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    $ tgn slowly , imperceptibly , and by intricate operations ,. He could easily accomplish it at once by miracles , or inspiration ; but he doe * not commonly make choice of supernatural , but of natural methods . There is certainly the most perfect harmony in all the divine counsels :

    the means which God employs , concur in producing the designed ef * feet in most proper season and manner * Yet there is often an ap - * parent discord in the methods of his procedure . It is often by violent opposition and discord , that the most perfect concord is &t last established .

    " Thus , if it is the intention of the divine wisdom to carry human , society to the greatest perfection of which it is capable on this earth , by means of a perfect government , the design may be laid so deep , and be carried q ^ LSO ^ lowly , as to require many ages for its accomplish ^ merit . 'Tis like % art than nature , to form things in their greatest

    perfection at onpe . Neither trees , nor corn , nor flowers grow up ta maturity in a day . They increase imperceptibly , and go through va-. rious processes . 'Tis only after long periods , that some arrive at their greatest strength and glory . The more perfect the vegetable ^ the process is longer and more various . Nature obsei ^ ves a similar analogy irm brute animals . Nor does man arrive at perfection , but by a coarse of

    exercise and discipline . How weak and tender his first rudiments in * the womb , or at his birth ! How imperfect is his infant state ! In the bloom of youth , he has not attained his due consistency . Man * hood , n ^ y old age , are necessary before he can grow up to full maturity ; much loss , ( may we justly presume ) will the society of men be perfected at once . The most perfect coalition of the most perfect ;

    animals , is too grand a design to be speedily completed . The seeds may bo laid so deep , as not to blossom till after many ages . The blos- « soms may often be nipped by the rigour of the seasons . The fruit may appear late , and an extraordinary season inay be necessary befona it is fully ripened . Philosophers and lawgivers may perhaps arise in different ages and nations , to conceive the idea of perfect governments .

    Descri ptions may be made of them , and be left to posterity . Errors may be detected , and remedies proposed . Different scherpes jnay be explained . A perfect system may happily be found out . Grand re- * , volutions in nations may give it a beginning , and a constitution may a % length be settled , which is founded on a perfect equality . Such a government being once established in p , ny particular nation , may , like ancient Rome , but without her enormous an * l ? jtion , extend its influx

    mce to the rnqst distant nations , aiid cause a total revolution m tha potions , dispositions , aad affairs of mankind . All which would , in some respects , be more wonderful than if such a government h ^ tdL been set up at the beginning of the $ vorld , or had been franied at once , &nd established by miracles in any succeeding period . " ( Pp . 70 . 73 . )

    Such appear to have been the passages which had thq greaf merit of engaging the attention and approbation of Dr . fr&e * H iut choice materials wou ^ d his note ., which I have qbotodL

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    Wallaces cc Prospects of Mankind , " S ( c . 3 lft

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    3 V &

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Oct. 2, 1807, page 519, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2385/page/11/