STUDY VIII. 197 



over the forefts, and the alimentary roots con- 

 cealed in the bofom of the Earth ? Muft he not, a 

 thoufand times, have died of hunger, before he had 

 colleded a fufficiency to fupport life, or of poifon, 

 before he had learned to feledt, or of fatigue and 

 reftlefsnefs, before he had formed round his habi- 

 tation grafs-plots and arbours ? This art, the 

 image of creation, was referved for that Being 

 alone who bare the impreffion of the Divinity. 



If Providence had abandoned Man to himfelf, 

 on proceeding from the hands of the Creator, what 

 would have become of him ? Could he have faid 

 to the plains : Ye unknown forefts, (hew me the 

 fruits which are my inheritance? Earth, open, and 

 difclofe, in the roots buried under thy furface, my 

 deftined aliment ? Ye plants, on which my life 

 depends, manifeft to me your qualities, and fup- 

 ply the inftinft which Nature has denied ? Could 

 he have had recourfe, in his diftrefs, to the com- 

 paflion of the beads, and, ready to perilh with 

 hunger, have faid to the cow : Take me into the 

 number of thy children, and let me (hare, with thy 

 offspring, the produce of one of thy fuperfluous 

 teats ? When the breath of the North-wind made 

 him fhiver with cold, would the wild goat and ti- 

 mid flieep have run at his call to warm him with 

 their fleeces ? Wandering, without a proteftor, 

 and without an afylum, when he heard by night 



o q . the 



