[ 53 ] 



in a manner which, as has been obfcrved even by the faftidious 

 Johnfon, would not, even at the prefent day, after the lapfc of 



more 



" The temporal calamities and fufferings with which the Jews had been harafled, 

 " had weaned them from the confideration of temporal promifes, and awakened their 

 ♦' minds to more ferious thoughts of another -world. It being natural to men when they 

 " are deftitute of prefent comfort, to fupport themfelves, &c." Evidently thefe two 

 fentences fliould have been molded into one— the fenfe, as well as the exprcflion, re- 

 quired it. " From his great mercy and pity declared to us in all thofe gracious means and 

 '« methods which he ufeth for our recovery, and from his readinefs and forioardnefs after 

 " all our rebellions, &c." " The cujlom 2.ni frequent practice oi any thing begets in us a 

 "facility and eafinefs in doing it; it turns the Jl ream and current of our adlions fuch 

 *« a way." 



Sir William Temple has been confidered as one of the fineft writers of this period ; 

 the following paflages, from this Tradl on the Low Countries, with which we fliall 

 conclude thefe extrafts, evince that he is not exempt from the common errors of his 

 cotemporaries : 



" Charity feems to be very national. Among the many and various hofpitals that 

 " are in every man's curioftt\ and talk that travel this country, I was afFefted with none 

 •' more than that of Euchuyfen for aged feamen, which is contrived, fniflicd and 

 " ordered as if it was done with the kind intention of fome well-natured man, that 

 " thofe who had pafled their nuhole lives in the hardflnps and incommodities of the fea 

 " fhould find a retreat flored with all the enfes and conveniences that old age is capable 

 •' of feeling or of enjoying : for, one of thofe old feamen entertaining me a good 

 " "while with the plain ftories of fifty years voyages and adventures luhile I was 

 " viewing the hofpital and the church adjoining, I gave him a piece of their coin 

 " about the value of a crown piece : He took it fmiling, and offered it to me again, 

 " hut when I refufed it, he aiked me what he Ihould do with money — for all that 

 " ever they wanted v/as provided for them at their houfe : I left him to overcome his 

 " modefty as well as he could, but a fervant coming after me faw him give it to a 

 •» little girl that opened the church door as flje pafl b) him ; which made me refledl:, &C." 



«' Wine to hot brains being like oil to fire, and making the fpirits, by too much 

 " lightncfs, evaporate into Jmoak and perfect airy imaginations, or by too much head, 

 " rage into frenzy, or at lead: into humours and thoughts that have a great mixture 

 " of it." 



