PREFACE.

To the LEARNED and CRITICAL READER.

FRIEND,

THE Author and Compiler of the following sheets, is neither a classical, nor grammatical, nor geographical, nor astronomical scholar; if he introduces his ideas of these things, it is merely to elucidate the principles which influence the practice of human life. Many parts of his book, in consequence of this his ignorance, will be found to sin against every rule of criticism ;* but as his general object in the compilation, is to contribute his mite toward the improvement of society, and in particular to amuse and profit the ingenuous mind, which sometimes" knows not why, nor cares not wherefore," nor by whom it is pleased and profited; if he has the happiness to accomplish this design, he shall feel the less regret for having disgusted a mind, which can dwell with pleasure on the symmetry of a single coin, and pass over a mine of the same commodity with indifference, because it has not received the royal stamp.

With regard to those parts of his book, which have

* Critics-If you see ignorance amongst men, do you endeavour to remove it? If weakness, do you pity and assist it? If vice, do you labour to reform it? Or are you only the arbiters of the universe, whose office it is to stand upon a pinnacle of the earth, and censure its inhabitants.

been extracted from the works of others, if it should be enquired, What necessity for these, when the originals are accessible to all? He begs leave to observe, that many worthy persons in the middle and lower classes of life, into whose hands these may fall, may never have heard of, or may not be able to purchase all the originals; and some who have been better acquainted with the originals than he is, may long since have forgetten their virtues or their poison.

As the whole of human understanding, is not usually concentred in any single individual; men of the most extraordinary parts, and of the best education, may derive occasional instruction from the light of others. Great men have not unlimited vision-little men may see objects that have escaped their attention; and it appears to me a property of true greatness in the human mind, to receive light and improve by it, thro' whatsoever instrument it may shine. It was observed of the great Fenelon, that he would sit upon the grass, and converse with the poor and simple inhabitants of his diocese: and perhaps it was the instruction which he derived from these simple and familiar conversations, that gave birth to his observation," The wise man increases in wisdom, by all he gathers from others." But I had further inducements to unite extracts to my own composition, than merely to entertain my readers with the extracts themselves, namely, that I might take pointed notice of some which I thought friendly to the civil and religious interests of man; that I might point out others, which I thought subversive of both; and finally that I might lend

my assistance to abler advocates, in rescuing from misrepresentation, the motives and actions of certain great characters, who like Athanasius dared to oppose a world.

To the IGNORANT and CHOLERIC READER.

FRIEND,

Every man has his prejudice, you have yours, and I have mine; this recollect as you proceed in the work: it may correct the rashness of your judgment, and moderate its impetuosity, when any favourite sentiment of yours happens to be combatted. Remember also that every man's knowledge is partial; and that the less he has, the more he is in danger of substituting the impressions of a wrong education, for the dictates of reason, and of mistaking the resentments of passion, for the suggestions of godly zeal, or heroic honour. Galileo asserted that the Earth moved round the Sun, and for this thy brethren of the inquisition condemned him; but if thou feel indignation against the doctrines of my book, and can give no better reason for it, than one or other of these suggestions of blind and uninformed nature; thou wilt excuse me, if I take upon me the office of a physician, and recommend thee to fast from the work for a season, until the morbid matter with which thy soul is oppressed, hath had time for dispersion, and reflection (if nature hath not

*It is not the Author's intention to sanction the severity of the of the Athanasian Creed, by this introduction of his name.

denied thee understanding,) hath a little performed its office, in the restoration of thy mental taste.

To the LIBERAL and HUMANE of all CLASSES.

FRIENDS OF HUMANITY,

From you I expect justice, because truth only is the object of your pursuit; and because while you are preserved on the one hand from rash judgment, by the influence of charity on the other, by the influence of candour, and a liberal knowledge of men and things, you are less subject to prejudice, and more open to conviction. Your principles lead you to give every man a fair hearing, and it is therefore with particular confidence, that I address the following contemplations to you; you will find them turn upon subjects interesting to man, as a creature in the first stage of existence as a being subject to pain, disappointment, and death; and as a citizen interested in, and capable of contributing his mite toward the better organization of that common society, of which he is a member.

In this "age of reason," when all ranks and degrees of men, come forward to promulge their sentiments ; when the most immoral and abandoned characters without a vestage of confusion, direct the force of their talents, not only against the jewish and pagan habiliments, with which the mistaken friends of christianity have decorated her, but pour contempt upon her vital energy;

it at such a time as this, that the friends of genuine christianity shall be ashamed to own her?

The atheist, the free-thinker, the novel-writer, the author of plays and romances, the votaries of pleasure and ambition, all own and defend their respective systems; I avail myself of the common privilege, to point out what I conceive to be, certain abuses and improvements of society..

If my object was only to be known to the world as a writer; I think, without any breach of modesty, I might have produced a play or a novel, which would have made their way into the world, with less opposition, and more profit, than any thing of a religious and moral nature; but I held myself, accountable for the use which I made of the moderate gift of knowledge, received from the God of nature. and providence; and - while I felt myself warranted from the best authority, to hope for his mercy for the numerous infirmities of my constitution, and those imperfections of my life, which have incurred his judgments; yet the proofs of his goodness, which notwithstanding all these, had early enlisted my heart in the service of virtue, and, the dictates of reason, which told me, the indispensible obligation which -levery man lies under, of devoting his time and talents to ? Him from whom he received them, and upon whom be is daltogether dependent for happiness; unitedly prevented the base ingratitude of a final and voluntary desertion of those talents, to the service and standard of an enemy..

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This apology for exposing the following pages to the -light, will I think be accepted, by that class of my ady to doual your a la be

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