meets it in its new array, no longer knows

the talk of his mother and his nurse. When these wonder-working sounds sink into sense, and the doctrine of the Essay, disrobed of its ornaments, is left to the powers of its naked excellence, what shall we discover ? That we are, in comparison with our Creator, very weak and ignorant ; that we do not uphold the chain of existence; and that we could not make one another with more skill than we are made. We may learn yet more ; that the arts of human life were copied from the in- stinctive operations of other animals ; that, if the world be made for man, it may be said that man was made for geese. To those pro- found principles of natural knowledge are added some moral instructions equally new ; that self-interest, well understood, will pro- duce social concord; that men are mutual gainers by mutual benefits ; that evil is some- times balanced by good ; that human advan- tages are unstable and fallacious, of uncer- tain duration and doubtful effect; that our true honour is, not to have a great part, but to act it well ; that virtue only is our own ; and that happiness is always in our power.

Surely a man of no very comprehensive search may venture to say that he has heard all this before ; but it was never till now

�� �