Is this a picture taken from the life, or is it a fanciful representation of something different from the peculiar morality of the New Testament?  This serious question demands a serious answer.  If it be such as it is represented above and 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.