STUDY IV. 



149 



a police ; the inhabitants of the rude climates of 

 the North, fuch as the Laplanders, the Green- 

 landers, the Efquimaux, fee Gods every where, 

 even in a flint. 



I long thought that atheifm, in the rich and 

 luxurious, was a diftate of confcience. ** I am 

 " rich, and I am a knave," muft be their reafon- 

 ing, " therefore there is no GOD." " Befides, 

 " if there is a GOD, I have an account to ren- 

 " der." But thefe reafonings, though natural, arc 

 not general. There are atheifts, who poffefs legi- 

 timate fortunes, and ufe them morally well, at 

 leaft externally. Befides, for the contrary reafon, 

 the poor man ought to argue thus ; *' I am induf- 

 *' trious, honeft, and miferable ; therefore there 

 ** muft be no Providence." But in Nature herfelf 

 we muft look for the fource of this unnatural ra- 

 tiocination. 



In all countries, the poor rife early, labour the 

 ground, live in the open air, and in the fields. 

 They are penetrated with that adtive power of Na- 

 ture vvhich fills the Univerfe. But their reafon^ 

 finking under the preflure of calamity, and di- 

 flraded by their daily occafions, is unable to 

 fupport it's luftre. It ftops fliort, without genera- 

 lizing, at the fenfible effeds of this invifible caufe. 

 They believe, from a fentiment natural to weak 



L 3 minds. 



