Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

it; and, to my apprehension, immediately after it when I shall receive from that Jesus, whose divine mission it has been one principal object with me to defend, and by whose precepts, I hope I may say, it has been my habitual endeavour to regulate all my conduct (how imperfect soever has been my success), whatever new station I shall be thought qualified for in the renovated world, and which, I hope, will not be less active, useful, and happy, than that which has been my lot in this.

There, if I have this happiness, I shall meet all my pious friends and benefactors, whose characters and virtues I take pleasure in contemplating; and it has been my happiness to have had among those whom I call my friends, some of the first and fairest of human characters. Their good opinion and encouragement has always been more than a compensation for all the obloquy, and some more serious evils, to which I have occasionally been exposed. These, however, I now look back upon without any resentment with respect to men, and with gratitude to the Sovereign Disposer of all things, for the salutary discipline of which they have been a part. Without such discipline as this, though consisting of many things exceedingly unpleasant and distressing at the time, what would any man be? The best of us would be nothing more than spoiled children, unhappy in ourselves and insufferable to others.

I have no idea of any greater happiness than such society as I have had, and such employments and pursuits as I have been occupied in here. Then, in particular, I shall hope to resume my investigation of the great system of which I am a part, with more advantage than I can at present; and, seeing more of the Creator in his works, feel such an increase of admiration and devotion, as our imperfect knowledge does not admit of at present. There, all the evils, natural and moral, that are incident to the present state, having answered the excellent purpose of discipline, and of forming the mind to true excellence, will be done away.

« AnteriorContinuar »