CHAPTER XVII. 



WITHOUT presuming to scan the intentions of 

 Omnipotence, in His gifts to the human race, 

 or to probe into the nature of His endless works 

 of wisdom, or to grope into matters intended to 

 be out of our reach, and beyond our comprehen- 

 sion, yet the reasoning power He has given us, 

 we cannot doubt, was meant to guide us in our 

 researches to the extent for which it is capacitated, 

 and to which its uses are fitted to be applied. In 

 viewing man as connected with this world, and 

 with his station in society, I think it will appear 

 clearly that the various degrees of his intellectual 

 and reasoning powers are the gift of Providence ; 

 and, however high this boon may be, the possessor 

 of it ought to be thankful, but never vain. It is 

 this innate power drawn forth and acted upon by 

 observation and industry, that enables the philo- 

 sopher, the poet, the painter, and tluTmusician, to 

 arrive at excellence ; and the same remark is more 

 or less applicable to men bent upon any pursuit 

 in the whole round of the arts and sciences. 

 Without using the means to cultivate their powers, 

 they will remain inert, and be of no use either to 

 the individual or to society ; and men with innate 

 qualifications, and men without them, are brought 

 down to a level of uselessness. It is greatly 

 owing to the want of effort that originates the 

 inequalities of rank and fortune of which the. 

 community is composed. The intelligent and 

 industrious man, guided by honour, will ever be 

 aiming to rise in the scale of eminence ; while, 



