128 ESSAYS ann OBSERVATIONS 
order eftablithed in the material world, and 
by which it is conducted. The moft fuccefs- 
ful enquirers into nature,. have feen moft rea- 
fon to refolve all things finally, into an incor- 
poreal, intelligent, and powerful firft caufe: 
and have rejoiced in the perfuafion, that they 
themfelves, and all parts of the univerfe, 
are the offspring, and under the adminiftra- 
tion, of the fame great, wife, and benefi- 
cent parent. But they are not folicitous in 
limiting the.number of fecond caufes, far 
lefs in excluding them altogether, as fome 
over zealous friends to religion have done. 
Plutarch*, in recommending the philofophy 
of Anaxagoras, oblerves, that fuperftition 
proceeds from ignorance of caufes, and want 
of experience; but that natural philofophy 
banifhes all fuperftition, and begets in the 
mind a well grounded piety, with comfort- 
able hopes. 
Many 
% Acioidaiuorice mpos Ta perewpa Bayfos epyaleras 
TOLS AVTWY TE TOVTWY TAS ALTIAS AYVvOVcs. 6 QuTtsnog Ade 
pCR TO tay? uncle va 
yoo THY aoparn tT taTbowy ayalay evoeesay evepyace- 
vat. Wit. PERICL. 
