36 HTUDIES OF NATURE, 



This refpeft for virtue, is the fource of that 

 which we pay to ancient Nobility, and which 

 has introduced, in procefs of time, unjuft and 



odious 



dyflor, " Father, you have given yourfelf and us unneceflaiy 



*' trouble; the firft field was much better than this'". " Very 



" true, Sir," replied the good old man, *' but it was not mine." 



This ftroke goes direéWy to the heart. I defy an atheifl to 

 produce me any thing once to be compared with it. It may be 

 proper to obferve, that the Hernoutens are a fpecies of Quakers, 

 icattered over fome cantons of Germany. Certain Theologians 

 have maintained, that heretics were incapable of virtue, and that 

 their good aftions were utterly deftitute of merit. As I am no 

 Theologian, I fhall not engage in this metaphyfical difcuflion, 

 though I might oppofe to their opinion the fentiments of St. 

 Jerome^ and even thofe of St. Pder^ with refpe6t to Pagans, when 

 he fays to Cornelius the centurion : " Of a truth, I perceive that 

 •"J Gou is no refpefter of perfons ; but in every Nation, he that' 

 " feareth Him, and wQiketh righteoufnefs, is accepted with 

 " Him f ." But I fliould be glad to know what thofe Theolo- 

 gians think of the charity of the good Samaritan, who was a 

 fchifmatic. Surely they will not venture tp ftart objecflions 

 againfla decifion pronounced by Jesus Christ himfelf. As the 

 iimplicity and depth of his divine refponfes, form an admirable 

 contraft with the diflionefty and fubtilty of modern do£lors, I 

 fliall tranfcribe the whole paflage from the Gofpel, word for 

 ivord. 



" And behold, a certain lawyer flood up, and tempted him, 

 *' faying, Mafter, what fliall I do to inherit eternal life ? 



" He faid unto him, What is written in the law ? how readeft 

 « thou ? 



f Afis of the Apcftles, chap. x. ver, 34, 35. 



" And 



