earthy droſs, by teaching him to love the centre of all perfection; whoſe wiſdom appears clearer and clearer in the works of nature, in proportion as reaſon is illuminated and exalted by contemplation, and by acquiring that love of order which the ſtruggles of paſſion produce?
The habit of reflection, and the knowledge attained by foſtering any paſſion, might be ſhewn to be equally uſeful, though the object be proved equally fallacious; for they would all appear in the ſame light, if they were not magnified by the governing paſſion implanted in us by the Author of all good, to call forth and ſtrengthen the faculties of each individual, and enable it to attain all the experience that an infant can obtain, who does certain things, it cannot tell why.
I deſcend from my height, and mixing with my fellow-creatures, feel myſelf hurried along the common ſtream; ambition, love, hope and fear, exert their wonted power, though we be convinced by reaſon that their preſent and moſt attractive promiſes are only lying dreams; but had the cold hand of circumſpection damped each generous feeling before it had left any permanent character, or fixed ſome habit, what could be expected, but ſelfiſh prudence and reaſon juſt riſing above inſtinct? Who that has read Dean Swift's diſguſting deſcription of the Yahoos, and inſipid one of Houyhnhnm with a philoſophical eye, can avoid ſeeing the futility of degrading the paſſions, or making man reſt in contentment?
The youth ſhould act; for had he the experience of a grey head he would be fitter for death than life, though his virtues, rather reſiding in
