184 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



I have remarked, befides, that no tyranny flarts 

 up, of whatever kind, refpeding either fadts or 

 opinions, bat a rival tyranny inflantly flarts up in 

 oppofition, which counterbalances it ; fo that vir- 

 tue finds a protection from the very efforts made 

 by vice to opprefs and cruQi it. The good man 

 frequently fuffers : it is admitted ; but if Provi- 

 dence were to interpofe for his relief, as foon as 

 he needed it, Providence would be at his difpofalj 

 in other words, Man would have the diredion of 

 his Maker. Befides, virtue, in this cafe, would 

 merit no praife : but rarely does it happen that 

 the virtuous man does not fooner or later behold 

 the dovvnfal of his tyrant. Or fuppofing, the 

 worfh that can happen, that he falls a vidim to ty- 

 ranny, the boundary of all his woes is death. 

 GOD could owe Man nothing. He called him 

 from non-exiftence into life; in withdrawing life. 

 He only refumes what He gave ; we have nothing 

 whereof to complain. 



An entire refignation to the will of GOD ought, 

 in every fituation, to foothe the foul to peace. But 

 if the illufions of a vain world fliould chance to 

 ruffle our fpirit, let me fuggefl a confideration 

 which may go far toward refloring our tranquil- 

 lity. When any thing in the order of Nature 

 bears hard upon us, and kfpires miflruft of it's 



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