Having thus, by a few brief hints, endeavoured to prove the existence of a Divine Being, which is necessary even to a thought of Piety, I remark, that wherever this principle is in full force, its possessor will always behave in such a way as he thinks will best please this Deity, of whose existence he has not the most distant doubt. If we look into the world around us, we shall find benevolence a strong characteristic of the divine administration. All nature is harmonious; each part exactly suits the part to which it is nearest: nothing seems too lit tle; nought appears too much. Although many are the wants of the inhabitants of earth, yet many are the means by which those wants may be supplied; so that happiness, throughout creation, seems predominant. From this we may infer, that God is a God of love, and is therefore entitled to our gratitude and respect. When we reflect on our condition as creatures, and on the infinite power of the Creator-when we recollect that it was in his power to have placed us in what circum stances he pleased, can we refrain from being devoutly thankful to our great God, that, owing to his mercy, we are what we are. I know it has been said, that as God is an infinite Being, it was necessary to his infinite perfections, to make his creatures happy. I do not mean to enter into abstruse speculations relating to Infinity, into which narrow-sighted finite mortals have no very great occasions to pry-I merely remark it to be my opinion, that as we creatures are necessarily at the disposal of our creator, and consequently might have been unhappily situated, we ought, as happiness has a preponderancy in our lives, to be unfeignedly grateful to the Lord for all his benefits.. We may farther remark, that as God is a God of love, and Piety distinguishes itself in doing what is most pleasing in his sight, it is our duty, if we wish for the character of pious christians,, to endeavour to promote harmony amongst mankind. To exercise the benevolent affections and tender sympathies of our nature, is the noblest action in which we can engage. The pious man is sensible of this, and to this end continually keeps a watch over his various passions. He knows that the more they are governed, the better he will be; and the better he as an individual is, the better will that society become of which he makes a part. He, therefore, sets his house in order, as being a prin. cipal affair to be regarded. Although he runs not into temptation, he skulks not away from it, but endeavours to meet it with fortitude, hoping not merely to keep himself unpolluted, but to be able to do good to others, by keeping them from its de struction also. If attacked in regard to his principles and pursuits, he defends them with humility, gentleness, and fortitude, arising from a conviction of right, not with anger and obstinacy, the result of vexation and superficiality of argument. He enters into debate with candour, for the sake of disseminating truth, not for the sake of sowing discord, or acquiring laurels in a contest of elo quence. In fine, whatever conduces to general happiness, he eagerly embraces. It may be observed still further, that the man of piety is habitually attentive in discharging the duties he owes his God. From the book of nature we can plainly perceive a God exists, and that gratitude to him, and love towards one another, are proper affections for us to exercise. But it remained for the scriptures alone to reveal to us what were the exact duties we owed our God, or what actual services he required of us. To enumeratę these would be needless. Reader! search the pages alluded to, and judge for thyself. The rules thou art there directed to follow, the commands thou art ordered to obey, are so plain, the wayfaring man cannot mistake them, and thou, if thou be really pious, wilt not disregard them. If Piety hath possession of thy soul, habitual attention on thy part to the mind and will of thy maker, must be the inevitable consequence. Thy goodness will not be for a moment only, in a public assembly to be seen of men, but will be a permanent energetic principle, acting equally as strong in private, as continually seeing him who is invi sible. Thy actions will be useful and praise-wor thy, from a wish to please and reverence thy God, not from the compulsion of worldly interest, or the peculiar circumstances of the moment. Finally, from my thesis may be learnt, in what true happiness consists. A knowledge of the utmost importance to human kind. All men are profess edly engaged in the pursuit of happiness; to this their attention is turned; on the attainment of this their hopes are fixed. Whatever they think will conduce to this, they indiscriminately adopt; and, as riches are considered by the generality of men as their summum bonum, to the acquirement of them men direct their chief attention. That the acquirement of riches, with some few exceptions, is laborious, I believe is an evident proposition, that it is uncertain, is equally true; they, frequently take to themselves wings with which they flee away; and that the possession of them does not constantly yield solid happiness the cry of the multitude, "Who will shew us any good, sufficiently evinces. After much labour, vexation, and disappointments, they form, perhaps, this conclusjon, that happiness belongs not to earth. But Dr. Young would have checked their exclamation, he would have told them, what many a divine who never tried for wealth knows from experience, that (although happiness is not confined to earth), she Bb may be man's possession bere below. Piety has the promise of the life which now is, as well as that which is to come. Piety sublimes our affections; soothes our passions; excites the action of our noblest principles; allays our fears; calms our doubts; invigorates our hopes; supports our spirits; eases our afflictions; benumbs our pains; supplies our losses; lessens our griefs; renders wholesome our sickness, and welcome our death. If this be the case, we may, without hesitation, pronounce it our happiness; and that it is the case, the testimony of good men, in all ages, sufficiently proves. But why should we stop here? Piety goes much farther. It not merely makes death welcome, but puts into our hands a title to eternal glory beyond the grave! It assures us, that although the world will shortly be to us of no value, there is a world in which we shall have from every foe a substantial refuge: that, although we must shortly bid adieu to our friends, and mingle with the silent dust, we shall rise from that dust victorious, and again meet those friends, never to be separated: that although our existence will soon apparently drop, we shall, after a momentary suspension of our powers, resuscitate in diviner regions: that although, when death approaches, we may appear friendless and forsaken, we have a friend who has promised never to desert us, and who can and will perform every tittle of his promises. This being the case, without enlarging farther, although an enlargement were both easy and pleasant, I think I may call upon every one to assent to the following proposition of Dr. Young A Deity believ'd is joy begun; J. T. 1. Sup-po-sit-i-on; No-it-i-sup-pos. 3. Star; rats. ENIGMAS FOR SOLUTION, BY. J. F. My first is to my second useful found, 2. Two sevenths of my whole is masculine, Add two thirds of a word that is contrary to near, |