Let. 24. Lord BoLINGBROKE. 415

The doctrine of a particular providence taken in this view is of vaſt conſequence, and if duly conſidered and believed, could ſcarce fail to have a happy influence over our whole temper and deportment. How ſollicitous, how earneſtly deſirous ſhould this make us to approve ourſelves to our ſupreme Governor and Judge, and to walk always as in his ſight! What an animating conſidera- ration is it, when we ſet about the performance of a good action, to be aſſured that God in his holy providence obſerveth the good deed in every circumſtance, and is ready to aſſiſt and ſupport us in it, and moſt certainly will not ſuffer it to paſs unrewarded! On the other hand, what an effectual reſtraint would it be to wicked actions, if we had this thought ſtrongly impreſſed upon our minds, that they are all perfectly known in every circum- ſtance to the moſt wiſe and righteous Governor of the world; and that if he ſhould not at preſent follow them with immediate puniſhment, yet the time is coming, when he will call us to a ſtrict account for them! Finally, a firm belief of a particular providence, as moſt wiſely ordering and diſpoſing the events re- lating to particular perſons, is a ſource of ſatisfaction and com- fort amidſt all the uncertainties and fluctuations of this preſent world. No conſideration is ſo well fitted to produce a chearful reſignation, and an inward ſolid peace and joy of heart as this, that all things, all Particular caſes and circumſtances, are under

the direction and government of the moſt perfect wiſdom, righteouſneſs and goodneſs;; and that nothing can befal us with out the direction or permiſſion of the ſupreme Diſpoſer.

Nothing therefore could be worſe Huhded than the boaſts of the Pbicureans, who expeéted to be applauded as friends and benefactors to mankind, on the account of their endeavours to deliver them from the apprehenſions of a providence. This might indeed be ſome relief to very bad men, and tend to make them eaſy in their ſins, but it was an attempt to rob good men of that which is the chief ſupport and comfort of their lives, and the molt powerful encouragement to the ſteady uniform praciice of piety and virtue. Lord Bolingbroke therefore was

very ill employed, when he uſed his utmoſt efforts to deſtroy the doctrine of providence as extending its care and inſpection to individuals; ſince without this, the acknowlegement of what he calls a general providence would be of no great advantage, and would be, with regard to all the purpoſes of religion, Iit- tle better than to deny that there is a providence at all.

This leads me to what I propoſed to ſnew in the next place;

viz. the abſurdity and the ill conſequences of the ſcheme his Lordſhip hath advanced.

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