STUDY OF HISTORY.

'Tis not the chime and flow of words, that move
In measured file, and metrical array;
"Tis not the union of returning sounds,
Nor all the pleasing artifice of rhyme,
And quantity, and accent, that can give
This all-pervading spirit to the ear,
Or blend it with the movings of the soul.
'Tis a mysterious feeling, which combines
Man with the world around him, in a chain
Woven of flowers, and dipped in sweetness, till
He taste the high communion of his thoughts,
With all existences, in earth and heaven,
That meet him in the charm of

grace and power.
"Tis not the noisy babbler, who displays,
In studied phrase and ornate epithet,

21

And rounded period, poor and vapid thoughts,
Which peep from out the cumbrous ornaments,
That overload their littleness. Its words
Are few, but deep and solemn; and they break
Fresh from the fount of feeling, and are full
Of all that passion, which, on Carmel, fired
The holy prophet, when his lips were coals,
His language winged with terror, as when bolts
Leap from the brooding tempest, armed with wrath,
Commissioned to affright us, and destroy. PERCIVAL.

QUESTIONS.-1. What is the object of the philosopher? 2. Of the orator? 3. Of the poet? 4. What is the principal resource of the poet? 5. To what is the poetic genius compared?

LESSON 12.

Advantages of studying History.

If we consider the knowledge of history with regard to its application, we shall find that it is eminently useful to us in three respects, namely, as it appears in a moral, a political, and a religious point of view.

In a moral point of view, it is beneficial to mankind at large, as the guide of their conduct. In a political--as it suggests useful expedients to those who exercise the public offices of

22

STUDY OF HISTORY.

the state; or as it enables us to form, by comparison with those who have gone before them, a just estimate of their merits. In a religious-as it teaches us to regard the Supreme Being as the governor of the universe, and sovereign disposer of all events.

The faculties of the soul are improved by exercise; and nothing is more proper to enlarge, to quicken, and to refine them, than a survey of the conduct of mankind. History supplies us with a detail of facts, and submits them to examination before we are called into active life. By observation and reflection upon others we begin an early acquaintance with human nature, extend our views of the moral world, and are enabled to acquire such a habit of discernment, and correctness of judgment, as others obtain only by experience. By meditating on the lives of sages and heroes, we exercise our virtues in a review, and prepare them for approaching ac tion. We learn the motives, the opinions, and the passions of the men who lived before us; and the fruit of that study is a more perfect knowledge of ourselves, and a correction of our failings by their examples.

Experience and the knowledge of history reflect mutual light, and afford mutual assistance. Without the former no one can act with address and dexterity. Without the latter no one can add to the natural resources of his own mind a knowledge of those precepts and examples, which have tended to form the character and promote the glory of eminent men. History contributes to divest us of many illiberal prejudices, by enlarging our acquaintance with the world. It sets us at liberty from that blind partiality to our native country, which is a sure mark of a contracted mind, when due merit is not allowed to any other. This study likewise tends to strengthen our abhorrence of vice; and creates a relish for true greatness and solid glory. We see the hero and the philosopher represented in their proper colours; and as magnanimity, honour, integrity, and generosity, when displayed in illustrious instances, naturally make a favourable impression on our minds, our attachment to them is gradually formed. The fire of enthusiasm and of virtuous emulation is lighted, and we long to practise what we have been instructed to approve.

The love of our country naturally awakens in us a spirit of curiosity to inquire into the conduct of our ancestors, and to learn the memorable events of their history. Nothing that

PRAISE OF PHILOSOPHY.

25

LESSON 14

The Praise of Philosophy.

BUT now let other themes our care engage,
For lo, with modest yet majestic grace,
To curb imagination's lawless rage,

And from within the cherish'd heart to brace,
Philosophy appears. The gloomy race

By Indolence and moping Fancy bred,
Fear, Discontent, Solicitude, give place,

And Hope and Courage brighten in their stead,
While on the kindling soul her vital beams are shed

Then waken from long lethargy to life

The seeds of happiness and powers of thought;
Then jarring appetites forego their strife,

A strife by ignorance to madness wrought.
Pleasure by savage man is dearly bought
With fell revenge, lust that defies control,
With gluttony and death. The mind untaught
Is a dark waste, where fiends and tempests howl;
As Phœbus to the world, is science to the soul.
And Reason now through number, time, and space,
Darts the keen lustre of her serious eye,
And learns, from facts compared, the laws to trace,
Whose long progression leads to Deity.
Can mortal strength presume to soar so high!
Can mortal sight, so oft bedimm'd with tears,
Such glory bear!-for lo, the shadows fly
From Nature's face; confusion disappears,
And order charms the eyes, and harmony the ears

In the deep windings of the grove, no more
The hag obscene and grisly phantom dwell;
Nor in the fall of mountain-stream, or roar
Of winds, is heard the angry spirit's yell;
No wizard mutters the tremendous spell,
Nor sinks convulsive in prophetic swoon;

Nor bids the noise of drums and trumpets swell,

To ease of fancied pangs the labouring moon,

Or chase the shade that blots the blazing orb of noon,

phical proposi'tions, without an ability to demo'nstrate them, is not philosophy, but history only. Where such propositions, however, are determinate and true, they may be usefully applied in practice, even by those who are ignorant of their demonstrations.

Philosophy discovers and teaches those principles by means of which happiness may be acquired, preserved, and increased. Wisdom applies these principles to the benefit of individuals and of society. Knowledge which is applicable to no useful purpose cannot deserve the name of wisdom. The sources of that knowledge of truth which leads to the possession of happiness are reason and revelation. To instruct men in those truths which God hath communicated to mankind by revelation, is the province of theology. To teach them such truths, connected with their happiness, as are capable of being discovered by the powers of reason, is the province of philosophy.

The leading offices of philosophy may be easily deduced from the general idea of its object. As the permanent enjoyment of real good is the end to be attained, the business of philosophy, therefore, will be to cultivate the understanding, and direct its operations; to correct and improve the will and affections; to inquire out the causes of natural appearances, and hence arrive at the knowledge of the first cause, under those characters and relations that are most interesting to mankind; to conduct men to such an acquaintance with the properties of natural bodies, and their reciprocal actions, as shall enable them to apply the objects around them to their own convenience; and, finally, to assist them in investigating the principles of social virtue, and thus provide themselves with such rules of conduct as arise from mutual convenience and interest, from the natural sentiments of justice and humanity, and from the voluntary engagements of civil society.

QUESTIONS.-1. What is meant by philosophy? 2. What three kinds of knowledge should be joined as much as possible? 3. What is the distinction between philosophy and wisdom? 4. What is the province of theology? 5. Of philosophy? 6. What are the leading offices of philosophy? NOTE. The three great objects of philosophy are God, man, and the universe. Philosophy is sometimes divided into three parts, intellectual, moral, and physical, or natural.

PRAISE OF PHILOSOPHY.

25

LESSON 14

The Praise of Philosophy.

BUT now let other themes our care engage,
For lo, with modest yet majestic grace,
To curb imagination's lawless rage,

And from within the cherish'd heart to brace,
Philosophy appears. The gloomy race

By Indolence and moping Fancy bred,
Fear, Discontent, Solicitude, give place,

And Hope and Courage brighten in their stead,
While on the kindling soul her vital beams are shed

Then waken from long lethargy to life

The seeds of happiness and powers of thought; Then jarring appetites forego their strife,

A strife by ignorance to madness wrought.
Pleasure by savage man is dearly bought

With fell revenge, lust that defies control,
With gluttony and death. The mind untaught
Is a dark waste, where fiends and tempests howl;
As Phoebus to the world, is science to the soul.
And Reason now through number, time, and space,
Darts the keen lustre of her serious eye,
And learns, from facts compared, the laws to trace,
Whose long progression leads to Deity.
Can mortal strength presume to soar so high!
Can mortal sight, so oft bedimm'd with tears,
Such glory bear!-for lo, the shadows fly
From Nature's face; confusion disappears,
And order charms the eyes, and harmony the ears

In the deep windings of the grove, no more
The hag obscene and grisly phantom dwell;
Nor in the fall of mountain-stream, or roar
Of winds, is heard the angry spirit's yell;
No wizard mutters the tremendous spell,
Nor sinks convulsive in prophetic swoon;

Nor bids the noise of drums and trumpets swell,

To ease of fancied pangs the labouring moon,

Or chase the shade that blots the blazing orb of noon,