IN FOUR PARTS. BY ELY BATES, ESQ. Chose admirable! La religion Chrétienne qui ne semble avoir MONTESQUIEU; ESPRIT DES LOIX, LIV. Xxiv. CH. 3. LONDON: PRINTED BY C. WHITTINGHAM, Dean Street, Fetter Lane; FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES, AND ORME, PATERNOSTER-ROW. PREFACE. AFTER many able attempts of political writers to show the influence of civil government upon the power and wealth of nations, I here presume to offer to the world a few thoughts upon the relation it bears to objects of far more importance, and from which all others must derive their value. Whoever shall look back on the extraordinary state of human affairs, a few years ago, when the whole frame of society seemed almost in danger of a dissolution, from the mischievous ferments occasioned by some novel principles of political and moral philosophy, will, I think, readily allow, that an endeavour to prevent a return of such disorders, by leading men to a view of their |