as in folitude; and cannot but fufpect it to be fome way or other my own fault, that, without great pain, either of mind or body, I am thus weary of myself that the current of youth itagnates, and that I am languishing in a dead calm, for want of fome external impulfe. I fhall therefore think you a benefactor to our fex, if you will teach me the art of 17 living alone; for I am confident that a thoufand and a thousand and a thoufand ladies, who affect to talk with ecftacies of the pleasures of the country, are in reality, like me, longing for the winter, and wishing to be delivered from them felves by company and diversion. I am, Sir, yours, EUPHELIA No XLIII. TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 1750. LUMINE PERPETUO TORRENS SOLET ACRIUS IRE, IN COURSE IMPETUOUS SOON THE TORRENT PRIES, Tis obferved by thofe who have written on the constitution of the human body, and the original of thofe difeafes by which it is afflicted, that every man comes into the world morbid, that there is no temperature fo exactly regulated but that fome humour is fatally predominant, and that we are generally impregnated, in our first entrance upon life, with the feeds of that malady, which, in time, fhall bring us to the grave. This remark has been extended by others to the intellectual faculties. Some that imagine themfelves to have looked with more than common penetration into human nature, have endeavoured to perfuade us that each man is born with a mind formed peculiar for certain purpofes, and with defires unalterably determined to particular objects, from which the attention cannot be long diverted, and which alone, as they are well or ill pursued, mult produce the praife or blame, the happiness or mifery, of his future life. This pofition has not, indeed, been hitherto proved with ftrength propor tionate to the affurance with which it has been advanced, and, perhaps, will never gain much prevalence by a clofe exami nation. It the doctrine of innate ideas be it. felf difputable, there feems to be little hope of establishing an opinion, which Suppofes that even complications of ideas have been given us at our birth, and that we are made by nature ambitious, or covetous, before we know the meaning of either power or money. Yer as every frep in the progreffion of exiface chinges our pofition with re Ovid. F. LEWIS. fpect to the things about us, fo as to lay us open to new affaults and particular dangers, and fubjects us to inconveniences from which any other situation is exempt; as a publick or a private life, youth and age, wealth and poverty, have all fome evil clofely adherent, which cannot wholly be escaped but by quitting the ftate to which it is annexed, and fubmitting to the incumbrances of fome other condition; fo it cannot be denied that every difference in the structure of the mind has it's advantages and it's wants; and that failures and defects being infeparable from humanity, however the powers of understanding be extended or contracted, there will on one fide or the other always be an avenue to error and mifcarriage. There feem to be fome fouls fuited to great, and others to little employments; fome formed to foar aloft, and take in wide views, and others to grovel on the ground, and confine their regard to a narrow fphere. Of thefe the one is always in danger of becoming ufelets by a daring negligence, the other by a feru, pulous folicitude; the one collects many ideas, but confused and indistinct; the other is bufied in minute accuracy, but without compafs and without dignity. The general error of those who pof. fefs powerful and elevated understandings, is, that they form fchemes of too great extent, and flatter themselves too haftily with fuccefs; they feel their own force to be great, and, by the compla. cency with which every man furveys himfelf, imagine it ftill greater: they therefore look out for undertakings woTthy of their abilities, and engage in them with very little precaution, for they imagine that, without premeditated meafures, they fhall be able to find expedients in all difficulties. They are naturally apt to confider all prudential maxims as below their regard, to treat with contempt thofe fecurities and refources which others know themselves obliged to provide, and difdain to accomplish their purposes by established means, and common gradations. at which we look with praife or wonder, are inftances of the refiftlets force of perfeverance: it is by this that the quarry becomes a pyramid, and that diftant countries are united with canals. If a man was to compare the effect of a single ftroke of the pick-ax, or of one impreffion of the fpade, with the general defign and laft refult, he would be overwhelmed by the fenfe of their difproportion; yet thofe petty operations, inceffantly continued, in tune furmount the greatest difficulties, and mountains are levelled, and oceans bounded, by the flender force of human beings. It is therefore of the utmost importance that thofe who have any intention of deviating from the beaten roads of life, and acquiring a reputation fuperior to names hourly fwept away by time among the refufe of fame, thould add to their reafon, and their fpirit, the power of perfifting in their purpofes; acquire the art of fapping what they cannot batter, and the habit of vanquishing obftinate refiftance by obftinate attacks. Precipitation thus incited by the pride of intellectual fuperiority, is very fatal to great defigns. The refolution of the combat is feldom equal to the vehemence of the charge. He that meets with an oppofition which he did not expect, lofes his courage. The violence of his firft onfet is fucceeded by a lafting and unconquerable languor; mifcarriage makes him fearful of giving way to new hopes; and the contemplation of an attempt, in which he has fallen below his own expectations, is painful and vexatious; he therefore naturally turns his attention to more pleasing objects, and habituates his imagination to other entertainments, till, by flow degrees, he quits his first pur- The ftudent who would build his fuit, and fuffers fome other project to knowledge on folid foundations, and take poffeffion of his thoughts, in which proceed by juft degrees to the pinnacles of the fame ardour of mind promifes him truth, is directed by the great philoso again certain fuccefs, and which difap-pher of France to begin by doubting of pointments of the fame kind compel him to abandon. Thus too much vigour in the beginning of an undertaking, often intercepts and prevents the fteadiness and perfeverance always neceffary in the conduct of a complicated fcheme, where many interefts are to be connected, many movements to be adjusted, and the joint effort of diftinct and independent powers to be directed to a fingle point. In all import. ant events which have been fuddenly. brought to pafs, chance has been the agent rather than reafon; and, therefore, however those who feemed to prefide in the transaction may have been celebrated by fuch as loved or feared them, fucceeding times have commonly confidered them as fortunate rather than prudent. Every defign in which the connection is regularly traced from the firft motion to the laft, must be formed and executed by calm intrepidity, and requires not only courage which danger could turn afide, hut conftancy which fatigues cannot weary, and contrivance which impediments cannot exhauft. All the performances of human art, his own existence. In like manner, whoever would complete any arduous and intricate enterprife, thould, as foon as his imagination can cool after the first blaze of hope, place before his own eyes every poffible embarraffment that may retard or defeat him. He thould first queftion the probability of fuccefs, and then endeavour to remove the objections that he has raifed. It is proper, fays old Markham, to exercife your horfe on the more inconvenient fide of the courie, that if he fhould, in the race, be forced upon it, he may not be difcouraged; and Horace advites his poetical friend to confider every day as the last which he shall enjoy, because that will always give pleafure which we receive beyond cur hopes. If we alarm ourselves beforehand with more difficulties than we really find, we fhall be animated by unexpected facility with double fpirit; and if we find our cautions and fears juftified by the confequence, there will however happen nothing against which provifion has nos been made, no fudden shock will be received, nor will the main fcheme be ditconcerted. There There is, indeed, fome danger left he that too fcrupulously balances probabilities, and too perfpicaciously forefees obtacles, fhould remain always in a ftate of inaction, without venturing upon attempts on which he may perhaps fpend his labour without advantage. But previous defpondence, is not the fault of thofe for whom this effay is defigned; ney who require to be warned again't precipitation, will not fuffer more fear so intrude into their contemplations than is ncceffary to allay the effervefcence of a agitated fancy. As Des Cartes has kindly then how a man may prove to bimff his own existence, if once he can be prevailed upon to question it, fo the ardent and adventurous will not be long without finding fome plaufible extenua tion of the greateft difficulties. Such, indeed, is the uncertainty of all human affairs, that fecurity and defpair are equal follies; and as it is prefumption and ar roganee to anticipate triumphs, it is weakness and cowardice to prognofticate mifcarriages. The numbers that have been stopped in their career of happiness are fufficient to fhew the uncertainty of human forefight; but there are not wanting contrary inftances of fuch fuccefs obtained again all appearances, as may warrant the boldeft fights of genius, if they are fupported by unfhaken perfeverance No XLIV. SATURDAY, AUGUST 18, 1750: HOMER. •PREAMS DESCIND FROM JOTE. TG THE RAMBLER. Had lately a very remarkable dream, I which made to Ytrong an impresion on me, that I remember it every word; and if you are not better employed, you may read the relation of it as follows. Methought I was in the midst of a very entertaining fet of company, and extremely delighted in attending to a lively converfation, when on a fudden I perceived one of the most fhecking figures magination can frame, advancing towards pe. She was dreft in black, her fkin was contra&ted into a thoufend wrinkles, her eyes deep funk in her head, and her complexion pale and livid as the countenance of death, Her looks were filled with terror and unrelenting feve rity, and her hands armed with whips and fcorpions. As foon as the came near, with a horrid frown, and a voice that chilled my very blood, the bid me follow her. Lobeyed, and the led me through rugged paths, befet with briars and thorns, into a deep folitary valley, Wherever the paffed the fading werdure withered beneath her fteps; her peftilential breath infected the air with malignant vapours, obicured the luftre of the fun, and involved the fair face of heaven in univerfal gloom. Dismal howlings refounded through the foreft, from Port. every baleful tree; the night-raven ut. tered his dreadful note, and the profpect was filled with defolation and horror. In the midst of this tremendous fcene my execrable guide addrelied me in the following manner; Retire with me, O rash unthinking mortal, from the vain allurements of ⚫ a deceitful world; and learn that plea ⚫ fure was not defigned the portion of human life. Man was born to mourn and to be wretched; this is the condition of all below the stars, and who 1 ever endeavours to oppose it, acts in contradiction to the will of Heaven. Fly then from the fatal enchantments of youth and focial delight, and here confecrate thy folitary hours to lamentation and woe. Mifery is the duty. of all fublunary beings, and every epjoyment is an offence to the Deity, who is to be worshipped only by the mortification of every fente of pleafure, and the everlasting exercife of fighs and ་ the miseries of a life fo deplorably wretch-tional being, from the highest order of ed: In this fad fituation I fpied on one The My name is Rehgion. I am the offspring of Truth and Love, and the parent of Benevolence, Hope, and Joy. That moniter from whole power I have freed you is called Superftition; the is the child of Difcontent, and her followers are Fear and Sorrow. Thus different as we are, the has often the raptured feraphs, to the meaneit rank of men, is to rife inceffantly from lower degrees of happiness to higher. They have each faculties affigned them for ⚫ various orders of delights.' What,' cried I, is this the language of Religion? Does the lead her votaries through flowery paths, and bid them pafs an unlaborious life? Where are the painful toils of virtue the mortifications of penitents, the felfdenying exercites of faints and heroes ?”. The true enjoyments of a realonable being,' antwered the mildly, ' dø not confift in unbounded indulgence, or luxurious eafe, is the tumult of paffions, the languor of indolence, o the flutter of light amufements. Yielding to immoral pleafure corrupts the mind, living to animal and trifling ones debafes it; both in their degree difqualify it for it's genuine good, and coniign it over to wretchednels. Who ever would be really happy muft make the diligent and regular exercife of his fuperior powers his chief attention, adoring the perfections of his Maker, exprthing good-will to his fellowcreatures, cultivating inward rectitude. To his lower faculties he mutt allow fuch gratifications as will, by refreshing him, invigorate his nobler purfuits. In the regions inhabited by angelic notures, unmingled felicity for eva blooms, joy flows there with a per infolence to allinne my name and cha-petual and abundant ftream, nor needs racter, and feduces unhappy mortals to think us the fame, till the at length drives them to the borders of Despair, that dreadfut abys into which you were just going to link. Look round and furvey the various beauties of the globe, which Heaven has deftined for the feat of the human • race, and confider whether a world thus exquifitely framed could be meant for the abode of mifery and pain. For what end has the lavith hand of Pro⚫vidence diffuted fach innumerable objefts of delight, but that all might rejoice in the privilege of exiftence, and be filled with gratitude to the beneficent Author of it? Thus to enjoy the bleflings he has fent, is virttie" and obedience; and to reject them merely 4 as means of pleafure, is pitiable igno rance, or abfurd perverlenel's. Infinite goodness is the fource of created exiltence; the proper tendency of every ra there any mound to check it's courfe. Beings confcious of a frame of mind • originally difeafed, as all the human race has caufe to be, muft ufe the regimen of a Aricter felf-government. Whoever has been guilty of voluntary • excelles muft patiently fubmit both to the painful workings, of nature, and needful feverities of medicine, in or der to his cure. Still he is intitled to a moderate fhare of whatever alleviating accommodations this fair manfion of his merciful Parent affords, conlitt entwith his recovery. And in pro portion as this recovery advances, the livelift joy will spring from his fecret fenfe of an amended and improving heart. So far from the horrors of defair is the condition even of the guilty. Shudder, poor mortal, at the thought of the gulph into which thou wait but • now going to plunge. • While the not faulty have ever en couragement to amend, the more innocent foul wil be fupported with still tweeter confolations under all it's experience of human infirmities; fupported by the gladdening affurances that every fincere endeavour to outgrow them, fhall be aflifted, accepted, and rewarded. To fuch a one, the lovelieft felf-abatement is but a deep-laid foundation for the most elevated hopes; fince they who faithfully examine and acknowledge what they are, fhall be ⚫ enabled under my conduct to become what they defire. The chriftian and the hero are infeparable; and to afpirings of unaffuming truft, and filial confidence, are fet no bounds. To him who is animated with a view of obtaining approbation from the Sovereign of the universe, no difficulty is • infurmountable. Secure in this pur♦ fuit of every needful aid, his conflict with the feverett pains and trials is little more than the vigorous exercifes of a mind in health. His patient dependence on that providence which ⚫ looks through all eternity, his filent regnation, his ready accommodation of his thoughts and behaviour to it's infcrutable ways, is at once the mott ❝ excellent fort of felf-denial, and a fource of the most exalted tranfports: Society is the true fphere of human virtue. In focial, active life, difficulties will perpetually be met with; restraints of many kinds will be neceffary; and studying to behave right in refpect of thefe is a difcipline of the human heart, ufeful to others, and improving to it felf. Suffering is no duty but where it is neceffary to avoid guilt, or to do good; nor pleafure a crime, but where it ftrengthens the influence of bad inclinations, or leffens the generous activity of virtue. The happiness allotted to man in his prefent ftate is indeed faint and low, compared with His immortal profpects, and noble capacities; but yet, whatever portion of it the diftributing hand of Heaven offers to each individual, is a needful support and refreshment for the prefent moment, fo far as it may not hinder the attaining of his final destination. Return then with me from continual mifery to moderate enjoyment, and grateful alacrity. Return from the contracted views of folitude to the proper duties of a relative and dependent being. Religion is not confined to cells and clofets, nor reftrained to fullen retirement. Thefe are the gloomy doc trines of Superftition, by which the endeavours to break thofe chains of • benevolence and focial affection, and link the welfare of every particular with that of the whole. Remember that the greatest honour you can pay to the Author of your being is by fuck a cheerful behaviour, as difcovers a mind fätisfied with his difpenfations." Heremy preceptrefs paufed; and I was going to exprefs my acknowledgments for her difcourfe, when a ring of bells from the neighbouring village, and a new-rifen fun darting his beams through my windows, awaked me. I am, yours, &c. N° XLV. TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 1756. |