So STUDIES OF NATURE. 



brute creation. The Bramins themfelves, fo full 

 of compaffion to the beafts, prefent to their idols 

 the blood and life of men. The Turks offer in 

 facrifice camels and Iheep. Our Religion, more 

 pure, if we attend merely to the matter of the fa- 

 crifice, prefents in homage to GOD bread and 

 \vine, which are the mofh delicious gifts which He 

 has beftowed on Man. Nay, here we muft ob- 

 ferve, that the vine, which grows, from the Line 

 up to the fifty -fécond degree of North Latitude, 

 and from England to Japan, is the moft widely 

 diffufed of all fruit-trees ; that corn is almoft the 

 only one of alimentary plants which thrives in ali 

 Climates ; and that the liquor of the one, and the 

 flour of the other, is capable of being preferved 

 for ages, and of being tranfported to every corner 

 of the Earth. 



All religions have permitted to men, a plurality 

 of women in marriage : Chriftianity permitted 

 but one, long before our Politicians had obferved 

 that the two fexes are born in nearly equal num- 

 bers. All have boafted of their genealogies ; and, 

 regarding with contempt moft other Nations, have 

 permitted their votaries, when they had it in their 

 power, to reduce them to a ftate of flavery. Ours 

 alone has protedted the liberty of all men, and has 

 called them back to one and the fame deftination, 

 as to one and the lame origin. The religion of 



the 



