sphere of personal knowledge. Then consider this greatness in itself; divested of all higher considerations, what is it but a wonderous tale, to astonish foreigners *; the shining subject of a book of voyages perhaps, that will be thrown aside by the first incredulous person, as a lye, and read by the serious and the thoughtful, with such reflections, as the pride of the monarch would little approve. It must be considered too as subject to hourly revolutions: besides, that all the state of an eastern monarch is incapable of affording the least relish, to one, who has been used to the refinements of life, in more humanized nations. The highest gratitude must surely be raised in us, by such comparisons as these, when we reflect, that those moral and civil improvements, which seem to set our little corner of the globe, so far above the rest, that, like that mountain, which the Siamese imagine. * I demens et sæves curre per Alpes, Ut pueris placeas, et declamatio fias. JUV. SAT. X. Thus elegantly paraphrased by Johnson in his application of the Satirist's character of Hannibal, to that of Charles XII. of Sweden. He left the name at which the world grew pale, to stand on those gems, in the midst of the earth, the sun and moon, seem to have their revolutions only round that, cheering and enlightening it with their warmest beams. Such an extensive view of human kind, as this, leads likewise to a general benevolence, dilates and enlarges the heart, as well as the imagination. Where we behold a cultivated spot of land, the eye dwells on it with pleasure: and when we see nothing but wild and barren deserts around us, we wish that they could be improved into the same smiling scene. We learn to look on the savage Indian, as our fellow-creature, who has a mind as capable of every exalted satisfaction, as ours; and therefore we pity him for the want of those enjoyments, on which we pride ourselves. From compassionate thoughts kind actions naturally flow: our endeavours will, in some degree, follow our wish, wherever it is sincere: and would we all join our endeavours to do all the good we are able, this earth would soon become a subject of such delightful contemplation, as should make us reflect, with infinite delight, upon the study, that had first led us into so useful a train of thoughts. ESSAY XV. On Consistency of Character. It is very strange, and not less grievous, that almost all people should have such an inequality in their conduct, as in ten thousand unheeded instances, daily to contradict those fundamental principles of duty and reason, which, in matters of more acknowledged importance, they justly make it their glory to act up to. The person who goes contrary to those principles, upon deliberate reflection, we all shun and detest: and is mere heedlessness so great a virtue, as to atone for our behaving in the same faulty way, because we do it, without making so deep reflection, as we ought? A few instances may explain what I mean, and I believe, there are few persons, who will not find something of the same sort, at home, within themselves. Good nature is a quality that people are as fond of possessing as any.-Does it ever hold, throughout? That pain, which we should abhor to inflict on the body of a friend, or a dependant, do we never suffer our caprice or humour to inflict it on their mind, an infinitely tenderer part?-That resentment and dislike, which we are strongly upon our guard against feeling, in return for real injuries, and should justly reckon ourselves very bad Christians if we did otherwise, do we never make them the punishment of trivial offences, and slight disagreeablenesses, in those to whom, perhaps we have solid obligations? At the same time that we should desire, in cases of importance, to do all our fellow-creatures all possible good, do we seriously enough consider that the repeating an idle story, or spreading upon slight grounds, a disagreeable report, is acting most directly contrary to those laudable desires? We can actually do good but to few: but we ought to wish it as sincerely and as warmly to all, as if they were truly within the small circle of our own influence: and consequently, a mind, that is as good as it should be, will feel itself heartily interested in every interest of our fellow-creatures. Should we then listen with complacency, or even with careless ears, to the story of such faults, frailties and follies, as are real misfortunes to them? Patience and resignation are what, in the severest trials, we should earnestly wish to be distinguished for. Do we practise them on trifling occasions? Let every one of us be asked-can you bear to be put out of your own way, to accommodate your humour to the varieties of human life, and however your day is turned and interrupted, cheerfully make the best of it? Can you improve little inconveniences into something tolerable and even useful? It may generally be done if people would but set their minds to it. You are convinced, perhaps that a cheerful, grateful disposition is that, which above all others, ought to be cultivated by creatures formed for immortal happiness, guided in their way to it, by the most gracious Providence, and continually under the eye, and care of the most excellent and amiable of beings. But do you always act, and think and speak consistently with this persuasion? Is none of your breath wasted in vain sighs? Do you never voluntarily indulge the overflowings of a fruitless sorrow? Do you never, by giving way to a momentary disgust, resentment or |