we be thought in little danger, and not likely to yield to the bad examples furrounding us.

140. On Intemperance in Drinking.

SECT. VI.

But let me confider what the intemperate fay in their excufe.

That any fhould frequently put themfelves into a condition, in which they are incapable of taking the least care of themfelves-in which they are quite ftupid and helplefs-in which, whatever danger threatens them, they can contribute nothing towards its removal-in which they may be drawn into the most fhocking crimes-in which all they hold dear is at the mercy of their companions; the excefs, I fay, which caufes us to be in fuch a fituation, none feem difpofed to defend: but what leads to it, you find numbers thus vindicating, or excufing.

They must converfe-They must have their hours of chearfulness and mirth When they are difordered, it happens be. fore they are aware of it-A fmall quantity of liquor has this unhappy effect upon them-If they will keep up their intereft, it must be by complying with the intemperate humour of their neighbours-Their way of life, their bufineis, obliges them to drink with fuch numbers, that it is fearcely poffible they fhould not be fometimes guilty of excess.

To all which it may be faid, that, bad as the world is, we may every where, if we feek after them, find thofe, whofe company will rather confirm us in cur fobriety, than endanger it. Whatever our rank, ftation, profeflion or employment may be, fuitable companions for us there are; with whom we may be perfectly fafe, and free from every temptation to excefs. If thefe are not in all refpects to our minds, we must bear with them, as we do with our condition in this world; which every prudent perfon makes the beft of; fince, let what will be the change in it, fill it will be liable to fome objection, and never, entirely, as he would with it. In both cafes we are to confider, not how we fhall rid ourfelves of all inconveniences, but where are likely to be the feweft: and we fhould judge that fet of acquaintance, as well as that fate of life, the most eligible, in which we have the leaft to fear, from which our ease and innocence are likely to meet with the fewell interruptions.

But mirth, you fay, muft fometimes be con

fulted. Let it be fo. I would no more diffuade you from it, than I would from ferioufnefs. Each fhould have its feafon, and its measure: and as it would be thought by all very proper advice, with respect to feriousness, "Let it not proceed to me"lancholy, to morofenefs, or to cenforiouf"nefs;" it is equally fit advice, with regard to mirth, "Let wifdom accompany "it: Let it not tranfport you to riot or intemperance: Do not think you can be "called merry, when you are ceafing to "be reasonable."

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Good humour, chearfulness, facetioufnefs, which are the proper ingredients of mirth, do not want to be called out by the repeated draught: it will rather damp them, from the apprehenfion of the diforder it may foon produce. Whenever we depart from, or endanger, our innocence, we are laying a foundation for uneafinefs and grief; nor can we, in fuch circumstances, be merry, if we are not void of all thought and reflection: and this is, undoubtedly, the most melancholy fituation, in which we can be conceived, except when we are undergoing the punishment of our folly. The joy, the elevation of fpirits proper to be fought after by us, is that alone, which can never be a fubject of remorfe, or which never will embitter more of our hours than it relieves. And when this may be obtained in fuch a variety of ways, we must be loft to all common prudence, if we will apply to none of them; if we can only find mirth in a departure from sobriety.

You are, it feems, overtaken, before you are aware of it. This may be an allowable excufe for three or four times, in a man's life; oftener, I think, it cannot be. What you are fenfible may easily happen, and mufl be extremely prejudicial to you, when it does happen, you should be always aware of. No one's virtue is any farther his praife, than from the care he takes to preferve it. If he is at no trouble and pains on that account, his innocence has nothing in it, that can entitle him to a reward. you are truly concerned for a fault, you will neceffarily keep out of the way of repeating it; and the more frequent your repetitions of it have been, fo much the greater caution you will ufe for the future.

If

Many we hear excufing their drunkenne, by the jmall quantity which occafions it. more trifling excufe for it could not be made. For if you know how small a quantity of liquor will have that unhappy effect, you should forbear that quantity. It is as

much

much your duty to do fo, as it is his duty to forbear a greater quantity, who fuffers the fame from it, which you do from a leffer. When you know that it is a crime to be drunk, and know likewise what will make you fo; the more or less, which will do this, is nothing to the purpofe-alters not your guilt. If you will not refrain from two or three draughts, when you are fure that drunkenness will be the confequence of them; it cannot be thought, that any mere regard to fobriety keeps you from drinking the largest quantity whatsoever. Had fuch a regard an influence upon you, it would have an equal one; it would keep you from every step, by which your fobriety could fuffer.

As to fupporting an intereft, promoting a trade, advantageoufly bargaining for ourselves, by drinking more than is convenient for us; they are, for the most part, only the poor evations of the infincere, of those who are willing to lay the blame of their mifconduct on any thing, rather than on what alone deferves it-rather than on their bad incli

nations.

Civility and courtefy, kind offices, acts of charity and liberality will both raife us more friends, and keep those we have firmer to us, than any quantities of liquor, which we can either diftribute or drink: and as for mens trade or their bargains, let them always act fairly-let them, whither they buy or fell, fhew that they abhor all tricking and impofition-all little and mean artifices; and I'll take my life, they fhall never have reason to object, that, if they will always preferve their jobriety, they at leffen their gains.

But were it true, that, if we will refolve never to hazard intoxicating ourselves, we maft lofe our friends, and forego our prefent advantage; they are inconveniences, which, in fuch a cafe, we should chearfully fubmit to. Some pains must be taken, fome difficulties must be here encountered; if we will have any reasonable ground to expect happiness in a future ftate. Of this even common fense must fatisfy us.

Credulous as we are, I think it impoffible, that any man in his wits would believe me, if I were to tell him, that he might miss no opportunity of bettering his fortune that he might remove any evil he had to fear, by whatsoever method he thought proper that he might throughout follow his inclinations, and gratify his appentes; and yet reft affured, that his death would be but the paffage to great and endlefs joys. I know not, to whom fuch an

affertion would not appear extremely abfurd: notwithstanding which, we, certainly, do not act, as if there were any abfurdity in it, when we make what is evidently our duty give way to our convenience; and rather confider, how profitable this or that practice is than how right. That, therefore, fobriety, added to other parts of a virtuous conduct, may entitle us to the fo much hoped for reward, we must be fober, under all forts of discouragements. It rarely, indeed, happens, that we meet with any; but to refift the greateft must be our refolution, if we will recommend ourselves to the Governor of the univerfe-if we will hope for his faDean Bolton.

vour.

$141. On Intemperance in Drinking.

SECT. VII.

Thus much with regard to drunkennefs, fo far as it is committed by intoxicating ourselves-by drinking, 'till our reafon is gone: but as there is yet another way, in which we may offend in it, viz. by drinking more than is proper for our refreshment; I must on this likewise beftow a few obfervations.

When we drink more than fuffices to recruit our fpirits, our paffions are heightened, and we ceafe to be under the influence of that calm temper, which is our only fafe counsellor. The next advance beyond refreshment is to that mirth, which both draws many unguarded speeches from us, and carries us to many indiscreet actions

which waftes our time, not barely while we are in the act of drinking, but as it unfettles our heads, and indifpoles us to attentior, to bufinefs,o a clofe application in any way. Soon as our spirits are railed beyond their just pitch, we are for schemes of diverfion and pleafure; we are unfit for ferious affairs, and therefore cannot entertain a thought of being employed in them.

Befides, as according to the rife of our fpirits, their fall will, afterward, be; it is moft probable, that when we find them thus funk, we fhall again refort to what we have experienced the remedy of fuch a complaint; and thereby be betrayed, if not into the exceffes, which deprive us of our reafon, yet into fuch a habit of drinking, as occafions the lofs of many precious hours

impairs our health-is a great mifappli cation of our fortune, and a moft ruinous example to our obfervers. But, indeed, whence is it to be feared, that we shall become downright fots-that we fhall con

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exceffes occafion, they can best determine, who labour under them.

tract a habit of drinking to the moft difguifing excels; whence, I fay, is this to be feared, if not from accuftoming ourselves to the frequent draughts, which neither our thirft-nor fatigue-nor conftitution requires: by frequently ufing them, our inclination to them is ftrengthened; till at length we cannot prevail upon ourselves to leave our cup, while we are in a condition to lift it.

These are objections, in which all are concerned, whofe refreshment, from what they drink, is not their rule in it; but to men of moderate fortunes, or who are to make their fortunes, other arguments are to be used: these perfons are to confider, that even the leffer degree of intemperance, now cenfured, is generally their utter undoing, thro' that neglect of their affairs, which is its neceflary confequence. When we mind not our own bufinefs, whom can we think likely to mind it for us? Very few, certainly, will be met with, difpofed and able to do it; and not to be both, is much the fame, as to be neither. While we are paffing our time with our chearful companions, we are not only lofing the advantages, which care. and industry, either in infpecting our affairs, or pursuing our employment, would have afforded us; but we are actually confuming our fortune we are habituating ourselves to a moft expenfive idlenefs-we are contracting a difinclination to fatigue and confinement, even when we molt become fenfible of their neceffity, when our affairs muft run into the utmost confufion without them. And we, in fact, perceive that, as foon as the scholar, or trader, or artificer, or whoever it is, that has the whole of his maintenance to gain, or has not much to spend, addicts himself only to this lower degree of intemperance accuftoms himself to fit long at his wine, and to exceed that quantity of it which his relief demands, he becomes worthlefs in a double fenfe, as deferving nothing, and, if a care greater than his own fave him not, as having nothing.

Add to all this, that the very fame diseafes, which may be apprehended from often intoxicating ourselves, are the ufual attendants not only of frequently drinking to the full of what we can conveniently bear, but even of doing it in a large quantity. The only difference is, that fuch difeafes come more fpeedily on us from the former, than the laster caufe; and, perhaps, destroy us fooner. Jut how deurcable it is to be long ftruggling with any of the diftempers, which our

The inconveniences which attend our more freely using the leaft hurtful of any fpirituous liquors have fo evidently appeared-have fhewn themfelves fo many and fo great, as even to call for a remedy from the law itself; which, therefore, punifhes both thofe, who loiter away their time at their cups, and thofe, who fuffer it to be done in their houses.

A great part of the world, a much greater than all the parts added together, in which the Chriftian religion is profeffed, are forbidden all manner of liquors, which can cause drunkenness; they are not allowed the smallest quantity of them; and it would be an offence which would receive the most rigorous. chaftifement, if they were known to use any; their lawgiver has, in this particular, been thought to have acted according to the rules of good policy; and the governors of those countries, in which this law is in force, have, from its firft reception amongst them, found it of fuch benefit, as to allow no relaxation of it. I do not mention fuch a practice as any rule for us difference of climates makes quite different ways of living neceffary: I only mention it as a leffon to us, that, if fo great a part of mankind submit to a total abftinence from wine and ftrong drink, we fhould use them fparingly, with caution and moderation; which is, certainly, neceffary to our welfare, whatever may be the effect of entirely forbearing them on theirs.

In the most admired of all the western governments, a ftrict fobriety was required of their women, under the very severest penalties: the punishment of a departure from it was nothing less than capital: and the custom of faluting women, we are told, was introduced in order to discover whether any fpirituous liquor had been drank by them.

In this commonwealth the men were prohibited to drink wine 'till they had attained thirty years.

The whole body of foldiery, among this people, had no other draught to enable them to bear the greatest fatigue-to raise their courage, and animate them to encounter the most terrifying difficulties and dangers, but water fharpened with vinegar. And what was the confequence of such frict fobriety, obferved by both fexes? What was the confequence of being born of parents fo exactly temperate, and of being trained up in a habit of the utmost abitemiousness

What,

What, I fay, followed upon this, but the attainment of such a firmness of body and mind of fuch an indifference to all the emafculating pleafures of fuch vigour and fearleffaefs, that the people, thus born and educated, foon made all oppofition fall before them, experienced no enemy a match for them were conquerors, wherever they carried their arms.

By these remarks on the temperance of the antient Romans, I am not for recalling cuftoms fo quite the reverse of those, in which we were brought up; but fome change in our manners I could heartily wifh they might effect: and if not induce us to the fame fobriety, which was practifed by thefe heathens, yet to a much greater than is practifed by the generality of ChrifDean Bolton.

tians.

$142. On Pleasure.

SECT. I.

To the Honourable While you are conftantly engaged in the purfait of knowledge, or in making what you have acquired of use to your fellow-creatures-while information is your amusement, and to become wifer is as much your aim, in all the company you keep, as in all the books you read; may I not justly think it matter of aftonishment to you, that fuck numbers of your fpecies fhould be quite unmindful of all rational improvement-folely intent on fchemes of mirth and diverfion-paffing their lives in a round of sporting and trifling.

If every age has its madnefs, and one is difinguished by its warlike humour, a fecond by its enthusiasm, a third by its party and political rage; the diftraction of the present may truly be pronounced, its turn to pleafare, fo fadly poffeffing thofe of each fex and of all ages-thofe of every profeffion and employment-the several ranks and orders of men; that they, who are strangers to the fudden changes in human difpofitions, are apt to think, that all seriousness and application-all the valuable attainments, which are the reward only of our pains, muft, inevitably, be foon loft among us.

I am not out of hopes, that what thus threatens, in the opinion of fome, our speedy ruin, and has its very great mifchief denied by none, who give it the least attention, will one day receive as remarkable an oppolition from your pen, as it now does a fcouragement from your example.

Let, in the mean time, a fincere well

wifher to his countrymen interpofe his mean endeavours to ferve them-offer to their confideration fome, perhaps not wholly contemptible, arguments against the purfuit, to which they are fo blameably attached-fhew them pleafure in that true light, in which they are unwilling to fee itteach them, not that it should be always declined, but that they should never be enflaved to it reprefent the dangers, to which it expoles them, yet point out how far it may be enjoyed with innocence and fatery.

Every man feems to be fo far free, a, he can difpofe of himfelf-as he can maintain a due fubordination in the parts of his frame, use the deliberation proper to acquaint him with what is molt for his advantage, and, according to the refult thereof, proceed to action. I confider each hindrance to the knowledge of our true happi nefs, or to its purfuit, as, according to its degree, an abridgment of our liberty; and I think that he may be truly ftiled a slave to pleafure, who follows it, wherefoever directed to it by appetite, paffion, or fancy. When we liften to their fuggeftions in the choice of good, we allow them an authority, that our Creator never intended they should have; and when their directions in that choice are actually complied with, a lawless fway enfues-the ufe of our nobler faculties becomes obftructed-our ability to deliberate, as we ought, on our conduct, gradually fails, and to alter it, at length wholly ceafes.

Our fenfual and rational parts are almost in continual oppofition: we add to the power of the former, by a thoughtless, idle, voluptuous life; and to that of the latter by reflection, indufiry, continence.

As you cannot give way to appetite, but you increafe its reltlefsnefs, you multiply its demands, and become less able to refift them; fo the very fame holds true of every principle that oppofes reafon: if capable to influence you in one inftance, it will more eafily do it in a fecond, gaining ground, 'till its dominion over you becomes abfolute.

When the question concerns our angry paflions, all are ready to acknowledge the danger of not reftraining them, the terribie fubjection to which fuch remiffness expofes us. Thefe falling more under the general notice, from the apparency of the diforder, and extent of the mischief which they occafion, a better judgment is ordinarily made of them, than of affections lefs tumultuous, lefs dangerous to our affociates: but there can be no reafon imagin

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able why anger, if lefs carefully watched and refifted, should exercise, at length, the most unhappy tyranny over us, which will not hold as to any paffion or luft whatsoever. And as with respect to violent refentment, we are ready to gratify it, whatever it cofts us; fo let what will be the paffion or luft that governs us, no prudential confiderations are a counterpoife for it.

With regard to pleasure, the fallacy of our reafoning upon it lies here; we always look upon the enjoyment of it as a fingle act, as a compliance with our liking in this or that inftance: the repetition of that indulgence is not feen under a dependence on any former, or under the leaft connexion with any future. That fuch a purfuit fhould engage us feems to be wholly from our choice; and this choice is thought to be as free, at the second time of our making it as at the firft, and at the twentieth, as at the fecond. Inclination is never beheld as poffible to become constraint-is, I mean, never regarded as capable of being indulged, 'till it cannot be refifted. No man ever took the road of pleasure, but he apprehended that he could easily leave it: had he confidered his whole life likely to be paffed in its windings, the preference of the ways of virtue would have been indisputable.

But as fenfual pursuits could not engage fo many, if fomething very delightful were not expected in then; it will be proper to thew, how unlikely they are to answer fuch an expectation-what there is to difcourage us from attaching ourselves to them.

Confider fenfual pleasure under the higheft poffible advantages, it will yet be found liable to these objections.

Firft, That its enjoyment is fleeting, expires foon, extends not beyond a few moments: Our fpirits fink inftantly under it, if in higher degree; nor are they long without being depreffed, when it lefs powerfully affects them. A review here affords me no comfort: I have here nothing delightful to expect from Reflection. The gratifications, in which I have allowed myfelf, have made me neither wifer nor better. The fruit was relished while upon my tongue, but when paffed thence I fcarcely

retain the idea of its flavour.

How tranfitory our pleasure are, we cannot but acknowledge, when we confider, how many we, in different parts of our lives, eagerly pursue, and then wholly decline.

That, which is the high entertainment of

our infancy, doth not afford us the leaft, when this ftate is paffed: what then delights us much in our youth, is quite tastelefs to us, as we approach manhood; and our engagements at this period give way to fome others, as we advance in age.

Nor do our pleasures thus pafs only with our years, but, really, those which beft fuit our time of life, and on the purfuit of which we are most intent, must be interrupted in order to be enjoyed.

We can no more long bear pleasure, than we can long endure fatigue; or, rather, what we call pleasure, after fome continuance, becomes fatigue.

We want relief in our diverfions, as well as in our most serious employments.

When Socrates had obferved, "of how "unaccountable a nature that thing is, " which men call Pleasure, fince, though "it may appear to be contrary to Pain, as "never being with it in the fame perfon, "yet they fo clofely follow each other, "that they may feem linked, as it were,

together." He then adds-" If Æsop " had attended to this, he would, I think, "have given us a fable, in which the Di

vinity, willing to reconcile these two "enemies, but yet unable to do it, had, "nevertheless, so connected them in their "extremities, that where the one comes, "the other fhall be fure to fucceed it."

From the excess of joy, how ufual is the tranfition to that of dejection! Laughter, as well as grief, calls for tears to eafe us under it; and it may be even more dangerous to my life to be immoderately delighted, than to be feverely afflicted.

Our pleasures then foon pafs; and, fecondly, their repetition certainly cloys.

As the eafinefs of posture and agreeable. nefs of place wear off by a very short continuance in either; it is the fame with any fenfual gratifications which we can purfue, and with every enjoyment of that kind, to which we can apply. What fo delights our palate, that we should relish it, if it were our conftant food? What juice has nature furnished, that, after being a frequent, continues to be a pleasing, draught ? Sounds, how artfully fo ever blended or fucceffive, tire at length the ear; and odours, at first the most grateful, foon either cease to recreate us, or become offenfive to us. The finest profpect gives no entertainment. to the eye that has been long accustomed to it. The pile, that ftrikes with admiration each cafual beholder, affords its royal

inhabitant