Imagini ale paginilor
PDF
ePub

contracting their desires, an excellent saying of Bion, the philosopher, namely, "That no man had so much care as he who endeavors after the most happiness."

11. In the second place, every one ought to reflect how much more unhappy he might be than he really is. The former consideration took in all those, who are sufficiently provided5 with the means to make themselves easy; this regards such as actually lie under some pressure6 of misfortune. These may receive great alleviation7 from such a comparison as the unhappy person may make between himself and others; or be tween the misfortunes8 which he

[ocr errors]

Reflect, v ta think, consider, reproach, cast back..

5 Provided part made ready, prepared.

6 Pressure, s

force, impression.

7 Alleviation, act of making easy.

8 Misfortunę, s

suffers, and greater misfortunes ill luck,calamity which might have befallen him.

12. I like the story of the honest Dutchman, who, upon breaking his leg by a fall from the mainmast9" the chief or mid 9 Mainmhast, s told the standers by, it was a great dle mast of a mercy it was not his neck. To ship. which, since I have got into quota- passages quot † Quotation, s tions, give me leave to add the say-ed,-citations. ing of an old philosopher, who, after having invited some of his friends to dine with him, was ruffled by a person that came into the room in a passion, and threw down the table that stood before them: Eve

ry one,' says he has his calamity,✶

Calamity, s misfortune, cause of dis

tress, misery.

and he is a happy man that has no greater than this.'

13. We find an instance to the same purpose in the life of Doctor Hammond, written by bishop Fell, As this good man was troubled with a complication2 of distempers, when he had the gouts upon him, he used to thank God that it was not the stone; and when he had the stone, that he had not both these distempers on him at the same time.

2 Complication, s a mixture of many things.

3 Gout,s a most

painful distem

per.

• System, a method,scheme

§. Condition, a term of agree ment, quality, rank, state

14. I cannot conclude this essay without observing that there never was any system* besides that of Christianity, which could effectu- plan, theory. ally produce in the mind of man the virtue I have been hitherto speaking of. In order to make us contented with our conditions many of the present philosophers teli ns, that our discontent only hurts ourselves, without being able to make any alteration in our circumstances; others, that whatever befals us is derived to us by fatal necessity, to which superior beings themselves are subject; while others, very gravely teli the man who is miserable, that it is necessary he should be so, to keep up the harmony5 of the universe; and that the scheme6 of Providence would be troubled and perverted; were he otherwise,

5 Harmony, a just proportion

of sound

6 Scheme, plan, a proj

[ocr errors]

15: These, and the like, consid erations, rather silence than satisfy a man. They may shew him that bis discontent? is unreaonable, but they are by no means sufficient to relieve it. They rather give despairs than consolation. In a word, man might reply, to one of these Comforters, as Augustus did to his friend, who advised him not to grieve for the death of a person whom he loved, because his grief could not fetch him again : It is for that very reason,' said the Emperor, that I grieve."

16. On the contrary, religion bears a more tender regard to human nature. It prescribes9 to every miserable man the means of bet tering his condition: nay, it shows him that bearing his afflictions as he ought to do, will naturally end in the removal of them. It makes him easy here, because it can make fiim happy hereafter.

Rank and Riches afford no groundt for Envy.

1. Of all the grounds of envy a mong men, superiority in rank and fortune is the most general.Hence, the malignity2 which the

7 Discontent, want of con

tent, sorrow,

8 Despain loss of confidence. des pondence?

9 Prescribes, directs medical ly, orders.

$ Affliction, distress,misery sorrow, pain;

Superiority, s a being higher. 2 Malignity, & destructive tendency, malice:

poor commonly bear to the rich, as engrossing to themselves all the comforts of life. Hence, the evil eye with which persons of inferior station scrutinize3 those who are above them in rank; and if they ap-. proach to that rank, their envy is. generally strongest against such as are just one step higher than themselves.

[ocr errors]

3 Scrutinize, to examine diligently.

4 Disquietudej uneasiness, want of tran quility.

2. Alas! my friends, all this envious disquietu le4 which agitates the world, arises from a deceitful figure which imposes on the public view. False colors are hung out: the real state of men is not what it seems to be: The order of society requires a distinctions of ranks to 5 Distinction, & take place; but in point of happiness, all men come much nearer to equality than is commonly imagincd ;6 and the circumstances which form any material difference of happiness among them are not of that nature which render them grounds of envy.*

but

3 The poor man possesses not, it is true, some of the conveniences and pleasures of the rich; in return, he is free from many embarrassments7 to which they are subject. By the simplicity8 and uniformity of his life, he is diliver. ed from that variety of cares which perplex9 those who have great af

difference, qual

ity.

6 Imagined.part contrived, fáñcied.

• Envy, s vexation at another's prosperity.

[blocks in formation]

fairs to manage, intricate plans to pursue, many enemies, perhaps to encounter2 in the pursuit.

† Intricate, a entangled, perplexed.

2 Encounter, v to attack, to en

gage.

3 Satisfactory, a

4. In the tranquility of his small habitation, and private family, he enjoys a peace which is often unknown at courts. The gratifications of nature, which are always the most satisfactory,3 are always giving content. possessed by him to their full extent; and if he be a stranger to the refined pleasures of the wealthy, he is unacquainted also with the desires of them, and by consequence, feels no want. His plain meal satisfies his appetite, with a relish, probably, higher than that of the rich man, who sits down to his luxurious banquet.4

ness are.

4 Banquet, 5. His sleep is more sound: his a feast. health more firta; he knows not what spleen, languor, and listlessHis accustomed employments or labors are not more oppressive5 to him, than the labors of attendance on courts and the great, the labors of dress-the fatigues of amusement, the very weight of idleness, frequently are to the rich.

6. In the mean time, all the beauty of the face of nature, all the en-. joyments of domestico society, all the gaiety and cheerfulness of an easy mind, are as open to him as to those of the highest rank. The

spite, anger,
* Spleen, s
melancholy.
5 Oppressive, a
cruel, overwhel
ming.

6 Domestic, a belonging to a

house, private.

« ÎnapoiContinuă »