52 MAMMALIA. PRIMATES. Man. 



ftead of being guided by reafon. Though fent into the world a perifhable being, for 

 nil are evidently born to fufter, inftead of endeavouring to fecure thofe things which 

 are moft advantageous and truly beneficial, he, infatuated by the fmiles of fortune, 

 anxioufly colle&s her gawdy trifles for future enjoyment, and neglects her real bene- 

 fits; he is driven to madnefs by envious lnarlers ; he perfecutes with hatred the truly re- 

 ligious for differing from himfelf in fpeculative opinions ; he excites numberlefs broils, 

 not that he may do good, but for a purpofe that even himfelf is ignorant of. He waftes 

 his precious and irrecoverable time in trifles ; he thinks lightly of immortal and eter- 

 nal concerns, while regulating the fucceflion of his pofterity ; and, perpetually enter- 

 ing on new projefts, forgetful of his real condition, he builds palaces inftead of pre- 

 paring his grave ; till at length, in the midft of his fchemes, Death feizes him, and then, 

 firft opening his eyes, he perceives, O Man ! that all is delufion. " Thus we live as 

 " if immortal, and firft learn in death that we have to die." Seneca. 



§ 6. Morally. — Benefac et laelare ! 



Man is compofed of an animated medullary fubftance, which prompts him to that 

 which is right, and of a bodily frame liable to imprefiions, which inftigates him to the 

 enjoyment of pleafure. In his natural ftate he is foolifh, wanton, an inconfiderate fol- 

 lower of example, ambitious, profufe, difiatisfied, cunning, peevifh, invidious, mali- 

 cious, and covetous ; by the influence of juft morals he is transformed to be attentive, 

 chaffe, confiderate, modeft, temperate, quiet, fincere, mild, beneficent, grateful, and 

 contented. " Sorrow, luxury, ambition, avarice, the defire of life, and anxiety for 

 " the future, are common to all animals." Pliny. 



5 y. Tus.OLOGiCALhY.-r-Memento Creatoris tuii 



Man, the ultimate purpofe of creation, and mafterpiece of the works of Omnipo- 

 tence, was placed on earth that he might contemplate its perfections ; he was endowed 

 with fapient reafon, and made capable of forming conclufions from the impreffions of 

 his fenfes, that, from a confideration of created objects, he might know their Creator 

 as the Almighty, the Infinite, the Omnifcient, the Eternal God : That we may live 

 morally under his governing care, it is requifite that we have a thorough convi&ion 

 of its exiftence, and muft have it ever in remembrance. — Other revealed matters on 

 this fubject are left to be explained by the Theologians. 



" There 



