STUDY VIII. loi 



own happinefs. Study Nature, and you will per- 

 ceive that nothing can be more adapted to the fe- 

 licity of Man, and that Virtue carries her reward in 

 her bofom, even in this world. A man's conti- 

 nency and temperance fecure his health ; con- 

 tempt of riches and glory, his repofe : and con- 

 fidence in GOD, his fortitude. What can be 

 more adapted to the condition of a creature ex- 

 pofed to fo much mifery, than modefly and humi- 

 lity Whatever the revolutions of life may be, he 

 has no farther fear of falling, when he has taken 

 his feat on the loweft ftep. 



Let us not complain that GOD has made an 

 unfair diftribution of his gifts, when we fee the 

 abundance and the ftate in which fome bad men 

 live. Whatever is on the Earth moil ufeful, 

 mod beautiful, and the beft, in every kind of 

 thing, is within the reach of every man. Obfcu- 

 rity is much better than glory, and virtue than 

 talents. The Sun, a little field, a wife and chil- 

 dren, are fufficient to fupply a confiant fucceflion 

 of pleafures to him. Mud he have luxuries too ? 

 A flower prefents him colours more lovely than 

 the pearl dragged from the abylTes of the Ocean ; 

 and a burning coal on his hearth has a brighter 

 ludre, and, beyond all difpute, is infinitely more 

 ufeful, than the famous gem which glitters on the 

 head of the Grand Mogul. 



N 3 After 



