difcourfes and fair-fpoken principles, to abuse the pretenders to Reason, and he hath common prejudices for the more vulgar underftandings.-JEREMY TAYLOR.

Evidence.

HERE are books extant, which we muft needs allow of as proper evidence; even the mighty volumes of vifible nature and the

everlasting tables of right reafon. — DR. BENTLEY.

Evidence of Christianity.

AVING fome leifure and more curiofity, I employed them both in refolving a queftion which feemed to me of fome importance -whether Chriftianity was really an impofture, or whether it is what it pretends to be, a Revelation communicated to mankind by the interpofition of fupernatural Power? On a candid enquiry, I foon found that the first

was an abfolute impoffibility; and that its pretenfions to the latter were founded on the most solid grounds. In the further pursuit of my examination, I perceived at every step new lights arifing, and fome of the brightest from parts of it the moft obfcure, but productive of the cleareft proofs; because equally beyond the power of human artifice to invent and human reason to discover. These arguments, which have convinced me of the divine origin of this Religion, I have put together in as clear and concise a manner as I was able, thinking they might have the fame effect upon others; and being of opinion, that if there were a few more good Christians in the world, it would be beneficial to themfelves, and by no means detrimental to the public.-SOAME JENYNS.

2. CHRISTIANITY came into the world with the greatest fimplicity of thought and language, as well as of life and manners; holding forth nothing but piety, charity and humility, with the belief of the Meffiah and his kingdom.-SIR WILLIAM TEMPLE.

3. UNREASONABLE it is to expect the

fame kind of proof and evidence, for every thing, which we have for fome things.ARCHBISHOP TILLOTSON.

Examples.

VERY man fhould propound to himself the example of a wife and virtuous perfonage; as Cato, or Socrates, or Brutus; and by a fiction of imagination to suppose him present as a witnefs, and really to take his life as the direction of all our actions.-SENECA.

2. EXAMPLE is a motive of very prevailing force on the actions of men.-ROGERS.

3. It is a thing to be wished, that every one would study the life of fome great man diftinguished by employments, to which he may be destined by Providence.-DU FRES

ΝΟΥ.

Excellence.

XCELLENCE is never granted to man, but as the reward of labour. It argues indeed no small ftrength of mind to persevere in

habits of industry without the pleasure of perceiving those advances, which, like the hand of a clock, whilft they make hourly approaches to their point, yet proceed fo flowly as to escape obfervation.-SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS.

Excefs.

MOODNESS anfwers to the theological virtue Charity, and admits no excefs, but error. The defire of power in excess caused the Angels to fall; the defire of knowledge in excefs caused man to fall; but in Charity there is no excess, neither can Angel or man come in danger by it.-LORD BACON.

2. THERE will be need of temperance in diet; for the body, once heavy with excess and furfeits, hangs plummets on all the nobler parts.-DR. DONNE.

Eye of a Painter.

T is true that other people may fee as well as a Painter, but not with fuch eyes. A man is taught to fee as well as to dance; and the beauties of nature open themselves to our fight by little and little, after a long practice in the art of feeing. A judicious well inftructed eye fees a wonderful beauty in the fhapes and colours of the commoneft things and what are comparatively inconfiderable. -JONATHAN RICHARDSON.

Faith.

AITH is an entire dependence upon the truth, the power, the juftice and the mercy of God; which dependence will certainly incline us to obey him in all things.-SWIFT. 2. TRUE virtue being united to the Heavenly grace of FAITH, makes up the highest human perfection.-MILTON.

3. IF GOD continually revealed himself to