A79*' on the influence of taste. %.i^ 



The woman a gad-about, a card player, or a devo- 

 tee. This is the moment that the insidious prieft, 

 the distorter of the wise and benev'olent, the social 

 and humane doctrines of Christianity, takes to instil 

 the subtile poison of enthusiasm into his deluded 

 votaries, and to teach them to look for happinefs in 

 ■^he clouds, in opposition to the luminous and sub- 

 lime, as well as rational doctrine of the founder, that 

 the kingdom of heaven and happinefs is within us. 

 The fortunate votary of taste, seeks for rational 

 pleasure in the devout conteraplntion of the works of 

 nature, and the useful examination of the works of 

 art, and the improving observation of the infinite va- 

 riety of moral character, in history, biography, or 

 in common life. He desires not to overleap the 

 "boundaries of our limited nature, the flama?uia mce- 

 nia mundi, to plunge into the regions of fanatic 

 enthusiasm, or the iron handed bigotry and intole- 

 rance, where the object is hid in the clouds, or eva- 

 porates in dreams ; but with a reasonable depend- 

 ance on superintending providence, exercising all his 

 rational powers, he investigates the noble and varied 

 spectacle of natural beauty, which is presented to him 

 as it were on a theatre, by its bountiful author, he 

 enjoys the play, nor cares if he fliall leave it before 

 the beginning of the farce I 



" Then hither bring the fair ingenuous mind, 



'• By her au plcious aid refin'd, 



*' Lo I not a hedgerow hawthorn blows, 



" Or liumble hare bell paints the plain; 

 •' Or valley winds, or fountjin flows, 



" Or purple heath is ting'd in vain. 

 " For such the rivers dalh their foamy tides, 

 ■*' The mountain swells, the dale subsides^ 



