the unhappy to forego the cause of their unhappiness, that the effects may cease; that they may lift suppliant hands, and eyes bathed with penitential tears, to heaven; that they might there find a solace for all their woes, a cordial for every fear, in the Friend and Father of the afflicted. Then indeed, they would feel the happiness of virtue, and cease to complain against the laws of nature. Then they would despise the useless knowledge, attained with much labour and expense, in studying vain sciences and vicious books, Of the millions of publications which are continually teeming from our presses, how few do we find, exhibiting the excellency of the benefits of nature, and the deformity of man's ingratitude! Where do we find an author, whose primary solicitude is to search after truth, in order to promote the happiness of man, and the glory of God? and yet the most futile and frivolous books, if sanctioned by a great name, will be patronized by the public. It is too of ten the case, that the name, and not

merit, gives currency to a publication. If a master of arts, a doctor of divinity, or a right reverend worm of the earth is the author of it, it is read (though full of errors) with avidity, while the book of nature is neglected. Hence so many absurd, nay, deleterious opinions, in every branch of scientific research, and political disquisition, have been imposed upon the public, under the sanction of great names; yet, read many of their works, and you will find few sentiments suggested for the relief of the miserable, and little solicitude manifested for the honor and glory of God.

Thus mankind are deluded into er ror, by the influence of pride; and under the power of prejudice, seeking truth where it is not to be found. Even the most obvious truths vanish from our view, because we slight the book of God, and pay the most servile and sycophantic deference to the books of proud, ambitious, interested men and this is the primary cause, so many millions of rich, as well as poor men, are continually scrutinizing illusions of

happiness, in a land of shadows; while the sovereign beauty, the beneficent Creator and his works, (from the grateful investigation of which true happiness may be found) are totally neglected. I would beg leave to observe, that it is not an antipathy to any individual author, much less the experience of the want of public patronage which has dictated the antecedent animadversions. Considering myself a novice at composition, a cypher in the commonwealth of literature, an atom of creation, a worm of the dust, which soon must be the food of worms in the silent grave, I must say with the most sincere gratitude, that the public patronage I have received as an author, has exceeded my most sanguine expectations, and I may add, private marks of approbation from the first men in the United States. The public bounty has raised me from a state of dependence, to a state of independence; I can now literally sit under my own vine and pear tree, none daring to make me afraid. 1 have one desire, and that is to please God, by

endeavouring to alleviate the miseries of his creatures. The censure of kingridden and priest-ridden people, I calculate upon they are their own greatest enemies; how then can I expect them to be my friends? My happiness or unhappiness, does not consist in the praise or dispraise of dying man, but in the approbation of the living God, who has spread a table for me, in the presence of mine enemies. His presence makes my sequestered enclosure a paradise; in my beautiful flower garden, methinks I see a particle of the sovereign beauty, in miniature. The expanding rose and tulip, wherein thousands of ephemeral beings participate the liberality of their Maker, teaches me a more profitable lesson, than all the Greek and Latin schoolmasters in the universe; namely, that God supplies the wants of the most diminutive insects, and embraces the concerns of my circumscribed garden, as well as the boundless garden of nature. If then, his beneficence extends to the smallest insect in my garden, can I for

a moment think he will forget me? it is impossible.

The chief evils of society, I am persuaded, arise from the wrong association of ideas among the rich, who are imitated by the poor; the rich are continually seeking novelties to procure them pleasure, and in so doing, render themselves miserable; and the poor are often equally miserable, for the want of those novelties, because they suppose, very improperly, that they in reality are productive of pleasure. Were it not for this, what pleased the poor man yesterday, would likewise please him to-day; what was sufficient for his simple maintenance, would always appear good and desirable. Did the poor know the painful disquietude of the rich, they would no doubt be contented, and of course happy. In what are called colleges, and other seminaries of learning, the foundation of the misery of thousands is laid; the sentiments inculcated in such places, are in opposition, and not in subordination to the gospel, the same as ambition is to humility. The