STUDY XII. 6^ 



bf a whole life-time ; becaufe, in the firft cafej 

 feelings diametrically oppofite gracioully unite ; 

 and, in the fécond, congenial feelings violently 

 clalh. Hence too it is, that a fingle blemifh, 

 amidft the valuable qualities of a man of worth, 

 frequently appears more ofFenfive than all the vices 

 " of a libertine, who difplays only a folitary virtue, 

 becaufe, from the effed of contrail, thefe two qua- 

 lities become more prominent, and eclipfe the 

 others in the two oppofite charadters. It proceeds, 

 likewife, from the weaknefs of the human mind, 

 which, attaching itfelf always to a fingle point of 

 the objeâ: which it contemplates, fixes on the moft 

 prominent quality, in framing it's decifions. It is 

 impoifible to enumerate the errors into which wc 

 are every day falling, for want of ftudying thefe 

 elementary principles of Nature. It would be pof- 

 lible, undoubtedly, to extend them much farther; 

 it is fufficient for my purpofe, if I have given a de- 

 monftration of their exiftence, and infpired others 

 with an inclination to apply them properly. 



Thefe harmonies acquire greater energy from 

 the adjoining contrails which detach them, from 

 the cbnfonances which repeat them, and from the ' 

 other elementary Laws which have been indicated s 

 but if with thefe are blended fome one of the mo- 

 ral fentiments of which I have been prefenting a 



F 2 ^aint 



