hand, he who has been bred up in a contemplative retirement is less restricted by time or place, he can more easily transfer his attention to every period and region of the globe we inhabit, and, through the medium of history or prophecy, receive the impression of every interesting event from the beginning to the end of time; and soar aloft with a less obstructed wing above this sublunary state, and all contingent existence, to the contemplation of objects immutable and eternal.—Thus it appears, that neither an active or contemplative institution of life is so absolutely complete in itself, that each of them may not derive considerable assistance from a participation with the other. Happy then is he who can properly unite them both; who can behold the face of his Father in heaven, while he ministers to the welfare of his fellow-creatures upon earth; and whose virtue bears at once the impression of man and of the universe.

SECTION III.

On some Evils particularly incident to a retired Life, and which are contrary, or, at least unfavourable, to Virtue; with a few Hints respecting their Res medies.

THE state of man here on earth is so be set with innumerable dangers, that he can seldom make his escape from those which press hardest upon him, without exposing himself to others equally importunate. All the various conditions of human life, besides what they share in common, are each accompanied with their peculiar difficulties and temptations. Were there any exception to this remark, it might seem to be in favour of retirement with a competency; yet even this situation, highly privileged as it appears, is not without its particular incidental evils ; among which we may enumerate the following:

I. Idleness.-The love of ease is natural to man, and influences his conduct in all

circumstances; but especially when, by abstraction from the world, he is placed at a distance from many of those objects which are suited to call forth his voluntary exertions; and when, at the same time, he is exempted by his fortune from the necessity of labour.

Let us suppose an independent country gentleman, who is content with his paternal acres, and never wanders from the ancient family residence. Since he has nothing to engage him at court or in the city, he must endeavour to strike out some occupation which may preserve him from the evil of which we are speaking. Perhaps he may commence a sportsman, he may traverse the woods with his fowlingpiece, or halloo to his dogs in the chase; but as these diversions can only be had at certain seasons of the year, and are also further suspended on good health and fair weather, they must subject their votary to many listless intervals. Like the savage in the wilderness, he will be in continual dan

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ger of lapsing from the violence of agitation into a dreary vacuum, or, which is -worse, into a state of low sensual indulgence. Or perhaps he may betake himself to building and planting, he may pull down the old mansion and build a greater, or amuse himself with perpetual alterations; he may plant a grove because it would yield him shade, and then pluck it up because it would intercept his prospect; and thus, by one variation after another, he may try to improve the structure of his house, and the face of nature, till, wearied with change and disappointment, he at length sits down in slothful indifference or disgust.

Should he be one who prefers the pursuits of science, and the improvement of his understanding, to the chase of animals, to a commodious house, or a fine landscape, his time will indeed be then less liable to vacuities; at least till the novelty be over, or till he has discovered the general unimportance and uncertainty of mere

human studies. And if to his speculations he should add a little practical philosophy; should he turn, for instance, his attention to agriculture, and endeavour by ingenious arts to draw from our common mother the earth a more ample produce, and so to facilitate and increase the supply of human wants; this would open to him a new source of pleasing and laudable occupation. Still, however, as neither the culture of the mind nor of the soil is secured by the same strong and constant impulsion of the passions, which bears men forward in public life, the tendency of nature towards an indolent repose will almost unavoidably gather strength, and labour gradually give place to ease, unless reinforced and sustained by motives derived from another world.

There are few instances, I believe, to be met with, in any situation, of a regular and supported conduct, without the aid of religion. This is necessary to fill up