The age we live in is a busy age;in which knowledge is rapidly advancing towards perfection.In the natural world,in particular,every thing teems with discovery and with improvement.The most distant and recondite regions of the earth traversed and explored the all-vivifying and subtle element of the air so recently analyzed and made known to striking evidences,were all others wanting,of this pleasing truth.
Correspondent to discovery and improvement in the natural world,is reformation in the moral;if that which seems a common notion be,indeed,a true one,that in the moral world there no longer remains any matter for discovery.Perhaps,however,this may not be the case:perhaps among such observations as would be best calculated to serve as grounds for reformation,are some which,being observations of matters of fact hitherto either incompletely noticed,or not at all would,when produced,appear capable of bearing the name of discoveries:with so little method and precision have the consequences of this fundamental axiom,it is the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong ,been as yet developped.
Be this as it may,if there be room for making,and if there be use in publishing,discoveries in the natural world,surely there is not much less room for making,nor much less use in proposing,reformation in the moral.If it be a matter of importance and of use to us to be made acquainted with distant countries,surely it is not a matter of much less importance,nor of much less use to us,to be made better and better acquainted with the chief means of living happily in our own:If it be of importance and of use to us to know the principles of the element we breathe,surely it is not of much less importance nor of much less use to comprehend the principles,and endeavour at the improvement of those laws,by which alone we breathe it in security.If to this endeavour we should fancy any Author,especially any Author of great name,to be,and as far as could in such case be expected,to avow himself a determined and persevering enemy,what should we say of him?We should say that the interests of reformation,and through them the welfare of mankind,were inseparably connected with the downfall of his works:of a great part,at least,of the esteem and,influence,which these works might under whatever title have acquired.