SERINO:
OR, THE CHARACTER OF A
FINE GENTLEMAN
; With REFERENCE to RERIGION, LEARNING, and the CONDUCT of LIFE.
In which are inserted Five POEMS,
viz.
I. Upon the
Works
of the CREATION.
II. For
Resignation
to the
Divine Will.
III. On the
Mercies
of GOD.
IV. A
Thanksgiving
for
Deliverances
from
imminent Danger
; in his Return from his Travels.
V▪ A HYMN composed in SICKNESS.
Written by Mr. ADDISON.
The SECOND EDITION.
LONDON:
Printed for E. CURLL, over-against
Catherine-Street
in the
Strand.
M.DCC.XXIII.
BOOKS Printed for
E. CURLL
in the
Strand.
I. BIshop BULL's Vindication of the Church of
England,
from the Errors and Corruptions of the Church of
Rome.
Wherein, as is largely prov'd, The
Rule of Faith,
and all the fundamental Articles of the
Christian Religion,
are receiv'd, taught, professed, and acknowledged. Written at the Request of the Countess of
Newbrugh,
in Answer to a celebrated Roman Catholick Treatise, Intituled,
The Catholick Scripturist.
Now first published from his Lordship's Original Manuscript, by his Son ROBERT BULL, Rector of
Tortworth,
and Prebendary of
Gloucester.
['As to
this Work
I shall forbear giving any Character of it, my near Relation to the Author, unqualifying me for such an Undertaking. The Reader himself must judge of That, who (I question not) upon a full Perusal of it, will esteem it a Performance worthy the Author whose Name it bears.'
Robert Bull.
]
Pr. 4
s.
II. A Treatise upon the PASSIONS: Or, A Discourse of the several
Dignities
and
Corruptions
of
Man's Nature
since the
Fall.
Written by the ever memorable Mr. JOHN HALES of
Eton.
Now first published from his Original Manuscript, by a near Relation. Revised by the late Bishop
Smalridge,
and an
Index
added, by
Laurence Howel,
A. M. Price 3
s.
III. The
Pretended
REFORMERS: Or, A true History of the
German Reformation,
founded upon the Heresy of
John Wickliffe, John Huss,
and
Jerome
of
Prague:
And an Impartial Account of the
Bohemian Wars
which ensued thereupon. Made
English
from the
French
Original. With an Introductory Preface, address'd to the Patrons of the (
pretended
) Episcopal Reformed Churches. By
Matthias Earbery,
Presbyter of the Church of
England.
['The Reader in this Book will find, perhaps, a Scene open'd to his View, entirely New. The Bigotted Papist on one Hand, and the Latitudinarian Protestant on the other, appear in their proper Colours: The one by malicious Prejudice, and the other by an overfond Partiality, had cast such a Cloud over the Affairs of this Age, that no Man of ordinary Judgment could perceive on which Side the Fault was to be imputed: But I will venture to say this Author has made no small Progress in such a desirable Work, and with more Candour than those can justly boast of, who fondly count themselves Impartial Historians.'
M. Earbery.
]
Pr. 4
s.
IV.
Private Thoughts
upon Religion, in several Letters written to His Royal Highness the Duke-Regent of
France.
By the Archbishop of
Cambray.
Upon the following Subjects. I. Of the
Being
of a GOD; of the
Worship
worthy of
Him
; and of the
True Church.
II. Of the
Worship
of
God
; the
Immortality
of the
Soul
; and the
Free-Will
of Man. III. Concerning
God
and
Religion
; of the
Jewish
Religion, and the
Messias,
and of the Christian Religion. IV. The Idea of an
Infinite Being,
and of the
Liberty God was at
of
Creating
or
not Creating
the
World.
V. Of the Truth of the
Christian Religion,
and its Practice. VI. Remarks upon the Whole. Made
English
from the
Paris
Edition, of the
French
Original, with a Letter from the Abbot
De Fenelon,
Nephew to the Archbishop to the Translator, concerning this Work. Price 2
s.
6
d.
V. The
Devout Communicant's Companion,
in Two Parts. 1
st,
Being an Help and Exhortation to worthy Communicating. Describing the Meaning, Worthy Reception, Duty, and Benefit of the Holy Sacrament. And answering the Doubts of Conscience, and other Reasons which most generally detain Men from it. 2
dly,
Consisting of a regular Set of Devotions, Meditations, and Prayers to be used
Before, At,
and
After
receiving the Holy Sacrament. Collected from the Works of Archbishop
Tillotson,
Bishop
Taylor,
Bishop
Patrick
Dr.
Horneck,
Dr.
Scot,
Dr.
Stanhope,
Mr.
Kettlewell,
Mr.
Nelson,
&c. Price 2
s.
VI. The
Christian Pilgrimage:
Or, A
Companion
for
Lent,
being Meditations upon the Passion, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension of our blessed Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ.
Divided into Eighteen Stations, with Prayers suited to each. Written Originally in
French,
and recommended to the Use of all true Lovers of Devotion, by the Archbishop of
Cambray.
Made
English
by Mrs.
Jane Barker
of
Wilsthorp,
near
Stamford
in
Lincolnshire.
Dedicated to the Right Hon. the Countess of
Nottingham.
Price 2
s.
VII. The true Nature of
Imposture
fully display'd in the Life of
Mahomet.
With a Discourse annexed for the Vindication of
Christianity
from this
Charge,
offered to the Consideration of the
Deists
of the present Age. By
Humphrey Prideaux,
D. D. Dean of
Norwich.
Price 3
s.
6
d.
VIII. Miscellaneous Tracts, written in Defence of the
Doctrine
and
Discipline
of the
Church
of
England,
viz. 1. An Enquiry into the Nature and Original of the 55th Canon, by Evidence Historical and Rational; with variety of incidental Matters relating to its History: Including also the History of
Beads, Latin-Service,
and
Indictions,
their various Forms and Use; with Reasons for the Canons, being a
Bidding of Prayer.
2. The Scheme of the Bp. of
Bangor
's Sermon, examined in its Particulars. 3. Some free Thoughts upon the Bp. of
Bangor
's Answer to the Representation of the Lower-House of Convocation. 4. An Impartial Account of the Behaviour of the
Tories,
since his Majesty's Accession to the Throne. By
Conyers Place,
M. A. of
Dorchester.
Price 4
s.
To the REVEREND Mr.
SHIRLEY,
Rector of
Wellford
in
Berkshire.
SIR,
H AVING in the following Sheets endeavoured to draw the loveliest Picture of Human Nature, and represent the Glories that rise from the united Virtues of Devotion, Compassion, and Affability; I thought I could not possibly find a more proper Patron, to whom I might inscribe them, than a Gentleman in whom the abovementioned Qualifications appear with a Lustre most beautiful and distinguishing.
IF I had a Talent at Panegyrick, I should never desire a better Opportunity to exert it; since all who have the Happiness of Your Acquaintance, would unanimously join in the largest Encomiums, that the richest Fancy, raised by the noblest Subject, could incessantly produce,
IN an Age wherein many, who affect to be thought Persons of uncommon Wit and peculiar Penetration, take an unnatural Pleasure in ridiculing the Sacred Mysteries, and despising the pure Doctrines of our Holy Religion; You have accounted it an Honour to be devoted to officiate in Divine Services, and consecrated in a solemn Manner to Almighty God, those shining Parts and Accomplishments, which could not probably have failed of advancing You to some glittering Station, which the modish and unthinking Part of Mankind would infinitely have preferred to the Exercise of the Ministerial Function.
TO attempt a Display of Your Compassion and Affability, were as unnecessary as the
Philosopher
's reading a Lecture of
Warlike Discipline
in the Presence of
HANNIBAL
; so very diffusive, so delightfully conspicuous have they flowed, that Multitudes have been refreshed, Thousands have been charmed with their Delicacy and Brightness: Drawn by such a particular Sweetness of Temper, I take the Liberty, by this Dedication, to introduce into Your Company a
Fine Gentleman.
THAT well known Generosity and Hospitality, which never fail of giving the most pleasing Air to the whole of Your Conversation, will doubtless incline You kindly to receive a Guest, who is likely to be the more agreeable by the Humanity of his Disposition, and the evident Similitude of Manners and Inclinations.
I am,
SIR,
Your most Obliged, and Most Obedient Servant, THOMAS FOXTON.
New-Year's-Day, 1720/21.
THE CHARACTER OF A Fine GENTLEMAN.
T HERE is nothing reflects a darker Shade on all the Glories Earth can boast of, than the serious Consideration of their transitory Nature? How do their richest Beauties fade as the Colours of a Rainbow? And vanish like the gaudy Images of a deluding Vision? The sweetest Pleasures which charm Mankind, that warble so agreeably on the Senses, and surprizingly captivate the Imagination, glide away in a Moment, and are often succeeded by the most melancholy Sentiments. Such an easy Transition is there from the Mirth of a Festival, to the Gloom of a Funeral; that we cannot but admire the Wisdom of those Antients, who mingled the Emblems of Mortality with the brightest and gayest Scenes of Nature, and thought the glowing Crimson of a Rose, and the Virgin Whiteness of the Lilly, less ornamental to their Gardens, than the awful Monuments and venerable Urns of their departed Ancestors. All Conditions of Life are open to the Strokes of Fortune, whose violent and unrelenting Storms will rend alike the Hermitage, the Cottage, and the Palace. Tho' the greater part of Mankind delight in Mirth, and flee from Sorrow as from the Horrors of a Midnight Apparition; yet it frequently overtakes them, and often pierces the very Soul of the dullest Peasant, of the most airy Wit, of the most consummate Politician. Dishonour and Grief have many times soiled the Royal Purple, and stained the triumphant Lustre of Imperial Ensigns. What Favourite of Nature, what Darling of Fortune can then promise himself, with Security, a long Continuance of Felicity? Had young
Philindus
well attended to such Thoughts as these, had not his ungoverned Fancy raised imaginary Scenes, and drest them in fairy Beauties; his Disappointment would not have been so great, nor the Tide of his Sorrows so considerable and impetuous. Indeed when first he began to converse with the World, and make a publick Appearance, 'twas with so much advantage, that perhaps a more solid Genius than his would have promised himself not a little Happiness from such an agreeable Prospect: The Comeliness of his Person, the Sweetness of his Temper, the Brightness of his Parts, and the Lustre of his Fortune, conspire to distinguish him, as a Person born for some noble End, in whose future Behaviour one might hope distinctly to trace the Christian, the Patriot, and the Gentleman; yet, alas! this blooming Youth, enchanted with the Musick of the
Syrens,
and seduced by Flattery and Voluptuousness, lost his Innocence, his Friends, and his Fortune: After which, he would often take a solitary Walk round the neighbouring Fields, and there lament, like
Eve
when she left her Nuptial Bower, and surveyed, with streaming Eyes, the departing Beauties of
Eden.
One Morning in particular he rose very early, and being full of Meditations, and intensely pursuing a long Train of Thought, he wandered much farther than usual; whilst the Verdure of the Fields, and the Musick of the Woods, entertained his Senses in the most agreeable manner. Thus roved the unfortunate
Philindus,
till the Heat of the Sun obliged him to stop at a little Grove; in the most retired part of which he found a pretty Arbour, and there he sat down to rest him. At that instant he was oppressed with a Torrent of Grief; and the unhappy Youth cry'd out in the greatest Agony of Spirit:
"Assist me, most merciful Redeemer, and send some tender Guardian-Angel to support my fainting Spirits and help an Imagination, which bleeds a fresh at every momentary Reflection. Oh! the fatal Errors of my past Life! Were I Master of the
Eastern
Magnificence, or Lord of the Stars, I would, with Transport, resign all for the happy Opportunity of correcting them; but the Months that are gone, are fled for ever."
He had proceeded in his Soliloquy, had not he been hindered by the Approach of a young Clergyman, who was coming to that Arbour, which he almost daily visited. It is a common Observation, that when Persons of Learning and Politeness meet together, though Strangers to each other, they soon fall into an easy, graceful, and familiar Air; and converse, in some measure, like intimate Acquaintance. This was the Case before us: The Clergyman, after some little time, began, in an obliging manner, to enquire what Adventure had brought him thither;
"For,
says he,
I do not remember to have seen any here before, except those who came from our Family: and no wonder, since there is no common Path lies any way near it."
Philindus
told him.
"It was his Custom to walk round the Fields, and there sooth a melancholy Softness incident to him; that he had wander'd far beyond his usual Limits, and at last, by Accident, found out that Place of Ease and Refreshment."
"The Chaplain (for such it seems he was) gave him to understand,
"That he lived about a Mile off, in the House of a great Gentleman:
And then added with a Sigh,
Our Family has this Morning met with the sharpest Affliction imaginable, in the Death of that inestimable Person. O dear
Serino
! how dismal is the Sound of thy Death to every distressed Neighbour? Whilst each Person laments, as though he had lost the Darling of his Hopes and Family, and the Women were preparing their First-born for the Funeral: Even this delightful Retirement has now lost its Beauty, and I find 'twas his endearing Conversation, and reviving Presence, that gave the Grove its richest Charms. How many thousand Eyes will then overflow with Tears, when he shall be carried to his Grave, whose Bounty and Compassion have rescued many from it? However, he will be laid to Rest with Honour, and his unstained Ashes shrined in immortal Urns, whose Gold no Rust can canker; not Malice, nor Envy it-self, did once attempt to defame him living, much less will they offer to violate his peaceful Marble."
Here he paused, and
Philindus
desired he would be pleased to favour him with some Account of that Gentleman, whose Virtues were so conspicuous:
"Indeed,
continu'd he,
I have heard of many noble Actions of the brave
Serino
; but since you had the Honour and Happiness to be intimate with him, I may reasonably expect something more entertaining and particular. And since we are thus by Accident met together, I should be very glad to spend some time in free and serious Converse; which may perhaps prove of more advantage to us, than if we had indulged ourselves in melancholy and solitary Meditations; which, I perceive, is what we both proposed at our walking out: And, for my part, I cannot but think, the many tedious Steps I have this Morning taken, sufficiently recompensed, by my meeting, in this Place, a Gentleman whose Aspect and obliging Address promise so much agreeable Entertainment."
The Chaplain reply'd,
"That nothing could be more grateful to him than such a Proposal:"
And then immediately began, after this manner, to give an Account of
Serino.
AS Religion is certainly the chief Concern and greatest Ornament of Mankind, which adds fresh Lustre to the Jewels of a Crown, and adorns with a new Grace the noblest Scepters, 'twas always
Serino
's Opinion, That the sincere Practice of it did much more recommend a Gentleman to the Esteem of his Contemporaries, than the most stately Buildings, the most delicious Gardens, or the most shining Equipage: As well knowing and considering, that all this Pomp and Beauty would soon be lost in Silence and Obscurity; whilst Vertue reserves, for her Votaries, Rewards which are unknown and eternal. Indeed of late Years, some, who would be thought Men of uncommon Parts, and set up for Wits of the first Rank, are of a quite different Opinion; and whilst they are industriously propagating their Atheistical Notions, make no Scruple of bantering the most aweful Mysteries of Religion: But He always thought there was so much Absurdity and Contradiction in their impious Schemes, as was sufficient to hinder any wise Man from embracing them. I believe I shall never forget those Conferences which I have had with him on this weighty Subject, the Substance of which I shall be very ready to impart to You; provided you will be so free as sometimes to relieve me, by intermingling such Observations, as shall appear most natural and proper.
I shall be very glad if I can say any thing, which may deserve to be joined to the refined Thoughts of
Serino,
or even with your own agreeable Sentiments: Therefore, pray, Sir, go on.
His Reasonings upon this Head were after this manner: That there is a Supreme Being, of infinite Perfection and Glory, is a Notion which the Mind of every Man is apt to assent to, as soon as 'tis proposed: And some Great Men,
Cicero
in particular, carry the Matter much farther, and represent this Notion of a God as an innate Idea, which is Born with us, and interwoven with our Constitution. Now that such an Almighty Being does really exist, is evident from divers Considerations: As 1
st,
From natural Effects, which are observable by every Man:
The Heavens
(says the Royal Psalmist)
declare the Glory of God, and the Firmament sheweth his Handy-work; Day unto Day uttereth Speech, and Night unto Night sheweth Knowledge. There is no Speech nor Language where their Voice is not heard, their Sound is gone out into all Lands, and their Words unto the Ends of the World.
The Polite and Judicious Mr.
Addison
has obliged us with a curious Ode on these sublime Thoughts of King
David:
I'm confident you will not think it loss of time to hear it repeated.
I.
The spacious Firmament on high,
With all the blue Ethereal Sky,
And spangled Heavens, a shining Frame,
Their great Original proclaim.
Th' unweary'd Sun, from Day to Day,
Does his Creator's Power display;
And publishes, to every Land,
The Work of an Almighty Hand.
II.
Soon as the Evening Shades prevail,
The Moon takes up the wond'rous Tale;
And Nightly, to the list'ning Earth,
Repeats the Story of her Birth:
Whilst all the Stars, that round Her burn,
And all the Planets, in their turn,
Confirm the Tidings as they roll,
And spread the Truth from Pole to Pole.
III.
What tho', in solemn Silence, all
Move round the dark Terrestrial Ball;
What tho', no real Voice, nor Sound,
Amidst their radiant Orbs be found:
In Reason's Ear they all rejoice,
And utter forth a glorious Voice;
For ever Singing as they Shine,
The Hand that made us is Divine.
How exactly is the Sun placed at such a due Distance from the Earth, that he may by just Degrees give his Heat both by Sea and Land? For suppose it in a remoter Place of the Aether, how exquisite a Scene of Desolation had our Globe been? and unsufferable Winter had defaced its blooming Charms: We could have had then no gentle Zephyrs, rich with the Spoils of balmy Flowers; but must have been oppressed with piercing Tempests, and buried under Pyramids of Snow. On the other hand, had it been nearer, his fiery Beams would have burnt up every Beauty of Nature, and made this World an universal sandy Desart. How wonderful are the Motions of other heavenly Bodies? How clear an Argument of stupendous Art, and perfect Prudence, if we descend from the Skies, where so many thousand Gems glister round the Azure Ring of Heaven, and take a serious View of the Earth, which is to us the most observable Part of the Universe! We shall there find the clearest Demonstrations of Almighty Goodness, Wisdom, and Power. This is very well represented by the admirable Dr.
Barrow,
in his
Exposition of the Creed.
"That this Earth was designed for the Accommodation of living Creatures which are upon it, and principally of Man, we cannot be ignorant or doubtful, if we be not so negligent or stupid, as to let pass unobserved those innumerable Signs and Arguments that shew it. If we look upon the Frame of the Animals themselves, what a Number of admirable Contrivances in each of them do appear, for the Sustenance, for the Safety, for the Pleasure, for the Propagation, for Grace and Ornament, for all imaginable Convenience suitable to the Kind and Station of each: If we look about them, what Variety and Abundance of convenient Provisions offer themselves, even to a careless View, answerable to all their Needs, and all their Desires; wholesome and pleasant Food to maintain their Lives, yea, to gratify all their Senses, fit Shelter from Offence, and safe Refuge from Danger: All these Things provided in sufficient Plenty, and commodiously disposed for such a vast Number of Creatures; not the least, most silly, weak, or contemptible Creature, but we may see some Care has been had for its Nourishment and Comfort. What wonderful Instincts are they endued with, for procuring and distinguishing their Food, for guarding themselves and their Young from Danger? But for Man especially, a most liberal Provision has been made to supply all his Needs, to please all his Appetites, to exercise with Profit and Satisfaction all his Faculties, to content, I might say, his utmost Curiosity;
Neque enim Necessitatibus tantummodo nostris provisum est, usque in delicias amatur,
says
Seneca:
All Things about him do minister (or may do so, if he will use the natural Powers and Instruments given him) to his Preservation, Ease, and Delight. The Bowels of the Earth yield him Treasures of Metals and Minerals, Quarries of Stone and Coals, serviceable to him for various Uses. The vilest and commonest Stones he treadeth upon are not unprofitable. The Surface of the Earth, what Variety of delicate Fruits, Herbs, and Grains, doth it afford to nourish our Bodies, and chear our Spirits, to please our Tastes, and remedy our Diseases? How many fragrant Flowers, most beautiful and goodly in Colour and Shape, for the Comfort of our Smell, and Delight of our Eyes? Neither can our Ears complain, since every Wood has a Choir of natural Musicians, to entertain them with their sprightful Melody: Every Wood did I say? yes, too the Woods, adorned with stately Trees, yield pleasant Spectacles to our Sight, shelter from Offences of Weather and Sun; Fewel for our Fires, Materials for our Buildings, (our Houses and Shipping) and other needful Utensils. Even the barren Mountains send us down fresh Streams of Water, so necessary for the Support of our Lives, so profitable for the Fructification of our Grounds, so commodious for Conveyance and maintaining of Intercourse among us. Even the wide Seas themselves serve us many ways; they are commodious for our Traffick and Commerce, they supply the Bottles of Heaven with Water to refresh the Earth; they are inexhaustable Cisterns, from whence our Springs and Rivers are derived; they yield Stores of good Fish, and other Conveniencies of Life. The very rude and disorderly Winds do us no little Service, in brushing and cleansing the Air for our Health, in driving forward our Ships, in scattering and spreading about the Clouds, those Clouds which drop Fatness on our Grounds. As for our Subjects the Animals, 'tis not possible to reckon the manifold Utilities we receive from them; how many Ways they supply our Needs with pleasant Food and convenient Clothing; how they ease our Labour, and how they promote even our Sport and Recreation. And are we not only very stupid, but very ungrateful, if we do not discern abundance of Wisdom and Goodness in the contrivance and ordering of all these Things, so as thus to conspire for our Good? Is it not reasonable that we devoutly cry out with the Psalmist,
O Lord, how manifold are thy Works? In Wisdom hast thou made them all; the Earth is full of thy Riches: So is the wide and great Sea: The Eyes of all wait upon thee, and thou givest them their Meat in due Season.
"
Pray, Sir, before you proceed, give me leave to mention one grand Objection which is brought in behalf of Infidelity, and that is this; That we can have no Idea of God, and therefore can have no Evidence of his Existence. And some atheistical Persons argue after this manner: The Notion of a Deity, which is commonly entertain'd, is nothing but a Bundle of Incomprehensibles, Inconceivables, and Impossibles; it being only a Compilement of all imaginable Attributes of Honour, Courtship, and Compliment, which the confounded Fear and Astonishment of Men's Minds make them huddle up together, without any Sense or Philosophical Truth. This seems to be intimated by a modern Writer, in these Words:
"The Attributes of God signify not true, nor false, nor any Opinion of our Brain, but the Reverence and Devotion of our Hearts; and therefore they are not sufficient Premises to infer Truth, or convince Falshood."
And the same Thing again is farther set out, with no small Pretence to Wit, after this manner; They that venture to dispute philosophically, or reason of God's Nature, from these Attributes of Honour, losing their Understanding in the very first Attempt, fall from one Inconvenience into another, without End, and without Number; in the same manner as when one, ignorant of the Ceremonies of the Court, coming into the Presence of a greater Person than he is used to speak to, and stumbling at his Entrance, to save himself from falling, lets slip his Cloak; to recover his Cloak, lets fall his Hat; and with one Disorder after another, discovers his Astonishment and Rusticity.
To affirm that there is no Idea of God, is all one as to affirm, that there is no Conception of the Mind answering to that Word or Name: And indeed the modern Atheists stick not to maintain, That the Word GOD has no Signification, and that there is no other Idea or Conception in Men's Minds answering thereunto, besides the mere Phantasm of the Sound. And since, as the learned Dr.
Cudworth
observes, there are different Words for GOD in several Languages, and Men have the same Notion or Conception in their Minds answering to them all; it must needs be granted, that they have some other Idea or Conception belonging to those Words, besides the Phantasms of their several Sounds. And indeed it can be nothing else, but either monstrous Sottishness and Stupidity of Mind, or else prodigious Impudence in these Atheists, to deny that there is any Idea of God at all in the Minds of Men, or that the Word hath any Signification. But whatever these Atheists deny in Words, it is notwithstanding evident, that even themselves have an Idea or Conception in their Minds, answering to the Word GOD, when they deny his Existence; because otherwise they would deny the Existence of nothing. And then as to his being absolutely perfect, and of infinite Power, the Pagan-Theists did acknowledge it, as might be proved from vast Numbers of Passages in their Writings. Thus
Virgil
;
At Pater Anchises Oculos ad Sydera laetus,
Extulit, & Coelo palmas cum Voce tetendit,
Jupiter Omnipotens Precibus si flecteris ullis.
This seems very natural, as does also your last Inference from the Beauty and Harmony of the Universe; and yet so very unreasonable are the Atheists, that they will not allow even of this, but find fault with the Creation, and pretend to spy out many considerable Defects in the Frame of Nature, and Constitution of the Heavens: For instance, the Disposition of the Equator and Ecliptick intersecting each other in an Angle of twenty-three Degrees and upwards, whereby (as they say) the terrestrial Globe is rendered much more uninhabitable than otherwise it might be. Again, they remark, that Part of the Earth lies deformed and inhospitable, either by burning Heat, or freezing Cold; they likewise take notice of the Variety of those savage Beasts which terrify Mankind; and thence, with
Lucretius,
conclude, that these Things are not under the Conduct of a wise and merciful Being.
As to their Notion of the Equator, it is built upon a false Supposition of the Antients, That the Torrid Zone, or all between the Tropicks, was utterly uninhabitable, by reason of the Extremity of the Heat; and it is certain that there is nothing which doth more demonstrate a Providence, than this very thing, it being the most convenient Site or Disposition that could be devised, as will appear if the Inconveniences of other Dispositions be considered, especially these three: (1.) If the Axis of these Circles should be parallel, and their Plaries coincident. (2.) If they should intersect each other in right Angles. And (3.) which is a Middle betwixt both, if they should cut one another in an Angle of forty-five Degrees; for it is evident, that each of these Dispositions would be attended with far greater Inconveniences to the terrestrial Inhabitants, in respect of the Length of Days and Nights, Heat and Cold: And that these two Circles should continue thus to keep the same angular Intersection, when physical and mechanical Causes would bring them still nearer together; this is a farther Evidence of a Providence also. And then as to the savage Animals, as we are assured by Revelation, that they were not originally noxious to Mankind, but became so by Sin, so even now they are of some Use and Service to them.
Let us, Sir, if you please, proceed to some farther Arguments in Defence of this great Truth.
That there is a God, is proved by the general Consent of Mankind concerning it; by that
Testimonium,
as
Lactantius
speaks,
Populorum atque Gentium in una hac re non dissidentium,
"That unanimous Testimony of all People and Nations, not disagreeing in this only Point."
If the Authority of some particular Men, agreeing in Vote, of one City, of one Nation, doth pass for an Argument, and shews the Thing probable; how can we decline or contemn the common Suffrage of Mankind? Another Argument of God's Existence, which gave great Satisfaction to
Serino,
is drawn from the Discoveries of a Divine Power, in Works that cannot be ascribed to any other Cause visible or natural; such are the Prediction of future Events, (especially such as are contingent, and depend upon Man's free Choice) curing the Sick of great chronical Distempers, without any medicinal Applications; restoring Limbs to Persons maimed; Sight to the Blind; and raising the Dead to Life, (a thing which
Pliny
deemed impossible to God himself.) To this Head belong those Opinions and Testimonies of Mankind concerning Apparitions, Inchantments, and Consederacy with bad Spirits.
As to the general Opinion of Mankind, the Atheist would make us believe, that this Apprehension of a God doth spring from an infinite Jealousy in the Mind of Man, and an endless Fear of the worst that may happen; according to that divine Saying of the Poet, which he can never sufficiently admire:
Primus in orbe DEOS fecit TIMOR.
FEAR first made GODS.
So that it is granted on both Sides, that the Fear of a Deity doth universally possess the Minds of Men.
"Now the Question is, (says the learned Archbishop
Tillotson
) whether it be more likely that the Existence of a God should be the Cause of this Fear, or that this Fear should be the Cause why Men imagine there is a God? If there be a God, who hath impressed this Image of himself upon the Mind of Man, there is great reason why all Men should stand in awe of him; but if there be no God, it is not easy to conceive how Fear should create an universal Confidence and Assurance in Men that there is one. For whence should this Fear come? It must be either from without, from the Suggestion of others, who first tell us there is such a Being, and then our Fear believes it; or else it must arise from within, from the Nature of Man, which is apt to fancy dreadful and terrible Things. If from the Suggestions of others, who tell us so, the Question returns, Who told them so? And will never be satisfied till the first Author of this Report be found out. But if it be said, that this Fear ariseth from within, from the Nature of Man, which is apt to imagine dreadful Things; this likewise is liable to inexplicable Difficulties: For, first, the proper Object of Fear, is something that is dreadful; that is, something that threatens Men with Harm or Danger, and that in God must be either Power or Justice; and such an Object as this, Fear indeed may create, but Goodness and Mercy are essential to the Notion of a God, as well as Power and Justice. Now how should Fear put Men upon fancying a Being, that is infinitely good and merciful?"
Indeed, as that great Prelate, just now mentioned, observes, if a Man had Arguments sufficient to persuade him, that there is no God, (as there is infinite Reason to the contrary) yet the Belief of a God is so necessary to the Comfort and Happiness of our Lives, that a wise Man could not but be heartily troubled to quit so pleasant an Error, and to part with a Delusion which is apt to yield such an unspeakable Satisfaction to the Mind of Man. Did Men but consider the true Notion of God, he would appear to be so lovely a Being, and so full of Goodness, and all desirable Perfections, that even those very Persons, who are of such irregular Understandings, as not to believe there is a God; yet could not (if they understood themselves) refrain from wishing with all their Hearts, that there were one: For is it not really desirable to every Man, that there should be such a Being in the World, as takes care of the Frame of it, that it do not run into Confusion, and in that Disorder ruin Mankind? That there should be such a Being, as takes particular care of every one of us, and loves us, and delights to do us good; as understands all our Wants, and is able and willing to relieve us in our greatest Straits, when nothing else can; to preserve us in our greatest Dangers, to assist us against our worst Enemies, and to comfort us under our sharpest Sufferings, when all other Things set themselves against us?
It is really so very plain and evident, that I shall go farther on this Subject, after having taken notice, that the
Epicurean
Account of the Original of the World, (as expressed by
Lucretius
) is most intolerably romantic and ridiculous; for how is it any Ways possible that Chance should make this great Volume of the World, which can never produce the least Book? How long might a Man be in sprinkling Colours upon Canvass, with a careless Hand, before they would happen to make the exact Picture of a Man? And is a Man easier made by Chance than his Picture?
I think there is one considerable Objection of the Atheists, which as yet we have not touched upon, I should therefore be glad if you would a little consider it, before we dismiss this Subject.
Pray, what is that?
The seeming Confusion of Human Affairs; That all Things fall alike to all; the Innocent and the Guilty, the Pious and the Impious, the Religious and the Profane: Nay, that many times the worser Causes and Men prevail against the better, as is intimated in that Passage of
Lucan,
tho' in the Person of a Theist:
Victrix Causa Diis placuit sed Victa Catoni.
And that the Unjust and Ungodly often flourish in the greatest Prosperity, whilst the innocent and devout Worshippers of the Deity, all their Lives long, struggle with Adversity: Whereas were there a God and Providence, as they conceive, profane and irreligious Persons would be presently thunder-struck from Heaven, or otherwise made remarkable Objects of divine Vengeance; as also the Pious miraculously protected and rescued from Evils and Harms.
It must indeed be granted, that this Consideration hath too much puzzled and staggered weak Minds in all Ages;
"Because Sentence against an evil Work is not executed speedily, therefore is the Heart of the Sons of Men fully set in them to do Evil:"
And the Psalmist himself was sometimes much perplexed with this
Phenomenon,
the Prosperity of the Ungodly, who set their Mouths against Heaven, and whose Tongue walketh thro' the Earth: So that he was tempted to think,
"He had cleansed his Heart in vain, and washed his Hands in Innocency;"
Till at length entring into the Sanctuary of God, his Mind became illuminated, and his Soul fixed in a firm Trust and Confidence upon divine Providence;
Whom
(says he)
have I in Heaven but thee?
&c.
My Flesh and my Heart faileth, but God is the Strength of my Heart, and my Portion for ever.
For as some will be apt from hence to infer, that there is no God, but that blind Chance and Fortune steer all; (
The Fool hath said in his Heart, there is no God
) so will others conclude, that tho' there be a God, yet he either does not know Things done here below, (
How does God know, and is there Knowledge in the most High?
) or else will not so far humble himself, or disturb his own Ease and Quiet, as to concern himself in our low human Affairs. First of all therefore, we here say that it is altogether unreasonable to require that divine Providence should miraculously interpose upon every Turn, in punishing the Ungodly, and preserving the Pious, and thus perpetually interrupt the Course of Nature, (which would look but like a Botch or Bungle, and a violent Business) but rather carry Things on in a still and silent Path, and shew his Art and Skill, in making Things of themselves fairly unwind and clear up at last into a satisfactory Close. Passion and Self-Interest are blind or short-sighted; but that which steers the whole World, is no fond, pettish, impatient, and passionate Thing, but an impartial, disinterested, and uncaptivated Nature. Nevertheless, it is certain, that sometimes we have not wanted Instances, in Cases extraordinary, of a
, God appearing, as it were, miraculously upon the Stage, and manifesting himself, in taking immediate Vengeance upon notorious Malefactors, or delivering his faithful Servants from imminent Dangers or Evils threatned; as the same is often done also by a secret and undiscerned Over-ruling of the Things of Nature: But it must be granted, that it is not always thus, but the Periods of divine Providence here in this World are commonly longer, and the Evolutions thereof slower, which proceeds not from Slackness and Remissness in the Deity, but either from his Patience and Long-suffering, being willing that Men should repent; or else to teach us Patience by his Example: They therefore, who because Judgment is not presently executed upon the Ungodly, blame the Management of Things as faulty, and Providence as defective, are like such Spectators of a Dramatic Poem, as when wicked and injurious Persons are brought upon the Stage for a while swaggering and triumphing, impatiently cry out against the Dramatist, and presently condemn the Plot: Whereas, if they would but expect the winding up of Things, and stay till the last Clap, they should then see them come off with sufficient Shame and Punishment.
It is indeed most absurd for such weak and ignorant Creatures as Mortals are, to presume to pronounce rashly of the Divine Government. But pray, Sir, go on in your Account of
Serino
's Sentiments as to Religion.
He thought it no less evident, that we ought to worship this God, and to pay him our most solemn Adoration: The Beauties of Nature so warm'd the Breasts of the Heathens, that in those Groves, where they had so oft enjoy'd the soft Delights of the refreshing Breeze, and the flowery Shade, there they perform'd religious Rites, and each retired Grotto became a sacred Temple. Now it
s very natural to conceive, that Almighty God should make some Discovery of his Will to his Creatures by remarkable and distinct Revelations, and not permit the devout Soul, whom the Glories of the Creation has raised to a sacred Extasy, to offer up his Sacrifice to an unknown Deity: Is it not absurd to suppose, that the King of Heaven should give to Men (his Subjects) no certain Rule for their Conduct of Life, but leave every one to act according to what he imagines most agreeable to the Laws of Nature and Honour? Uncertain Guides! into what various and opposite Paths do you lead your wandering Followers? Whilst one Man thinks that Action natural and honourable, which another (perhaps of more Wisdom) reckons base and unnatural; from such an uncertain Sound, who can prepare himself to the Battle?
And yet the Deists insist upon it, That Reason alone is an unerring Guide in Matters of Religion, and sufficient to make us happy; which (say they) is as much as we need desire. About which Mr.
Clifford
thus expresses himself:
"Being resolv'd, according to the Duty of every private Person, to make a Search into the Nature and Quality of my Religion; and, according to my Interest in Human Society, to communicate the Effects of that Search to others, if I shall believe it profitable for them: I am, in the first place, to consider of the Choice of some Guide for so long and dangerous a Journey, where I shall sometimes meet with no Track or Path at all, and sometimes with so many, and those so contrary in the Appearance of their first Entry, that the Variety will confound me more than the Want, especially, there being so many Mists cast before me, by the Errors and Deceits of others, that one had great need of a better Eye-sight than is left us by the Fall of our first Forefather. And this Consideration, after a long and serious Debate thereof, brings no other Guide to me but my own Reason; which if it take such Directions as it ought, and may do before it sets forth, and pursue those Directions with Care and Constancy, tho' it may possibly lead me into Errors, yet will bring me at last even through them, to the proposed End of my Journey, which is Happiness."
Notwithstanding what these Gentlemen assert, it is certain, that natural Religion, without revealed, is not sufficient, because it wants Clearness and Authority, especially concerning those two great Articles, of Forgiveness of Sins, and a Future State.
As to these Points, I remember Mr.
Blount,
the great Champion of the Deists, in his
Oracles of Reason,
makes these brief Observations:
"Whatsoever is adorable, amiable, and imitable by Mankind, is in one Supreme, Infinite, and perfect Being, who is to be worshiped not by an Image, Sacrifice, or Mediator, but by an inviolable Adherence in our Lives to all the Things
, by an Imitation of God in all his imitable Perfections, and believing magnificently of it."
And then he goes on, speaking of a Future State;
"A Man that is endued with the same Virtues we have before-mention'd, need not fear to trust his Soul with God after Death; for, 1
st,
no Creature could be made with a malevolent Intent, the first Good, who is also the first Principle of all Beings, hath but one Affection or Property, and that is Love; which was long before there was any such thing as Sin. 2
dly,
At Death he gives to God one and the same Being, who in his own Nature, for the Sins of the Penitent, hath as well an Inclination to Pity as Justice; and there is nothing dreadful in the whole Nature of God but his Justice, no Attribute else being terrible. 3
dly,
Infinite Power is ever safe, and needs not Revenge for Self-Preservation. 4
thly,
However
verisimile est similem Deo a Deo non negligi.
"
After they have said all they can, natural Religion, without revealed, is not a solid Foundation of Happiness; besides, there never was any Age or Nation in the World, when or where such a pure natural Religion as they talk of, without any manner of rituous Worship, was ever practised. I know not what secret Histories these Gentlemen may have of the Golden Age; but as for us dull Believers, we can't see one word in all the ancient Books we meet withal, that gives us the least Hint of such a naked natural Religion as you speak of: If we have Recourse to the Poets, to whom we are beholden for all that is known of these Golden Ages, when these brave Men lived; they make Religion as ritual as it is now, and altogether as full of Sacrifices and Revelations: Nay, the Account we have of the Goddess
Astraea,
which is a principal Part of the poetical History of the Golden Age, is, that she was a
Numen
sent from Heaven, to converse with Men on Earth, to inspire them with Justice and Sobriety, and to teach them Vertue and a good Life: Which Fable is but an antient Tradition of the Frequency of God's conversing with holy Men in the first Ages of the World. Neither do we see any of the antient poetical Heroes, your
Hercules
's and
Pollux
's, your brave Natural-Religion Men; but they frequent Sacrifices as much as other People; as we see by the Examples of
Priam, Ʋ lysses, Achilles,
and
Aeneas
; of
Cadmus, Perseus, Theseus,
and all the
Argonauts
in
Apollonius,
and other Poets. So that we cannot but conclude, that the Story which the Deists tell us of the antient Universality of pure Natural Religion, is all philosophical Romance, and never had any Being but in the Brains of the Gentlemen of their Persuasion, and those of some System-Makers and Preachers of late, drawn from the scatter'd Sayings and Books of Philosophers.
If Natural Religion then proves so insufficient, we must consult Revealed; which, I suppose, was practised by
Serino.
Undoubtedly! Concerning which Method,
Serino
would express himself after this Manner:
"The next thing which a considering Man has to do, after he has discover'd the Insufficiency of Reason without Revelation, to make a Man happy, is to enquire into the Nature of those Religions that lay claim to a divine Authority. If we take a steddy View of the
Pagan
Scheme, we shall find it so over-run with Ignorance, Barbarity, and monstrous Fiction, that any Person of tolerable Parts, might soon draw a better and more rational Plan; in which there is little tending to the Reverence of God, or the good of Man, to the promoting Virtue and Goodness in Human Conversation, to the breeding Love and Good-will in Men towards one another. Their Worship (that of the supreme Lord being neglected) is directed towards Objects most improper and unbecoming; to the Ghosts of dead Men, Men in their Lives (if we may trust the Reports of their devoutest Adorers) famous for nothing so much as for vicious Enormities, for Thefts and Rapine, for Murders and Parricides, for horrid Lusts and Adulteries, Rapes and Incests: And such Persons alive or dead, what wise and good Man would not rather loath than worship and respect? If we consult the
Alcoran
of
Mahomet,
that notorious Antichrist, and vile Impostor, we shall reap but little Benefit from a silly Rhapsody of Lewdness and Cruelty. Indeed,
Mahometism,
in respect to its Age, and the Port it bears in the World, demands some Consideration; for (to speak in the Words of a great Man of our Church) it hath continued a long Time, and hath vastly overspread the Earth: Neither is it more formidable in its Looks, than peremptory in its Words, vaunting itself to be a compleat, general, and ultimate Declaration of God
s Pleasure, cancelling all those that have gone before. But examining both the Substance and Circumstances thereof, considering the Quality of the Instruments by whom, of the Times when it was introduced, of the Places where, of the People who first, or afterwards did receive it, the Manner of its Rise, Progress, and Continuance, as also the Matter it teaches; we shall not find stampt on it the genuine Characters of a divine Original, but have great Reason to deem it a Brood of most lewd and impudent Couzenage, in Times of great Disturbance and Confusion, when barbarous Nations, like Torrents, did overflow the World, and turned all Things upside down in Times of general Corruption and Disorder in Men's Minds and Manners, when even among Christians, Ignorance and Superstition, Dissension and Uncharitableness, Impiety and Iniquity, did greatly prevail. In a very blind and obscure Corner of the Earth, among a Crew of wild Thieves and Runagates, (such have those
Arabians
been always famed and known to be) this Sect had its Birth and Fosterage; among those fierce and savage Over-runners of the World, it got its Growth and Stature: Into this Sort of People (being indeed in its Constitution well accommodated to that Humour and Genius) it was partly insinuated by jugling Tricks, and partly driven by seditious Violence; the first Author hereof being a Person, according to the Description given of him in their own Legends, of no honest or honourable Qualities, but having all the Marks of an Impostor, rebellious and persidious, inhuman and cruel, lewd and lascivious, of a base Education, of a fraudulent and turbulent Disposition, of a vicious Life, pretending to Enthusiasm, and working of Wonders; but these such as were in their Nature most absurd and incredible. At such a Season, and in such a Soil, by such Means, and by such a Person, was this Religion first planted, and afterwards carried on by the Sword. Now that divine Wisdom should chuse those black and boisterous Times to publish his Will, is as if the King should purposely order his Proclamations to be made in a tempestuous Night, when no Man scarce dares to stir out, nor could well see what was done, or hear what was said; much fitter surely to that Purpose, were a serene and calm Day, a Time of general Civility and Peace, like that of
Augustus Caesar.
That the Declaration of God's Mind should issue from the Desarts of
Arabia,
(that Den of Robbers) is, as if the King should cause his Edicts to be set up in the blindest and dirtiest Nook of the Suburbs; the Market-Cross surely, or the Exchange, (the Place of most general and ordinary Concourse) such as, in respect to the World, was the flourishing Empire of
Rome,
were more convenient, and wisely chosen for that purpose: That passing over the more gentle and tractable Part of his People, a Prince should send his Laws to a Rabble of Banditti; should pick out for his Messenger a most dissolute Varlet, attended with a Crew of desperate Ruffians, resolved to buffet and rifle all they met: Were an odd Way of proceeding to communicate his Pleasure to the better and more orderly sort of his People, (such as were the Subjects of that well-govern'd Empire) by Persons of good Meaning, mild Disposition, and innocent Behaviour, (such as were the Apostles of our Lord) in a quiet and gentle manner, (such as these only used) would surely better become a wise Prince. Thus even the exterior Circumstances of
Mahometism
are strong Presumptions against its Divinity; but farther, if we look into the Frame and Matter of it, we shall find it a Mass of absurd Opinions, odd Stories, and uncouth Ceremonies, compounded chiefly of the Dregs of Christian Heresy, together with some Ingredients of
Judaism
and
Paganism
confusedly jumbled."
Such Considerations as these seem sufficient to demonstrate that Religion not to be of a divine Extraction.
But then as to the
Jewish
Religion, we must acknowledge it had its Birth from the Revelation and Appointment of God.
Its Truth and its Goodness we do not call in question; but yet looking into it, we shall find it in many Respects defective: For, 1
st,
this Revelation was not general, but peculiarly intended for the Benefit of a small Nation.
"He shewed his Word to
Jacob,
his Statutes and his Judgments to
Israel
; he hath not dealt so with any Nation, and as for his Judgments, they have not known them."
We may also observe, that as the Laws and Rites of this Religion were design'd only for the People of
Israel,
so they were only suited to their Inclinations and Capacities; their Inclinations, which were very stubborn and perverse; their Capacities, which were very low and gross, as their own Prophets do upon many Occasions affirm and complain, being repugnant to the common Humour and Genius of Mankind. 2
dly,
As it was particular, so it was also partial; as God did not by it speak his Mind to all, so did he not therein speak out all his Mind: Our Apostle to the
Hebrews
charges it with Blameableness;
"If the first Covenant had been blameless,
&c.
with Imperfection, Weakness, and Unprofitableness, there is made an Abolition of the precedent Commandment; for the Weakness and Unprofitableness thereof."
For the Law was nothing perfect, neither does this lay any misbeseeming Imputation upon God, the Author of that Religion; for a Dawning of Light more became that Morning of Times, than a Meridian Brightness. 3
dly,
It was not designed for perpetual Obligation and Use; the Glory of that Institution is long since departed, and the miserable
Jews
labour under the Weight of the most dismal Curses: They are now more outrageous Enemies to the Doctrine of the Cross, than the blasphemous
Turk,
or the barbarous
Pagan.
In the Christian Religion, that deserves the serious Regard of a considering Mind, 'tis this alone appears most worthy of a God, and by its radiant Appearance, discovers itself to be celestial. It would be endless to reckon up all the distinct Beauties that are so conspicuous in this venerable Institution; I shall but just touch on some few, which fully convinc'd
Serino
of its Certainty and Excellency: First, It gives us a lovely and clear Idea of our Creator, and sets his infinite Perfections before us in a true and amiable Light; the Benefit of which will be more evident to us, if we consider into what wretched Notions the blinded
Pagans
were led, for want of such a great Advantage. Their Gods were represented as cruel, indigent, and lustful, subject to the meanest Passions of Human Nature; nay, sometimes to the lowest Inclinations of Brutes: What noble Objects of Adoration must here be? What admirable Patterns of Sanctity and good Behaviour? But Christians are taught, from the holy Scriptures, to believe, that God is a Being of infinite Purity and Mercy. A second great Excellency, peculiar to the Christian Institution, is this, That it faithfully informs us concerning ourselves, concerning our Nature, our Original, our End, all our State, past, present, and final; Points about which otherwise by no Reason, no History, no Experience, we could be well resolved or satisfied. It is also a peculiar Excellency of our Religion, that it prescribes an accurate Rule of Life, most congruous to Reason, and suitable to our Nature; it sets before us a living Copy, and visible Standard of good Practice; it frees us from a tedious Observance of numerous external Rites, and superficial Formalities, and builds our Duty upon most solid Grounds, presses it with most valid Inducements, draweth it from the best Principles, and driveth it to the best End, and farther (which no other Law or Doctrine so much as pretends to) provides sufficient Help and Ability to practise its Commandments: In a word, it alone can appease and satisfy a Man's Conscience, breeding therein a well-grounded Hope, and a solid Comfort; healing the Wounds of bitter Remorse, and anxious Fear, and so appears manifestly to be the true and direct Way to eternal Happiness. It is observable also, that the sacred Oracles furnish us with the most awful Descriptions of God's Power and Majesty, quite different from that Tinsel Pageantry, which so glitters in the Machines of the Heathen Poets. How bright is the Colouring of the Royal Psalmist, how lofty and refined his Diction, when he celebrates the Honour of his God?
Bless the Lord, O my Soul! O Lord, my God, thou art very great, thou art cloathed with
Honour and Majesty! who coverest thyself with Light, as with a Garment; who stretchest out the Heavens like a Curtain; who layeth the Beams of his Chambers in the Waters; who maketh the Clouds his Chariot; who walketh upon the Wings of the Wind; who maketh his Angels Spirits, his Ministers a Flame of Fire,
Psal. civ. 1,2,3,4.
The Book of Psalms is full of such divine and magnificent Images, as are also many of the Writings of the Prophets, especially
Isaiah,
who apparently excels the most celebrated of the
Grecian
or
Roman
Orators. Many such Observations did the dear
Serino
make.
I think these Heads of Argument very just, and sufficient to give a solid and inward Satisfaction to every Man, who will give himself leave seriously to attend the Consequences of them: And if we add to these, the numerous Miracles wrought in Confirmation of these Doctrines by our Saviour and his Apostles, the wonderful and speedy Propagation of the Gospel under seemingly insuperable Difficulties, the magnanimous Sufferings of the noble Army of Martyrs; who, when they were tortured, would not accept of Deliverance, that they might obtain a better Resurrection; the Fierceness of the raging Flames could not shock their Faith, or remove their Constancy, because they well knew, that when our Saviour had
overcome the Sharpness of Death, he opened the Kingdom of Heaven to all Believers.
If we consider all these things, we must own, that none but Christians deserve the honourable Name of Free-Thinkers, and their dull Adversaries oppose these sublime Truths from a certain Narrowness of Mind, Meanness of Thought, and Contractedness of Soul, that tamely submits to vulgar Prejudices; and not being able to rise to the Contemplation of Eternal Joys, dreads so vast an Idea as that of Immortality. But pray proceed.
Serino
being thus fixed in the Principles of Religion, resolved to act accordingly, and not to omit any Duty out of compliment to the prevailing Humour of a degenerate Age. And tho' now, in great Families, it is reckoned unfashionable to beg a Blessing upon our daily Bread, he thought it proper to have Prayers read twice a Day in a little Chapel adjoining to his House, at which all his menial Servants were obliged to be present. He would by no means allow of the least Tincture of Profaneness in his Family, yet being himself of a most gay and airy Temper, he would in a particular manner encourage all innocent Mirth, Diversion, and Recreations.
I have indeed observed, that few things are more prejudicial to Religion, than the too melancholy and rigid Deportment of some of its Votaries.
I have very good Reason to believe, that a virtuous Course of Life has seldom, in our Days, been better recommended, than by the beautiful Example of
Serino,
who was the real Friend and powerful Patron of the Orphan and Defenceless at his Gates: You might daily see Crowds of indigent Persons, or at least those who appeared so, who were all supplied with a free and promiscuous Bounty; for he did not relish those Maxims which tend to cut off any (tho' the least) Branch of Charity.
"It may be (would he often say) many who come to my Gates for Relief, are Cheats and Impostors: What then! Did I certainly know who these Wretches were, that thus impose on Good-nature and Compassion, the noblest Ornaments of Human Nature, I surely would not throw any thing away upon them; but as I do not, I intend to give, so long as 'tis in my Power, to all that ask, because to me they appear to be in Want: And since Almighty God has been so very liberal to me, I cannot but think it will be well-pleasing to Him, to see me vigorously endeavouring to imitate his glorious Example."
Such, in this Case, were the Sentiments of
Serino
; and I must confess, to me they appear exceeding just and delicate: And were Gentlemen but duly sensible of that refined and ravishing Pleasure, which constantly attends Actions of true Beneficence, they could not but perform them with more Frequency and Readiness. How faint are the Delights of the most luxurious Entertainments? How dull the Sentiments, which spring from surveying a vast Mass of Riches, if compared with the permanent Joys, that rise from the Reflection of our having brought a seasonable Relief to the distressed Unhappy?
Serino
had various other Ways of exercising that Heroic Passion of universal Benevolence, which ran so visibly thro' all his Actions, and gave an inconceivable Grace to his whole Conversation. He was the Founder of a large Charity-School in a neighbouring Town, and the chief Supporter of it; besides, he liberally contributed to the Maintenance of divers others. He observed, that among all the melancholy Symptoms of declining Piety, it was very comfortable to a pious Mind, to see one very eminent Sign of the Reverse; that is, the flourishing of Charity-Schools in this Kingdom; the Design of which is so very excellent, that it cannot but be highly pleasing to the Divine Majesty, and draw down many Blessings on the Place where they are encouraged.
All good Christians must certainly highly approve of, and, to the utmost of their Power, encourage those useful Nurseries of Learning and Piety, which are of the greatest Service for forming the Minds and Manners of Youth, and by which many poor Children have happily been rescued from Poverty, Ignorance, and Profaneness.
So intent was he on doing good, that he used to give his Steward Orders to enquire after poor House-Keepers, who had large Families, or were disabled from Work by Sickness, or any other Casualty: To these he was liberal in such a manner, as even sometimes gave them a Temptation to be glad at those Misfortunes, which were the Occasion of their receiving such uncommon Supplies. He used often to employ me, and another Gentleman who attended on him, in finding out such as were reduced from favourable Circumstances to great Necessity, and fallen from the Hopes of a good Fortune, and liberal Education, to the unspeakable Sorrows of a melancholy Despondency: Such Persons have many times been unexpectedly relieved by his Bounty, which has quite changed the Scene, and dressed the gloomy Night-Piece in the softest Airs of the Morning.
This Branch of Charity is not the least considerable, in my Opinion: For surely, if we reflect on the sad Condition of those who are fallen from Plenty to Poverty, and from a soft and easy Life, exposed to all the Hardships of tempestuous Storms; if we have Pity in our Breasts, we cannot but drop a Tear at the Consideration of such piercing Misfortunes. But I fear I shall, by my Digressions, hinder myself of hearing such a full Account of
Serino,
as I desire.
Not at all: Without those, what a great Part of the Entertainment and Profit of our Converse must be lost, and the Time seem to move heavily? But to go on: So great was his Zeal for the Honour of God, so warm his Passion for the Beauties of Holiness, that he not only contributed largely towards the Rebuilding divers decayed Churches, but also erected a most stately One in his own Parish; upon which he would look with much more Pleasure, than upon that antient and stately Structure in which he dwelt. He has more than once expressed his Approbation of the Conduct of the
Romanists
in this Particular, That they spare no Costs to adorn their Churches; which, however, weak Minds may call a useless Pageantry, yet seems very agreeable to those Notions, which both Nature and Revelation give us of the Divine Majesty. There is no Person of Distinction among us, but is willing to have his House beautiful and stately; nay, Men of an inferior Rank will be at considerable Charges to render their Apartments neat and pleasant: And does it then become us to think that Cost and Labour mis-employ'd, which is spent in adorning the Sacred Temples? 'Tis true, the primitive Christians sometimes worshiped God in Caves, in Fields, and the meanest Rooms you can imagine; and, I fear, to better Purpose, and with greater Ardour of Devotion, than most Christians, now-a-days, in magnificent Churches; yet this was not of Choice, but Necessity: For let some Men think, and say what they please, the noble Beauty, and solemn Ornaments of a Temple, serve to excite Reverence, and raise Devotion; though, at the same time, it must be confessed, that sincere Worship, performed in the poorest Place, when no better can be obtained, is as grateful to our Creator, as the most tuneful Anthems that resound in gilded Roofs and lofty Arches.
I have heard that
Serino
had one of the finest private Libraries in
England,
and I cannot but imagine, that a Gentleman of such peculiar Accomplishments, must have had a more than ordinary Taste of the politer Parts of Learning, and therefore should be very glad to hear something of his Fancy as to this Matter, and who were his favourite Authors.
He had indeed a large and well-chosen Library, filled with the best Writers on all Subjects; there was his chief Delight, and when he had been out a few Hours a Hunting, or upon some other Diversion, would return to his Study with the greatest Pleasure. He was a very great Admirer of the antient Fathers, and did by no Means approve of the Opinion of some modern Divines (otherwise Men of good Judgment) who set too light by those venerable Remains of pious Antiquity. He seemed, in a more particular manner, to be delighted with the Writings of
Origen
and St.
Chrysostom,
tho' divers Authors, very injuriously, place the former in their Catalogues of Hereticks, yet he shines with distinguished Rays amongst the brightest of his Contemporaries. As to the subtle Volumes of
Aquinas, Scotus, Durandus,
and the rest of the Schoolmen, he was no great Admirer of them; yet thought the Study of them sometimes necessary. He had, with the utmost Care, examined the Controversy between us and the Church of
Rome
; and tho' he could not but admire the Learning and smart Turns of Cardinal
Bellarmin,
and others of their ablest Champions, yet he was so well assured of the Agreeableness of the Protestant Faith to the Holy Scriptures, that there was no more Probability of his relinquishing it, than of forsaking the first Principles of Natural Religion: Since he always looked upon the former to be a direct Opposition to the Gospel, both by its superstitious Doctrines, and bloody Maxims; about which, he would sometimes thus express himself, when speaking of the good-natured Church of
Rome:
"We cannot but take Notice of such a disagreeable Image, where the Features are so very grim, and its Garments deeper died with Blood than Paint, where Human Gore hides all the softer Crimson. A strange and monstrous Spectacle, which at once appears gay and horrible, glittering and terrifying, dressed in the beauteous Smiles of an Angel (their gilded Chapels, their dazling Ornaments, their solemn and pompous Processions) and cursed with the ghastly Snakes of a persecuting Fury. No Person of common Humanity, can hear of those Barbarities, which the furious Bigots of
Rome
have committed, without being shocked to the last Degree, and feeling a fresh Pain at the Reflection on those Cruelties, which were no more than Sport to the inhuman Actors. But how contrary is this to the Christian Religion, which is made up of Love and Sweetness? As is evident from the Divine Anthem which the joyful Angels sung at our Redeemer's Incarnation;
Glory be to God on High, on Earth Peace, Good-will towards Men.
"
Pray, Sir, what were
Serino
's Sentiments concerning
Socinus
and his Followers; for, if I don't Mistake, I have heard him represented by some, as a Favourer of the
Racovian
-Divinity.
This shows what little Regard is due to flying Reports, that are often dispersed without the least Foundation: For as to
Socinus
's Notions concerning our blessed Lord's Divinity, none could be a greater Adversary to them than
Serino:
He has often lamented, with the greatest Earnestness, that a Person of such Learning, Parts, and Morality, should make such desperate Essays to dethrone the Great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ, who is the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords: He wondered how he durst presume to represent him as a mere Man,
Whose Goings-forth have been of Old, from the Days of Eternity; and by whom were all Things created that are in Heaven, and that are in Earth, Visible and Invisible; whether they be Thrones or Dominions, or Principalities or Powers,
Col. i. 16.
To him, throughout the Sacred Writings, the Ensigns divinely Royal are every where ascribed:
When he brings his First-begotten into the World, he saith,
And let all the Angels of God worship him
; And unto the Son he saith,
Thy Throne, O God, is for ever,
Heb. i. 6,8.
Indeed he used to read some Part of
Socinus
's Works with great Pleasure; wherein he defends the Liberty of the Will, and the Doctrine of Universal Redemption, and explodes the stoical and absurd Opinion of the rigid Predestinarians: But in these Points,
Socinus
agrees intirely with the Primitive Writers, with the whole Body of the Remonstrants, and even with the most celebrated Divines of our Church. That he was conversant in the Works of
Crellius, Volkelius,
and others of that Clan, was not with any Design to fall into their Scheme; but only to furnish himself with some valuable Flowers that were dispersed among numerous Weeds. I cannot say the same as to his Judgment of the
Remonstrants
; for he seemed to go very much into their Scheme, and used to declare that he thought them a Set of Christians, whose professed Doctrines were as agreeable to the Apostolical and Primitive Rules, as any whatever; and was particularly pleased with that charming Air of Meekness, and Charity, which usually adorns even their Polemical Writings. He admired the Profoundness of
Arminius,
the Sublimeness of
Episcopius,
the Clearness of
Limborch,
and the Modesty and Learning of
Curcellaeus
; who were, indeed, among the foremost of his favourite Authors: And well he might, since even a
Tillotson,
a
Scott,
a
Sherlock,
have not disdained, in many Points, to imitate their Manner of Thinking.
In this I have the honour exactly to agree with
Serino,
and have often perused the Writings of those Great Men you just now mentioned, with inexpressible Satisfaction; and once, I remember, Night came upon me unawares, whilst I was reading a little posthumous Volume of
Curcellaeus
's, in Answer to
Maresius.
I remember, likewise, he was wont to speak of the learned
Castalio,
with great Respect and Pity, that so worthy a Man should be exposed to so much Want, and even expire amidst Neglect and Indigence; but in this (as
Serino
well observed) he did but follow the Steps of his Great Lord and Master, who had not where to lay his Head, and left the World under Circumstances of Grief and Contempt. Atheistical Wits very often complain of the Meanness of the Style of Holy Writ; let them read the Bible, either in the Original, or in
Castalio
's elegant Version, and they cannot possibly, without blushing, mention any more such groundless Objections. Another favourite Author of my dear Friend's, was the admired
Grotius:
He had, also in his Library, a compleat Set of
Calvin
's Works, in which, sometimes, he would spend an Hour or two; but those harsh Positions, and unscriptural Assertions, which he there frequently met with concerning God's Decrees, made him only consult them occasionally, and not with that Pleasure which otherwise he might have found in the Writings of a Divine, who was very considerable in many other Respects. He thought his Doctrine of absolute Reprobation, wholly inconsistent with all the Attributes of God, and labouring under monstrous Absurdities. Is it possible that the God of infinite Mercy, should resolve from all Eternity, upon the Destruction of the far greater Part of Mankind, and yet call upon them, with the most moving Tenderness, to accept of Happiness? He that believes this Doctrine, and yet scruples to admit the Doctrine of Transubstantiation, may, in some Sense, be said to strain at a Knat, and swallow a Camel; for the latter, absurd as it is, yet is not loaded with those dismal Consequences, as is that of the horrible Decree; which, like the Tail of a Dragon, draws after it a long Train of Darkness and Terror: Insomuch, that Bishop
Latimer,
in his Sermon on
Septuagesima
1552, was so offended at such kind of Doctrines, that he tells us, according to his own Plainness (and that of the Times)
"That it is as needful to beware of such Reasonings, and Expositions of the Scripture, as it is to beware of the Devil himself."
And in his Sermon on the following 23d
Sunday
after
Trinity,
he expressly asserts,
"That Christ shed as much Blood for
Judas,
as he did for
Peter:
"
So that we see the Orthodox Doctrine of Universal Redemption, was then taught in the Church of
England,
by those who resisted unto Blood, striving against the Corruptions of the Church of
Rome.
Pray, Sir, who were his chief Favourites among our
English
Divines?
Bp.
Taylor,
Archbp.
Tillotson,
and Dr.
Barrow,
in whose Writings there appears a rich Variety of Divine Thoughts, dressed in the beautiful Colours of a charming Diction: Not but that he was frequent in the Perusal of all those Great Men of our Church, who have obliged us with their Writings; such as Bishop
Stilling fleet,
Dr.
Sherlock,
the Author of
The Whole Duty of Man,
&c. but I think the Three I mentioned, were, as it were, his Daily Companions. He was in constant Communion with the Church of
England,
and thought it his Duty to comply with her Injunctions, and thereby obey the lawful Commands of his Superiours. This Dr.
Barrow
had taught him in his
Discourse of Obedience to our Spiritual Guides and Governours
; where he thus speaks:
"Consider Obedience, what it is, whence it springs, and what it produceth; each of these Respects will engage us to it: It is in itself a thing very good and acceptable to God, very just and equal, very wise, very comely and pleasant: It cannot but be grateful to God, who is the God of Love, of Order and Peace, to see Men do their Duty in the Respect perform'd to his own Ministers: It is also a comely and amiable thing, yielding much Grace, procuring great Honour to the Church, highly adorning and crediting Religion."
The whole Discourse deserves to be written in Letters of Gold; but I shall repeat no more of it at present, since I find the Time will not permit us to stay much longer.
I cannot, without Regret, leave such agreeable Conversation; but since it must be, I should be very glad if you would please to favour me with a few more miscellaneous Hints concerning this worthy Gentleman.
I shall readily comply with your Request, provided you will excuse my want of Connection and Regularity: It was his Custom every Morning and Evening to sing a Divine Hymn, accompanied not only with several fine Voices, but also with the choicest Instruments. Particularly every Sunday Morning, the following one of the Excellent Mr.
Addison,
was sung in his Family, and the Harmony improved with the Musick of a curious Organ.
I.
When all thy Mercies, O my God,
My rising Soul surveys;
Transported with the View, I'm lost
In Wonder, Love, and Praise.
II.
O how shall Words with equal Warmth
The Gratitude declare,
That glows within my ravish'd Heart!
But thou canst read it there.
III.
Thy Providence my Life sustain'd,
And all my Wants redrest;
When in the silent Womb I lay,
And hung upon the Breast.
IV.
To all my weak Complaints and Cries,
Thy Mercy lent an Ear,
E'er yet my feeble Thoughts had learnt
To form themselves in Prayer.
V.
Ʋ nnumber'd Comforts to my Soul
Thy tender Care bestow'd,
Before my Infant Heart conceiv'd
From whence these Comforts flow'd.
VI.
When in the slippery Paths of Youth
With heedless Steps I ran,
Thine Arm unseen convey'd me safe,
And led me up to Man.
VII.
Thro' hidden Dangers, Toils, and Death,
It gently clear'd my Way;
And thro' the pleasing Snares of Vice,
More to be fear'd than they.
VIII.
When worn with Sickness, oft hast Thou
With Health renew'd my Face;
And when in Sins and Sorrows sunk,
Reviv'd my Soul with Grace.
IX.
Thy bounteous Hand with worldly Bliss
Has made my Cup run o'er,
And in a kind and faithful Friend,
Hast doubled all my Store.
X.
Ten Thousand Thousand precious Gifts
My daily Thanks employ,
Nor is the least a chearful Heart,
That tastes those Gifts with Joy.
XI.
Thro' every Period of my Life,
Thy Goodness I'll pursue;
And after Death, in distant Worlds
The glorious Theme renew.
XII.
When Nature fails, and Day and Night
Divide thy Works no more,
My ever-grateful Heart, O Lord,
Thy Mercy shall adore.
XIII.
Thro' all Eternity to Thee,
A joyful Song I'll raise;
For, O Eternity's too short,
To utter all thy Praise.
This Exercise, he thought, was exceeding refreshing to the Spirits, and gave the Thoughts a very agreeable Turn. He was indeed very fond of Musick, and looked upon it to be in its highest Use, when employed to celebrate the Praises of our Creator; not but that sometimes he would be diverted with Compositions of another Nature, and smile at the Beauties of a Moral, Politick, or Amorous Song. He was so great an Admirer of Poetry, even in his tenderest Years, that I remember I have heard him say, that when he was at the Grammar-School, he wrote out all
Milton
's
Paradise Lost
very fair; so exceedingly was he delighted with it! He would very often take it with him into the Fields, and by reading it, enjoy a pleasant Serenity, something like that which the Grove of
Eden
afforded to its blissful Inhabitants. He was much pleased with
Spenser
's
Fairy-Queen,
notwithstanding the best-natured Critick must own, it is too Allegorical; yet the Variety of amusing Images, that adorn his Writings, cannot fail of delighting a Poetical Genius. He always spake of Mr.
Cowley
as a polite and fine Gentleman, who seemed as well turned for an Orator as a Poet. He thought Mr.
Dryden
's Fables much the brightest of all his Performances, tho' his Translation of
Virgil
is very Smooth and Musical, and some of his Tragedies very Entertaining. I shall leave this Head of Poetry, when I have taken Notice, that
Serino,
amongst all other Divine Poems, in which he was very much conversant, approved of none more (
Milton
excepted) than Sir
Richard Blackmore
's
Creation,
Mr.
Watts's Horae Lyricae,
and Dr.
Young
's Poem on the
Last Day.
It was remarkable in
Serino,
that he was always so sensible of the Advantages of a Country Life above that in the Town, that he would never stay there above a Month in the Year: But when something extraordinary has called him from his beloved Seat, he has made all imaginable haste to return; and was of
Claudian
's Mind, in the agreeable Description he has given us of the
old Man
of
Verona.
Faelix qui propriis Aevum transegit in Arvis,
&c.
Happy the Man, who his whole Time doth bound.
Within th' Enclosure of his little Ground.
Happy the Man, whom the same humble Place,
(Th' Hereditary-Cottage of his Race)
From his first rising Infancy has known,
And by Degrees sees gently bending down,
With natural Propension to that Earth,
Which both preserv'd his Life, and gave him Birth.
Him, no false distant Lights, by Fortune set,
Could ever into foolish Wand'rings get.
He never Dangers either saw or fear'd:
The dreadful Storms at Sea he never heard.
He never heard the shrill Alarms of War,
Or the worse Noises of the Lawyer's Bar.
No change of Consuls marks to him the Year,
The change of Seasons is his Calendar.
The Cold and Heat Winter and Summer shows,
Autumn by Fruits, and Spring by Flow'rs he knows.
He measures Time by Land-marks, and has found
For the whole Day, the Dial of his Ground.
A neighb'ring Wood born with himself he sees,
And loves his old Contemporary Trees.
H' has only heard of, near,
Verona
's Name,
And knows it, like the
Indies,
but by Fame.
Does with a like Concernment notice take
Of the Red-Sea, and of
Benacus'
Lake.
Thus Health and Strength he t'a third Age enjoys,
And sees a long Posterity of Boys.
About the spacious World let others roam,
The Voyage-Life is longest made at Home.
Cowley.
He would take Notice, that the Country was so empty, that a true
Englishman
could not look into it without a great deal of just Pity and Concern, it being a very ungrateful Spectacle to see so many noble Houses mouldring into Ruin, and dropping down, for want of Inhabitants. He has often wondered at some Gentlemen of his Acquaintance, who used almost to drown those laudable Qualities they were Masters of, in Floods of Wine, and spent a great deal of Time in excessive Drinking; which Vice has very fatal Effects on the Mind of the Person who is devoted to it, not to say that it also wastes his Body, and dissipates his Fortune:
"For (as a polite Gentleman very well observes)
See, a
Spectator
of Mr.
Addison
's.
as to the Mind, Drunkenness discovers every Flaw in it: The sober Man, by the Strength of Reason, may keep under, and subdue every Vice or Folly, to which he is most inclined; but Wine makes every latent Seed sprout up in the Soul, and shew itself: It gives Fury to the Passions, and Force to those Objects which are apt to produce them. When a young Fellow complained to an old Philosopher, that his Wife was not handsome;
"
Put less Water in your Wine,
says the Philosopher,
and you will quickly make her so.
Wine heightens Indifference into Love, Love into Jealousy, and Jealousy into Madness; it often turns the good-natured Man into an Ideot, and the Cholerick into an Assassin; it gives Bitterness to Resentment; it makes Vanity insupportable, and displays every little Spot of the Soul in its utmost Deformity. Nor does this Vice only betray the hidden Faults of a Man, and shew them in the most odious Colours, but often occasions Faults, to which he is not naturally subject. There is more of Turn than of Truth in a Saying of
Seneca,
That Drunkenness does not produce, but discover Faults; common Experience teaches us the contrary. Wine throws a Man out of himself, and infuses Qualities into the Mind, which she is a Stranger to in her sober Moments. The Person you converse with after the third Bottle, is not the same Man who at first sat down at Table with you. Upon this Maxim is founded a pretty Saying of
Publius Syrus
;
Qui ebrium ludificat, laedit absentem:
He who jests upon a Man who is drunk, injures the Absent. Thus does Drunkenness act in direct Contradiction to Reason, whose Business it is to clear the Mind of every Vice which is crept into it, and to guard it against all the Approaches of any that Endeavours to make its Entrance. But besides these ill Effects which this Vice produces in the Person who is actually under its Dominion, it has also a bad Influence on the Mind, even in its sober Moments; as it insensibly weakens the Understanding, impairs the Memory, and makes those Faults habitual, which are produced by frequent Excesses."
Serino
was well aware of this, and therefore strictly guarded against all Excesses of this kind. Another prevailing Vice of the Age, which he kept at a Distance from, and was extreamly uneasy when in any Company where it was practised, was the modish Rant of Oaths and Imprecations, it being an ungenteel Dialect, as well as unchristian, and clashes both with the Rules of Breeding, and the Gospel. The Folly of them is thus admirably described by a considerable Master of Learning and Language:
"Custom, indeed (
says he
) has made them fashionable, but neither civil nor lawful; for Vice can never plead Prescription: I know it lies under the Protection of Numbers and Quality; but ill Things have no Right to Sanctuary. Because Vermin swarm, must they be permitted to Increase? Shall the Number of Felons plead for Pardon? No, no; the Customariness of ill Things makes them worse, and the more they must be discountenanced, and taught Discipline. In a word, whatever jars with Religion, and cuts upon good Breeding, is below a Gentleman; and therefore, in spight of Example and Practice, I must caution young Gentlemen against some Parts of
English
Civility; for though they go for Consent in the
English
Dominions, they will not bear the Test of other Nations. For Example:
Damn ye,
says one,
I am glad to see you.
Is not this a quaint Salutation, first to pack me away to Hell, and then protest he is glad to see me so conveniently lodged? What Provision will these Blades make for their Enemies, if they place their Friends so untowardly? Certainly they fancy Hell is a fine Seat, and that the Damned are in a fair Way of Promotion.
Damn ye, ye Dog, how dost do?
Cries another: This feat Compliment implies Damnation and Transformation too; it's a Compound of Curse and Raillery, I am plunged into Hell, dashed out of the List of Rationals, and then with a Taunt asked how I do. Why, a Man in Fire and Brimstone is not altogether at his Ease; and a reasonable Creature, curst into a Dog, not very fond of the Metamorphosis. A third very ungenteelly accosts a Friend, he has not, perhaps, seen of a Twelve-month;
Ye Son of a Whore, where have you been?
This is an
English
Address to a tittle; it is a kind of Staple Commodity of the Nation, and, like our Wooll, must not be transported, under Pain of Confiscation. But surely we need not lay so severe an Embargo on the Ware, for 'tis ten to one 'twill never find vent in any other Nation on this Side of the
Canaries
; a handful of Dirt, well applied, is as civil a Compliment, though not quite so cleanly.
Son of a Whore!
There is Abundance of Freedom in the Expression, but not a Grain of Breeding; unless you measure Behaviour by the Dialect of
Billingsgate
and the
Bear-Garden.
Certainly these Gentlemen are Admirers of Charity, why else do they dignify Whoredom? For Whore stands for a Mark of Quality, a distinguishing Character; otherwise the Salutation would appear coarse and homely: But, by their leave, few are in Love with Cross-bars, and to be Brother to a Bye-blow, is to be a Bastard once removed. I know we fling a Veil on these Expressions, and wash over their Foulness with fair Pretences.
Damn ye
(says one) and
Son of a Whore
stand merely for Cyphers, or only serve to enliven a Period, and to make the Expression more blustering: I confess Whore and Damnation are near a-kin, and often go together; but for all that, the Silliness of the Excuse, can't stifle the monstrous Incivility of the Compliment; for though it signifies nothing to him who receives it, in good time it will signify much to him who spoke it; for though a Friend may let such Curses fall to the Ground, God will put them to Account; and though they stand for Cyphers in
England,
they may purchase Eternal Torments in Hell. They are, says another, Marks of
English
Familiarity; pure Sallies of Kindness, and Demonstrations of Friendship. No doubt, to deliver over to
Satan
an old Acquaintance, without asking his Consent to the Conveyance, is Freedom with a Vengeance; but at which End of the Compliment is his Kindness? In short, such Expressions grate the Organ, and turn the very Faculty of Hearing into a Burthen; they are high Symptoms of a lewd Inclination, and of a depraved Complexion; for when the Breath smells rank, the Stomach is infected: In short, such a Jargon is a Breach of Civility, it is a rustick Cant, an uncredirable Dialect; nor is the whole Posse of Bullies able to enoble it".
Persons of great Fortunes, are tempted to Pride and Haughtiness; therefore
Serino
laboured by all Means to obtain that excellent Virtue of Humility: And was so happy as not to miss of his Design, nor lose his Labour; for, I believe, no Man, in his Circumstances, was ever of a more meek and humble Spirit. There is an admirable Sentence in Holy Writ, which says, that
Pride was not made for Man:
There is not, indeed, any single View of Human Nature, under its present Condition, which is not sufficient to extinguish in us all the secret Seeds of Pride; and on the contrary, to sink the Soul into the lowest State of Humility, and what the School-men call Self-Annihilation: There is nothing in his Understanding, his Will, or in his present Condition, that can tempt any considerate Creature to Pride or Vanity; and yet the very Reasons why he should not be proud, are, notwithstanding, the Reasons why he is so. Were he not a sinful Creature, he would not be subject to a Passion which rises from the Depravity of his Nature; were he not an ignorant Creature, he would see he has nothing to be proud of: And were not the whole Species miserable, he would not have those wretched Objects of Comparison before his Eyes, which are the Occasions of this Passion, and make one Man value himself more than another. But, methinks, the Instability of Human Affairs, the Turns and Vicissitudes of Fortune, and the sudden Falls from the most swoln Ambition, are Subjects which ought to discountenance Pride.
Shakespeare
has an admirable Passage on this Head, (spoken by
Wolsey
in
Henry
VIII.) which
Serino
used often to repeat.
Farewel; a long Farewel to all my Greatness!
This is the State of Man; to-day he puts forth
The tender Leaves of Hope, to-morrow blossoms,
And bears his blushing Honours thick upon him:
The third Day comes a Frost, a killing Frost;
And when he thinks, good easy Man, full surely
His Greatness is a ripening, nips his Root,
And then he falls as I do. I have ventur'd
(Like little wanton Boys that swim on Bladders)
This many a Summer in a Sea of Glory;
But far beyond my Depth, my high-blown Pride
At length broke under me, and now has left me,
Weary, and old with Service, to the Mercy
Of a rude Stream, that must for ever hide me.
He had improved his natural Parts (which were indeed extraordinary) not only by hard Studies, but also by his Travels. Upon his return from which, he often, with an inexpressible Pleasure, would repeat the following Ode; for which the polite World is obliged to the incomparable Mr.
Addison.
I.
How are thy Servants blest, O Lord!
How sure is their Defence!
Eternal Wisdom is their Guide,
Their Help Omnipotence.
II.
In foreign Realms, and Lands remote,
Supported by thy Care,
Thro' burning Climes I pass'd unhurt,
And breath'd in Tainted Air.
III.
Thy Mercy sweeten'd every Soil,
Made every Region please,
The hoary
Alpine
-Hills it warm'd,
And smooth'd the
Tyrrhene
-Seas.
IV.
Think, O my Soul, devoutly think,
How with affrighted Eyes,
Thou saw'st the wide extended Deep,
In all its Horrors rise.
V.
Confusion dwelt in every Face,
And Fear in every Heart;
When Waves on Waves, and Gulphs on Gulphs
O'ercame the Pilot's Art.
VI.
Yet then from all My Griefs, O Lord,
Thy Mercy set me free,
Whilst in the Confidence of Prayer,
My Soul took hold on Thee.
VII.
For tho' in dreadful Whirles we hung,
High on the broken Wave,
I knew thou wert not slow to hear,
Nor impotent to save.
VIII.
The Storm was laid, the Winds retir'd,
Obedient to thy Will;
The Sea, that roar'd at thy Command,
At thy Command was still.
IX.
In midst of Dangers, Fears, and Death,
Thy Goodness I'll adore;
And praise Thee for thy Mercies past,
And humbly hope for more.
X.
My Life, if thou preserv'st my Life,
Thy Sacrifice shall be;
And Death, if Death must be my Doom,
Shall join my Soul to Thee.
In fine,
Serino
was a Person in whom united Virtues shone with promiscuous Beauty: His Fortitude, his Chastity, his Prudence, were as remarkable as his Temperance and Humility; but above all, Charity was the Virtue that constantly shone with superiour Brightness, and gave a charming Lustre to all his Actions. A few Weeks before his Death, he sent a Thousand Guineas to the Society for propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts; which Design he always looked upon as most Noble and Excellent: At the same time he observed, that the scandalous Divisions of Christians was a great Hindrance to that good Work.
"How pernicious is it (would he often say) to hear such a Variety of contrary Opinions maintained in
Christendom,
and the Belief of most of them imposed on us by their zealous Propagators, under Pain of Eternal Damnation! Should a poor
Indian,
desirous to be instructed in the Mysteries of the Gospel, make his Application to one of the
Society of Jesus,
as the most proper Person to give him Information in those weighty Matters, since he not only goes under the common Name of a Christian, but as one peculiarly devoted to the Service of his Great Master, is stiled a Jesuit, a Servant of the Blessed Jesus; we will suppose the Jesuit to acquaint him with the Dignity and Glory of the
Roman
Catholick Church, and particularly of his Holiness the
Pope,
who, as St.
Peter
's Successor, is (as he tells him) appointed by Christ, whose Vice-gerent and Representative he is, to be the infallible Head of the Christian World, and Center of Gospel-Unity; that all are bound to obey him, and Disobedience to his Injunctions is no less a Crime, than a Rebellion against the Authority of Heaven: He farther informs him of that inconceivable Mystery of Transubstantiation, and assures him, that in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar, he may eat the real Flesh of his Redeemer, and swallow down the Deity he is about to adore: He will, doubtless, give him some Instructions concerning the Adoration of Saints and Angels, and the Veneration due to Images and Reliques: The New Convert may likewise hear the Doctrines of Purgatory, Auricular Confession, and Indulgences, repeated to him with great Earnestness and Solemnity. The poor Man having thus patiently attended to a long Discourse of the Christian Religion, goes away rejoicing, and blesses the happy Moment in which he became acquainted with such sublime and charming Mysteries, and was made sensible of the Darkness and Ignorance of his former State, in which he had been so often debased by the most stupid and idolatrous Practices. But supposing this Convert to fall into the Company of some learned Protestants, and hear them Dispute of Matters of Faith; how very much surprized must he needs be, to find that a great Part of those Doctrines, which he had so eagerly and joyfully embraced, were not indeed the Dictates of Christ or his Followers, but the wretched and empty Contrivances of crafty Politicians? That the beauteous and lovely System, which he viewed with the deepest Pleasure and Admiration, dissolves, and is lost in Air, and he can see no more the transient Beauties of his glorious Vision. Now what shall this Man do? Continue in his present Faith he cannot, with any Satisfaction, since he has heard such evident Reasons against it; and suppose he resolves to forsake his first Scheme, and attend to the Instructions of a Protestant Guide, there are such various Opinions even amongst them, that he is in doubt which Party to apply himself to, whilst, with trembling, he hears them loudly condemning each other".
Serino
did not take Notice of this with any Design to favour a sceptical Humour, or a certain awkard Method of ranging one's Thoughts, which is newly called (by an evident
Catechresis
)
Free-Thinking
; his Aim was only to know the dismal Effects of Divisions in the Church of Christ, which as they proceed from a scandalous Neglect of the plainest Rules of the Gospel, so might they be effectually cured, would Christians but read and consider those earnest Exhortations to Meekness and Unity, with half that Calmness, in which they were delivered by the Glorious Author of our Salvation: Could they but once be persuaded to lay aside their furious and inordinate Passions, to quit their corrupt and sinister Designs; would they but make themselves so happy, as to resolve to value a plain Direction of our Blessed Lord, before a thousand quaint Glosses and needless Injunctions: Then would Joy and Peace abound, and ever-blooming Beauties adorn the Sacred Temple. The Winter being thus happily past, and the Rain over and gone, the Time of Singing-Birds would soon commence, and every Christian be refreshed with the charming Musick of the Turtle. But the Circumstances of our mourning Family call for my Presence; I can therefore only add, that when he was apprehensive of approaching Death, instead of sinking in Sorrow, he entertained himself with recounting the many Mercies he had received through his whole Life; and called me to him, to read a Hymn, composed by the inimitable Mr.
Addison
under an Indisposition: And when I came to this Verse,
O how shall Words with equal Warmth
The Gratitude declare,
That glows within my ravish'd Heart!
But thou canst read it there:
He desired me to repeat it, and seemed transported with the Fervours of grateful Devotion. He was also then well pleased to hear me read the whole to him.
I.
When rising from the Bed of Death,
O'erwhelm'd with Guilt and Fear,
I see my Maker Face to Face;
O how shall I appear!
II.
If yet, while Pardon may be found,
And Mercy may be sought,
My Heart with inward Horror shrinks,
And trembles at the Thought:
III.
When thou, O Lord, shalt stand disclos'd
In Majesty severe,
And sit in Judgment on my Soul;
O how shall I appear!
IV.
But Thou hast told the troubled Soul,
Who does her Sins lament,
The timely Tribute of her Tears
Shall endless Woe prevent.
V.
Then see the Sorrows of my Heart,
E'er yet it be too late,
And add my Saviour's dying Groans,
To give those Sorrows weight.
VI.
For never shall my Soul despair
Her Pardon to procure,
Who knows Thy Only Son has dy'd
To make that Pardon sure.
In a word, he lived as I fain would live, and he died as I fain would die. By his last Will, he left abundance of charitable Legacies, and has given the Bulk of his Estate to a young Gentleman, whose Misfortunes had been represented to him as very particular; and though he was not acquainted with him, yet reflected with Pleasure, some Days before he died, on the agreeable Surprize which the young Gentleman would be in, at the hearing such welcome News.
Pray, Sir, whereabouts dwells the Gentleman, who is thus unexpectedly Master of so considerable an Estate?
In a little Village, about twelve Miles off: His Name is
Philindus.
Are you sure of that, Sir?
Yes; one of our Family is gone this Morning to acquaint him with it.
He will not find him at Home; for, according to your Description, I must be the very Man. I do earnestly desire you to continue with me, as you did with
Serino
; and if at any time you see me acting contrary to his bright Example, be so kind as to give me those severe Reproofs, which are due to Negligence and Ingratitude. And now, since after all my Trouble and Sorrow, there begins to rise a new and brighter Scene, I hope always to retain the most tender and grateful Sentiments of the Divine Compassion; and cannot forbear expressing myself in the beautiful Expressions of the Royal Psalmist, as Paraphrased by Mr.
Addison,
to whom we owe all the Poetick Beauties that have ran through our Discourse.
I.
The Lord my Pasture shall prepare,
And feed me with a Shepherd's Care;
His Presence shall my Wants supply,
And guard me with a watchful Eye:
My Noon-day Walks he shall attend,
And all my Mid-night Hours defend.
II.
When in the sultry Glebe I faint,
Or on the thirsty Mountain pant;
To fertile Vales and dewy Meads
My weary wand'ring Steps he leads:
Where peaceful Rivers, soft and slow,
Amid the verdant Landscape flow.
III.
Tho' in the Paths of Death I tread,
With gloomy Horrors overspread,
My stedfast Heart shall fear no Ill,
For thou, O Lord, art with me still;
Thy friendly Crook shall give me Aid,
And guide me thro' the dreadful Shade.
IV.
Tho' in a bare and rugged Way,
Thro' devious lonely Wilds I stray,
Thy Bounty shall my Wants beguile,
Thy barren Wilderness shall smile,
With sudden Greens and Herbage crown'd,
And Streams shall murmur all around.
FINIS.