Moral Phi conftancy we must ever act, if there be a settled perfuafion, that all things are framed and governed by a univerfal mind. - Such was the effect the study of Natural Philosophy had upon my Soul. It fet beyond all doubt before me the moral perfection of the Creator and Governor of the Universe. And if this Almighty God, I faid, is perfect Wifdom and Virtue, does it not follow, that he must approve and love those who are at due pains to improve in wisdom; - and what he loves and delights in, must he not make happy? This is an evident truth. It renders the cause of virtue quite triumphant. 6. But upon Ethicks or Moral Philofophy lofophy. I dwelt the longeft. This is the proper food of the Soul, and what perfects her in all the virtues and qualifications of a gentleman. This Science I collected in the first place from the antient fages and philofophers, and ftudied all the moral writers of Greece and Rome. With great pleasure I saw, that these immortal authors had delineated as far as human reason can go, that course of life which is most according to the intention of nature, and most happy; had fhewn that this universe, and human nature in particular, was formed by the wisdom and counfel of a Deity, and that from the conftitution of our nature various duties arofe: that fince God is the original independent Being, com compleat in all poffible perfection, of boundlefs power, wisdom and goodness; the Creator, Contriver, and Governor of this world, to whom mankind are indebted for innumerable benefits moft gratuitously bestowed; we ought to manifeft the moft ardent love and veneration toward the Deity, and worfhip him with affections of Soul fuited to the pre-eminence and infinite grandeur of the original Caufe of all; ought to obey him, as far as human weakness can go, and humbly submit and refign ourselves and all our interefts to his will; continually confide in his goodness, and conftantly imitate him as far as our weak nature is capable. This is due to that original moft gracious Power who formed us, and with a liberal hand fupplies us with all things conducive to fuch pleasure and happiness as our nature can receive: That in refpect of mankind, our natural fenfe of right and wrong points out to us the duties to be performed towards others, and the kind affections implanted by nature, excites us to the discharge of them: that by the law of our conftitution and nature, justice and benevolence are prescribed; and aids and an intercourfe of mutual offices required, not only to fecure our pleasure and happiness, but to preserve ourselves in safety and in life that the law of nature, or natural right, forbids every inftance of injustice, a violation of life, liberty, health, property; and the exercise of our honourable, kind powers, are not only a fpring of vigorous efforts to do good to others, and thereby fecure the common happiness; but they really procure us a joy and peace, an inward applause and external advantages; while injuftice and malice, anger, hatred, envy, and revenge, are often matter of fhame and remorfe, and contain nothing joyful, nothing glorious: In the greatest affluence, the favage men are miserable: - that as to ourfelves, the voice of reafon declares, that we ought to employ our abilities and opportunities in improving our minds to an extenfive knowledge of nature in the sciences; and by diligent meditation and obfervation, acquire that prudence, juftice, temperance, and fortitude, which fhould constantly govern our lives: That folid prudence, which abhors rafhnefs, inconfiderateness, a foolish felf-confidence, and craft, and under a high sense of moral excellence, confiders and does what is really advantageous in life: That juftice, which conftantly regards the common intereft, and in fubferviency to it, gives to each one whatever is due to him upon any natural claim :- That temperance, which reftrains and regulates the lower appetites, and difplays the grace and beauty of manners: And that fortitude, which re repreffes all vain and exceffive fears, gives us a fuperiority to all the external accidents of our mortal state, and ftrengthens the foul against all toils or dangers we may be expofed to in discharge of our duty; as an early and painful death with virtue and honour, is highly preferable to the longest ignominious life, and no advantages can be compared in point of happiness with the approbation of God, and of our own hearts. That if in this manner we live prepared for any honourable fervices to God, our fellows, and ourselves, and practice piety toward God, good-will toward men, and immediately aim at our own perfection, then we may expect, notwithstanding our being involved in manifold weakneffes and diforders of foul, that the divine goodness and clemency will have mercy on such as fincerely love him, and defire to serve him with duty and gratitude; will be propitious and placable to the penitents, and all who exert their utmost endeavours in the purfuits of virtue: And fince the perfection of virtue must constitute the fupreme felicity of man, our efforts to attain it, must be effectual in obtaining compleat felicity, or at leaft fome lower degree of it. 7. This beautiful, moral Philofophy I of Reveafound scattered in the wtitings of the old gion. led Reli theist philofophers, and with great pains reduced the various leffons to a system of active and virtuous offices: but this I knew was what the majority of mankind were incapable of doing; and if they could do it, I faw it was far inferior to revelation. Every Sunday I appropriated to the ftudy of reveled Religion, and perceived as I read the facred records, that the Works of Plato, and Cicero, and Epictetus, and all the uninfpired fages of antiquity, were but weak rules in refpect of the divine oracles. It is the mercy and power of God in the triumphs of grace, that reftores mankind from the bondage and ignorance of idolatry. To this the finner owes the converfion of his foul. It is the ftatutes of the Lord that rejoyce the heart, and enlighten the eyes. What are all the reasonings of the philofophers to the melody of that heavenly voice which crys continually, Come unto me all ye that travel and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you. And what could their leffons avail without thofe exprefs promifes of grace and fpiritual affiftance, which the blood of the new covenant confirms to mankind? The philofophy of Greece and Rome was admirable for the times and men: but it admits of no comparison with the divine lef fons of our holy religion, and the charter of God's pardon granted to us by his bleffed |