contrary to the laws in this case made and pro-person, kept in perpetual neatness, hath won may I am, sia, Your very humble servant, 'в. м. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1714. HOR. Od v. 1. 1. ver. 5. Damit the herp of art. cs, where I had for my a heart from a pretty slattern. Age itself is unamiable, while it is preserved clean and un lied: like a piece of metal constantly kept smo and bright, we look on it with more pleasure than on a vessel that is cankered with rust. I might observe further, that as cleanliness per ders us agreeable to others, so it makes us eas ourselves: that it is an excellent preservative health; and that several vices, destructive both mind and body, are inconsistent with the habit it. But these reflections I shall leave to the i sure of my readers, and shall observe, in the t place, that it bears a great analogy with purity mind, and naturally inspires refined sentiments passions. We find from experience, that through the po valence of custom the most vicious actions their horror by being made familiar to us. Ont za e mies out of town, some Sea, and a pretty young Some to neination to talk contrary, those who live in the neighbourbood שחייהced myself backward, good examples, fly from the first appearances sarves hem and pick a specula. what is shocking. It fares with us much after ompauns. Their different same manner as our ideas. Our senses, which সুখবর যারে er if hemselves to draw my the inlets to all the images conveyed to the mi Tema was dressed in a suit, can only transmit the impression of such things where had been blanck, as I perceived usually surround them. So that pure and unsu *s that had escaped the pow. Fe was mehrweared with the greatest part שראל אוg, which cost no small sum, a manner cast over his shoulseemed not to have been combed since mabed with 1 2 thoughts are naturally suggested to the mint those objects that perpetually encompass us, they are beautiful and elegant in their kind. In the east, where the warmth of the clim of makes cleanliness more immediately necessary men, which was not much con- in colder countries, it is made one part of the Vi plain Spanish from the religion: the Jewish law, and the Mahomet the west button; and the diamond upon which in some things copies after it, is filled win shigen stehnaturally dreaded the water) put bathings, purifications, and other rites of the we a nare res it sparkled amidst the rubbish of nature. Though there is the above-named come bac here where it was first discovered. On the nient reason to be assigned for these ceremonias the cesard, he pretty quaker appeared in all the the chief intention undoubtedly was to typit wil came a creaniness Not a speck was to be ward purity and cleanliness of heart by those that apen her. A clear, clean, oval face, just ward washings. We read several injunction spe Inith Ittle thin plaits of the purest this kind in the book of Deuteronomy, which ass save, rece ved great advantages from the shade firm this truth; and which are but ill accounted * 2000, as did the whiteness of her by saying as some do, that they were only institute boo nnat seber coloured stuff in which she for convenience in the desert, which others Spe Jerseif The plainness of her dress could not have been habitable for so many years Fery Passat and suited to the simplicity of her I shall conclude this essay with a story whereas together, though they have somewhere read in an account of Mah wene a great opinion of her religion, superstitions. `સઆરNપયા ૩૫ 1 the A dervise of great sanctity one morning hallation soned my throwing together misfortune, as he took up a crystal cup which Thi pness, which I shall consider consecrated to the prophet, to let it fall upon serve Yes, as Aristotle calls them, ground and dash it in pieces. His son coming time weit under the three following some time after, he stretched out his hand to be stock hark of politeness; as it produces him, as his manner was every morning; but readMarsnalogy to purity of mind. youth going out stumbled over the threshold this teness. It is universally broke his arm. As the old man wondered she h ane, unadorned with this vir. events a caravan passed by in its way from Mean time mpany without giving a manifest the dervise approached it to beg a blessing it, scer er higher any one's fortune as he stroked one of the holy camels, he recei oportionably. The different a kick from the beast that sorely bruised him now od are as much distinguished sorrow and amazement increased upon him, each as their arts and sciences, he recollected that, through hurry and in It civilized, the more they tency, he had that morning come abroad with teness. We need but com- washing his hands. emale Hottentot and an Eng Th consi tribu L. used of the truth of what hath famous circumnavigator Captain Cook, for his surenka days would often cost 40 guineas. following remarkable passage: persuadedhat Paren men as he could induce to be more cleanly than they wo ke a piece of me ht, we look ontbree sel that is ankesir observe furthe greeable to odles it bears a Explebo numerum, reddarque tenebris. VIRG. Æn. vi. ver. 545. the number I'll complete, Then to obscurity well pleas'd retreat. I cannot give the town a better opinion of the Spectator's correspondents than by publishing the following letter, with a very fine copy of verses upon a subject perfectly new. 'MR. SPECTATOR, 'Dublin, Nov. 30, 1714. You lately recommended to your female readers the good old custom of their grandmothers, who used to lay out a great part of their time in needle work. I entirely agree with you in your sentind that sevens. The love of symmetry and order, which is natural ments, and think it would not be of less advanbody, are isso the mind of man, betrays him sometimes into tage to themselves and their posterity, than to the icese refectisery whimsical fancies. This noble principle, reputation of many of their good neighbours, if readers ays a French author, loves to amuse itself on the they passed many of those hours in this innocent Siganost triffing occasions. You may see a profound entertainment which are lost at the tea-table. I Chilosopher,' says he, 'walk for an hour together would, however, humbly offer to your consideran his chamber, and industriously treading, at tion the case of the poetical ladies; who, though merevery step, upon every other board in the flooring. they may be willing to take any advice given them the very reader will recollect several instances of by the Spectator, yet cannot so easily quit their gadzhis nature without my assistance. I think it was pen and ink as you may imagine. Pray allow them, ewhere Gregorio Leti, who had published as many books at least now and then, to indulge themselves in she was years old; which was a rule he had other amusements of fancy when they are tired kharaid down and punctually observed to the year of with stooping to their tapestry. There is a very destis death. It was, perhaps, a thought of the like particular kind of work, which of late several dature which determined Homer himself to divide ladies here in our kingdom are very fond of, which ach of his poems into as many books as there are seems very well adapted to a poetical genius; it is etters in the Greek alphabet. Herodotus has in the making of grottos. I know a lady who has a he same manner adapted his books to the number very beautiful one, composed by herself; nor is f the muses, for which reason many a learned there one shell in it not stuck up by her own hands. nan hath wished there had been more than nine I here send you a poem to the fair architect, which andef that sisterhood. I would not offer to herself until I knew whether Several epic poets have religiously followed this method of a lady's passing her time were apVirgil as to the number of his books; and even proved of by the British Spectator; which, with Milton is thought by many to have changed the the poem, I submit to your censure, who am, theg the here the wishJumber of his books from ten to twelve for no gether reason; as Cowley tells us, it was his design, ad he finished his Davideis, to have also imitated herehe Æneid in this particular. I believe every one will agree with me that a perfection of this nature hath no foundation in reason; and, with due repect to these great names, may be looked upon Here's something whimsical. of De I mention these great examples in defence of my ookseller, who occasioned this eighth volume of Opectators, because, as he said, he thought seven a be des ery odd number. On the other side several grave easons were urged on this important subject; as, particular, that seven was the precise number of he wise men, and that the most beautiful constelation in the heavens was composed of seven stars. This he allowed to be true, but still insisted that even was an odd number: suggesting at the same betime, that if he were provided with a sufficient estock of leading papers, he should find friends cheeady enough to carry on the work. Having by this means got his vessel launched and set afloat, the hath committed the steerage of it, from time to Hime, to such as he thought capable of conducting t. The close of this volume, which the town may wow expect in a little time, may possibly ascribe ach sheet to its proper author.t It were no hard task to continue this paper a considerable time longer by the help of large conributions sent from unknown hands. • This writer used to boast that he had been the author of a pook and the father of a child for twenty years successively. We now that Dean Swift counted the number of steps that he made rom London to Chelsea. And it is said and demonstrated in the Parentaba," that Matthew Wren (Bishop of Ely) walked round he earth while a prisoner in the Tower of London, where he lay sear eighteen years. † This promise seems to have been forgotten; so that as to nost of the papers in this eighth volume, (having no signatures) to satisfactory account can be given of the persons by whom they vere written. "A Grotte so complete, with such design, "Where can unpolish'd nature boast a piece "Charm'd with the sight, my ravish'd breast is fir'd "O, were I equal to the bold design, } コ such objects will give our discourse a noble vigour, an invincible force, beyond the power of any bo N° 633. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1714. man consideration. Tully requires in his perfect orator some skill in the nature of heavenly bodies, Omnia profecto cum se a celestibus rebus referet ad humanas because, says he, his mind will become more es excelsius magnificentiusque et dicet et sentiet. tensive and unconfined; and when he descends treat of human affairs, he will both think CICERO. The contemplation of celestial things will make a man both write in a more exalted and magnificent manner. speak and think more sublimely and magnificently when he descends to human affairs. THE following discourse is printed as it came to my hands, without variation. Cambridge, Dec. 11. the de. For the same reason that excellent master would glorious mysteries which revelation has discovered have recommended the study of those great and to us; to which the noblest parts of this system the world are as much inferior as the creatures less excellent than its Creator. The wisest and most knowing among the heathens had very pat and imperfect notions of a future state. They bal indeed some uncertain hopes, either receival And nothing but such a glorious prospect could bure t or the exa 'It was a very common inquiry among the ancients, why the number of excellent orators, under all the encouragements the most flourishing states could give them, fell so far short of the number of tradition, or gathered by reason, that the existent C those who excelled in all other sciences. A friend of virtuous men would not be determined by the of mine used merrily to apply to this case an ob- separation of soul and body: but they either d servation of Herodotus, who says, that the most believed a future state of punishment and misery useful animals are the most fruitful in their gene. or, upon the same account that Apelles painted b ration; whereas the species of those beasts that Antigonus with one side only towards the spectat are fierce and mischievous to mankind are but that the loss of his eye might not cast a blemi scarcely continued. The historian instances in a upon the whole piece: so these represented the hare, which always either breeds or brings forth; condition of man in its fairest view, and ende to and a lioness, which brings forth but once, and voured to conceal what they thought was a defu then loses all power of conception. But leaving mity to human nature. I have often observe my friend to his mirth, I am of opinion that in these that whenever the above-mentioned orator in in of latter ages we have greater cause of complaint philosophical discourses is led by his argument be than the ancients had. And since that solemn fes the mention of immortality, he seems like t tival is approaching, which calls for all the power awaked out of sleep; roused and alarmed with the is of oratory, and which affords the pulpit as any revelation has taught us, as noble a subject for dignity of the subject, he stretches his imagination b sign of this paper shall be to show that our mo- greatness of his thoughts, casts, as it were, a glay up to conceive something uncommon, and, with the derns have greater advantages towards true and round the sentence. Uncertain and unsettled sex solid eloquence than any which the celebrated was, he seems fixed with the contemplation of cou speakers of antiquity enjoyed. The first great and substantial difference is, that forced so great a lover of truth as he was to do thit their common-places, in which almost the whole clare his resolution never to part with his pers or force of amplification consists, were drawn from sion of immortality, though it should be proved Fa the profit or honesty of the action, as they regard. be an erroneous one. But had he lived to see that ed only this present state of duration. But Christi. that Christianity has brought to light, how wa anity, as it exalts morality to a greater perfection, he have lavished out all the force of eloquence in whi as it brings the consideration of another life into those noblest contemplations which human nate all t the question, as it proposes rewards and punish. is capable of, the resurrection and the judges to le ments of a higher nature and a longer continuance, that follows it! How had his breast glowed arri is more adapted to affect the minds of the audience, pleasure, when the whole compass of futurity by be, naturally inclined to pursue what it imagines its open and exposed to his view! How would hisit ture greatest interest and concern. If Pericles, as his gination have hurried him on in the pursuit of the and torians report, could shake the firmest resolutions mysteries of the incarnation! How would he bare best of his hearers, and set the passions of all Greece entered, with the force of lightning, into the say a ferment, when the present welfare of his tions of his hearers, and fixed their attention, country, or the fear of hostile invasions, was the spite of all the opposition of corrupt nature, up grea subject; what may be expected from that orator those glorious themes which his eloquence a nob who warns his audience against those evils which painted in such lively and lasting colours! have no remedy, when once undergone, either from This advantage Christians have; and it w prudence or As much greater as the evils in with time? a future state are than these at present, so much ment of Longinus, which is no small pleasure I lately met with a fr are the motives to persuasion under Christianity preserved, as a tes mony of that critic's judgment, at the beginning greater than those which mere moral considerations a manuscript of the New Testament in the Vat could supply us with. But what I now mention can library. After that author has numbered relates only to the power of moving the affections. the most celebrated orators among the Grecians There is another part of eloquence which is indeed says, "add to these Paul of Tarsus, the patron its masterpiece; I mean the marvellous, or sub- an opinion not yet fully proved." As a heathen lime. In this the Christian orator has the advan- he condemns the Christian religion; and, as tage beyond contradiction. Our ideas are so infi. impartial critic, he judges in favour of nitely enlarged by revelation, the eye of reason moter and preacher of it. To me it seems the has so wide a prospect into eternity, the notions the latter part of his judgment adds great wegs Ir wa of a Deity are so worthy and refined, refined, and the ac to his opinion of St. Paul's abilities, since, und counts we have of a state of happiness or misery all the prejudice of opinions directly opposite, trines so clear and evident, that the contemplation of is constrained to acknowledge the merit of the Vine. in as the pr apostle. And no doubt such their furni N T phers in the * Christmas. MAIS ne still in the ne ecis wil grein those countries which he visited and blessed with rious. The finest works of invention and imaginabie force, be those doctrines he was divinely commissioned to tion are of very little weight when put in the baideration. The preach. Sacred story gives us, in one circumstance, lance with what refines and exalts the rational a convincing proof of his eloquence, when the men mind. Longinus excuses Homer very handsomely, ars be, his att of Lystra called him Mercury, "because he was when he says the poet made his gods like men, the chief speaker," and would have paid divine that he might make his men appear like the gods. worship to him, as to the God who invented and But it must be allowed that several of the ancient more enkel presided over eloquence. This one account of our philosophers acted as Cicero wishes Homer had e resca apostle sets his character, considered as an ora- done they endeavoured rather to make men like mended the mystor only, above all the celebrated relations of the gods than gods like men. Steries vidrskill and influence of Demosthenes and his con- According to this general maxim in philosophy, mich the montemporaries. Their power in speaking was admir- some of them have endeavoured to place men in asmedeed, but still it was thought human: their eloquence such a state of pleasure, or indolence at least, as (than warmed and ravished the hearers, but still it was they vainly imagined the happiness of the Supreme hought the voice of man, not the voice of God. Being to consist in. On the other hand, the most notions of a What advantage then had St. Paul above those of virtuous sect of philosophers have created a chiIncertas kopa Greece or Rome? I confess I can ascribe this ex- merical wise man, whom they made exempt from thered or cellence to nothing but the power of the doctrines passions and pain, and thought it enough to prowebe delivered, which may have still the same influ-nounce him all-sufficient. landbrence on his hearers; which have still the power, This last character, when divested of the glare started when preached by a skilful orator, to make us of human philosophy that surrounds it, signifies no break out in the same expressions as the disciples more than that a good and wise man should so arm nese who met our Saviour in their way to Emmaus made himself with patience, as not to yield tamely to serese of: "Did not our hearts burn within us when the violence of passion and pain; that he should tee talked to us by the way, and while he opened learn so to suppress and contract his desires as to to us the scriptures?" I may be thought bold in my have few wants; and that he should cherish so what the judgment by some, but I must affirm that no one many virtues in his soul as to have a perpetual ature, orator has left us so visible marks and footsteps source of pleasure in himself. of his eloquence as our apostle. It may perhaps The Christian religion requires that, after hav. esbe wondered at that, in his reasonings upon idola-ing framed the best idea we are able of the divine monstry at Athens, where eloquence was born and flou- nature, it should be our next care to conform ourished, he confines himself to strict argument only; selves to it as far as our imperfections will permit. but my reader may remember what many authors I might mention several passages in the sacred of the best credit have assured us, that all attempts writings on this head, to which I might add many pon the affections and strokes of oratory were maxims and wise sayings of moral authors among expressly forbidden by the laws of that country in the Greeks and Romans. of tal ver top courts of judicature. His want of eloquence I shall only instance a remarkable passage, to therefore here was the effect of his exact confor- this purpose, out of Julian's Cæsars. That emmity to the laws; but his discourse on the resurrec- peror having represented all the Roman emperors, tion to the Corinthians, his harangue before Agrip with Alexander the Great, as passing in review bepa upon his own conversion, and the necessity of fore the gods, and striving for the superiority, lets hat of others, are truly great, and may serve as full them all drop, excepting Alexander, Julius Cæsar, Butexamples to those excellent rules for the sublime, Augustus Cæsar, Trajan, Marcus Aurelius, and which the best of critics has left us. The sum of Constantine. Each of these great heroes of antitill this discourse is, that our clergy have no further quity lays in his claim for the upper place; and in to look for an example of the perfection they may order to it, sets forth his actions after the most admetal arrive at than to St. Paul's harangues; that when vantageous manner. But the gods, instead of bebe, under the want of several advantages of na- ing dazzled with the lustre of their actions, inquire ture as he himself tells us, was heard, admired, by Mercury into the proper motive and governing and made a standard to succeeding ages by the principle that influenced them throughout the best judges of a different persuasion in religion; I whole series of their lives and exploits. Alexander say our clergy may learn that, however instructive tells them that his aim was to conquer; Julius their sermons are, they are capable of receiving a Cæsar, that his was to gain the highest post in his great addition, which St. Paul has given them a country; Augustus, to govern well; Trajan, that noble example of, and the Christian religion has No 634. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1714. Ὁ ελάχισων διομενο είγισα Θεων. SOCRATES, apud XEN. The fewer our wants, the nearer we resemble the gods. his was the same as that of Alexander, namely, to conquer. The question, at length, was put to Marcus Aurelius, who replied, with great modesty, that it had always been his care to imitate the gods. This conduct seems to have gained him the most votes and best place in the whole assembly. Marcus Aurelius, being afterwards asked to explain himself, declares, that, by imitating the gods, he endeavoured to imitate them in the use of his understanding and of all other faculties; and, in particular, that it was always his study to have as few wants as possible i in himself, and to do all the good he could to others. Among the many methods by which revealed reIt was the common boast of the heathen philoso- ligion has advanced morality, this is one, that it phers, that by the efficacy of their several doc. has given us a more just and perfect idea of that trines, they made human nature resemble the di- Being whom every reasonable creature ought to imi vine. How much mistaken soever they might be tate. The young man in a heathen comedy, might in the several means they proposed for this end, it must be owned that the design was great and glo. • Spanheim, Les Cesars de L'Empereur Julien. 410215. justify his lewdness by the example of Jupiter; as, any created world can do: and that therefore, indeed, there was scarce any crime that might not it is not to be supposed that God should make a be countenanced by those notions of the deity world merely of inanimate matter, however diver. which prevailed among the common people in the sified or inhabited only by creatures of no highe heathen world. Revealed religion sets forth a pro- an order than brutes, so the end for which he de per object for imitation in that Being who is the signed his reasonable offspring is the contemplation pattern, as well as the source, of all spiritual per- of his works, the enjoyment of himself, and in both fection. to be happy; having, to this purpose, endowed them While we remain in this life we are subject to with correspondent faculties and desires. He can innumerable temptations, which, if listened to, have no greater pleasure from the bare review of will make us deviate from reason and goodness, his works than from the survey of his own ideas the only things wherein we can imitate the Su- but we may be assured that he is well pleaseda preme Being. In the next life we meet with no- the satisfaction derived to beings capable of it, and thing to excite our inclinations that doth not de- for whose entertainment he hath erected this i serve them. I shall therefore dismiss my reader mense theatre. Is not this more than an intimation with this maxim, viz. • Our happiness in this of our immortality? Man, who, when consider world proceeds from the suppression of our de-as on his probation for a happy existence bereatet sires, but in the next world from the gratification is the most remarkable instance of Divine wisdom, of them.' [The Author uncertain.] N° 635. MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1714. Sentio te sedem hominum ac domum contemplari; quæ si tibi ing; and, from the little spot to CICERO Somn. Seip. if we cut him off from all relation to eternity, the most remarkable and unaccountable comp sition in the whole creation, He hath capacite to lodge a much greater variety of knowledge th he will be ever master of, and an unsatisfied cu osity to tread the secret paths of nature and pre dence: but with this, his organs, in their present structure, are rather fitted to serve the necessite of a vile body, than to minister to his understand which he is cha ed, he can frame but wandering guesses concer ing the innumerable worlds of light that encompas bigness, do but just glimmer in the remote spaces him, which, though in themselves of a prodig the heavens; and when, with a great deal of tax THE following essay comes and pains, he hath laboured a little way up the steed from the ingenious ascent of truth, and beholds with pity author of the letter upon Novelty, printed in a ling multitude beneath, in a moment his foot slides late Spectator: the notions are drawn from the and he tumbles down headlong into the grave. Platonic way of thinking; but, as they contribute to raise the mind, and may inspire noble senti- justice to the Creator of the world, that there is Thinking on this, I am obliged to believe, ments of our own future grandeur and happiness, another state when man shall be better situated fir I think it well deserves to be presented to the contemplation, or rather have it in his power public. I perceive you contemplate the seat and habitation of men perpetually upon heavenly objects, and despise earthly eyes the grove remove from object to object, and from world world; and be accommodated with senses, and If the universe be the creature of an intelligent other helps, for making the quickest and mind, this mind could have no immediate regard to amazing discoveries. How doth such a genius is himself in producing it. He needed not to make Sir Isaac Newton, from amidst the darkness the trial of his omnipotence to be informed what ef- involves human understanding, break forth, a fects were within its reach; the world, as in his eternal idea, was then as beautiful as now it chine we inhabit lies open to him; he seems existing appear like one of another species! The vast is drawn forth into being; and in the immense unacquainted with the general laws that goves abyss of his essence are contained far brighter it; and while with the transport of a philosopher scenes than will be ever set forth to view; it being he beholds and admires the glorious work, bes impossible that the great Author of nature should capable of paying at once a more devout bound his own power by giving existence to a more rational homage to his Maker. But, system of creatures so perfect that he cannot im- how narrow is the prospect even of such prove upon it by any other exertions of his al. And how obscure, to the compass that is taken a mighty will. Between finite and infinite there is by the ken of an angel, or of a soul but new an unmeasured interval not to be filled up in end- escaped from its imprisonment in the body! less ages; for which reason the most excellent of my part, I freely indulge my soul in the confidence all God's works must be equally short of what his of its future grandeur; it pleases me to think that power is able to produce as the most imperfect, 1, who know so small a portion of the works and may be exceeded with the same ease, the Creator, and with slow and painful steps crep This thought hath made some imagine (what it up and down on the surface of this globe, shall re must be confessed is not impossible) that the un- long shoot away with the swiftness of imagination fathomed space, is ever teeming with new births, trace out the hidden springs of nature's operations the younger still inheriting a greater perfection be able to keep pace with the heavenly bodies in than the elder. But, as this does not fall within the rapidity of their career, be of the spectator my present view, I shall content myself with long chain of events in the natural and mor taking notice, that the consideration now men worlds, visit the several apartments of the cred tioned proves undeniably, that the ideal worlds in tion, know how they are furnished and how the Divine understanding yield a prospect incom- habited, comprehend the order, and measure the parably more ample, various, and delightful, than magnitudes and distances of those orbs, which to us seem disposed without any regular design and set all in the same circle; observe the d a mi No. 626. |