man body does not ſtrengthen its fibres till it has reached its full growth.
There appears to be ſomething analogous in the mind. The ſenſes and the imagination give a form to the character, during childhood and youth; and the underſtanding, as life advances, gives firmneſs to the firſt fair purpoſes of ſenſibility—till virtue, ariſing rather from the clear conviction of reaſon than the impulſe of the heart, morality is made to reſt on a rock againſt which the ſtorms of paſſion vainly beat.
I hope I ſhall not be miſunderſtood when I ſay, that religion will not have this condenſing energy, unleſs it be founded on reaſon. If it be merely the refuge of weakneſs or wild fanaticiſm, and not a governing principle of conduct, drawn from ſelf-knowledge, and a rational opinion reſpecting the attributes of God, what can it be expected to produce? The religion which conſiſts in warming the affections, and exalting the imagination, is only the poetical part, and may afford the individual pleaſure without rendering it a more moral being. It may be a ſubſtitute for worldly purſuits; yet narrow, inſtead of enlarging the heart: but virtue muſt be loved as in itſelf ſublime and excellent, and not for the advantages it procures or the evils it averts, if any great degree of excellence be expected. Men will not become moral when they only build airy caſtles in a future world to compenſate for the diſappointments which they meet with in this; if they turn their thoughts from relative duties to religious reveries.
