STUDY I» 99 



ration of the two fexes, and of all the relations of 

 conjugal, filial, and parental affeftion ; that is to 

 fa}'', of the whole fyllem of adual happinefs. 



In vain do we fearcli, in our cradles, for the 

 archives which our tombs deny us : the paft, like 

 the future, covers our myfterious deftiny with an 

 impenetrable veil. In vain do we apply to it the 

 light which illumines us, and feek, in the origin of 

 things, the weights, the times, and the meafurcs, 

 which we find in their enjoyment j but the order 

 which produced them has, with relation to God, 

 neither time, nor weight, nor meafure. The divi- 

 fions of matter and time w^ere made only for cir- 

 cumfcribed, feeble, tranfient Man. The Univerfe, 

 faid NezvtoHj was produced at a fingle caft. We 

 are feeking for youth in what was always old, for 

 old age in what is always young, for germs in fpe- 

 cies, births in generations, epochs in nature; but 

 when the fphere, in which we live, ilTued from the 

 hand of it's divine Author, all times, all ages, 

 all proportions, nianifefled themfelves in it ac 

 once. 



In order that Etna might vomit out it's fires, 

 from the very firft conftruclion of thefe tremen- 

 dous furnaces, lavas muft have been provided 

 which had not yet begun to flow. In order that 



II 2 the 



