state of our minds: when we are at ease in ourselves, we find no difficulty in entertaining the idea of it; when dissatisfied with our present condition, nothing is harder for us to comprehend. Nor is this to be wondered at; for vexations of every kind give a melancholy cast to the mind, destroying the relish of those pleasures, which used to delight us before, so that we have nothing similar in our imagination, wherewith to compare the sensations of others; our only way of estimating other people's enjoyments being, by imagining ourselves in their circumstances, and reflecting on the joy we should receive therefrom. But, when the mind is disposed to care for nothing, and to find a relish in nothing, we cannot readily conceive others wishing, or caring, for what would not affect us; and therefore, being unable to form a clear conception of enjoyment, either in ourselves or elsewhere, we lose the idea of that goodness, which can be apprehended only by its effects.

There is, however, a much greater quantity of enjoyment than of sufferings upon earth: for pleasure springs from steady permanent causes, as the exertion of intellectual ability, the vigour of health, the due returns of appetite, and calls of nature to exercise and rest; but pain proceeds

from

from accidents which happen rarely, or, excepting the last summons indeed, from diseases which are either slight or temporary. The good-natured man will even rejoice to see the lambs sporting in the fields, or hear the birds singing or chirping out their happiness; to behold the swallow building her nest to hatch her young; the ant, industrious and provident for future accommodation; the fly, dancing in wanton mazes; the little puceron, in water, frisking about, as if delighted all with their existence. Though he finds no pleasures within his own reach, or has lost the relish of any that may be offered him,

he may reflect how many thousands are at that moment dancing and singing, marrying and: given in marriage, advancing towards the accomplishment of their wishes, and pursuing all kinds of enjoyment; how many millions of animals are eating their food, providing for their accommodation, taking their pastimes, or rumi-" nating in their lurking holes; and this consideration may alleviate his chagrin, I do not mean that this survey can stifle the smart of his own sufferings; but it may afford him this consolation, that there is an inexhaustible spring of bounty flowing incessantly upon the world; and he may thence conclude, that he himself shall partake in due measure of the stream, at

some

some time or other, if not in his present, at least in some future state of being.

I have been more diffuse on this subject, than I had at first intended. But it has been unavoidable. The ground we have had to defend has been so desperately attacked, that I have found it necessary to be particular, as well as general. Moreover, fine writing has not only imposed upon men, but it has seduced many from reason, who would otherwise have gladly trodden in her steps. Pernicious doctrines, sweetly delivered, raise the delirium of fascination. The mind goes as it is led; it does not think; it delivers itself to seduction, and discards every idea of discrimination. False speculation, indeed, reduced to practice, and the sober decisions of experience, must discover its fallacy. But error glides with persuasive charms in the semblance of candour and disinterested eloquence. I trust, likewise, I have not been illiberally severe on those authors, whose works, as an honest man, I cannot, I acknowledge, but reprobate. Many of them indisputably had merit; and, in their individual capacity, might have adhered to the rigid principles of right reason, and of sound morality. No wise man will refuse them the character of genius, nor will

any

any honest man be willing to rob them of their fair pretensions to ability and learning. But, to more than this they are not entitled. It is one thing to dethrone the gods of knavery and superstition; another, to dare an uplifted hand against the beneficent God of mercy and of all goodness.

LETTER

LETTER. LXVII.

OUR subject now calls us to another scene of things. What period shall we give to the exis-. tence of this globe? What number of years shall we suppose man to have inhabited the earth, so peculiarly appropriated to him by Providence? This is a difficult question, and the more so, as time eludes every effort of calculation, as space does every effort of research. Nothing but darkness dwells beyond the epoch given us by Moses. To conjecture when the globe was created, would be to fall into that extravagant licence which we have so frequently condemned. I yet hold it certain, that the world has been created; and that generations have existed, anterior to the very earliest periods of the Mosaic history, but have long been buried in that eter nal oblivion, which attends the revolution of ages.

To delineate the withered trunk of antiquity, is not the most amusing task we can impose

2

upon