each kind of animals; and the same modes of preservation continue, as at the moment when by thy creative voice they were first called into existence. The parents and the most distant offspring of animals are the same: preserving invariably through their successive generations the most exact resemblance of their original stock. The different kinds still continue unaltered in proportions, features, and strength, and they flourish in full youth, bloom, and vigour; and these are qualities not interrupted by the decay, or weakened by the old age of their species. Thou hast diversified the earth with hills and valleys, woods and plains, intersected it with rivers, lakes, and seas, affording to the eye of man the most enchanting prospects, and the most beneficial means to supply the wants of his nature, and guard him against the inclemency of the seasons. Thou hast clothed the surface of the earth with the refreshing verdure of grass, and the thick forests of stately trees; thou hast enriched it with such abundant vegetables, as are more immediately conducive to the sustenance of man; thou hast stored its bowels with those metals, which excite his industry, and minister to his accommodation. Foreseeing the adaptation and subordinate utility of various materials to the comfort of human life, thou hast provided them in abundance; thy bounty to all thy creatures is like the mighty ocean, flowing in perennial streams for every age: it is open to every eye, its treasures are enjoyed wherever they are sought, but its sources are unknown and unfathomable.

Our natural desire of acquiring knowledge is ever attended with a consciousness of our ignorance; and our pride is repressed at every step we take, by the limited nature of our faculties, and the tardy progress

of our utmost diligence. The history of nature indeed, as far as our imperfect researches can extend to her general economy and laws, is the history of thy munificence to all created beings as we enlarge our acquaintance with it, the more do we understand our peculiar obligations, as creatures endued with reason, and enlightened by the revelation of thy will. Our knowledge, therefore, is only valuable as it leads to devotion, gratitude, and obedience, which constitute the due homage of wise and dependent beings.*

By looking back through the long series of past ages, we ascend to the development of thy creative power, as the primary cause of all existence; and we observe the proofs of thy omnipotence again manifested in the most tremendous manner, when at thy command the foundations of the deep were broken

"To consider God as governor of the world is the light wherein we ordinarily behold him, that which gives us the clearest conception we can entertain of him, which best answers all useful purposes, and has this peculiar advantage, that it represents his goodness, the attribute we are most interested with, in the fairest colours, as attentive to produce all the happiness possible for his creatures in the nature and constitution of things. This, when well inculcated, satisfies the minds of the vulgar, and would satisfy those of the speculative too, if they would abstain from idle questions concerning creation, and forbear to ask why things are not otherwise constituted, so that more happiness might have been produced than is now possible. For if we survey so much of nature as lies within the reach of our observation and reason, we shall find there is a balance of good sufficient to content any reasonable person."

VOL. II.

Search's Light of Nature, vol. ii, p. 274.

N

up, and the guilty race of men, except thy chosen servants, were overwhelmed in the general deluge; of which the monuments are spread over the whole globe, to perpetuate the remembrance of disobedience to thy commands. By looking around us, and surveying the wide prospects of nature, we see thee supreme in majesty, love, and mercy. Led by the light of science to survey the starry heavens, we behold thee exercising these thy attributes in other worlds; and communicating the blessings of existence and providential care to other systems of creation.

Thus extending its eager views to the contemplation of objects so vast, so various, and so magnificent, our souls feel the narrowness of their faculties to comprehend thy operations, and are overwhelmed in the contemplation of thy infinite power and transcendent glory; which only the bright orders of celestial beings

the angels and archangels, who encompass thy eternal throne, can adequately conceive, or duly celebrate.

The pleasures which arise from tracing thy power and goodness will doubtless become incomparably more exalted, refined, and exquisite, when the faithful followers of thy beloved Son, our adorable Redeemer, shall be admitted to the realms of heaven and glory, and our souls disengaged from all earthly impediments, shall ascend above the stars, and resemble those immortal hosts of angelic beings;-when the most accurate, most enlarged, and most interesting knowledge will form a part of our eternal happiness ;— when the restless mind of man shall no longer form wild and inconsistent theories to account for the formation of the globe; but the volume of universal nature

shall be unfolded to his astonished eyes;-when the laws which regulate all orders of created beings shall be fully developed and clearly comprehended, and man shall learn the true constitution of the world he now inhabits, from the time when discordant matter first obeyed thy Almighty word, and was called into har mony and order, to the last awful period of its exist. ence !

CLASS THE FIFTH.

POLITE LITERATURE AND ARTS.

CHAPTER I.

TASTE.

THE abuse of words is a very frequent and just subject of complaint among those, who endeavour to communicate knowledge, and rectify misconception. There are some, which are used in a manner so extremely vague and fluctuating, as not to convey any precise or exact meaning. This remark cannot be applied to any word with more propriety than to TASTE for as it passes current in common language, if its meaning can be at all fixed to any definite idea, it denotes no more than singularity, or fastidious refinement; and is often employed to express any predilection for objects, which the most capricious mind can form, without the least reference to their utility, ornament, or beauty.

In order therefore to give an exact idea of a word, which must necessarily occur very frequently in the course of this and the following chapter, it is necessary to premise, that by taste is intended to be understood