1 The following LIST of SUBSCRIBERS in Scotland, not arriving in time for infertion in their alphabetical order, is obliged to be affixed here. Marquis of Tweedale Lady Baird Hon. Capt. Wm. Maitland Francis Shinlock, efq. Major Gordon Shinlock Alexander Shinlock George Buchan Hepburn Mrs. Buchan Hepburn OMITTED by mistake in the alphabetical Lift: Right Hon. Lord Southampton John Cathcart, efq. Robert Colt, efq. (advocate) Robert Hamilton, esq. (ad vocate) John Campbell, esq. Rt. Hon. Lady E. Fitzroy W. Rooke, efq. 8 copies. Rt. Hon. Lady Southampton CHAPTER THE FIRST. B EFORE we enter upon the subject of our blessed Saviour's birth, it will be necessary, for the better understanding of the subsequent events, to look back to the fituation of Adam in the garden of Eden, and to take a view of the earliest times. No fooner had man finned, but God, in mercy to him and to his fallen race, who became involved in his guilt, promised a faviour: as foon therefore as he was promised, mankind had an interest in this fecond Adam, (I. Cor. xv. 21. 22.); "For * The full account of which is to be found in the third chapter of Genesis. "as 66 as in Adam all die, even so in Christ " shall all be made alive." The rapid progress of fin may be worthy of remark, and serve to shew the danger of the first false step; for we foon after read, that it had attained a height one would have scarcely believed poffible. It is indeed very wonderful that the first man born into the world should have murdered an affectionate brother: at that early period, brotherly affection might have been supposed stronger than in afterages. This melancholy history should teach us carefully to guard against the intrufion of envy and jealousy; as those pernicious passions, if indulged to excess, will totally deprive us of reason: and if at any time they force themselves upon our minds, we should strive to expel such foes to our happiness, convinced that wherever they enter, they will embitter every social enjoyment. There are many kinds of jealousy : that of Cain is a very common and dangerous one. Pride and felf-love make us dissatisfied dissatisfied with the respect and attention paid to others, if they are preferred to ourselves, though at the same time all the unprejudiced part of the world may fee the justness of the preference. Cain might well be wretched, when he had brought fuch judgments upon himself; and all who are obliged to fly from home, or, in other words, from themselves, will, like Cain, be wanderers and vagabonds, let their outward prospects or fortunes be ever so great. There are two circumstances in the hiftory of Cain which many people cavil at. Where, say they, should he meet with a wife? and who was there to revenge the murder of his brother? If we do but reflect how foon a healthy colony is peopled from a very few fettlers, our wonder will cease, as Adam was an hundred and thirty years old when Seth was born; which was not long after the murder of Abel. This opinion appears very probable, from Eve's thankfulness to God; who, she said, had |