322 MISCELLANEOUS THOUGHTS. selves and shine in the same glory, when the affairs and circum- stances all around them are mean, and low, and despicable ; when their life, and time, and all their powers from their very infancy, are employed in providing a sorry sustenance for the body, and supplying the importunate appetites of nature. Had I the largest share of natural understanding and sprightliness, far beyond what my friends can imagine, all the advantage of it would have been, that perhaps I had shaped a nicer bow, or set the feathers on an arrow for swifter, flight than my neighbour : Perhaps I might have sooner hit the flying par -, tridge, and laid a surer trap for a wild -goose or a pigeon ; I had learnt to outwit the brutal creation with more success ; egre- gious victory and triumph ! Or if I had employed my best spirits and'vigour in the affairs of my religion, I might have danced in more antic postures round some sacred bonfire, and con- trived some new superstitions, or perhaps authorised some new gods or goddesses ; or I might have howled among my fellows with more hideous airs than they, and have worshipped the devil with more zeal and activity. Wretched prerogatives of a sprightly nature, left without the beams of illuminating grace ! To thee, O my God, to thee are due my eternal praises; and to thee will I offer the humblest acknowledgments and songs of highest gratitude. It is thou hast made my compounded nature what it is, in all the comfortable and hopeful attendants of it: Thou hast not joined my spirit to the disturbed brain of an idiot, to a crippled carcase, or a piece of rumpled deformity.` Thou hast given to my soul a body, with its proper limbs and organs of sense, capable of activity, converse and service among the reasonable world. Blessed be my God for ever, that he has appointed me to act my part in Great Britain, while it is a land of divine light ; he has placed my soul in such a dwelling, and with such circumstances among the sons of men, as may through his grace, prepare it for the company of angels, and for his own blissful presence in the world above. But has not my spirit been depressed by a sickly constitution, and confined to a feeble engine of flesh under daily disorders ? Have I not Sustained Many sorrows on this account, and wasted some years among the infirmities of the body, and in painful idleness ? Are there not several souls favoured with a more easy habitation, and yoked with a better partner ? Are they not ac -, commodated with engines which have more health and vigour, and situated in much more happy circumstances than mine? What then? shall I repine at my lot; and murmur against my Creator, because he has made some hundreds happier than 1 ; while I survey whole nations, and millions of mankind, that have not a thousandth part of my blessings ? I dire not complain, 0 my God, that I am not one of the
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