72 ANTIENT METAPHYSICS, Book IT. 



make them miferable, by expofmg them to fo much danger, by which 

 many Hves are loft, and by making them endure fo much toil and 

 labour: And at home tt is acquired very often by crimes and frauds, 

 fo many, that I think it is certainly true what Ariftotle fays, that the 

 love of money produces more crimes than all our other paflions put 

 together. It only remains, therefore, to be inquired, whether the 

 enjoyment of it does not make amends for the mifery we fuffer in 

 acquiring it; and, upon inquiry, I am perluaded it will appear doubt- 

 ful, as 1 have faid elfewhere, whetuer the acquifition or enjoyment 

 of it produces moll evil. 



And, in the firft place, we are to confider that money minifters 

 to luxury, vanity, and pride. As to luxury, it furnilhes all the ma- 

 terials of it, by procuring to us every thing that can gratify our fen- 

 fesj and, particularly in Britain, there is no delicacy of eating, drink- 

 ing, or clothing, or any thing that can gratify our vanity or pride, 

 that is to be found in the world, which money will not procure us. 

 Now, a weak intelled, fuch as that of man in his prefent Rate, never 

 can refill fuch temptations, unlefs it be fortified by philofophy, which 

 teaches us, that to live temperately and foberly is our greatell happi- 

 nefs in this life ; while religion tells us, that it is the only way by 

 which we can prepare ourfelves for a better life in the next world. 

 But, as there arc very few whofe minds are fo cultivated by religion 

 and philofophy, or by a proper education, and good habits being 

 formed, it is evident that the enjoyment of wealth mull make moil 

 men miferable, by producing vices and difeafes. 



The cfTedl of wealth in a nation is to make the rich indolent, vain, 

 and luxurious : And, as indolence, vanity, and luxury, mufl be fup- 

 ported by the labour of others, the Vv'hole people may be faid to be 

 divided into two clafTes ; one, the indolent, vain, and luxurious; the 

 other by £ir the moft numerous, and confiding of the minifters to 



the 



