34-6 DISORDERED EYES. 



This, together with my ever-increaiing thirft of 

 learning, neceffitated me to continue my exceffive 

 exertions. I at that time made the explanation of the 

 Bible, and confequently the hebrew and greek languages, 

 the mam object of my ftudy. A hebrew Bible, and a 

 greek New Teftament, both in very fmall print, which 

 I, moftly during the hours of night, have written over 

 from beginning to end, with explanatory latin words, 

 fo fine that the writing is fcarcely legible to the naked 

 .eye, ftill teftify how induftrioufly I then plied this 

 Hudy ; and what unremitted pains I took to complete 

 the ruin of my poor fore eyes. 



Accordingly the punifhment due to this intempe- 

 rance did not fail to follow. If I had heretofore pains 

 of the eyes that were barely tolerable, they now arofe 

 to fo high a degree of fenfibility, that my condition 

 was indeed very deplorable ; though I had afterwards 

 reafon to wifh for it back again. The firft facrihxe I 

 was now forced to make to my ruined eye-light, was a 

 renunciation of the hebrew and greek literature which 

 had hitherto been the fource of fo much pleafure to me. 

 In their Head I began to apply myfelf to philofophy, 

 for the fake of preparing myfelf for the afflictive period, 

 which, alas, I had now to expect ; when I mould be 

 totally deprived of the life of my eyes ! The fecond 

 refolution I was forced to take, to my great grief, was 

 to avoid, at leaft for a time, all reading and writing 

 by the evening lamp. I went early to bed ; but I rofe 

 up fo much the earlier in the morning, as I found that, 

 when my eyes had been refrefhed by fleep, I could 

 work- with lefs pain by the candle. 



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