288 Dr. Per rival's Tribute to the Memory 
it expands and heightens the principle of bene- 
'volence; and at the fame time is favourable to 
piety, by raifing our views to. the fupreme 
Author of all that is fair and good in man. 
The wife and the virtuous have ever dwelt, 
with delight, on the meritorious talents and 
difpofitions of their fellow-creatures : And an 
amiable philofopher drew, from this fource, fuch 
fweet confolations, under the toils and diftreffes 
of life, that he warmly recommends the pra&ice 
to our imitation, <c When you would recreate your- 
“Jelf” fays M. Antoninus, “ refietl on the lauda - 
“ ble qualities of your acquaintance : On the magna- 
<c nimity of one, the modejly of another, or the libera - 
“ lity of a third."* Generous meditation! which 
everyone, prefent, may indulge; and, by indulg¬ 
ing, afiimilate, to his own nature, the various 
perfedlions of others ; transfufing, as it were, into 
his bread, the virtues which he contemplates. 
But can we engage ourfelves in fuch an e-xer- 
cife, without the mod lively recolle&ion of our 
late honoured and beloved colleague ? His 
image prefents itfelf before us; and we indantly 
recognifc, the agreeablenefs of his form, the 
animation of his countenance, the vigour of his 
■underftanding, and the goodnefs of his heart. 
How graceful was his addrefs *, how fprightly, 
entertaining, and intelligent his converfation! • 
* M. Antonin. Lib. VI. 
What 
