nd such it really appears to me,
and such I have unfortunately experienced its operation to be on
my own mind--I would respectfully ask--can such a religion,
whose peculiar principles tend to render men hateful, and hating
one another: which has often rendered sovereigns, persecutors, and
subjects, either rebels, or slaves: a religion, whose peculiar moral
principles and maxims, teach the mind to grovel, and humble, and
break down the energies of man; and which divert him from
thinking of his true interests, and the true happiness of himself and
his fellow men. Can such a religion, I would respectfully ask, be
from God, since where fully obeyed, it would prove utterly
destructive to society?

CHAPTER XIX.

A CONSIDERATION OF SOME SUPPOSED ADVANTAGES
ATTRIBUTED TO THE NEW, OVER THE OLD, TESTAMENT;
AND WHETHER THE DOCTRINE OF A RESURRECTION,
AND A LIFE TO COME, IS NOT TAUGHT IN THE OLD
TESTAMENT; IN CONTRADICTION TO THE ASSERTION,
THAT "LIFE AND IMMORTALITY WERE BROUGHT TO
LIGHT BY THE GOSPEL."

From the preceding chapters, you may judge, reader, of the justice
and truth of the opinion, that "the yoke of Christian morality is
easy, and its "burthen light;" and also of the veracity and fairness
of that constant assertion of divines, "that Jesus came to remove
the heavy yoke of the Mosaic Law, and to substitute in its room
one of easier observance."--Whether this, their assertion, be not
rash, and ill founded, I will cheerfully leave to be decided by
any cool and thinking man, who knows human nature, and is
acquainted with the human heart. I say, I would cheerfully leave it
to such a man, "whether the Mosaic Law, with all its numerous
rites, and ceremonial observances, nay, with all "the (ridiculous)
traditions of the Elders," superadded, would not be much more
bearable to human nature, and much easier to be observed and
obeyed, than such precepts as these, "Sell all thou hast, and give it
to the poor." "If a man ask thy cloak, give him thy coat also."
"Resist not the injurious person, but if a man smite thee on one
cheek, turn to him the other also." "Extirpate and destroy all carnal
affection, and love nothing, but religion." "Take no thought for
to-morrow;"--I am confident that the decision would be given in
my favour; and have no doubt, that with thinking men, the contrary
opinion would be instantly rejected with the contempt it merits.

Whether the Mosaic Code be the best possible, or really divine, is
of