than of themselves, and have never conde-fcended to obferve what paffes daily before their eyes: Many who toil through the intricacy of complicated fyftems, but are infuperably embarraffed with the leaft perplexity in. common affairs; and while they compare the actions, and ascertain the characters of ancient. heroes, let their own days glide away without. examination, and fuffer vicious habits to encroach upon their minds without refiftance or detection.. ONE of the moft frequent reproaches of the fcholaftick race is the want of fortitude, of fortitude not martial but, philofophick. Men bred in fhades and filence, taught to immure themselves at funfet, and accustomed to no other weapon than fyllogifm, may be allowed to feel terror at perfonal danger, and to be disconcerted by tumult and alarm. But why should he whose life is spent in contemplation, and whose business is only to discover truth, be unable to rectify the fallacies of imagination, or contend fuccessfully against preju dice and paffion? To what end has he read and and meditated if he gives up his understanding to false appearances, and fuffers himself at laft, like the meaneft of the vulgar, to be enflaved! by fear of evils to which only folly or vanity can expose him, or elated by advantages which can add nothing to a wife man, and to which, as they are equally conferred upon the good and bad, no real dignity is annexed. SUCH however is the ftate of the world, that the moft obfequious of the slaves of pride, the most raptuous of the gazers upon wealth, the moft officious of the whifperers of greatnefs, are collected from feminaries appropri ated to the study of wisdom and the contemplation of virtue, where it was intended, that appetite should learn to be content with little,. and that hope fhould aspire only to honours which no human power can give or take away. 1. THE ftudent, when he comes forth into the world, instead of congratulating himself upon. his exemption from the errors and failures to which he fees those liable whofe opinions have been A been formed by accident or custom, and who live without any certain principles of conduct, is commonly in hafte to shake from him all that diftinguishes him from the reft of mankind, to mingle on equal terms with the multitude, and fhew his fprightlinefs and ductility by an expeditious compliance with fafhions, pleafures, or vices. The first smile of a man whofe rank or fortune gives him. power to reward his dependents commonly enchants him beyond refiftance; the glare of equipage, the fweets of luxury, the liberality of general promifés, the foftness of habitual affability, ftrike his fenfes and fill his imagination; and he foon ceafes to have any other wifh than to be well received, or any meafure of right, and wrong but the opinion of his patron.. # A MAN flattered and obeyed, foon learns to exact groffer adulation, and enjoin lower fubmiffion. Neither our virtues nor vices are all! our own. If there were no cowardice, there would be little infolence; a man cannot grow proud to any great degree, but by the con currence currence of blandishment or the fufferance of tameness. The wretch that would shrink and crouch before those that should dart their eyes upon him with the spirit of natural equality, quickly becomes capricious and tyrannical when he sees himself approached with a downcaft look, and hears the soft address of awe and fervility. To the folly of those who are willing to purchase favour and preferment by cringes and compliance, is to be imputed that general haughtiness of power that leaves nothing to be hoped by firmness and integrity.. IF inftead of wandering after the meteors of philofophy which fill the world with splendor for a while, and then fink and are forgotten, the candidates of learning would fix their eyes only upon the permanent and immutable. luftre of moral and religious truth, they would find a more certain direction to honour and happiness. A little plaufibility of discourse, and a little acquaintance with unneceffary speculations, is dearly purchased when it excludes those instructions which fortify the heart with refolu. tion and exalt the spirit to independence. NUMB. NUMB. 181. TUESDAY, Dec. 10, 1751. Néu fluitem dubiæ spe pendulus hora. HOR SIR, To the RAMBLER. AS I have paffed much of my life in difquiet and fufpenfe, and loft many opportunities of advantage by a paffion which I have reason to believe prevalent in different. degrees over a great part of mankind, I cannot but think my felf well qualified to warn those who are yet uncaptivated, of the danger which they incur by placing themselves within its influence. ISERVED an apprenticeship to a linen-draper with uncommon reputation for diligence and fidelity; and at the age of three and twenty opened a shop for myself with a large stock, and fuch credit among all the merchants who were acquainted with my mafter that I could command whatever was imported curious or valuable.. |