Perhaps the Catenarian philofophers, before mentioned, may be able to fhew the neceffity, of fuch unaccountable reveries. I fhould think it were a much easier tafk, to inveftigate our fleeping, than our waking thoughts; as in the first cafe, the mind is only the patient, and muft fwallow down its dofe, with an implicit faith; but in the latter, 'tis the phyfician, and may minister to itself.

I am particularly fond of indulging my contemplations on the fubject of Soul, or Spirit-—I am rejoiced, alfo, when I find myself perplexed with the too high investigation of it. The more

*

Chapter III.

K 2

myftical

mystical its union with the body appears to be, the more reafon it affords me ftill to believe that it may be capable of exifting, independent of it-For were we once able to define its nature, it would not then poffibly be what I hope and truft we fhall all of us, at one time or other, happily experience it to be! Amen!

СНАР.

CHAP. L.

MEN OF BUSINESS.

A

MONG the many vulgar errors I fhould wish to expofe, this is perhaps the one of the moft confequence in life, as it has often been a confiderable disadvantage to it: that men of wit, or parts, are incapable of bufinefs. As if blockheads could be fit for any thing, but to chronicle fmall beer.

This is one reason why men of this character generally decline the application; for they have heard the maxim fo often repeated, that they begin at K 3

laft

laft to think it true themfelves; which alfo gives them a mean idea of the nature of business, itself. And an other caufe is, that from a mistaken notion of it too, they imagine it to lie quite out of the road to pleasure, the natural pursuit of perfons of wit or spirit.

To obviate the first objection, do but recollect yourfelf (for I am not at leifure) of those few men of fenfe or genius, who either from the neceffity of their fortunes, the ambition of their minds, or the very rare diftinguishing favour of Princes, have been occafionally led into business of any kind, and obferve with how much better addrefs in themselves, and more fatisfaction to

others,

others, they have acquitted them of

the charge, than any of thofe plod

ding fellows have ever done, who are characterized men of business.

The Afs keeps dodging on the con.. mon road; and after many false steps, and circumviations, arrives late and wearied to its ftall. While the Eagle, foaring above the level of the world, with a quick eye aims at his aery, and ftriking the foorteft line between two points, reaches it with more difpatch, and lefs fatigue.

That bufinefs lies out of the road to pleasure, is a fecond vulgar error, alfo, All pleasure is not merely fenfual. The nitidus ordo is the moft agreeable object