I am absolutely nothing. Throughout eternity I was not, and there was no reason why I should exist, nor why I should be what I am. My existence is the simple effect of God's Will: He bestowed it on me as it pleased Him. He preserves it: if His mighty Hand were not upholding me every moment, I should fall back into nothingness. My soul and body, the good qualities of both, everything estimable or pleasing in me, all comes from God. On that foundation, education did its work; and, all things considered, this very education was rather a gift from God, than the result of my own industry and application.

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