17 73.] TO THE WORLD, 309 "I do not say that in this case I would refuse to give an answer, even though the querist should avow the use he was to make of it; for I am thoroughly satisfied in my own mind, that the most enlarged and accurate description of the just measures of Christian liberty, instead of inviting his solicitation, would most effectually deter him from every attempt of that kind. But I should certainly he disposed, and judge myself entitled to ask a few preliminary questions, to which honour, as well as courtesy, should oblige him to reply without evasion or circuit. "The term world is so general and vague, that till some descriptive epithet, such as learned, polite, gay, busy, and the like, be prefixed to it, nobody can know what it means. Hence it comes to pass, that in current style there is an almost endless variety of worlds. Some of them, indeed, of so neutral a complexion, that the most rigid casuist hesitates to determine on which side of the discriminating line they ought to be placed; while the lurid aspect of others approacheth near to the blackness of darkness itself. "How remote from either of those reputable places* dedicated to the improvement of music and graceful motion, where the noble and gentle youth of both sexes are introduced into the polite world, and gradually formed to appear in it with fashionable propriety-how remote, I say, from these, is that profane, opaque sequestered cell into which no ray of the sun hath access; where (if report may be credited) blasphemy ming, and foul debauch, insult the first day • The then Concert-Hall and Assembly-Room, Edinburgh. This alludes to a meeting or club of libertines from the higher classes of society, which, according to general report, was held at Edinburgh. The members met (it was said) about mid-day, on a Saturday, and, having excluded the light of day, remained together in that state till Monday. of every returning week? and yet, betwixt these distant extremes, the whole intermediate space is crowded with apartments of different colours, forms, and dimensions, each of them contending for the pre-eminent, if not the exclusive title of the world. I should, therefore, begin with asking him to which of these worlds he himself doth at present belong? "I would next inquire, what security he can give, that the particular world to which he avows his own relation, and whereinto he no doubt means to invite the Christian, shall retain its present state, and make no alteration in its form and position, without asking and obtaining the consent of its new guest? "This question proceeds upon a supposition, that the world he is connected with, is at least situated within the limits of what I formerly styled the doubtful ground; for, were it confessedly on the wrong side of the line, the conference would be at an end. Nay, it must be further supposed to have a complexion, if not absolutely neutral, yet, at most, nothing worse than ambiguous; and, moreover, to lie so near the verge of the unexceptionably lawful ground, that the Christian may readily pass over to it, if not altogether unobserved, yet without incurring the suspicion of a formed design to proceed any further in that direction. “It would surely be unhandsome, (to say nothing worse of it), to allure one with flattering promises of additional pleasure, and more agreeable companions, into a place where he expects to find rest, if, soon after his arrival, he may be told by the very person who brought him there, that the company is just about to decamp, so that he must either go along with them, or be left alone. Nay, if when he hath reluctantly attended them to the next stage, he may in a few weeks or days have the intimation renewed to him of another 1773.] ILLUSTRATES, 311 removal to a place still more distant, where, for any thing he knows, a third summons may await him, which may be repeated again and again, till he be carried as far from the place of his first outset, as the prodigal went by choice from his father's house. "This is no chimerical supposition: the thing hath often happened; it is common. Even while I am writing, many awful examples occur to my remembrance, of persons, in different stations and seasons of life, who, by steps in appearance short at the beginning, but too rapidly progressive, have soon gone such lengths in conformity to the world, that had any pretended to foretel it at the time when the downward motion commenced, they would have shuddered with abhorrence at the prediction, and been ready to reply in the language of Hazael to the prophet Elisha,‹ Am I a dog, that I should do this thing?' “Now, it is evident, that no man of ordinary understanding would consent to such loose capricious terms of conformity, were they fairly set before him, as in common honesty they ought to be. So that the meaning of my second question is abundantly plain, and the aim so just and honourable, that I should not need to make any apology for putting it, and demanding a clear and direct answer. I "But the third and last question I would ask is of a higher importance than either of the former two. should certainly press him to tell, without disguise or reserve, from what motive he is so solicitous to gain the Christian over to a conformity to the world in any kind or degree whatever. "It cannot be, that his character as a Christian may acquire dignity and lustre from his connexion with the world, and shine forth to public view with more attractive grace. This pretence would be confuted by the very title he hath assumed. For how is it to be supposed, that a man of the world should exert himself to advance the honour of a character, to which his own stands in the most direct and hostile opposition? "Neither can his motives be, that the addition or mixture of worldly pleasure may heighten the relish of those which are peculiar to the Christian; for, with respect to pleasure, the man of the world would certainly choose to be at least on an equal footing with the Christian; and, therefore, if once he admit that there is any real enjoyment in religion, when he presseth his own sweet cup on the Christian, he should at the same time ask permission to pledge him in his, that the whole compound quantity of pleasure may be as equally divided betwixt them as possible: so that, according to the genuine influence of this motive, just as far as the Christian cometh into the world, so far should the man of the world go out of it, and sally forth into the Christian ground. But as this promiscuous intercourse and reciprocal participation of pleasure, would annihilate at one stroke the distinction we have all along supposed between the Christian and the world, and upon which, indeed, the question at issue is entirely founded; and as the man of the world appears firmly determined to keep within his own ground, it is plain, that we must look somewhere else for the true motive of his zeal and activity. "But why should I affect to be in suspense upon this head? It is certain, and the querist will not presume to deny it, that he hath and can have no other aim, than either to strip the Christian by little and little of every badge of distinction, and to gain him entirely over to his own party; or, at least, that he may disarm him of the power to hurt his favourite interest, by clothing him with such motley apparel as will render 1773.] OF QUESTIONS, 313 him an object of contempt and ridicule, and either cover, or, if possible, totally exclude, that penetrating light and overpowering splendour of pure and undefiled religion, whereby the despicable meanness and hateful deformity of the maxims and manners of a corrupt world, are most clearly detected and most severely reproved. "Pray, Sir, what have I to do with your querist ? You know well, that the inquiry was proposed by one who does not profess to be of the world. Why then have you introduced a person with whom I neither have nor desire to have, any connexion, and wasted so much of your paper upon him, that you have not left yourself room to fulfil the promise you made to me?' I suppose you are going to add, And, now that I have brought my preliminary questions to this conclusion, it would be superfluous to proceed any farther in the subject, as it could serve no good purpose to give such a querist an account of "Your Ladyship may stop. I confess you have got the start of me, and hit upon almost the very words I was just about to write. But I hope you do not suspect me of a serious intention to fight off, as it is called, by a feigned rencounter with a combatant from whom I can with such ease disengage myself at pleasure? I assure you, that I have no design to elude, by any artifice whatsoever, the performance of my promise to consider the subject you recommend to me, with all the attention and accuracy of which I am possessed. It is my fixed purpose to lay before you as full a description as I can, of what appears to me to be the just measure of Christian conduct in relation to a present world. "But as you have laid me under no restrictions, either as to time or manner of execution, I think my, |