether high or low, rich or poor, bond or free, black or white, all their peculiarities of situation have an influence in forming the intellectual and moral character, and a consequent relation to the great judgment day. Are any disgusted with the view of the debased state and humble lot of some of the human race? Rather let humility possess their souls, and due praise be given to the Author of every good and perfect gift, for their elevated rank and exalted privileges. It is truly an interesting and most solemn reflection, that so many millions of human beings as have peopled the globe, and as now dwell on all the face of the earth, should have their genealogy from that once holy and happy pair, whose abode was paradise. How vast, astonishing, and manifold are the works of God, and how worthy the study and admiration of man, who is made after his image!

2dly. If the identity of the human race is established, then all mankind are brethren.

They have all the same original parents; are all one family, made of the same fellow clay, and endued with the same constituent faculties, both bodily and mental. They all partake of the same human flesh and blood; have common wants and common interests. They have all the same human principles implanted in them by nature; and are each one accountable to the same Judge for the improvement of his talents, and for all his moral conduct. Do we sometimes behold a fellow mortal of inferiour bodily and mental accomplishments, perhaps a black slave, or a wandering native?

We

may well exercise the feelings of compassion and sympathy, for such an one is our brother. Blood as precious as ours runs through his veins. He must die, and after death be an inhabitant of heaven or hell as well as we. Yes, reader, as you and I have souls to be saved or lost, so have all our fellow mortals, however varied their complexion or condition, and in what part soever of the habitable globe they live. Then,

3dly. How desirable, that they enjoy privileges in common with us.

How friendly, that we reach forth a helping hand to raise those that are sunk into the lowest depths of human degradation! Can we highly prize our own immunities, and not feel anxious that the destitute enjoy the same blessings? How would the prospect of the intellectual and moral world be brightened, if all nations enjoyed the social, civil, and religious advantages which Heaven has conferred upon us! The face of nature would seem to be changed, while pagans and heathens would be exalted in point of privilege, and the declarative glory of God promoted. Amen.

SERMON III.

PECULIARITIES CONSISTENT WITH IDENTITY.

ACTS XVII. 26.

And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth.

THIS expression, it has been observed, teaches us, that all human beings upon the globe, have the same kind of animal life, and are descended from the same original parents. But the present discourse is designed, from natural and moral causes, to reconcile those peculiarities of figure, of features, and complexion, which exist among the different nations of the human species. Some of the principal varieties in the aspect of mankind, will be noticed.

A few preliminary remarks are requisite to prepare the way for their particular discussion.

Men frequently deceive themselves in relation to this subject, by bringing together at once the most distant extremes, without particularly tracing the intermediate grades, which, in every step of the progression, touch upon one another. Noticing extremities they are surprised by their dissimilarity; but, passing along the minute gradations, which serve to unite them, the mind perceives in this wide difference merely the result of the actions of the same physical laws in the diversity of birth, in successive climates, and in the varied, circumstantial positions of the human race as to the state of society.

The Negro and the European are the two extremes of a very long gradation. Between them are almost innumerable, intermediate stages, which differ from each other no more than the individuals occasionally produced in every nation or family, differ from the generality of the same nation or family.

In features as in colour, the different tribes are connected to each other by the most gentle gradations; so that, although any two extremes, when contrasted, appear strikingly different; yet, they are joined by numerous, intermediate and very slightly different degrees; and no formation is exhibited so constantly in all the individuals of one tribe as not to admit of numerous exceptions.

The great diversity of nature's productions at birth, proves, that sameness of colour is not an essential characteristick of species; or, that identity of tint is not necessary to establish descent from a common stock. In the same family of children is often seen great diversity in many respects. Complexion, light, sandy and dark-eyes, greyish, blue and dark brown,-the hair, fair, red and black. Other peculiarities might be named.

The numerous examples of the widest deviation in colour, in animals confessedly of the same species, fully authorize us to conclude, that the complexion of the human race may be widely different. Let one instance be mentioned. Among the young of a pair of white rabbits may be found the several colours of white, grey, spotted and black. Now this may be inferred by way of application. Though the human species be not subject to changes so immediate and sudden, nevertheless they may eventually be as great.

It will be of importance to bear in mind throughout this discourse, that the causes, affecting the physical or moral constitution of man, and finally producing great distinctions between nations, seldom attain their full operation, till after a long se

ries of time. Even several generations may pass away, before the influences of the climate, of the state of society, or of the manner of living, are perceived in their ultimate results. At length, however, their effects enter deeply into the habits and whole structure of human nature, and are transmitted from parents to their offspring. The sanguine or fair complexion will, for this reason, be perpetual in the higher latitudes of the temperate zone; and we shall generally find different shades of the dark colours gradually increasing, till we arrive at the entire black, as we descend to the equator.

Let us now take a view of some of the fairest complexions of any people upon the globe.

But such inhabitants must be found, where climate is congenial by its temperature; and where the cultivation of the arts and sciences, is carried to its greatest perfection. Some of the Europeans and of the Americans in the United States, are intended. Their residence is in the northern, temperate zone, where climate is favourable to a fair and ruddy complexion; and where learning and polished society are calculated to produce lively and interesting features in the countenance. The inhabitants have by no means uniformity in all respects, as their circumstances and opportunities are greatly varied in the same country. Some local situations, states of society, and modes of living, are far more favourable than others for the exertion of the mental powers, for refinement of manners, and for forming constitutional habits and complexion. And where a people have long cultivated the arts and sciences and refined manners, with success, a general aptitude becomes hereditary among their descendants. Thus this influence and these effects will in some degree be communicated from posterity to posterity. Birth and education do often peculiarize different societies, and even individuals of the same family. Besides, the distinguished privileges, salubrious climate, and manner of liv

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