iS'z STUDIES OF NATURE. 



Afcer all, What did GOD owe to every man ? 

 Water from the fountain, a little fruit, wool to 

 clothe him, as much land as he is able to culti- 

 vate with his own hands. So much for the wants of 

 his body. As to thofe of the foul, it is fufficient for 

 him to poflefs, in infancy, the love of his parents; 

 in maturity, that of his wife; in old age, the gra- 

 titude of his children ; at all feafons, the good- 

 will of his neighbours, the number of whom is re- 

 ftrided to four or five, according to the extent 

 and form of his domain j fo much knowledge of 

 the Globe as he can acquire by rambling, half a 

 day, fo as to get home to his own bed at night, 

 or, at moft, to the extremity of his domeftic hori- 

 zon; fuch a fenfe of Providence as Nature be- 

 ftows on all men, and which will fpring up in his 

 heart fully as well after he has made the circuit of 

 his field, as after returning from a voyage round 

 the World. 



With corporeal enjoyments, and mental grati- 

 fications like thefe, he ought to be content ; what- 

 ever he defires beyond thefe, i-s above his wants, 

 and inconhftent with the diftributions of Nature. 

 It is impoffible for him to acquire fuperfluity but 

 by the facrifice of foipe necefTary ; public confide- 

 ration he muft purchafe at the price of domeftic 

 happinefs ; and a name in the world of Science, 

 by renouncing his repofe. Belides, thofe honours, 



thofe 



