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tation, or prompted to it by intereft, it must be derived from his native conftitution; and is a remarkable confirmation of what revelation fo frequently inculcates→→ that he brings into the world with him an original depravity, the effects of a fallen and degenerate ftate; in proof of which we need only observe, that the nearer he approaches to a state of nature, the more predominant this difpofition appears, and the more violently it operates. We fee children laughing at the miseries which they inflict on every unfortunate animal which comes within their power; all favages are ingenious in contriving, and happy in executing, the most exquisite tortures; and the common people of all countries are delighted with nothing fo much as bull-baitings, prizefightings, executions, and all spectacles of cruelty and horror. Though civilization may in fome degree abate this native ferocity, it can never quite extirpate it; the moft polished are not ashamed to be pleased with scenes of little less barbarity, and, to the difgrace of human nature, to dignify them with the name of sports! They arm cocks with artificial weapons, which nature had kindly denied to their malevolence, and, with fhouts of applause and triumph, fee them plunge them into each other's hearts: They view with delight the trembling deer and defencelefs hare, flying for hours in the utmoft agonies of terror and despair, and at last sinking under fatigue, devoured by their merciless purfuers! They fee with joy the beautiful pheasant and harmless partridge drop from their flight, weltering in their blood, or perhaps perifhing with wounds and hunger, under the cover of fome friendly thicket, to which they have in vain retreated for fafety! They triumph over the unfufpecting fifh, whom they have decoyed by an infidious pretence of feeding, and drag him from his native element by a hook fixed to and tearing out his entrails! And, to add to all this, they fpare neither labour nor expence to preserve and propagate these innocent animals, for no other end but to multiply the objects of their perfecution!

What

What name fhould we bestow on a fuperior being, whose whole endeavours were employed, and whofe pleasure confifted, in terrifying, enfnaring, tormenting, and deftroying mankind? Whofe fuperior faculties were exerted in fomenting animofities amongst them, in contriving engines of deftruction, and inciting them to use them in maiming and murdering each other? Whose power over them was employed in affifting the rapacious, deceiving the fimple, and oppreffing the innocent? Who, without provocation or advantage, fhould continue from day to day, void of all pity and remorse, thus to torment mankind for diverfion, and at the fame time endeavour with his utmost care to preferve their lives, and to propagate their fpecies, in order to increase the number of victims devoted to his malevolence, and be delighted in proportion to the miferies he occafioned? I fay, what name deteftable enough could we find for fuch a being? Yet, if we impartially confider the cafe, and our intermediate fituation, we must acknowledge, that, with regard to inferior animals, just such a being is a sportsman.

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The Two Bees.

Na fine morning in May, two bees fet forward

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in quest of honey, the one wife and temperate, the other careless and extravagant. They foon arrived at a garden enriched with aromatic herbs, the most fragrant flowers, and the moft delicious fruits. They regaled themselves for a time on the various dainties that were spread before them: The one loading his thigh at intervals with provisions for the hive against the distant winter; the other revelling in fweets, without regard to any thing but his prefent gratification. At length they found a wide-mouthed phial, that hung beneath the bough of a peach-tree, filled with honey ready tempered, and expofed to their tafte in the moft alluring manner. The thoughtlefs epicure, fpite of all his friend's remonftrances, plunged headlong into the veffel, refolving to indulge himself in all the pleasures of fenfuality. The philofopher, on the other hand, fipped a little with caution; but being fufpicious of danger, flew off to fruits and flowers; where, by the moderation of his meals, he improved his relifh for the true enjoyment of them. In the evening, however, he called upon his friend, to enquire whether he would return to the hive; but found him furfeited in sweets, which he was as unable to leave as to enjoy. Clogged in his wings, enfeebled in his feet, and his whole frame totally enervated, he was but juft able to bid his friend adieu, and to lament with his latest breath, that, though a taste of pleasure might quicken the relish of life, an unreftrained indulgence is inevitable deftruction.

On

I

On Ambition.

F we look abroad the upon multitude of mangreat kind, and endeavour to trace out the principles of action in every individual, it will, I think, feem highly probable, that ambition runs through the whole species, and that every man, in proportion to the vigour of his complexion, is more or lefs actuated by it. It is indeed no uncommon thing to meet with men, who, by the mutual bent of their inclinations, and without the difcipline of philofophy, afpire not to the heights of power and grandeur; who never fet their hearts upon a numerous train of clients and dependencies, nor other gay appendages of greatness; who are contented with a competency, and will not moleft their tranquillity to gain an abundance : But it is not therefore to be concluded, that such a man is not ambitious: His defires may cut out another channel, and determine him to other purfuits; the motive may be, however, ftill the fame; and in thofe cafes,. likewife, the man may be equally pufhed on with the defire of diftinction.

Though the pure consciousness of worthy actions, abstracted from the views of popular applaufe, be to a generous mind an ample reward, yet the defire of dif tinction was doubtlefs implanted in our natures as an additional incentive to exert ourselves in virtuous excellence.

Ambition, therefore, is not to be confined only to one paffion or purfuit; for as the fame humours in conftitu tions otherwife differently affect the body after different manners, fo the fame afpiring principle within us fometimes breaks forth upon one object, fometimes upon

another.

It cannot be doubted but that there is as great a defire of glory in a ring of wrestlers or cudgel-players, as in any other more refined competition for fuperiority.

It is a known ftory of Domitian, that after he had poffeffed himself of the Roman empire, his defires turned upon catching flies. Active and mafculine spirits, in the vigour of youth, neither can nor ought to remain at rest: If they debar themselves from aiming at a noble object, their defires will move downwards, and they will feel themselves actuated by fome low and abject paffion. Thus if you cut off the top branches of a tree, and will not suffer it to grow higher, it will not therefore ceafe to grow, but will quickly fhoot out at the bottom. The man indeed who goes into the world only with the narrow views of felf-intereft, who catches at the applause of an idle multitude, as he can find no folid contentment at the end of his journey, fo he deferves to meet with difappointments in his way: But he who is actuated by a noble principle, whofe mind is, fo far enlarged as to take in the prospect of his country's good, who is enamoured with that praife which is one of the fair attendants of virtue, and values not thofe acclamations which are not seconded by the impartial testimony of his own mind; who repines not at the low station which Providence has at prefent allotted him, but yet would willingly advance himself by justifiable means to a more rifing and advantageous ground; fuch a man is warmed with a generous emulation; it is a virtuous movement in him to with, and to endeavour, that his power of doing good may be equal to his will. The man who is fitted out by nature, and fent into the world with great abilities, is capable of doing great good or mischief in it. It ought therefore to be the care of education, to infufe into the untainted youth early notions of juftice and honour, that fo the poffible advantages of good parts may not take a bad turn, nor be perverted to base and unworthy purposes. It is the business of religion and philofophy not so much to extinguish our paffions, as to regulate and direct them to valuable, well-chosen objects. When these have pointed out to us which courfe we may lawfully

fteer,

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