productive of happiness; and that future misery is an inevitable consequence of vicious habits.

383. Such were the results of men's own experience in the pagan world; but at length it pleased ALMIGHTY GOD to send his only Son JESUS CHRIST among his chosen people, the Jews, to recall them, and all mankind, from their idolatries; and to convey to them a just knowledge of ONE GOD, the maker of all things, and of the immortality of the soul of man after this life of probation.

384. The history of this divine PERSONAGE is met with in the writings of the four Evangelists; in which his precious doctrines are recorded for the instruction of mankind.

As everlasting foundations of virtue, these writings, those of the Apostles, and the whole Bible, should be consulted by young and old, for that wisdom which surpasses finite inquiry, and the delusive knowledge

of man.

Obs. The best, and perhaps the only method of studying the New Testament, is by means of Barrow's 500 Questions.

385. By the information of the Holy Scriptures, and the inferences of our reason, deduced from the perfection of his wonderful works, we learn that there is ONE GOD; that he is a SUPREME BEING; FIRST CAUSE; the CREATOR of the universe; Omnipotent, or allpowerful; Omniscient, or all-wise; Infinite, or present every where; and Eternal, or without beginning and without end.

In the vast and the minute, we see

The unambiguous footsteps of the GOD
Who gives its lustre to an insect's wing,
And weeels his throne upon the rolling worlds.

COWPER.

386. We learn, and we perceive, that God is always present with us; that all our thoughts and actions are known to him; and that we are accountable for them in a future state of immortality, which will follow this transient and ephemeral existence. Hence, we have

a far more powerful stimulus to virtuous conduct, than mere temporal happiness.

I read his awful name, emblazon'd high

With golden letters on the illumin'd sky;
Nor less, the mystic characters I see

Wrought in each flower; inscrib'd on ev'ry tree;
In ev'ry leaf that trembles on the breeze,

I hear the voice of GOD among the trees.-BARBAULD. 387. Some virtues, from their great worth, are called Cardinal Virtues; these are Sincerity, Charity, Temperance, Justice, Prudence, and Fortitude.

a. Sincerity is that desirable virtue which deals plainly and honestly, without disguise, falsehood, or hypocrisy.

b. Charity is that amiable virtue which leads us to relieve the distresses, tolerate the imperfections, pity the sufferings, and ameliorate the condition of all sensitive beings; and it opposes itself to persecution, cruelty, selfishness, and all barbarous practices towards men, animals, or insects.

c. Temperance sets bounds to our desires, ambition, and passions; opposes our self-love, vanity, and sensual gratifications; and leads to contentment, health, and long life.

d. Justice is that virtue which leads us to do to men and animals that which we would they should do to us, were we in their situation and they in ours; and it is the opposite of tyranny, and of practices towards others, founded on our own supposed impunity.

Obs.-Tenderness to animals, and to all who cannot help themselves, or resist our power, is the primary duty of all men.

e. Prudence is that useful virtue which results from experience, of what is fit or unfit for our condition; and being possessed by the aged and by parents, their precepts ought to have full weight on the minds of children.

f. Fortitude is that necessary virtue, which enables us to bear with the adversities and accidents of social

life; and which keeps us steady in the practice of virtue.

388. In early ages, the Christian world became divided into two great bodies, called the Greek church and the Romish church.

The Greek church was, and is still, established in Russia, Turkey, Asia, and Greece.

The Romish church spread its influence over the west of Europe into Germany, France, Spain, Sweden, Britain, &c.

389. Soon after the invention of printing, the abuses and palpable errors of the Romish church led to the efforts of Luther, Calvin, Cranmer, and others.

A reformed religion was, in consequence, established in Great Britain, Germany, Sweden, Holland, and some other countries, called Protestant, from the early reformers protesting against the proceedings of a Romish council.

390. The Protestants have subdivided themselves into Lutherans, or followers of Luther.

Calvinists, or those who prefer the doctrines of Calvin.

Arminians, who follow those of Arminius.
Socinians, those of Socinus.

Anglican, who prefer the national church of England, and its rites and liturgy.

Presbyterians, who deny the authority of bishops. Independents, who adhere to the principle that every church, or society of Christians, has a right to govern itself without the interference of another.

Baptists, who disapprove of infant baptism. Quakers, who have no external religious ceremonies, or sacraments.

Unitarians, who deny the doctrine of the Trinity. Swedenborgians, who believe in the divine mission of Emanuel Swedenborg,

And Methodists, who use the church-liturgy, but preach extemporaneously.

391. The Jews still exist as a distinct people in all parts of the world, over which they are dispersed, according to ancient prophecy, preserving every where their religion and original language.

392. In Turkey, and in most parts of Asia and Africa, the religion of Mahomet, an Arabian impostor of the 7th century, still prevails; and descendants of Mahomet still occupy several Asiatic and African thrones, as sultans, emperors, &c.

393. In China, the national religion is founded on the pure belief of ONE GOD; and on the moral writings of Confucius, a Chinese philosopher.

In India, many superstitions and much idolatry prevail; but the effect tends to maintain subordination and industry; while it teaches peace among men, and charity even to animals and insects,

394. In other nations, Christianity is silently working its way among the people; and civilization and christianity appear happily to go hand-in-hand in Africa, in America, and among the South Sea islanders, the majority of whom entertain the grossest superstitions and idolatries.

Obs. For all necessary knowledge on the subject of theology, and as a general note book to the Bible, and to all reFigious inquiries, consult Dr. Robinson's Theological Dictionary.

XVI. Grammar.

395. The power of communicating ideas by speech is peculiar to man; but it is a power on which depends his improvement in all the arts; because the gradation and accumulation of improvements depend on cooperation and continuation.

Neither could exist, if the power were not attained of describing improvements to the living, and of transmitting them to posterity.

396. The language of savage nations is, however, very limited they are able to call a few hundred things by their names; to express some qualities; and

name a few modes of action; but they express more by gesture than by sound: few of them can count above ten; and when desired to express a higher number, they shew the hair of their heads.

397. The most ancient languages consisted of two or three hundred monosyllables, expressing general ideas as air, sea, tree, man, God, house, good, bad, &c. and all other words, by a systematic combination, were formed out of these:-such were the Welsh, Chinese, and some other languages.

398. The first sound used by savages, were mere cries of pleasure and pain; as Oh! Ah! and such other words, called INTERJECTIONS.

They next named visible objects; as river, tree, grass, &c. thereby introducing a new class of words, called

NOUNS.

They then derived from nouns, a class of words to express corresponding actions; as walk, talk, eat, drink, &c. called VERBS.

399. The next class of words were intended to describe the qualities of nouns and verbs; as tall, swift, short, fast, &c. called ad-NOUNS and ad-VERBS.

Words, to describe the position of nouns in regard to each other; as to, from, above, below, &c. were also among those necessary to a language, and these were called pre-POSITIONS.

400. The seventh class was a mere refinement of speech, and consisted of words used in place of nouns; as he, she, it, they, &c. called pro-NOUNS.

The eighth class was intended to give precision to the noun; as a man, or the man, and were, therefore,

call ARTICLES.

And the ninth class consisted solely of words intend ed to join others together in a discourse; as and, because, but, yet, &c. and are called CONJUNC-tions.

401. Such were the origin and progress of speech; and such, without variation, is the general composition of language. The English, and most other lan