A general Contempt of Religion towards God: Want of Truth and Fidelity amongst Men: Luxury and Intemperance, follow'd with the neglect of industry, and application to useful Arts and Sciences, are necessarily attended with misery, and have been usually also, the Fore-runners of approaching Ruine to the best and most flourishing Governments which have been in the World. And as in the same proportion that these things do any where prevail, so must naturally the unhappiness of such a People; it is evident, that for any Prophane, Debauch'd, or Vicious Nation to expect a durable Prosperity, is no other than to hope that God will in their Favour (who have justly incur'd his Indignation) withhold the natural Effects of that Constitution and Order of things, which he has with infinite Wisdom Establish'd: A Conceit too contradictious to Reason, as well as too Presumptuous for any one, I suppose, to entertain. FINIS. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Occasional Thoughts in Reference to a Vertuous or Christian life, by Lady Damaris Masham