conversation, and has nothing to do with cunning*. To watch for a favourable opportunity of doing people good, or reclaiming them from some error--who ever complained of being so over-reached ?

* Witness those most perfect models of all improving conversation, the discourses and parables of Jesus Christ.

ESSAY XIII.

On the Necessity of encouraging Hope.

I Do not know whether it is a pragmatical disposition, or whether it is the effect of a happy inclination to hope, in spite of all discouragements; but for my part, I cannot abide to hear people in a desponding way, give up every attempt in which they cannot thoroughly succeed. It is, gencrally too, the best and wisest sort of people, and who would therefore be the most likely to succeed in some degree, that by carrying their wishes of success too far, and finding it impossible to attain them, in their full extent, sit down in a useless despair and moralize upon the world: which, because it is too bad to be completely reformed by them, they disdain to mend as far as they might.

Thus the best and most useful designs are the soonest discouraged, while those of the wicked and the trifling are pursued day after day: the one too violent to be checked by any consideration, that would oppose the ruling passion: the others too thoughtless to

attend to any difficulties, are continually weaving one web after another out of their idle imaginations, forgetful of all that have been brushed away, and thinking themselves well rewarded, if they can catch a few worthless flies, the vanities and amusements of life *.

There is something quite grievous in this to a mind full of spirit and activity, that thinks it glorious, at least to struggle in the cause of virtue, though ever so sure to be overpowered. But this is by no means the case: every ef fort does something, whether enough to be perceived, at the moment, or not, is very little material: since in time it will certainly have its due effect, and whether that be soon enough for our pride to be flattered by it, or not, is a consideration which truly generous minds should overlook. They will, indeed, go on with less alacrity and satisfaction; but ease and pleasure are, at best, but the secondary ends of our being, in such a state of trial as this life. If, therefore, we do but our duty here, we may trust our reward to futurity: and we should never urge the difficulties we

* The allegory in this passage may perhaps remind the reader of the 4th stanza of Gray's beautiful Ode on the Spring, written in 1742, but not published till 1753,

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meet with, as any objection to the main business of our life, which would by no means be free from uneasiness, even should we neglect our duty.

But, after all, what are these so terrible difficulties of which people so heavily complain? Ours is not, with all its faults, an age, or country of persecution or tyranny: people's lives and fortunes are secure; their virtues involvethem in no danger, and though very possibly they may hinder them from rising in the world, yet though ever so openly and strenuously persisted in, they can do them no great damage. The utmost they can suffer is a little contradiction, a little chagrin, the vexation of seeing many good endeavours turn out to but little good purpose, the uneasiness of living amongst a mixture of people little suited to their better turn of mind, and to whom they cannot do so much good, as they would. But is this a reason, why they should chuse to do none at all? Will the world be the better for all the good people, that are in it, running to hide themselves in deserts and solitudes? If it is not, what then is the sudden retirement, but an idle and selfish pursuit of their own indolent inclinations? Does the industrious planter forbear his toil, because he expects not

to enjoy the shade of those flourishing oaks, that will spring from his acorns? Is he discouraged by the fear, or frequency of blights? Does he at once declare, that all the young trees are degenerate, and no good to be hoped from them? The worse the world is, the more need it has of good people's trying to mend it: and should they be ever so unsuccessful, in regard to themselves, at least, they have not lost their pains. Meanly indeed do they betray the cause of virtue, if they, its only friends, suffer themselves to be overcome by so weak enemies as spleen and indolence. all people they have the least cause to despond: they, who pursue the noblest end, by the fairest means, they who are sure of being in the right, they who are sure to have the best applause for it, they who can doubt of nothing, but that their present fancy may not be gratified in seeing an immediate success of their endeavours; and this they need not doubt about neither, since they ought not to think of it at all.

Of

If sometimes such a glorious instance of success appears, this ought no more to mislead their hopes, than the notion of a magical wand, that raises palaces and gardens in an instant, should make people disdain to culti