yet is an active principle, and often dif plays itself visibly in the countenance by raifing the complexion, brightening the eyes, and fometimes filling them with tears. An eye that weeps with gratitude has a particular fplendor and earneftness in the expreffion.

380. Gratitude towards things irrational, or even inanimate, (if the term gratitude may be used in fuch a connection), is not the object of cenfure or ridicule; for every emotion that resembles this amiable virtue betokens a goodness of nature, which the paffions allied to anger frequently do not. The plank that brought the mariner on fhore from a fhipwreck we should not blame him for taking particular care of, refusing to part with for any pecuniary confideration, and even sheltering from the injuries of the weather: we might smile at the circumftance; but it would be a fmile, not of scorn, but of kindness. Dogs and horses have been instrumental in faving mens lives. Particular good-will towards fuch a dog, or fuch a horse, would be laudable; and to fhoot the one for run

ning down a fheep, or to harafs with toil the old age of the other, would be cruel, and without any violent figure of speech might even be termed ingratitude. However, what is properly, and without a figure, called Gratitude (and the same thing is true of Anger) has for its object a being that acts, or feems to act, with fome degree of intention. We are grateful, not to the medicine, but to the phyfician, that cures us; and angry, not at the knife which wounds, but with the perfon who intentionally or negligently wielded it. Gratitude is due to every benefactor, and ought to be ardent in proportion to the magnitude of the favour, and the benevolence of those who confer it. Perfons of fmall ability confer great favours, when what they do proceeds from a high degree of good-will: by him, who faw the generofity of the giver, the widow's mite was accounted a great fum.

381. To the Supreme Being, who freely gives us life and every other good thing, our higheft gratitude is due; and should be continually offered up in filent thankf

giving,

giving, and often expreffed in words, that it may have the more powerful effect on our own minds, and on those whofe devotion we wish to direct, or to animate. Parents are in the next degree our benefactors, at least in ordinary cafes: for to an attentive and affectionate parent, who must have done fo much for us when we could do nothing for ourselves, and watched fo long and fo anxiously, and fo frequently and fervently prayed, for our welfare, we are more indebted than to any other fellow-creature. A stranger who relieves us, though he never faw us before and may never see us again, is also intitled to peculiar acknowledgements of gratitude, on account of the difinterestedness of his virtue. But we must not think ourselves exempted from the obligation of this great duty, even when our benefactor is a perfon on whom we may have conferred many faA parent ought with thankfulness

vours.

to receive what a dutiful child offers for his relief. "This is nothing more than I was "well intitled to," would be an improper speech on fuch an occafion. It would in

timate,

timate, that the parent, in taking care of his child, had been actuated, as much at leaft by the hope of recompenfe, as by natural affection, and a sense of duty.

382. T

SECT. VI.

The Subject continued.

Paffions and Affections.

Have now given a brief account of fome of our more remarkable paffions, but have not gone thro' the fubject, and could easily have proceeded further, if there had been time for it. Hints have been occafionally thrown in, with respect to the government of particular paffions: I fubjoin fome brief remarks of a more general nature.-The government of the paffions is a difficult work; but abfolutely neceffary, if we wish to be happy either in the next world, or in this. And as it is the more difficult the longer it is delayed, it is the part of prudence, as well as matter

of

of duty, to begin it without delay. The difficulty of this duty may appear from the concurring teftimony of wise men in every age; from the earnestness with which all moralists, particularly the infpired writers, recommend it; from what we may feel in ourselves of the unmanageableness of our paffions, especially of those to which we are most inclined by nature or by habit; and from what we must have obferved in the world around us, where we fee men, of good understanding in other refpects, enflaved to criminal inclinations, and led on to ruin, with their eyes open, by the strength of prevailing appetites.

383. Temperance, and an active life, are of the greatest benefit in preferving the health of both the body and the mind; and in giving us at all times the command of our thoughts, and confequently of our paffions. Savages are much addicted to intemperance and idlenefs; and their paffions are proportionably outrageous. As the paffions depend in a great measure upon the imagination, whatever tends to regulate that faculty tends alfo to make them X x regular.