. consideration might furnish us with many in- Creator by what he suffers from him! He is centives to devotion, and motives to morali- as essentially present in hell as in heaven; ty; but, as this subject has been handled by but the inhabitants of the former behold him several excellent writers, I shall consider it in only in his wrath, and shrink within the a light wherein I have not seen it placed by flames to conceal themselves from him. It others. is not in the power of imagination to conceive the fearful effects of Omnipotence incensed. 'First, How disconsolate is the condition of an intellectual being, who is thus present with his Maker, but at the same time receives no extraordinary benefit or advantage from this his presence! Secondly, How deplorable is the condition of an intellectual being, who feels no other effects from his presence, but such as proceeds from divine wrath and indignation! · But I shall only consider the wretchedness of an intellectual being, who in this life lies under the displeasure of him, that at all times and in all places is intimately united with him. He is able to disquiet the soul, and vex it in all its faculties. He can hinder any of the greatest comforts of life from refreshing us, and Thirdly, How happy is the condition of give an edge to every one of its slightest calathat intellectual being, who is sensible of his mities. Who then can bear the thought of Maker's presence, from the secret effects of being an outcast from his presence, that is, his mercy and loving kindness! from the comforts of it, or of feeling it only First, How disconsolate is the condition of in its terrors! How pathetic is that expostuan intellectual being who is thus present with lation of Job, when, for the trial of his pati his Maker, but at the same time receives no ence, he was made to look upon himself in this extraordinary benefit or advantage from this deplorable condition! "Why hast thou set me his presence! Every particle of matter is ac- as a mark against thee, so that I am become a tuated by this Almighty Being which passes burden to myself?" But, thirdly, how happy through it. The heavens and the earth, the is the condition of that intellectual being, who stars and planets, move and gravitate by virtue is sensible of his Maker's presence from the of this great principle within them. All the secret effects of his mercy and loving kinddead parts of nature are invigorated by the ness! presence of their Creator, and made capable of 'The blessed in heaven behold him face to exerting their respective qualities. The seve- face; that is, are as sensible of his presence ral instincts, in the brute creation, do likewise as we are of the presence of any person whom operate and work towards the several ends we look upon with our eyes. There is, doubtwhich are agreeable to them, by this divine less, a faculty in spirits, by which they appreenergy. Man only, who does not co-operate hend one another as our senses do material with his Holy Spirit, and is unattentive to his objects; and there is no question but our presence, receives none of those advantages souls, when they are disembodied, or placed in from it which are perfective of his nature, and glorified bodies, will, by this faculty, in whatnecessary to his well being. The Divinity is ever part or space they reside, be always senwith him, and in him, and every where about sible of the Divine Presence. We, who have him, but of no advantage to him. It is the this veil of flesh standing between us and the same thing to a man without religion, as if world of spirits, must be content to know that there were no God in the world. It is indeed the Spirit of God is present with us, by the impossible for an Infinite Being to remove him- effects which he produces in us. Our outward self from any of his creatures; but though he senses are too gross to apprehend him; we cannot withdraw his essence from us, which may however taste and see how gracious he would argue an imperfection in him, he can is, by his influence upon our minds, by those withdraw from us all the joys and consolations virtuous thoughts which he awakens in us, by of it. His presence may perhaps be necessary those secret comforts and refreshments which to support us in our existence; but he may he conveys into our souls, and by those ravishleave this our existence to itself, with regard ing joys and inward satisfactions which are to its happiness or misery. For, in this sense, perpetually springing up, and diffusing themhe may cast us away from his presence, and selves among all the thoughts of good men. take his Holy Spirit from us. This single con- He is lodged in our very essence, and is as a sideration one would think sufficient to make soul within the soul to irradiate its understandus open our hearts to all those infusions of ing, rectify its will, purify its passions, and joy and gladness which are so near at hand, enliven all the powers of man. How happy and ready to be poured in upon us; especial- therefore is an intellectual being, who, by ly when we consider, secondly, the deplora- prayer and meditation, by virtue and good ble condition of an intellectual being who feels works, opens this communication between God no other effects from his Maker's presence and his own soul! Though the whole creation but such as proceed from divine wrath and frowns upon him, and all nature looks black indignation. about him, he has his light and support within 'We may assure ourselves, that the great him, that are able to cheer his mind, and Author of nature will not always be as one bear him up in the midst of all those horrors who is indifferent to any of his creatures. which encompass him. He knows that his Those who will not feel him in his love, will helper is at hand, and is always nearer to him be sure at length to feel him in his displeasure. than any thing else can be, which is capable And how dreadful is the condition of that crea- of annoying or terrifying him. In the midst of ture, who is only sensible of the being of his calumny or contempt, he attends to that Being who whispers better things within his soul, and hopes for relief from the most ignorant, when whom he looks upon as his defender, his glory, the most able physicians give him none.— and the lifter-up of his head. In his deepest Though impudence and many words are as solitude and retirement, he knows that he is necessary to these itinerary Galens, as a laced in company with the greatest of beings; and hat to a merry-Andrew, yet they would turn perceives within himself such real sensations very little to the advantage of the owner, if of his presence, as are more delightful than any there were not some inward disposition in the thing that can be met with in the conver-sick man to favour the pretensions of the sation of his creatures. Even in the hour mountebank. Love of life in the one, and of of death, he considers the pains of his dis-money in the other, creates a good corresponsolution to be nothing else but the breaking dence between them. down of that partition, which stands betwist. his soul and the sight of that Being who is always present with him, and is about to manifest itself to him in fulness of joy. There is scarce a city in Great Britain but has one of this tribe, who takes it into his protection, and on the market-day harangues the good people of the place with aphorisms 'If we would be thus happy, and thus sen- and receipts. You may depend upon it he sible of our Maker's presence, from the secret comes not there for his own. private interest, effects of his mercy and goodness, we must but out of a particular affection to to the town. I keep such a watch over all our thoughts, that, remember one of these public-spirited artists in the language of the Scripture, his soul may at Hammersmith, who told his audience, that have pleasure in us. We must take care not to he had been born and bred there, and that, grieve his Holy Spirit, and endeavour to make having a special regard for the place of his nathe meditations of our hearts always accept- tivity, he was determined to make a present of able in his sight, that he may delight thus to five shillings to as many as would accept of reside and dwell in us. The light of nature it. The whole crowd stood agape, and reacould direct Seneca to this doctrine, in a very dy to take the doctor at his word; when putremarkable passage among his epistles: "Sa- ting his hand into a long bag, as every one cer inest in nobis spiritus bonorum malorum-was expecting his crown-piece, he drew out que custos, et observator, et quemadmodum nos a handful of little packets, each of which illum tractamus, ita et ille nos." "There he inforined the spectators was constantly is a holy spirit residing in us, who watches sold at five shillings and six-pence, but that and observes both good and evil men, and will he would bate the odd five shillings to every treat us after the same manner that we treat inhabitant of that place: the whole assembly him," But I shall conclude this discourse with those more emphatical words in divine revelation, "If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." No. 572.] Monday, July 26, 1714. Promittunt medici Hor. Ep. i. Lib. 2. 115. immediately closed with this generous offer, and took off all his physic, after the doctor had made them vouch for one another, that there were no foreigners among them, but that they were all Hammersmith men. 'There is another branch of pretenders to this art, who, without either horse or pickleherring, lie snug in a garret, and send down notice to the world of their extraordinary parts and abilities by printed bills and advertisements. These seem to have derived their custom from an eastern nation which Herodotus speaks of, among whom it was a law, that, I AM the more pleased with these my pa- whenever any cure was performed, both the pers, since I find they have encouraged several method of the cure, and an account of the dismen of learning and wit to become my cor- temper, should be fixed in some public place; respondents: I yesterday received the follow-but, as customs will corrupt, these our moing essay against quacks, which I shall here derns provide themselves of persons to atcommunicate to my readers for the good of test the cure before they publish or make the public, begging the writer's pardon for an experiment of the prescription. I have those additions and retrenchments which I have heard of a porter, who serves as a knight made in it. of the post under one of these operators, 'The desire of life is so natural and strong and, though he was never sick in his life, a passion, that I have long since ceased to has been cured of all the diseases in the wonder at the great encouragement which the Dispensary. These are the men whose sapractice of physic finds among us. Well-con-gacity has invented elixirs of all sorts, pills stituted governments have always made the and lozenges, and take it as an affront if you profession of a physician both honourable and come to them before you are given over by advantageous. Homer's Machaon and Virgil's every body else. Their medicines are infalliJapsis were men of renown, heroes in war, and ble, and never fail of success-that is, of enmade at least as much havoc among their riching the doctor, and setting the patient enemies as among their friends. Those who effectually at rest. have little or no faith in the abilities of a 'I lately dropt into a coffee-house at Westquack, will apply themselves to him, either minster, where I found the room hung round because he is willing to sell health at a rea-with ornaments of this nature. There were sonable profit, or because the patient, like a elixirs, tinctures, the Anodyne Fotus, English drowning man, catches at every twig, and pills, electuaries, and, in short, more remedies than I believe there are diseases. At the sight | He tugs with pincers, but he tugs in vain. of so many inventions, I could not but imagine The patron of his art refus'd his aid. Then to the patron of his art he pray'd; myself in a kind of arsenal or magazine where But now the goddess mother, mov'd with grief, store of arms was reposited against any sudden And piere'd with pity, hastens her relief. invasion. Should you be attacked by the ene- A branch of healing dittany she brought, my sideways, here was an infallible piece of Which in the Cretan fields with care she sought; defensive armour to cure the pleurisy: should The leaves with flowers, the flow'rs with purple crown'å¡ Rough in the stem, which woolly leaves surround; a distemper beat up your head-quarters, here Well known to wounded goats; a sure relief you might purchase an impenetrable helmet: To draw the pointed steel, and ease the grief. or, in the language of the artist, a cephalic Th' extracted liquor with Ambrosian dews, This Venus brings, in clouds involv'd; and brews tincture: if your main body be assaulted, And od'rous penance: unseen she stands, here are various kinds of armour in case of Temp'ring the mixture with her heavenly hands; various onsets. I began to congratulate the And pours it in a bowl already crown'd [wound. present age upon the happiness men might The leech, unknowing of superior art, With juice of med'cinal herbs, prepared to bathe the reasonably hope for in life, when death was Which aids the cure, with this foments the part; thus in a manner defeated, and when pain Aud in a moment ceas'd the raging smart. itself would be of so short a duration, that it Stanch'd in the blood and in the bottom stands would but just serve to enhance the value of Moves up and follows of its own accord : The steel, but scarcely touch'd with tender hands, pleasure. While I was in these thoughts, I And health and vigour are at once restor❜d. unluckily called to mind a story of an inge- lapis first perceiv'd the closing wound; nious gentleman of the last age, who lying Arms, arms!' he cries: 'the sword and shield prepare, And first the footsteps of a god he found violently afflicted with the gout, a person came And send the willing chief, renew'd, to war. and offered his service to cure him by a me- This is no mortal work, no cure of mine, thod which he assured him was infallible; the Nor art's effect, but done by hands divine. servant who received the message carried it up to his master, who inquiring whether the person came on foot or in a chariot, and being No. 573.] Wednesday, July 28, 1714. informed that he was on foot: "Go," says he, "send the knave about his business: was his method as infallible as he pretends, he would long before now have been in his coach and six." Virg. Æn. Lib. xii. 391. &c. Castigata remordent. Juv. Sat. ii. 35. Chastised, the accusation they retort. My paper on the club of widows, has the rest, a long one from Mrs. President, as brought me in several letters; and, amongst follows: SMART SIR, In like manner I conclude that, had all these advertisers arrived to that skill they pretend to, they would have had no need for so many years successively to publish to the world the place of their abode, and the virtues of their medicines. One of these gentlemen indeed pretends to an effectual cure for lean'You are pleased to be very merry, as you ness: what effects it may have upon those imagine, with us widows: and you seem to who have tried it I cannot tell; but I am ground your satire on our receiving consolation credibly informed, that the call for it has so soon after the death of our dears, and the been so great, that it has effectually cured number we are pleased to admit for our comthe doctor himself of that distemper. Could panions; but you never reflect what husbands each of them produce so good an i stance we have buried, and how short a sorrow the of the success of his medicines, they might loss of them was capable of occasioning. For soon persuade the world into an opinion of my own part Mrs. President as you call me, my first husband I was married to at fourteen 'I observe that most of the bills agree in by my uncle and guardian (as I afterwards disone expression, viz. that "with God's blessing" covered) by way of sale, for the third part of they perform such and such cures: this ex- my fortune. This fellow looked upon me as a pression is certainly very proper and emphati- mere child he might breed up after his own cal, for that is all they have for it. And if fancy: if he kissed my chamber-maid before ever a cure is performed on a patient where my face, I was supposed so ignorant, how could they are concerned, they can claim no greater I think there was any hurt in it? When he share in it than Virgil's lapis in the curing of came home roaring drunk at five in the mornEneas; he tried his skill, was very assiduous ing, it was the custom of all men that live in about the wound, and indeed was the only visi- the world. I was not to see a penny of money, ble means that relieved the hero; but the poet for, poor thing how could I manage it? He assures us was the particular assistance of a took a handsome cousin of his into the house deity that speeded the operation. An English (as he said) to be my house-keeper, and to goreader may see the whole story in Mr. Dry-vern my servants; for how should I know how them. den's translation: Propp'd on his lance the pensive hero stood, And heard and saw, unmov'd, the mourning crowd. All soft'ning simples, known af sov'reign use, to rule a family? While she had what money she pleased, which was but reasonable for the trouble she was at for my good, I was not to be so censorious as to dislike familiarity and kindness between near relations. I was too great a coward to contend, but not so ignorant a child to be thus imposed upon. I resented' his contempt as I ought to do, and as most poor passive blinded wives do, until it pleased heaven to take away my tyrant, who left me free possession of my own land, and a day, out of pure spite to him. Half an hour large jointure. My youth and money brought after I was married I received a penitential me many lovers, and several endeavoured letter from the honourable Mr. Edward Waitto establish an interest in my heart while my fort, in which he begged pardon for his pashusband was in his last sickness; the honour-sion, as proceeding from the violence of bis able Edward Waitfort was one of the first who love. I triumphed when I read it, and could addressed to me, advised to it by a cousin of not help, out of the pride of my heart, showing his that was my intimate friend, and knew to it to my new spouse; and we were very merry a penny what I was worth. Mr. Waitfort is together upon it. Alas! my mirth lasted a a very agreeable man, and every body would short time; my young husband was very much like him as well as he does himself, if they did in debt when I married him, and his first acnot plainly see that his esteem and love is tion afterwards was to set up a gilt chariot all taken up, and by such an object as it is and six in fine trappings before and behind. impossible to get the better of; I mean him-I had married so hastily, I had not the pruself. He made no doubt of marrying me dence to reserve my estate in my own hands; withia four or five months, and began to pro- my ready money was lost in two nights at the ceed with such an assured easy air, that piqued Groom-porter's; and my diamond necklace, my pride not to banish him quite contrary, which was stole I did not know how, I met out of pure malice, I heard his first decla- in the street upon Jenny Wheedle's neck. My ration with so much innocent surprise, and plate vanished piece by piece: and I had been blushed so prettily, I perceived it touched his reduced to downright pewter, if my officer had very heart, and he thought me the best-natur- not been deliciously killed in a duel, by a feled. silly poor thing on earth. When a man low that had cheated him of five hundred has such a notion of a woman, he loves her pounds, and afterwards, at his own request, better than he thinks he does. I was over-satisfied him and me too, by running him joyed to be thus revenged on him for design- through the body. Mr. Waitfort was still in ing on my fortune; and finding it was in my love, and told me so again; and, to prevent power to make his heart ache, I resolved to all fears of ill usage, he desired me to reserve complete my conquest, and entertained seve-every thing in my own hands: but now my ral other pretenders. The first impression acquaintance began to wish me joy of his conof my undesigning innocence was so strong in stancy, my charms were declining, and I his head, he attributed all my followers to the could not resist the delight I took in showing inevitable force of my charms: and, from the young flirts about town it was yet in my several blushes and side glances, concluded power to give pain to a man of sense; this, himself the favourite; and when I used him and some private hopes he would hang himlike a dog for my diversion, he thought it self, and what a glory would it be for me, and was all prudence and fear; and pitied the vio- how should I be envied, made me accept of belence I did my own inclinations to complying third wife to my lord Friday. I proposed with my friends, when I married Sir Nicholas from my rank and his estate, to live in all the Fribble of sixty years of age. You know, joys of pride; but how was I mistaken! he sir, the case of Mrs. Medlar. I hope you was neither extravagant, nor ill-natured, nor would not have had me cry out my eyes for debauched. I suffered however more with such a husband. I shed tears enough for my him than with all my others. He was splenewidowhood a week after my marriage; and tic. I was forced to sit whole days hearkening when he was put in his grave, reckoning he to his imaginary ails; it was impossible to had been two years dead, and myself a widow tell what would please him, what he liked of that standing, I married three weeks after-when the sun shined, made him sick when it wards John Sturdy, esq. his next heir. I had rained; he had no distemper, but lived in indeed some thoughts of taking Mr. Waitfort constant fear of them all. My good genius but I found he could stay; and besides, he dictated to me to bring him acquainted with thought it indecent to ask me to marry again Dr. Gruel; from that day he was always conuntil my year was out; so, privately resolv-tented, because he had names for all his coming him for my fourth, I took Mr. Sturdy for plaints; the good doctor furnished him with the present. Would you believe it, sir, Mr. reasons for all his pains; and prescriptions Sturdy was just five-and-twenty, about six foot for every fancy that troubled him; in hot high, and the stoutest fox hunter in the coun-weather he lived upon juleps, and let blood try, and I believe I wished ten thousand times to prevent fevers; when it grew cloudy, he for my old Fribble again; he was following generally apprehended a consumption. To his dogs all the day, and all the night keeping shorten the history of this wretched part of them up at table with him and his companions: my life, he ruined a good constitution by enhowever, I think myself obliged to them for deavouring to mend it; and took several medleading him a chase in which he broke his icines, which ended in taking the grand remeneck. Mr. Waitfort began his addresses anew; dy, which cured both him and me of all of our and I verily believe I had married h him now, uneasiness. After his death, I did not exbut there was a young officer in guards that pect to hear any more of Mr. Waitfort. I had debauched two or three of my acquaintance knew he had renounced me to all his friends, and I could not forbear being a little vain of and been very witty upon my choice, which his courtship. Mr. Waitfort heard of it, and he affected to talk of with great indifferency. read me such an insolent lecture upon the con- I gave over thinking of him, being told that duct of women, I married the officer that very he was engaged with a pretty woman and a 1 Non possidentem multa vocaveris Hor. Od. ix. Lib. 4. 45. Believe not those that lands possess, great fortune; it vexed me a little, but not haved myself so well upon the occasion, that enough to make me neglect the advice of my to this day I believe he died of an apoplexy. cousin Wishwell, that came to see me the Mr. Waitfort was resolved not to be too late day my lord went into the country with Rus- this time, and I heard from him in two days. sel; she told me experimentally, nothing put I am almost out of my weeds at this present an unfaithful lover and a dear husband so writing, and very doubtful whether I will marsoon out of one's head as a new one, and at ry him or no. I do not think of a seventh for the same time proposed to me a kinsman of the ridiculous reason you mention, but out her's. "You understand enough of the world," of pure morality that I think so much consaid she, to know money is the most valuable stancy should be rewarded, though I may not consideration; he is very rich, and I am sure do it after all perhaps. I do not believe all cannot live long; he has a cough that must the unreasonable malice of mankind can give carry him off soon." I knew afterwards she a pretence why I should have been constant had given the self-same character of me to to the memory of any of the deceased, or have him; but however I was so much persuaded spent much time in grieving for an insolent, by her, I hastened on the match for fear he insignificant, negligent, extravagant splenetic, should die before the time came; he had the or covetous husband: my first insulted me, same fears, and was so pressing. I married my second was nothing to me, my third dishim in a fortnight, resolving to keep it private gusted me, the fourth would have ruined me, a fortnight longer. During this fortnight Mr. the fifth tormented me, and the sixth would Waitfort came to make me a visit: he told me have starved me. If the other ladies you name he had waited on me sooner, but had that re- would thus give in their husband's pictures at spect for me, he would not interrupt me in the length, you would see they have had as little first day of my affliction for my dead lord; reason as myself to lose their hours in weepthat, as soon as he heard I was at liberty to ing and wailing, make another choice, he had broke off a match very advantageous for his fortune, just upon No. 574.] Friday, July 30, 1714.. the point of conclusion, and was forty times more in love with me than ever. I never received more pleasure in my life than from this declaration; but I composed my face to a grave air, and said the news of his engagement had touched me to the heart, that in a rash jealous fit I had married a man I could never have thought on, if I had not lost all hopes of him. Good-natured Mr. Waitfort had liked to have dropped down dead at hearing this, but went from me with such an air as plainly showed me he had laid all the blame upon himself, and hated those friends that had advised him to the fatal application; I WAS once engaged in discourse with a Kohe seemed as much touched by my misfor- sicrucian about the great secret.' As this tune as his own, for he had not the least kind of men (I mean those of them who are doubt I was still passionately in love with him. not professed cheats) are overrun with enthuThe truth of the story is, my new husband siasm and philosophy, it was very amusing to gave me reason to repent I had not staid for hear this religious adept descanting on his prehim; he had married me for my money, and tended discovery. He talked of the secret as I soon found he loved money to distraction; of a spirit which lived within an emerald, and there was nothing he would not do to get it; converted every thing that was near it to the nothing he would not suffer to preserve it: highest perfection it is capable of. 'It gives the smallest expense kept him awake whole a lustre,' says he, to the sun, and water to nights; and when he paid a bill, it was with the diamond. It irradiates every metal, and as many sighs, and after as many delays, enriches lead with all the properties of gold. as a man that endures the loss of a limb. It heightens smoke into flame, flame into 1 heard nothing but reproofs for extravagan- light, and light into glory.' He further adcy whatever I did. I saw very well that he ded, that a single ray of it dissipates pain, would have starved me, but for losing my and care, and melancholy, from the person on jointures; and he suffered agonies between whom it falls. In short,, says he,' its prethe grief of seeing me have so good a stomach, sence naturally changes every place into a and the fear that, if he had made me fast, it kind of heaven. After he had gone on for might prejudice my health. I did not doubt some time in this unintelligible cant, I found he would have broke my heart, ifI did not that he jumbled natural and moral ideas tobreak his, which was allowable by the law gether in the same discourse, and that his of self-defence. The way was very easy. Igreat secret was nothing else but content. resolved to spend as much money as I could; This virtue does indeed produce, in some and, before he was aware of the stroke, ap-measure, all those effects which the alchymist peared before him in a two thousand pound usually ascribes to what he calls the philosodiamond necklace: he said nothing, but went pher's stone; and if it does not bring riches, quietly to his chamber, and, as it is thought, it does the same thing, by banishing the decomposed himself with a dose of opium. I be- sire of them. If it cannot remove the dis But rather those that know Creech. |