PREFACE. 



XV 



it than men of an illiberal education. But 

 this inconvenience would be remedied, could 

 we induce them to obferve and relifli the v/on- 

 ders of nature 5 aided by philofophy, they would 

 find in the woods and fields a feries of objeds, 

 that would give to exercife charms unknown 

 before; and enraptured with the fcene, they 

 will be ready to exclaim with the poet. 



On every thorn, delightful wifdom grows j 



In every rill, a fweet inftruilion flows. Young. 



Thus would the contemplative naturalifl 

 learn from all he faw, to love his Creator 

 for his goodnefs ; to repofe an implicit con- 

 fidence in his wifdom -, and to revere his awful 

 omnipotence. We iliall dwell no longer on 

 this fubie(it, than to draw this important con- 

 clufion; that health of body, and a chearful 

 contentment of mind, are the general efFed:s 

 of thefe amufements. The latter is produced 

 by a ferious and pleafing inveftigation of the 

 bounties of an all-wife and beneficent Provi- 

 dence ', as conflant and regular exercife is 

 the befl prefervative of the former. 



Downing Feb, 1, ^^q PENNANT. 



1705. 



