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of learning into the dark and dreary regions of metaphysic subtlety.

Quale per incertam lunam sub luce malignâ
Est iter in sylvis, ubi cœlum condidit umbrâ
Jupiter, et rebus nox abstulit atra colorem.
VIRGIL.

It would be endless to distribute into their several distinct classes the learned and the speculative of the present times; or to enumerate the various ways in which they endeavour to amuse their solitude: We may notice, however, a kind of universal literati, now become very common amongst us, who lightly skim the surface of human learning, are enamoured with every delicacy of composition, or morsel of ingenious criticism, can feed deliciously on scraps of Greek and Latin, or upon any old ballad supposed to be written before the days of Chaucer, or can riot at large in some curious melange de literature & de philosophie.

A prudent change of studies is indeed no less grateful and salutary to the intellectual, than a change of air or exercise to the animal part of our nature. When the mind is exhausted with long application to scientific or abstruse subjects, she may often find relief in the lighter and more agreeable departments of learning, may expatiate in the interesting field of history, or wander in the flowery paths of poesy; or, if relaxed or scattered, for want of regular exertion, she may apply herself to mathematical, or even to metaphysical enquiries*; just as, in regard to the body,

*The author thinks it not improper to express, on this occasion, that he is so far from intending to pass an indiscriminate censure on metaphysical learning, or on such general abstract reasoning as often is ranked under this title, that, in his opinion, there is no species of intellectual exertion, within certain bounds, and directed to just ends, which ought not to be both respected and encouraged; and he looks upon it as not the least among the many mischievous effects, produced by the sophistry of Hume, Helvetius, Diderot, and others of the same school, that the most solid and important argumentation, if but a little abstruse and remote from our ordinary apprehensions, is in danger to be set aside as

it may be proper to climb the hill or to repose in the valley, according to the laxity or tension of the animal system.

But, however judicious may be his plan for an interchange of studies, there will be frequent intervals when a wise man will quit his books and his speculations, in order to discharge the duties, and to share the innocent pleasures, of ordinary life; when, instead of passing from Locke or Newton to Homer or Virgil, to Thucydides or Livy, he will retire alike from philosophers, poets, and historians, to visit a neighbour, to enjoy the cheerful conversation of his own fire-side, or with an infantine spirit to divert himself with his children. Non semper arcum tendit

scholastic and metaphysical, even by sensible and good men; and still more by those, who are either too indolent to examine, or too incapable to understand, whatever lies out of the common road; and who are willing to conceal these defects under the taking pretext of modesty and submission.

Apollo. Man was formed for social intercourse, as well as for solitary contemplation; and when these ends are pursued in a due manner, they contribute to their mutual advancement.

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SECTION III.

The Pleasures of a devotional Retirement considered,

BEFORE we proceed to we proceed to the immediate subject of this section it may be proper

to premise two cautions, in order to guard those retired men, whose turn of mind is at once religious and speculative, from the danger, to which they are very liable, of mistaking a devotion merely philosophical or mystical for that which is truly spiritual. Of a superstitious or monkish devotion we shall treat in our progress.

A spirit of philosophic devotion, kindled by a survey of the works of creation, will often express itself in a language similar to what we find in the following passage of our great poet;

These are thy glorious works, parent of good,
Almighty, thine this universal frame,

How wondrous fair, thyself how wondrous then!

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