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indeed from the nature of the case must , become an accelerated one . Different tribes and people may , at different times , have fed the way ; but the tribe or people at the head of the human race , in any given period , has always been in a superior state to that which took the lead during a preceding period * Each nation fulfilled its mission ; carried on improvement in that particular way for which its powers were adapted , and to the limits which those powers could reach ; and then resigned the supremacy to a successor . Thus nations may have paused ; still the human race has advanced . And thus we may infer the advance will . continue until all institutions become only modifications of Universal Association for Universal Good .
" But as , on the one hand , we must not presume to be the peculiar people of God , and to have an exclusive claim to bis favour , so neither , on the other , are we warranted to interpret bis decrees to be against us as a nation , and to conclude that his mercies are clean gone and for ever , that bis promise is come utterly to an end , that be hath forgotten to be gracious , and that be bath shut up bis loving-kindness in displeasure . This latter were the worse evil of the two . It is called by the Psalmist , whose desponding words I have been quoting , his own infirmity .- it would smite the heart of patriotism with a palsy , and the disease would soon communicate its withering influence to our piety .
< c Nations , like individuals , are doomed to change ; but it may be hoped that we carry the analogy too far when we represent them also fated to decrepitude and decay , at least within assignable revolutions of time . From the past history of nations , we are not sure that we can divine the future . There is nothing in ancient times parallel to the present . Social man has become a new creature . The operation of many of the causes of the decline and fall of states has been stopped ; new principles are at work , favourable
to life and vigour . It seems utterly impossible that the civilized world should be again overrun by barbarians ; that superstition should bring another long night over the human faculties ; or that universal ignorance should deliver up the multitude , bound hand and foot , to crafty priests and despotic princes . The actual tendencies of mankind , in all those parts of the globe that are of political consequence , are towards improvement in the arts of life , in law , in science , in policy , and in religion . He would be bold in bis
sinister prognostics who should point to the mark where this improvement shall terminate . The patriot and philanthropist—for in our view they are one and the same character , seen only in different Christian lights—may humbly though not weakly hope—especially with the promises of divine revelation , which is a ' covenant of promise , ' before his eyes—that there
will be such a progression of the human race in reason , wisdom , and skill ; in the sense of the true interests of the species , of communities and of individuals - and in the principles of justice and the sentiments of charity;—that wars will be prevented by international tribunals ; that durable peace will enable and induce all countries to exchange for mutual advantage the products of their soil , industry , skill , and science : that the extremes of
Untitled Article
Coronation Sermons . 731
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Nov. 2, 1831, page 731, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2603/page/7/
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