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perusal of the works themselves, or in the searching 

 out, so far as that could be done, their immediate na- 

 tural causes. But I traced their being, dependence, 

 and government, unto thee, the First Cause of all. 

 And by this tracing of things to their original, I 

 was led to a demonstrative conviction, that there is 

 a God, who is the great cause, both of their being 

 and naoti,ons : yea, that there is but one God ; that 

 he is most powerful, most wise, knowing all things, 

 governing all things, supporting all things. Upon 

 these convictions, I was strengthened in the belief of 

 thy holy word, which had so great a congruity with 

 these truths. 



3. And, upon these convictions, I did learn the 

 more to honour, reverence, and admire thee ; and to 

 worship, serve, and obey thee ; to walk humbly, and 

 sincerely, and lawfully, before thee, as being pre* 

 sent with me, and beholding me ; to love and adore 

 thee, as the fountain of all being and good. When 

 I looked upon the glory and usefulness of the sun, I 

 admired the God that made it, chalked out its mo- 

 tions, placed it in that due distance from the earth* 

 for its use and conveniency. When I looked Upon, 

 tiie stars, those huge and wonderful balls of light, 

 placed at that immense distance from the inferior 

 bodies, and one from another, their multitude and 

 motion; I admired the wisdom and power of that 

 God, whose hand spans the heavens, and has fixed 

 svery tiling in its place* Nay, when I looked upou 



