pleasure when standing in competi- proper effect of this opinion, he must tion with our duty. be considered as allowing it all that Thus, when Socrates, in Plato's practical influence which as naturalPhado, has proved the immortality ly results from it, as such an indifferof our soul, he considers it as a ne- ence to life doth, and has the same cessary consequence of the belief connexion with it. thereof, "That we should be em- If, therefore, the persuasion that ployed in the culture of our minds death renders us utterly insensible,

er,

-in such care of them as shall be a persuasion that unmans us quite not only regard that term, to which-that disposes to a course of action we give the name of life, but the most unworthy of us-that is exwhole which follows it-in making tremely prejudicial to society, and ourselves as wise and good as may tends, in every way, to our own be, since on it our safety entirely de- greatest hurt or debasement, we may pends, the soul carrying hence no- well suppose it an erroneous one; thing with it, but its good or bad ac- since it is in the highest degree imtions, its virtues or vices, and these probable, that there should be any constituting its happiness or misery truth in a notion the reception of to all eternity." which so far operates to the prejuSo, when the elder Scipio is intro- dice of mankind-so necessarily conduced by Tully, apprising the young- tributes to introduce a general dis"That what is called our life, order. may be more properly styled our On the other hand, if, from the condeath-that we truly live when we viction that there is a recompense for are freed from the fetters of our bo- us beyond the grave, we derive sendy;" he proceeds to observe how timents most becoming us—if from much it then concerned him "to be it the worthiest actions proceed-if just-to promote the public welfare it be the source of the greatest both -to make true glory his aim, doing private and public good-if with it what is right without regard to any be connected the due discharge of advantage it will now yield him, de- our duty in the several relations in spising popular opinion, adhering to which we are placed-if it alone can virtue for its real worth." And the lead us to perfect our nature, and can youth thus instructed, professes, furnish our state with satisfactory "That after such information into enjoyments; there may seem suffiwhat state he is to pass, he would not cient grounds to conclude that there be wanting to himself; unmindful he is such a recompense; the persuahad not been of his ancestor's worth, sion thereof, thus affecting us, may but to copy it should now be his well appear most reasonably entermore especial care, since encouraged tained. thereto by so great a reward."

When all those principles, of whose Lucan, representing the inhabit-truth we have the greatest certainty, ants of this part of Europe as per- conduct us to happiness, it is natural suaded that the soul survived the dis- to think that the influence of any solution of the body, congratulates principle upon our happiness, should them, indeed, only on the happiness be no improper test of its truth. they enjoyed in an opinion that freed If there be no surer token of a them from the most tormenting of right practice, than its tendency to all fears, the dread of death-that promote the common good, can we made them act with so much brave-but judge that to be a right opinion, ry and intrepidity. But when he ad- which has undeniably, in an eminent mits a contempt of death to be the degree, such a tendency?

When the difficulties that, under as if all that practical regard to which a general corruption, attend our ad- they are entitled, was paid them; herence to virtue, are only to be sur- and we may be as justly thought enmounted by the prospect of future dowed with a capacity of discovering reward; one knows not how to be- those effects in order to their profiting lieve that the proper inducement to us, as if they universally took place. our acting a part so becoming us- What benefit was intended in so much our praise, should be no qualifying us for the discernment of other than a chimerical view, a ro-any truth, is by no means to be inmantic and utterly vain expectation. ferred from what ordinarily ensues to When error is manifestly the cause us when discerning it. A just inof whatever ill we do or suffer, it is ference as to this can only be made extremely improbable, that to an er- from regarding the dictates of reason roneous notion we must stand in-upon such a truth being discerned debted for the best use of life, and by us; or, what use of its discernits most solid satisfactions. ment reason directs us to make.'

But it may be asked-where does When we are less wicked than this opinion produce these boasted very bad principles prompt us to be, effects? among them who profess it which is often the case; these are, their firmest belief that there is a nevertheless, full as blameable as they future recompense, how few do we would be if we were to act consisfind better men for it-more regular tently with them. That they are not in their manners, or more useful to pursued, is, as to them, quite an acthe world, than they would have been cidental point; in reason and nature without any such persuasion ? they should be; and therefore are

How far any truth shall operate fitly chargeable with all the conseupon us how far it shall influence quences that acting according to us, depends upon our application of them would produce.

it, upon our attention to it. Expe- So, on the other hand, though it rience furnishes the utmost certainty must be confessed, that, with the of a vast variety of particulars highly best principles, our course of life is, interesting our present welfare, which frequently, very faulty; the objection yet we overlook, we give ourselves must lie not to the nature or kind little or no concern about, though we of their influence, but to a weakness thereby make ourselves the severest of it, which is our crime, and not sufferers; and may be almost as sure their defects. We will not let them as we can be of any thing, that our act upon us; as they are qualified to unconcernedness about them must do. Their worth is to be estimated be attended with consequences thus by the worth they are suited to profatal to us. The several rules which duce. And it would be full as abregard the lengthening of life-the surd, when we will not mind our preservation of health-the enjoy-way, to deny that the light can be of ment of ease, though they carry with any help to us in seeing it; as to deny them the clearest evidence of their the serviceableness of any principle, importance, how very little weight because we fail in its application. have they with the generality of man- Nor, is it, indeed, only our unhapkind-how unheeded are they when piness that we are inattentive to what opposing an eager appetite, a strong the belief of a future recompense reinclination while yet these rules are quires from us; religion itself, is, acknowledged to remain as true, as alas! every where abused to the obworthy of our notice, as certain instructing the proper effects of this their salutary effects when observed, belief. I mean, that whatever re

ligion is any where professed, some] How the belief of a future recomor other rite or doctrine of it does pense should, in reason, affect our favour, as in Paganism and Moham- practice-what its proper and natural medism; or is so construed, as in influence is, solely concerns the preJudaism and Christianity, that it is sent argument. It seems enough, in made to favour a departure from the the case before us, that no one can practice which suits the persuasion be consistent with himself, but, if he of a future reward. The reproach has any hopes of happiness in another that belonged to the Jews in our world, his conduct will be regular, Saviour's time, they have, as far as becoming, rational: and, that where appears, deserved ever since; that we find these hopes entertained on by their scrupulous regard to the mature consideration, justly reasoned lesser points of their law, they think upon, duly attended to, there we certhey make amends for the grossest tainly find great purity of morals, a neglect of its most important pre- strict regard to the part befitting a cepts. And with respect to us reasonable creature, and every other Christians, whence is it, that there advantage ascribed to them. If I is so little virtue among us-that we cannot be allowed to infer from hence are throughout so corrupt, but from that they are well founded, they have taking sanctuary for our crimes in still for their support all those arguour very religion, from perverting ments in favour of a final retribution, its most holy institutions and doc- with which I have not at all meddled, trines to be our full security what- nor in the least weakened by any soever are our vices ?t thing I may have less pertinently obThus, we are either of a church served. The subject of the third of in which we can be absolved of all the following essays led me to the our sins; or we are of the number remarks here made; and to me they of the elect, and cannot commit any; appear not immaterial. I cannot, or the merits of Christ atone for our indeed, bring myself to think but not having the merit even of honesty that the hopes which induce me to and sincerity; or a right faith makes act most agreeably to my Creator's amends for our most corrupt prac- will, he has formed me to entertain; tice.I and will not let me be disappointed in them.

We have prayers, sacraments, fasts, that are never thought of to improve Of one thing I am sure, that they us in virtue, but to supply the want who suffer the persuasion of a future of it-to quiet our consciences under happiness to operate, as it ought, on the most culpable gratifications of their practice, constantly experience our lusts. their practice adding strength to

*Sir Isaac Newton having observed, That the prophecies concerning Christ's first coming were for setting up the Christian religion, adds, which all nations have since corrupted, &c. Observ. upon the Proph. of Dan. &c. p. 252.

The general and great defect in those that profess the Christian faith is, that they hope for life eternal, without performing those conditions, whereupon it is promised in the Gospel, namely, repentance and reformation.-They will trust to a fruitless, lifeless faith, or to some penances, and satisfactions, and commutations made with God, doing what he hath not required instead of what he hath commanded. No persuasions shall prevail to move and excite them to do this, no reasons, arguments, or demonstration, no, not the express words of God, that it is necessary to be done; or to forbear to censure them as Enemies to the grace of God, who do with clear and express Scripture show the absolute necessity of it. Outram's Sermons, p. 166, 167.

I heartily wish, that by public authority it were so ordered, that no man should ever preach or print this doctrine, That Faith alone justifies, unless he joins this together with it, That universal obedience is necessary to salvation. Chillingworth's Relig, of Prot. p. 362.

By our zeal in our opinions we grow cool in our piety and practical duties. Epist. Dedicat. prefixed to the Discourse of Liberty of Proph

their persuasion; the better they be- His having formed us to receive come by their belief, the more con- pleasure, is our license to take it. firmed they become in it. This is a This I will admit to be true, under great deal to say on its behalf. What proper restrictions.

weightier recommendation to our as- It is true, that from our nature and sent can any doctrine have, than that, constitution we may collect wherein as it tends to improve us in virtue, we act agreeably to our Creator's so the more virtuous we are, the will, and wherein we act contrary to more firmly we assent to it; or, the it; but the mischief is, we commonbetter judges we are of truth, the ly mistake our nature, we miscall it ; fuller assurance we have of its we call that it which is but a part of truth?

it, or the corruption of it; and we thence make conclusions, by which. when we govern our practice, we 112. On the Employment of Time. soon find ourselves in great difficulties and distress.

ESSAY THE FIRST.,

For instance, we call our passions Amazing! that a creature, so our nature; then infer, that, in gratiwarm in the pursuit of her pleasures, fying them, we follow nature: and, should never cast one thought to- being thus convinced that their grawards her happiness."-A reflection tification must be quite lawful, we this, made indeed by a comic writer, allow ourselves in it, and are undone but not unworthy the most serious. by it. Whereas, the body is as much To be intent on pleasure, yet neg- the man, as his passions are his naligent of happiness, is to be careful ture; a part of it, indeed, they are, for what will ease us a few moments but the lowest part and which, if of our life, and yet, without any re- more regarded than the higher and gard to what will distress us for many nobler, it must be as fatal to us, as years of it. to be guided rather by what is agreeWhen I study my happiness, I able to our appetite, than conducive consult the satisfaction of the whole to our health. Of this more herecontinuance of my being-I endea- after. vour, that throughout it I may suffer The call of nature being the faas little, and enjoy myself as much, vourite topic of all the men of pleaas my nature and situation will ad-sure-of all who act the most in conmit. Happiness is lasting pleasure; tradiction to nature, I will confine its pursuit is, really, that of pleasure, the whole of the following essay to with as small an allay as possible of the consideration of it, so far as it pain. We cannot, therefore, provide relates to the employment of our for our happiness, without taking our time: and show how our time should share of pleasure; though, as is eve- be employed, if we have a just rery where but too evident, our eager-gard to our nature-if what it reness after Pleasure may plunge us quires be consulted by us. into the misery we are unable to supThat man is the work of a wise port. agent, is in the clearest manner disNothing, indeed, is more specious covered by the marks of wisdom, than the general term Pleasure. It that show themselves in his framecarries with it the idea of something by the contrivance and skill, that which must be permitted us by our each part of it expresses-by the exMaker; since we know not how to act proportion and suitable disposisuppose him forbidding us to taste tion, that the several parts of it have what he has disposed us to relish. to each other, and by their respective VOL. I. Nos. 7 & 8.

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fitness to promote the well-being of to regard all things contributing to it the whole. as enjoined us, and all things detriWhen we must thus acknowledge mental to, and inconsistent with it, the great wisdom exerted in our as forbidden us; we have it suggeststructure; when we are so capable ed to us, that we are properly emof discerning its beauties and advan- ployed, when we consult the due tages, and so fully know their pre-preservation of life, and that the enservation and improvement to depend gagements are improper, are blameaupon ourselves, upon our own en- ble, that hinder it.

deavours, care, and pains: we cannot Thus, to spend our time well, we possibly be at a loss to discover what must give our bodies such exercise, our wise Maker must, in this par- such rest, and other refreshments, as ticular, expect from us. The duty their subsistence demands; and we of man is as certainly known from mis-spend it, when we are lazy and his nature-what he ought to do for slothful, when we are less sober, himself is as fully understood from chaste, and temperate; when we prowhat he can do, as the uses of any ceed to excesses of any kind, when machine are understood by a tho- we let our passions and appetites dirough acquaintance with its powers. rect us: every thing in this way I can no more doubt for what I am tends to hasten our dissolution; and intended-what must be required of therefore must be criminal, as opposme, when I see plainly what I am ing that continuance here, which our able to effect; than I can question very composition shows our Maker for what purposes a watch or a clock to have designed us.

is designed, when I am duly apprised But that our frame should be barehow the different parts of it act upon ly upheld, cannot be all we are to do each other, to what they all concur, for it; we must preserve it in its most and to what only. perfect state, in a state in which its several powers can be best exerted.

as

We want no reasoning to convince us, that a frame so curious as the hu- To take this care about it, is eviman, must be made in order to its dently required of us. Any unfitcontinuance, as long as the materials ness for the functions of life is a parcomposing it will admit; and that we tial death. I don't see of what we ourselves must give it such continu- can well be more certain, than that ance how this is shortened, how it all the health and strength, of which is prolonged, we are likewise all of our constitution admits, were intendus fully sensible. There is no man ed us in it; and they must, therebut perceives what will hasten his fore, be as becoming our concern, dissolution, and what will probably it is to hinder the ruin of our constiretard it; by what management of tution: we know not how sufficienthimself he is sure to pass but few ly to lament the loss of them, even years in the world; and by what he from the advantage of which they is likely to be upheld in it for many. are to us in themselves, not only from Here then our rule is obvious; these their preventing the uneasiness, the notices afforded us to make it so pains, and the numerous inconveniwhen we are taught, that the support ences with which the sickly and inof our life must be agreeable to him firm have to struggle, but likewise from whom we received it, and that from the satisfaction they give us in we are appointed to give it this sup- our being, from what we feel, when port, that it must come from ourselves, our blood flows regularly, our nerves from what we do in order to it; have their due tone, and our vigour we are at the same time instructed is entire.