vi. PREFACE. 



these are the offspring of bigotry, fanaticism, and ignorance. 

 The service of the Omnipotent is not of this gloomy cast: 

 he has spread out the table of this beautiful world of 

 wonders for the use of his creatures, and has placed man 

 at the head of it, that he might enjoy its bounties, as well 

 as prepare himself for the approaching change to anotherf 

 which inspiration has powerfully impressed on his soul as 

 the unknowable region of his next advance. The material- 

 ist, in his dreary reveries, cannot comprehend this, neither 

 will he acknowledge that his being placed here is equaHy 

 as miraculous as that he should be placed in another world 

 or worlds, progressively to improve, to all eternity: but to 

 harbour doubts on this subject, is like disputing the wisdom, 

 the justice, and the mercy of the Author of our being, 

 who, according to the conceptions we form of his goodness, 

 as exhibited in the design, the grandeur, and the immensity 

 of creation, where every thing is systematic, regular, and in 

 order, would never decree that man should be placed here 

 instinctively to know his Maker to take a short peep at the 

 stupendous, the amazing whole to view all these, and have 

 powers of mind given him only to know and repugnantly 

 to feel, that after a life mixed with turmoil, grief, and 

 disease, he is to be annihilated! In our conception of 

 things, and to the limited understanding which has been 

 given us, all this would appear to be labour in vain. 



The volume of the creation speaks alike to all, and 

 cannot be defaced by man; but the ways of Providence are 

 beyond his comprehension. Omnipotence has not been 

 pleased to gratify his pride and vanity, nor to consult his 

 understanding, in the government of the universe; but 

 sufficient has been disclosed unto him to point out the 

 moral duties he owes to society, and the religious worship 



