Lesson xxm.} IGNIS FATUUS. 147 



stories of any kind ; advising them to furnish 

 themselves with such knowledge, as may have a 

 tendency to produce true pleasur.|e and happiness 

 through life, and which when dying they can re- 

 flect upon without uneasiness*. 



* " The natural offspring of prevailing superstition is infi- 

 delity. Of the truth of this, the present times afford as a 

 lamentable example. Where ignorance and fear once ruled 

 supreme, there has rash philosophy but too successfully 

 planted presumption and atheism. Tis the diffusion of pure 

 and solid knowledge, which alone can preserve us from the 

 dominion of these opposite tyrants. How should this consi- 

 deration increase our zeal and stimulate our endeavours! 

 The immediate sphere of our action may be circumscribed, 

 but our exertions trill not on that account be entirely lost. 

 In that circumscribed sphere let us labour to root out every 

 superstitious lying vanity, and plant pure religion and unso- 

 phisticated truth in its stead. 



" How charming, how enlivening to the soul, to gaze upon 

 the dawning beams of opening light, to behold them irradiate 

 that dismal gloom of intellectual darkness which long over- 

 whelmed the millions of mankind! How supremely pleasing, 

 to view them wider and wider spreading their invigorating 

 influence ! How rapturously transporting, to contemplate 

 the spleadescent prospect of pure and perfect day ! 



" Power supreme ! 



" O everlasting King! to thee we kneel, 

 " To thee we lift our voice ;" 



" () spread thy benign, thy vivifying light over the iJvrefl;- 

 iiiit> of the sons of men; dispel the yet impending mists of 

 ignorance and superstition: and, O preserve us from the 

 dismal gulph of infidelity and atheism; let thy truth run 

 and prevail gloriously, let pure, celestial wisdom over- 

 spread thp earth as the waters cover the sea! Then 

 shall millions kneel before thee with grateful and enrap- 

 tured hearts; then shall they rejoice to sing the praises 

 of thee, their Benefactor, their Father, and their Gad: then 

 H 2 >uall 



