the Persians and Hindus. 169 



44 themfdves as an emanation from that infinite being, the fource and 

 ** caufe of all things, they would then difdain to be milled by a gloomy 

 44 and falfe philofophy, and would cherifh. the idea of a God, who 

 *' created, who regenetat.es, who preferves this univerfc by invariable laws, 

 44 and by a continued chain of fimil r caufes producing fimilar effects j who 

 " pervades all nature with his divine fpirit, as an univerfal foul, which 

 " moves, directs, and retrains the wonderful fabrick of this world. The 

 *' blifsful idea of a God fweetens every moment of our time, and embel- 

 44 lifhes before us the path of life; unites us delightfully to all the beauties 

 44 of nature, and affociates us with every thing that lives or moves. Yes; 

 44 the whifper of the gales, the murmur of waters, the peaceful agitation of 

 44 trees and flirubs, would concur to engage our minds and affed our fouls 

 Sl with .tendernefs, if our thoughts were elevated to one univerfal caufe, if 

 " we recognized on all fides the work at Him, whom we love $ if we marked 

 44 the traces of his auguft ileps and benignant intentions, if we believed 

 44 ourfelves actually prefent at the difplay of his boundlefs power and the 

 "* magnificent exertions of his unlimited goodnefs. Benevolence, among 

 " all the virtues, has a character more than human, and a certain amiable 

 •" fimplicity in its nature, which feems analogous to the frfi idea, the 

 ** original intention of conferring delight, which we necefiarily fuppofe in 

 44 the creator, when we prefumeto feek his motive in bellowing exigences 

 " benevolence is that virtue, or, to fpeak more emphatically, that primor- 

 44 dial beauty, which preceded all times and all worlds ; and, when we re- 

 44 fleet on it, there appears an analogy, obfeure indeed at prefent, and to 

 " us imperfectly known, between our moral nature and a time yet very 

 44 remote, when we fhall fatisfy our ardent wifhesand lively hopes, which 

 •" conflitute perhaps a fixth, and (if the phrafe may beufed) a dil'tant, fenfe. 

 < 4 It maycv.en.be imagined, that love, the brightefl ornament of our na- 



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