130 iSTUDlES OF NATURE. 



be more than the threlhold of Creation merely j 

 with what tranfports would they have viewed a 

 fpedlacle which we, at this day, behold without 

 emotion ? 



But I would rather fuppofe, that, unprovided 

 with the magic of Science, a man like Fenelon had 

 prefented himfclf to them, in all the majefly of 

 Virtue, and thus addreffed the Druids : " You 

 " frighten yourfelves, my friends, with the ground- 

 " lefs terrors which you inftii into the people. 

 ** God is righteous. He conveys to the wicked 

 " terrible apprehenfions, which recoil on thofe 

 " who communicate them. But He fpeaks to all 

 *' men in the bleffings which He beftows. Your 

 *^ religion would govern men by fear ; mine draws 

 " them with cords of love, and imitates his Sun 

 ** in the firmament, whom He caufes to (hine on 

 " the evil and on the good." Let me, finally, 

 fuppofe, that, after this, he had diftributed among 

 them the fimple prefents of Nature, till then un- 

 known, ilieaves of corn, flips of the vine, flieep 

 clothed with the woolly fleece : Oh ! what would 

 have been the gratitude of our grandfathers ! They 

 would, perhaps, have fled with terror from the 

 Inventor of the telefcope, mifl:aking him fora Spi- 

 rit; but, undoubtedly, they would have fallen 

 down,and worfliipped the Author of Telemachus. 



Thefe 



