the use of any lawful means to promote the spiritual or temporal welfare of mankind, receives no countenance either from reason or revelation, or from the conduct of the best and wisest men. And when to this we add the zeal and diligence with which bad men (and eminently at the present period) practise every device to spread universal mischief, who shall deny that it is allowable for every good man, nay, still more, that it is his duty, by every fair and practicable method, to diffuse good; and when it is rejected in one form, to try whether it may not find entertainment in another.

What is here said may perhaps be thought enough to justify any liberty I have taken in the use of language; if not, I must comfort myself in the reflection that my endeavour has been, without any fond regard to particular words or phrases, or any other partiality whatever, to speak up honestly to the reality of things, and to convey important truth with evidence and impression. And this effect, it is hoped, will not entirely be

wanting, at least to those who shall attend seriously and intelligently to what shall be offered. It is to such prepared readers, whose minds are well-disposed towards religion, and at the same time somewhat opened by education, that this small rural labour is chiefly addressed; and should it in any degree be of use to establish their principles, or to direct their enquiries, more true satis- · faction would thence result to the writer, than if he had furnished out a volume of mere curiosity or amusement to the public at large,

To the first part it was intended to have subjoined a section on human science and literature. This, however, it was afterwards thought proper to omit, as occasions would arise in the following parts for as many strictures of this nature as would sufficiently answer my purpose; which was, to consider human learning simply in it's relation to virtue and happiness.

In treating of the knowledge of God, I have waved all merely metaphysical disqui

sition, and confined myself to that view of the subject which to us is most important. To know what God is in himself, or in his own absolute being and perfections, is beyond all human or angelic understanding; and he who thus curiously pries into his majesty is in danger to be overwhelmed with the glory *. To know what he is to us in the relation of a holy and righteous ruler, and gracious benefactor, is put within the reach of our discovery; and, to those who are brought to a proper sense of their moral situation, is a knowledge both cheering and salutary, And I have the rather insisted upon this topic, because it is usual with men, either to entertain ideas of divine goodness which are derogatory to perfect holiness and justice, or to exalt these latter attributes, taken in conjunction with absolute sovereignty, to the prejudice of that mercy which is revealed in scripture, and is also not obscurely indicated in nature and providence; a proceeding which tends, in the one case,

* Prov. xxv. 27. Scrutator majestatis, opprimetur gloriâ. So the Vulgate.

to inspire the mind with presumption, and in the other to sink it in despondence; and nothing can be of more importance than to guard equally against both these extremes.

Upon every other topic, in the progress of the work, more regard has been had to use than to theory, to what is just and applicable to human conduct, than to researches that might seem profound or scientific; which the equitable reader, it is presumed, will neither ascribe to the writer's entire incapacity for such enquiries, nor to his want of liberal curiosity. Perhaps, like many others, he may in the former part of life have indulged sufficiently to mere speculation; but this, as years advanced, he has found less attractive, and has gradually been led to view things not so much in their abstract nature, as in their moral and practical tendencies; and to induce the same disposition in others constitutes one principal end of the present work. Of its execution, indeed, he entertains, as is fit, a very moderate opinion; of its principles he has no such dif

fidence; nor can he hesitate to assert, that, were they generally admitted, the most important advantages would thence result both to public and private life; men would find out their proper place in the general system, and learn to conduct themselves in this world in a manner becoming the candidates for a better.

The above prefatory remarks may be sufficient to show the nature and scope of those which follow. The whole is now committed to the candour of the reader, but, above all, to that divine blessing, which can prosper the meanest endeavours, and without which the greatest and ablest must prove abortive.