126 MR. perry's address. 



object of this Society as being of a worldly nature. This I dlcl, 

 not because I suppose ic has no bearing upon moral and future 

 concerns. I by no means wish to inculcate the sentiment which 

 I fear has too often been inculcated, that the conduct of this 

 world's concerns can ever be separated from the moral condition of 

 the soul or its prospect in a higher or more perfect scene of ac- 

 tion. The abstract and subtle discriminations of acute and fine- 

 spun sophistry have left, and must leave, the connexion between 

 the outward conduct and the inward feeling, the business of the 

 present life and the retributions of eternity, unaffected. Assum- 

 ing therefore in the present case, that the motive is good, and the 

 comparative worth of every part of life justly estimated, how 

 certain it is that in proportion to the enterprise and diligence and 

 attention to the duties of this world will be the actual advance- 

 ment of man in the scale of moral attainments. How certain 

 that institutions like yours, designed to encourage industry, econo- 

 my, enterprise and carefulness, and which indeed direct the at- 

 tention to the works and ways of God, and develop the riches 

 of his wisdom and goodness, must have a favorable bearing upon 

 the understanding and the heart. When I commenced this ad- 

 dress it was my intention to have dwelt more particularly on 

 this point than I have done. I think it would be both interest- 

 ing and useful to show how certainly every real improvement in 

 the condition and outward circumstances of men, tend to cor- 

 rectness of feeling, elevation of conduct, moral rectitude, benevo- 

 lent action, and devotional dispositions. 



If the proper and wise conduct of this world's concerns lead 

 the mind and heart to God, how naturahy does the reflection 

 come in, that all the wisdom and skill a man possesses, comes 

 also from him. Just and appropriate is the observation of one 

 of the holy prophets who says in reference to the enterprising 

 and successful yeomanry of his times, that his (that is the far- 

 mer's) God doth instruct him and direct him. In no business 

 of life is there greater need of that wisdom which cometh from 

 above. You will therefore receive with interest the account 

 which one of the wisest of men gave concerning his own conduct 

 in relation to this matter — " when," says he, " I perceived I 



