INTRODUCTION. 3 



earth, and whom men and angels adore. This idea 

 you ought to have always present to your mind, for 

 unless you direct your thoughts to the contemplation 

 of the power, the wisdom, and the goodness of God, 

 the world will be a mystery that you can never pene- 

 trate, and every thing you see will appear involved 

 in obscurity. Yes, let this great truth be always pre- 

 sent to our remembrance, that if w r e do not frequently 

 direct our attentian to the Creator, we can never have 

 a.clear and luminous view of the creation, and that un- 

 less we refer all to him, our learning will end in ig- 

 norance, and our fancied knowledge will be no more 

 than folly. 



"Oh ! how dark is human reason found, 



How vain the man with wit and learning crowrt'd ; 



How J'eehle all his strength wlu-n he essay-', 



To trace dark nature and detect her ways, 



Unless he calls its author to his aid, 



\\ ho every secret spring of motion laid ; 



Who over all his wond'rous works presides, 



And to llieir useful ends their cause? guides ; 



These paths in vain are by inquirers trod, 



There's no philosophy without a. God." 



BLACKMORB. 



In full persuasion that these awful and yet pleasing, 

 considerations will remain deeply impressed on your 

 mind, I shall for the present leave you to the sublime 

 and agreeable contemplation, and conclude by assur- 

 ing you that with a heart felt concern for yourweifaie* 

 and with every sentiment of ailection, 



I am, dear Sir, 



Your's, &c, 



LETTER III. 



" The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firir.aaient 

 shcweih his handy work.'* 



PSALM xix. 

 DEAR SIR, 



THEfirmament spangled with stars presents the most 



magnificent spectacle that imagination can conceive, 



3 



