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advantage, fome trivial competition, some inaccurate conclufion, or fome example implicitly reverenced. Such are often the first causes of our refolves; for it is neceffary to act, but impoffible to know the confequences of action, or to discuss all the reasons which offer themselves on every part to inquifitivenefs and folicitude.

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SINCE life itself is uncertain, nothing which has life for its bafis, can boaft much stability. Yet this is but a small part of our perplexity. We fet out on a tempeftuous fea, in quest of some port, where we expect to find rest, but where we are not sure of admiffion; we are not only in danger of finking in the way, but of being misled by meteors mistaken for ftars, of being driven from our courfe by the changes of the wind, and of lofing it by unskilful steerage; yet it fometimes happens, that crofs winds blow us to a fafer coast, that meteors, draw us afide from whirlpools, and that negligence or error contributes to our escape from mischiefs to which a direct courfe would have expofed us. Of those that by precipitate conclusions, involve themselves in calamities, without

guilt, very few however they may reproach themselves, can be certain that other meafures would have been more successful.

IN this ftate of univerfal uncertainty, where a thousand dangers hover about us, and none can tell whether the good that he pursues is not evil in disguise, or whether the next step will lead him to safety or deftruction, nothing can afford any rational tranquility, but the conviction, that, however we amuse ourselves with unideal founds, nothing in reality is governed by chance, but that the univerfe is under the perpetual fuperintendence of him who created it; that our being is in the hands of omnipotent goodness, by whom what appears casual to us is directed for ends ultimately kind and merciful; and that nothing can finally hurt him who debars not himself from the divine favour.

VOL. VI.

F

NUMB.

NUMB. 185. TUESDAY, Dec. 24, 1751..

At vindicta bonum vita jucundius ipfa,
Nempe hoc indocti.

Chryfippus non dicit idem, nec mite Thaletis
Ingenium, dulcique fenex vicinus Hymetto,
Qui partem acceptæ fæva inter vincla Cicuta
Accufatori nollet dare. Quippe minuti
Semper,& infirmi est Animi, exiguique Voluptas

Ultio.

Juv.

O vitious difpofitions of the mind.

NR

more obstinately refift both the counfels of philofophy and the injunctions of religion, than those which are complicated with an opinion of dignity; and which we cannot dismiss without leaving in the hands of oppofition fome advantage iniquitoufly obtained, or fuffering from our own prejudices fome imputation of pufillanimity.

FOR this reafon fcarcely any law of our redeemer is more openly tranfgreffed, or more induftriously evaded, than that by which he commands his followers to forgive injuries, and

prohibits,

prohibits under the fanction of eternal mifery, the gratification of the defire which every man feels to return pain upon him that inflicts it. Many who could have conquered their anger, are unable to combat against pride, and pursue offences to extremity of vengeance, left they should be infulted by the triumph of an enemy.

BUT certainly no precept could better become him, at whofe birth peace was proclaimed to the earth. For what would fo foon deftroy all the order of fociety, and deform life with violence and ravage, as a permiffion to every one to judge his own cause, and to apportion his own recompence for imagined injuries.

IT is difficult for a man of the ftricteft juftice not to favour himself too much in the calmeft moments of folitary meditation. Every one wishes for the diftinctions for which thoufands are wishing at the fame time, in their own opinion, with better claims. He that, when his reafon operates in its full force, can thus, by the mere prevalence of felf-love, prefer himself to his fellow beings, is very F 2 unlikely

unlikely to judge equitably when his paffions are agitated by a fenfe of wrong, and his attention wholly engroffed by pain, intereft, or danger. Whoever arrogates to himself the right of vengeance shows how little he is qualified to decide his own claims, fince he certainly demands what he would think unfit to be granted to another.

NOTHING is more apparent than that, however injured or however provoked, fome muft at last be contented to forgive. For it can never be hoped, that he who first commits an injury, will contentedly acquiefce in the penalty required: the fame haughtiness of contempt and vehemence of defire, that prompt the act of injuftice, will more strongly incite its juftification: and refentment can never fo exactly balance the punishment with the fault, but there will remain an overplus of vengeance which even he who condemns his first action will think himself entitled to retaliate, What then can ensue but a continual exacerbation of hatred, an unextinguishable feud, an inceffant reciprocation of mischief, a mutual vigilance to entrap, and eagerness to destroy.

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