1793. art of life,—in cultivation of habits. 167 
of rest, and of quietnefs, than another point, and one 
(perhaps) still more brilliant and fascinating than the 
former, is presented to his view. He again prefses fors 
ward, and wonders at himself that he fhould have 
mistaken a bench upon the road for a magnificent 
and comfortable inn. 
Now as man is a lazy animal, in common with all 
other creatures, this activity and predominancy of 
his imagination giveth him the mastery of every 
thing upon earth, and singularly distinguifheth him 
from the brutes, which is beautifully described by 
Longinus in his treatise concerning the sublime. 
s¢ We are well afsured (sayeth he) that nature hath 
not intended man for a low spirited or ignoble being: 
but bringing us into life, and into the midst of this 
wide universe, as before an immense multitude afsem- 
bled at some heroick solemnity, that we might be 
spectators of all her magnificence, and candidates high 
in emulation for the prize of glory, fhe has implant. 
ed in our souls an unextinguilhable love of every 
thing that appeareth divine beyond our comprehen- 
sion.” + 
Certainly therefore it is of high account in this 
our art of life, to change the object, but not to sub- 
due the principle of this ambition, which: fer wise 
purposes hath been implanted in our nature. But as 
the vigour of our bodies and the energy of our ima- 
gination and memory decline, to cultivate the de- 
lights that arise from reflection and judgement, and 
te be chearfully entertained with the view of others 
+ Longinus de Sublim. §; xxxivs 
. 
