INTRODUCTION. Bow down your heads unto the dust, O ye inha bitants of earth ! be silent, and receive, with reverence, instruction from on high. Wheresoever the sun doth shine, wheresoever the wind doth blow, wheresoever there is an ear to hear and a mind to conceive; there let the precepts of life be made known, let the maxims of truth be honoured and obeyed. All things proceed from God. His power is unbounded, his wisdom is from eternity, and his goodness endureth for ever. He sitteth on his throne in the centre, and the breath of his mouth giveth life to the world. He toucheth the stars with his finger, and they . run their course rejoicing. On the wings of the wind he walketh abroad, and performeth his will through all the regions of unlimited space. Order, and grace, and bounty, spring from his hand. The voice of wisdom speaketh in all his works; but the human understanding comprehendeth it not. The shadow of knowledge passeth over the mind of man as a dream; he seeth as in the dark; he reasoneth, and is often deceived. But the wisdom of God is as the light of heaven; he reasoneth not; his mind is the fountain of truth. Justice and mercy wait before his throne; benevolence and love enlighten his countenance for ever. Who is like unto the Lord in glory? Who in power shall contend with the Almighty? Hath he any equal in wisdom? Can any in goodness be compared unto him' He it is, O man! who hath created thee: thy station on earth is fixed by his appointment: the powers of thy mind are the gift of his goodness: the wonders of thy frame are the work of his hand. Hear then his voice, for it is gracious; and he that obeyeth shall establish his soul in peace. THE ECONOMY OF HUMAN LIFE. PART I. DUTIES THAT RELATE TO MAN, CONSI DERED AS AN INDIVIDUAL. SECTION I. Consideration. COMMUNE with thyself, O man, and consider wherefore thou wast made. Contemplate thy powers, thy wants, and thy connections; so shalt thou discover the duties of life, and be directed in all thy ways. Proceed not to speak or to act before thou hast weighed thy words, and examined the tendency of every step thou shalt take; so shall disgrace fly far from thee, and in thy house shall shame be a stranger: repentance shall not visit thee, nor sorrow dwell upon thy cheek. The thoughtless man bridleth not his tongue; he speaketh at random, and is entangled in the foolishness of his own words. As one that runneth in haste, and leapeth over a fence, may fall into a pit on the other side, which |