NOT I, WWW. 



of virtue or power of vice, or in what manner either of these may work to our 

 happiness or undoing? Here, therefore, is that inquiry we should first make. 

 But who is there can afford to make it as he ought ? If happily we are born of 

 a good nature ; if a liberal education has formed in us a generous temper and 

 disposition, well regulated appetites and worthy inclinations, it is well for us ; 

 and so indeed we esteem it. But who is there endeavours to give these to 

 himself, or to advance his portion of happiness in this kindl Who thinks of 

 improving, or sc much as of preserving his share, in a world where it must of 

 necessity run so great a hazard, and where we know an honest nature is so easily 

 corrupted? All other things relating to us are preserved with care, and have 

 some art or economy belonging to them : this, which is nearest related to us, 

 and on which our happiness depends, is alone committed to chance; and temper 

 is the only thing ungoverned, whilst it governs all the rest. Thus we inquire 

 concerning what is good and suitable to our appetites, but what appetites are 

 good and suitable to us, is no part of our examination. We inquire what is 

 according to interest, policy, fashion, vogue ; but it seems wholly strange and 

 out of the way to inquire what is according to nature. The balance of Europe, 

 of trade, of power, is strictly sought after; while few have heard of the balance 

 of their passions, or ever thought of holding these scales even.&quot; 



&quot; We all meditate,&quot; says Bishop Hall, &quot; one, how to do ill to others : 

 another, how to do some earthly good to himself: another, to hurt himself under 

 a colour of good. Or perhaps, some better minds bend their thoughts upon the 

 search of natural things ; the motions of every heaven, and of every star : the 

 reason and course of the ebbing and flowing of the sea : the manifold kinds of 

 simples that grow out of the earth and creatures that creep upon it, with all 

 their strange qualities and operations : or, perhaps, the several forms of govern 

 ment and rules of state take up their busy heads : so that, while they would be 

 acquainted with the whole world, they are strangers at home ; and while they 

 seek to know all other things, they remain unknown to themselves.&quot; 



Burton says, &quot; We spend our days in unprofitable questions and disputations, 

 intricate subtleties, about moonshine in the water, leaving in the mean time 

 those chiefest treasures of nature untouched, wherein the best medicines for all 

 manner of diseases are to be found; and do not only neglect them ourselves, 

 but hinder, condemn, forbid, and scoff at others that are willing to inquire after 

 them.&quot; 



&quot; But whether thus these things, or whether not : 



Whether the sun, predominant in heaven, 



Rise on the earth, or earth rise on the sun : 



He from the east his flaming road begin, 



Or she from west her silent course advance 



With inoffensive pace, that spinning sleeps 



On her soft axle, while she paces even, 



And bears thee soft with the smooth air along, 



Solicit not thy thoughts with matters hid : 



Leave them to God above, him serve and fear : 



Of other creatures, as him pleases best, 



Wherever placed, let him dispose : joy then 



In what he gives to thee, this Paradise 



And thy fair Eve : Heaven is for thee too high 



To know what passes there : be lowly wise : 



Think only what concerns thee and thy being.&quot; 



Paradise Lost, b. viii. 



Teach me my duty to my country, to my father, to my wife, to mankind. 

 What is it to me, whether Penelope was honest or no ? Teach me to know 

 how to be so myself, and to live according to that knowledge. W r hat am I the 

 better for putting so many parts together in music, and raising an harmony out 

 of so many different tones. Teach me to tune my affections, and to hold con 

 stant to myself. Geometry teaches me the art of measuring acres ; teach me to 

 measure my appetites, and to know when I have enough : teach me to divide 



VOL. xv. 20 



