Against all these perils, which in our day threaten not only government, but society itself, there is but one safeguard, Religion reënforced, not by civil enactments, but by every moral and educational influence. For a nation, as for an individual, the only security is inspiration from above. That alone ennobles human character or human life:
"Unless above himself he can erect himself,
How mean a thing is man!"
Unless he can reach up to something higher than himself, and take hold of a power stronger than himself, he is but a helpless unit floating in the great universe, like a mote in the sunbeam. To give any dignity to his life on earth, he must find an attraction out of himself — a central orb around which his little existence can revolve.
The same law holds in things great and small, with nations as with individuals. In the moral and in the material world there is one Divine order:
"One God, one law, one element,
And one far-off Divine intent,
To which the whole creation moves."
Religion is the source of all man's highest inspirations — of all things great and noble; of all things pure and good; of all things sweet and gracious in human intercourse; of endless kindnesses and charities. It makes men honest and brave; it habituates them to self-control, and to obedience to law, and thus makes good citizens; while it inspires the higher virtues of self-sacrifice and devotion.
Are not these great elements on which to lay the foundations of a state? Such was the political economy of Moses when he founded the Hebrew Commonwealth on Religion. Was it wisdom or folly? Was it barbarism or civilization?
