STUDY X, 



33 



flighted contradiction. Like the Centurion, in the 

 Gofpel, he fays to his ferrant, Come, and he 

 cometh ; and to another, Do this, and he doeth 

 it. This demonitrates, that Providence has af- 

 figned to our very paffions a part widely different 

 from that which fociety prefents to them ; for, in 

 cafes innumerable, the mod unrelenting ilavery is 

 impofed, together with an accumulation of ho- 

 nours ; and, in the meanefb of human conditions, 

 we frequently find the polTeflion of the moft un- 

 bounded empire. 



Befides, perfons who have been disfigured, by 

 the corruptive imprelTion of vicious education and 

 habits, have it in their power to reform their 

 looks; and I fay this, principally, for the fake of 

 our females, who, in order to gain this point, ap- 

 ply white and red, and patch up faces, like thofe 

 of dolls, utterly deftitute of character. After all, 

 they are in the right ; for it is much better to con- 

 ceal character altogether, than to exhibit that of 

 the cruel paffions which are often preying upon 

 them j efpecially to the eyes of fo many of the 

 other fex, who ftudy character, merely to take the 

 advantage of it. There are infallible means in their 

 power of acquiring a beauty altogether irrefiltible. 

 It is to be internally good, gentle, companionate, 

 fenfible, beneficent, and devout. Thefe affections 

 of a virtuous foul will imprefs on their features 



vol. in. d characters 



