The MORAL.
REFLEXION.
In the Fable of the Horſe and the Aſs, (Numb. 38.) The Aſs finds himſelf Miſtaken in his Opinion, both of the Foundation of Happineſs, and of the Stability of it. His Miſtake in This, looks another way; for he took his Brother to be Happy when he was not ſo: Even according to his own Standard: But we are too too apt to think other People more Happy, and our ſelves Leſs, then in Truth, They, or We are: Which Savours of a Malevolence on the One hand, and an Ingratitude on the Other. Nay it falls out many times, that the Envious Perſons are rather to be Envy'd of the Two. What had the Wild Aſs here to Complain of, or the Tame One to be Envy’d for: The Former was but in the Plight that Wild Aſſes uſually are; and in truth ought to be. When they are in the Woods they are at Home, and a Forreſt-Life, to them, is but according to Nature. As to the State and Rudeneſs of his Body, ‘tis but Anſwerable to the Condition of his Lot. The Tame Aſs, 'tis true, was Better Fed, but then he was Harder Wrought, and in the Carrying of Packs, he did but ſerve Mankind in the Trade that Providence had Aſſign’d him; for he was made for Burdens. 'Tis a Fine Thing to be Fat and Smooth; but 'tis a Finer Thing to Live at Liberty and Eaſe.
To ſpeak Properly, and to the Point, there is no ſuch Thing as Happineſſ or Miſery in this World (commonly ſo Reputed) but by Compariſon; neither is there any Man ſo Miſerable, as not to be Happy, or ſo Happy as not to be Miſerable, in ſome Reſpect or Other: Only we are apt to Envy our Neighbours the Poſſeſſion of Thoſe Advantages that we Want, without ever giving Thanks for the Bleſſings that They Want, and We ourſelves Enjoy. Now This Mixture in the Diſtributions of Providence, duly Conſider'd, ſerves to make us Eaſy, as well as Neceſſary One to Another; and ſo to Unite us in a Conſiſtence both of Friendſhip, and of Civil Convenience: For it is no leſſ Requiſite to Maintain a Truck in the Matter of Moral Offices, and Natural Faculties, then in the Common Bus'neſs of Negotiation, and Commerce; and Humane Society can no more Subſiſt without the One, then without the Other. One Man furniſhes Brains, Another Mony, a Third, Power, Credit, Mediation, Intelligence, Advice, Labour, Induſtry: (to ſay Nothing of a Thouſand other Inſtances Reducible to This Head) ſo that the Rule of Communication holds as well betwixt Man and Man; as betwixt Country and Country; What One has Not, Another Has, and there is not That Man Living, but in ſome Caſe, or Other, ſtands in Need of his Neighbour, Take away This Correſpondence, and the very Frame of all Political Bodies drops to pieces. Every thing is Beſt in fine, As God has Made it, and where Godhas
