GENERAL BENEVOLENCE. 169 
{hall deliver myfelf from fuch and fuch inconveniences ; my 
children will have the more money hereafter ; I fhall be in a 
capacity to indulge myfelf in fuch and fuch gratifications. Let 
me reafon thus, and ’tis a great chance but I am carried beyond 
the bounds which religion and humanity will warrant. 
We are apt to droop or exult as others feem to think us 
wretched or happy. Leaving our own reason out of the que- 
ftion, we build our satisfaction on the weak foundation of 
their caprice or falfe judgment. Thus we live the dupes of 
each other’s folly ; and, as if we were inclofed within a magic 
circle, we dance round till we are intoxicated, and lofe all fenfe 
and ability how to extricate ourfelves. We ought indeed to 
live for others, not as flaves to their opinion, but as mini- 
firing fpirits, the infiruments of providence, to relieve their 
wants, both of body and foul. Indeed happinefs or mifery muft 
ultimately center in self, but a fmall fhare of virtue will difco- 
ver the difference between a virtuous and a vicious felf-love. 
“ Self-love but ferves the virtuous mind to wale, 
u As the fmall pebble firs the peaceful lake. 
u 'The center moved , a circle ftraight fucceeds , 
“ Another fill , and fill another fpreads. 
“ Friend , parent , neighbor , frft it will embrace , 
<c Our country next , and next all human race . 
“ Wide^ and fill wide , the d er flowings of his mind \ 
<c Takes every creature in of every kind : 
11 Earth flniles around with boundlefs bounty blefs' d y 
And heaven beholds its image in his breaftT 
Z 
Thus 
