might have doomed me to perpetual silence and obscurity, and made me feel an aversion from those studies in which before I had so ardently delighted. Such are the incidents on which the destinies of life depend! Fortunately my probationary pamphlet fell into the hands of a gentleman, whose exalted rank in the literary world, raised him above popular prejudices, and enabled him to silence the language of contempt, where it could not otherwise influence public opinion. He is now placed beyond the reach of censure and applause, and I rejoice in having an opportunity of expressing my gratitude, by offering this tribute to his memory without fearing to incur the imputation of flattery. Next to Mr. Whitaker, I feel myself much indebted to several gentleman, who have rendered me some assistance by giving me free access to their libraries. Those to whom I allude, have treated me with a degree of respect to which the merits of my works can bear only an inadequate proportion. I acknowledge the obligations which their kindness have laid me under, and should feel much pleasure in mentioning their names, but I do not know that it would be agrecable, and without being assured of this, it is a liberty which I dare not take. To many of those from whom I have received tokens of approbation I am personally unknown, their acts of kindness are therefore enhanced by the manner in which they have been communicated. I do not know that they estimate their favours so highly, but I should reproach myself with ingratitude, were I to omit this tribute of acknowledg. ment. It has been a hackneyed topic with authors to censure the ingratitude of the age in which they live. I do not pretend to estimate either the propriety or the impropriety of the charge as it respects others, but experience has taught me a different lesson. I have found more reason to be grateful for support than to complain of the want of it; and I shall be extremely glad to find that I have given to my numerous Subscribers no occasion to wish that they had withholden what they have now bestowed. To those Ladies and Gentleman, whose names honour and recommend my work, I hold myself under peculiar obligations, for enabling me to send this volume into the world. It gives me sensible pleasure to behold in the list of my subscribers the names of a considerable number of persons who patronized my former production. I hope this will afford them equal, if not superior satisfaction. For the patronage which they have afforded me, I hope they will have the goodness to accept my might have doomed me to perpetual silence e scurity, and made me feel an aversion frop studies in which before I had so ardently d.. Such are the incidents on which the det life depend! Fortunately my probationa phlet fell into the hands of a gentleman, w alted rank in the literary world, raised hi popular prejudices, and enabled him to language of contempt, where it could not influence public opinion. He is now yond the reach of censure and applause, joice in having an opportunity of expr gratitude, by offering this tribute to ! without fearing to incur the imputation Next to Mr. Whitaker, I feel my debted to several gentleman, who i me some assistance by giving me! their libraries. Those to whom treated me with a degree of respe merits of my works can bear c! proportion. I acknowledge the their kindness have laid me und much pleasure in mentioning i do not know that it would be a being assured of this, it is a li take. To many of those from ed tokens of approbation I ar: 4 Sect. L-If Moral Evil shall be annihilated, the Re- mmus Sacrifice Sea - the Efects which may be expected to Annihilation of Death, when con- ST— the Difference between the natural Ef- Consequences of moral Evil; with Estinct Ideas of Identity, found- Cersity of its Ñature |