OF HUMAN LIFE. 1 J J 



whom they think they defcry any tokens of capacity 

 for their myfteries. If they meet with one, whom, 

 after they have opened themfelves to a certain point, 

 they find not fit to be admitted an actual member of 

 the order; yet poffibly, even without his knowledge 

 and confent, he may be made ufe of to the furthering 

 of fome purpofe of the fublime adepts, who itand at 

 the head of the laudable brotherhood. This feems 

 now to have been precifely the cafe with Paul Lucas. 

 It is highly probable, that the difpofition which the 

 venerable brother dervife, at firffc thought he obferved 

 in him, might have moved him to give him fuch hif- 

 torical notices of the myfteries of the order, as might 

 put his fufceptibility for the cabbaliftic light to the 

 teft : but, on finding that Lucas firood gazing within 

 the confines of a cold" aitoniihment, and fhewed no 

 dehte of being admitted within the veil of the fan estu- 

 ary of the myfterious temple, whofe exterior filled him 

 with furprife, the dervife urged him no farther ; con- 

 tented with having; told to a man what he knew he 

 would repeat again, and on his return home, would 

 not fail to fpread it far and wide in the printed account 

 of his travels, might not Lucas, in this way have been 

 made an inurnment, without his knowing it, for trum- 

 peting afrefh through all lands the fama fraternitatis 

 (which" probably at that time flood in need of a 

 blaft or two) ? Might not many a numbering brother 

 be thereby awakened, many a homo bonae voluntatis 

 be made attentive and alive to the caufe, nay perhaps 

 re-animate the whole laudable inftitution, give it new 

 activity, and, in the fequel, a better form, a more de- 

 terminate plan, and an aim more adapted to the times. 



t 3 I utter 



