Christianity declares war against the sciences; they are regarded as an obstacle to salvation.  “Science puffeth up.” says Paul.  And the fathers of the church, St. Gregory, St. Ambrose, and St. Augustine denounce vehemently astronomy, and geometry.  And Jerome declares, that he was whipped by an angel only for reading that Pagan Cicero.

It has been often remarked, that the most enlightened men are commonly bad Christians.  For independent of its effects on faith, which science is exceedingly apt to subvert, it diverts the Christian from the work of his salvation, which is the only thing needful.  In a word, the peculiar principles of Christianity literally obeyed, would entirely subvert from its foundations every political society now existing.  If this assertion is doubted, let the doubter read the works of the early Fathers, and he will see that their morality is totally incompatible with the preservation and prosperity of a state.  He will see according to Lactantius, and others, that “no Christian can lawfully be a soldier.”  That according to Justin, “no Christian can be a magistrate.”  That according to Chrysostom, “no Christian ought to be a merchant” And that according to several, “no Christian ought t study.”  In fine, joining these maxims together with those of the New Testament, it will follow, that a Christian, who as he is commanded, aims at perfection, is a useless member of the community, useless to his family, and to all around him.  He is an idle dreamer, who thinks of nothing but futurity; who has nothing in common with the interests of the world, and according to Tertullian “has no other business but to get out of it as quietly as possible.”

Let us hearken to Esebius of Caesarea, and we shall abundantly discover the truth of what has been said.

“The manner of life, (says he,) of the Christian church, surpasses our present nature, and the common life of men.  It seeks neither marriage, nor children, nor riches.  In fine, it is entirely a stranger to human modes of living.  It is entirely absorbed in an insatiable love of heavenly things.  Those who follow this course of life, have only their bodies upon earth, their whole souls are in heaven, and they already dwell among pure and celestial intelligences, and they despise the manner of life of other men” Demonstrat.  Evang. vol. ii. p.29.

Indeed a man firmly persuaded of the truth of; Christianity cannot attach himself to any thing here below.  Every thing here is “an occasion of stumbling, a rock of offence.”  Every thing here, diverts him from thinking of his salvation.  If Christians in general, happily, for society, were not inconsistent, and did not neglect the peculiar precepts of their religion, no large society of them could exist; and the nations enlightened by the gospel would turn hermits, and nuns.  All business, but fasting and prayer, would be at an end.  There would be nothing but groaning in “this vale” of tears;” and they would make themselves, and others, as miserable as possible, from the best of motives, viz; the desire to fulfill what they mistakenly conceived to be the will of God.