sense of mankind, with all the zeal of a reformer; and his writings proved like the bubble which glitters, expands, and bursts in the sunshine: They were daz. zling, empty, and foon forgotten. I am inclined to fufpect that Machiaval's Prince, the Fable of the Bees, and other productions of this nature, originated from causes somewhat fimilar to those which gave rife to the chimæras of Rouffeau. And I have been informed that a celebrated adverfary of Chriftianity, by yielding up his judgment and imagination to a particular fet of arguments, has become fucceffively a papift, a muffulman, and an infidel.

But permit me, Sophron, to fuggest to you a caution of ftill higher importance, which regards fuch of your intellectual purfuits as relate to the Deity. Religion may be confidered both as a speculative science, and as a practical principle. In the former view, it conftitutes the fublimeft object of the understanding, and the moft interefting topic of rational investigation. In the latter, it is a spring of motion, and excites all the devout affections of veneration, gratitude, and love. When you contemplate, as a philofopher, the character of the Divine Being, you must be ftruck with reverence at the proofs, which offer themselves, of his boundless power, univerfal prefence, and infinite duration : And these attributes, reflecting dignity and luftre on the more amiable perfections of his nature, will heighten the impreffion made by the relation, which

he

he ftands in to you, as your Creator, Benefactor,
and Friend. Thus the principle of piety will fubfift
in your mind, in its full force; fupported by the
authority of reafon, and harmonifing with all the
feelings of your heart. But if you defcend, from
these general and exalted views of the Divine Being,
into minute difquifitions concerning his effence, the
freedom of his agency, and other subtleties beyond
the human ken, you will foon damp the ardour of
devotion in your breaft: And should you make these
inquiries the common matter of academical difputa.
tion, or of familiar debate, the facred flame will be
extinguished altogether. The poet, lately quoted,
has defcribed fome of the fallen angels, who had
been driven from heaven for impiety and rebellion,
as "fitting on a hill retired, and reasoning high”

"Of providence, foreknowledge, will, and fate,
"Fix'd fate, free will, foreknowledge abfolute;
"And found no end, in wand'ring mazes loft." +

I mean not, however, to condemn, indifcriminately, all metaphyfical researches of this kind. It is natural for men of a speculative turn, to extend their views of theology beyond the clear limits either of reafon, or of revelation: And if their inquiries be conducted with that humility and reverence, which fuch fubjects

*See Dr. Gregory's Comparative View; and Mrs. Barbauld on Devotional Tafte.

+ Milton's Paradife Loft, B. 11. p. 559.
F 4

fhould

fhould inspire, they may tend to invigorate the understanding, without depraving the heart. The example of Locke, Newton, Clarke, Hartley, and other diftinguished philofophers, affords fufficient confirmation of this truth; and at the fame time evinces a still more pleafing and important one, that Religion numbers, amongst her votaries, men who have dignified and adorned human nature, by their genius, virtue, and learning. I would particularly recommend to your notice, Sophron, I need not say to your imitation, the conduct of Mr. Boyle; who had fo profound a veneration for the Deity, that the name of GOD was never mentioned by him, without a paufe in his difcourfe. This great philofopher, alfo, had fuch delicate notions of veracity, and was so sensible of the imperfection of human knowledge, even when derived from experiment, that in the Preface to his Effays, he makes an apology for the frequent ufe of the words perhaps, it feems, 'tis not improbable, as implying a diffidence of the justnefs of his opinions: And this diffidence arose, as he informs us, from repeated observation, that what pleafed him for a while, was afterwards dif graced by fome further, or more recent difcovery.

Here Philocles was interrupted by the arrival of a ftranger; whose presence put an end to the conver .fation.

--- RURA MIHI, ET RIGUI PLACEANT IN VALLIBUS AMNES; FLUMINA AMEM, SYLVASQUE INGLORIUS.

VIRG. GEORG. L. II. LIN. 475.

ΤΗ

HAT fenfibility to beauty, which, when cultivated and improved, we term Tafte, is univerfally diffused through the human species: And it is most uniform with respect to thofe objects, which, being out of our power, are not liable to variation, from accident, caprice, or fashion. The verdant lawn, the fhady grove, the variegated landscape, the boundless ocean, and the ftarry firmament, are contemplated with pleasure by every beholder. But the emotions of different fpectators, though fimilar in kind, differ widely in degree: And to relifh, with

full

full delight, the enchanting fcenes of nature, the mind must be uncorrupted by avarice, fenfuality, or ambition; quick in her fenfibilities; elevated in her fentiments; and devout in her affections. He, who poffeffes fuch exalted powers of perception and enjoyment, may almoft fay, with the Poet,

"I care not, Fortune! what you me deny ;
"You cannot rob me of free Nature's grace;
"You cannot shut the windows of the sky,
"Thro' which Aurora fhews her brightening face;
"You cannot bar my conftant feet to trace
"The woods and lawns, by living stream, at eve:

"Let health my nerves and finer fibres brace,
"And I their toys to the great children leave:

"Of fancy, reason, virtue, nought can me bereave.” *

Perhaps fuch ardent enthusiasm may not be compatible with the neceffary toils, and active offices, which Providence has affigned to the generality of men. But there are none, to whom some portion of it may not prove advantageous; and if it were cherifhed, by each individual, in that degree, which is confiftent with the indifpenfable duties of his ftation, the felicity of human life would be confiderably augmented. From this fource, the refined and vivid pleafures of the imagination are almoft entirely derived: And the elegant arts owe their choiceft beau. ties to a taste for the contemplation of nature. Painting and fculpture are exprefs imitations of

*Thomfon's Caftle of Indolence.

vifible