3 8 FABLES. 



endeavours to obtain them, deserves to be dis- 

 appointed. Many men who have a fair share of 

 natural good sense, and who also value themselves 

 upon having their reasoning powers enlightened 

 by revelation, yet fall into this error : led by fanatics 

 and bigots, they follow the fashion of running often 

 to prayers and sermons, when they might be much 

 better employed at home. The industrious good 

 man, instead of publicly praying for the comforts 

 of life, pursues his business, which is the proper 

 means of procuring them ; and if at the same time 

 he holds converse with his Maker, which all men 

 ought to do, and no man can be happy without 

 doing, he needs no veil of hypocrisy to make the 

 world believe he is better than he really is : he feels 

 it his duty and pleasure so to proceed, while he 

 sojourns here, and knows not how he can do better, 

 than by sober and honest industry to provide for 

 those of his own household, and to endeavour for 

 the means of helping him that needeth. The man 

 who is virtuously and honestly engaged, is actually 

 serving God all the while ; and is more likely to 

 have his silent wishes, accompanied with strenuous 

 endeavours, complied with by the Supreme Being, 

 than he who begs with an unnecessary vehemence, 

 and solicits with an empty hand a hand which 

 would be more religious, were it usefully employed, 

 and more devout, were it stretched out to do good 

 to those that want it. 



