tfgi. oti the injluence of taste. ii^ 



ttt, It seems evident that the everlasting author of 

 nature has so formed this world, that man alone is 

 capable of contemplating its beauty, its adaptation to 

 the relative designs of infinite wisdom and goodnefs, 

 and to the happinefs of the creature, as well as to the 

 glory of the Creator ; and since the stoutest infidel 

 must acknowledge, that, so far as we can discover, 

 nothing has been constituted without a purpose, or 

 in vain, so it appears that man has been endowed 

 with a rational soul, and with taste and discernment ;. 

 that having been invited by the maker and gover- 

 nor of the univerfe to visit this planet, he might be 

 able to admire it, te discover its innumerable beau- 

 ties, and feebly, yet discriminately, to adore the wis- 

 dom and goodnefs of the Creator. 



2d/ji, It is no lefs evident, tbat in proportion: 

 to the exercise of man's intellectual and contempla- 

 tive powers, and his abstinence from grofs and sen- 

 sual' excefses, he becomes more useful, perfect, and 

 happy ; because he thus exercises himself according 

 to his own peculiar constitution of nature, and does 

 not degrade himself, by falling into the inferior nature 

 of other animals, which being regulated by a me- 

 chanical and unchangeable instinct, do not commit 

 such excefses, nor are disturbed in their functions, 

 by the same energies of fancy and imagination which 

 cause the disorders of human life. 



And, lastly. It being certain, that all permanent 

 tranquillity and satisfaction in animated. bodies, arise 

 from their being in a state that is according to na^ 

 .tore r man's nature being indisputably contemplative. 



