CHAPTER I. 11: temptations on the right-hand and on the left, both by thecourse of his providence, and by the secret and insensible intimations of his Spirit. He can guard your understanding from every evil influence of error, and secure you from the danger of evil books and men, which might otherwise have a fatal effect, and lead you into pernicious mistakes. Nor let this sort of advice fall under the censure of thegod- less and profane, as a mere piece of bigotry or enthusiasm de- rived from faith and the bible : for the reasons which I have given to support this pious practice of invoking the blessing of God on our studies, are derived from the light of nature as well as reve- lation. Ile that made our souls and is the Father of spirits, shall, Ile not he supposed to have a most friendly influence towards the instruction and government of them ? The Author of our rational, powers can involve them indarkness when he pleases by a sud- den distemper, or he can abandon them to wander into dark and foolish opinions when they are filled with a vain conceit of their own light. He expects to be acknowledged in the common affairs of life, and he does as certainly expect it in the superior operations of the mind, and in the search of knowledge and truth. The Latins were taught to say, A Jove principium musae. In the works of learning they thought it necessary to begin with God. even the poets call upon the muse as a goodness to assist them itt their compositions. The first lines of Homer in his Iliad and his Odyssey, the first line ofMusaeus in his song of Hero and Leander, the begin- ning of Hesiod in his poem of Works and pays, and several others, furnish us with sufficient examples of this kind ; nor does Ovid leave out this piece of devotion as he begins his stories of the Metamorphosis. Christianity so much the more obliges us by the precepts of Scripture to invoke the assistance of the true God in all our labours of the mind, for the improvement of ourselves and others. Bishop Saunderson says, that study without prayer is atheism, as well as that prayer without study ispresumption. And we are still more abundantly encouraged by the testimony of those who have acknowledged from their own experience, that sincere prayer was no hindrance to their studies : they have got- ten more knowledge sometimes upon their knees, than by their labour in perusing a variety of authors ; and they have left this observation for such as follow, Bene orasse est bene studuisse. Praying is the best studying. To conclude, let industry and devotion join together, and you need not doubt the happy success ; Prov. ii. 2. Incline thine ear to wisdom, apply thine heart to understanding : cry after Iznozzledge, and lift up thy voice ; seek her as silver, and search fór her as for hidden treasures; then shalt thou understand the VOL.
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