SECTION IV. See Vol. 2. p. 145. It is dangerous for mortal beauty, or terrestrial virtue, to be examined by too strong a light. Beautiful women seldom possess any great accomplishments of mind, because they, for the most part, study behaviour rather than solid excellence. To fret and repine at every disappointment of our wishes, is to discover the temper of froward children, not of men, far less of Christians. It is decreed by Providence, that nothing truly valuable shall be obtained in our present state, but with difficulty and danger. Labour necessarily requires pauses of ease and relaxation; and the deliciousness of ease commonly makes us unwilling to return to labour. Nothing can be great which is not right; nothing which reason condemns, can be suitable to the dignity of the human mind. In youth we have warm hopes which are soon blasted by rashness and negligence; and great designs which are defeated by inexperience. To the children of idleness, the haunts of dissipation open many a wide and inviting gate by night and by day. True virtue must form one complete and entire system. All its parts are connected; piety with morality, charity with jus tice, benevolence with temperance and fortitude. Dissimulation degrades parts and learning; obscures the lusture of every accomplishment; and sinks us into universal contempt. Positive as you now are in your opinions, and confident in your assertions, be assured that the time approaches, when both men and things will appear to you in a different light. In this age of dissipation and luxury, how many avenues are constantly open, that lead to the temple of folly! By extravagance and idleness, and the vain ambition of emulating others in the splendid show of life, many run into expense beyond their fortune. Objects are distinguished from each other by their qualities: they are separated by the distance of time or place. Clarendon, being a man of extensive capacity, stored his mind with a variety of ideas; which circumstance contributed to the successful exertion of his vigorous abilities. SECTION V. See Vol. 2. p. 146. THE highest degree of reverence should be paid to youth; and nothing indecent should be suffered to approach their eyes or ears. He who is blessed with a clear conscience, enjoys, in the worst conjunctures of human life, a peace, a dignity, an elevation of mind, peculiar to virtue. In a few years, the hand of industry may change the face of a country; but it often requires as many generations, to change the sentiments and manners of a people. When the human mind dwells long and attentively on any subject, the passions are apt to grow warm, interested, and enthusiastic; and often force into their service the understanding which they ought to obey. 1 Some years afterwards, being released from prison, he was, by reason of his consummate knowledge of civil law and military affairs, exalted to the supreme power. The discontented man is never found without a great share of malignity. His spleen irritates and sours his temper, and leads him to discharge its venom on all with whom he stands connected. We cannot doubt that all the proceedings of Providence, when fully understood, will appear as equitable, as now they seem irregular. All that great wealth generally gives above a moderate fortune, is, more room for the freaks of caprice, and more privilege for ignorance and vice; a quicker succession of flatteries, and a larger circle of voluptuousness. The miscarriages of the great designs of princes are recorded in the histories of the world, but are of small use to the bulk of mankind, who seem very little interested in admonitions against errors which they cannot commit. Were there any man who could say, that he had never, in the course of his life suffered himself to be transported by passion, or given just ground of offence to any one, such a man might have some plea for impatience, when he received from others unreasonable treatment. Christianity will, at some future period, influence the conduct of nations as well as of individuals. But this event, though its greatest, will probably be its latest triumph; for it can be effected only through the medium of private character; and it will, therefore, be a change not rapid in its progress, and visble at every step; but gradual in its advances, and perceptible only when considerable effects have been produced. The British constitution stands among the nations of the earth, like an ancient oak in the wood, which, after having overcome many a blast, overtops the other trees of the forest, and commands respect and veneration. SECTION VI. See Vol. 2. p. 148. WHAT an anchor is to a ship in a dark night, on an unknown coast, and amidst a boisterous ocean, that is the hope of future happiness to the soul, when distracted by the confusions of the world. In danger, it gives security; amidst general fluctuation, it affords one fixed point of rest. Our pride and self-conceit, render us quarrelsome and contentious, by nourishing a weak and childish sensibility to every fancied point of our own honour or interest, while they shut up all regard to the honour or interest of our brethren. If there be any first principle of wisdom, it is undoubtedly this: the distresses that are removable, endeavour to remove; those which cannot be removed, bear, with as little disquiet as you can: in every situation of life, there are comforts: find them out, and enjoy them. Instead of aspiring beyond your proper level, bring down your mind to your state; lest, by aiming too high, you spend your life in a train of fruitless pursuits, and bring yourself at last to a state of entire insignificance and contempt. Often have we seen, that what we considered, at the time, as a sore disappointment, has proved in the issue to be a merciful providence; and that, if what we once eagerly wished for had been obtained, it would have been so far from making us happy, that it would have produced our ruin. Can the stream continue to flow, when it is cut off from the fountain? Can the branch flourish, when torn away from the stock which gave it nourishment? No more can dependent spirits be happy, when deprived of all union with the Father of spirits, and the fountain of happiness. Prosperity is redoubled to a good man, by his generous use of it. It is reflected back upon him from every one whom he makes happy. In the intercourse of domestic affection, in the attachment of friends, the gratitude of dependents, the esteem and good will of all who know him, he sees blessings multiplied round him on every side. He that would pass the latter part of life with honour and decency, must, when he is young, consider that he shall one day be old; and remember when he is old, that he once was young. In youth, he must lay up knowledge for his support, when his powers of acting shall forsake him; and in age, forbear to animadvert, with rigour, on faults which experience only can correct. Let us consider that youth is not of long duration; and that in maturer age, when the enchantments of fancy shall cease, and phantoms dance no more about us, we shall have no comforts but the approbation of our own hearts, the esteem of wise men, and the means of doing good. Let us live as men who are some time to grow old; and to whom it will be the most dreadful of all evils, to count their past years only by follies, and to be reminded of their former luxuriance of health, only by the maladies which riot has produced. |