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Who learnt from them their speculative lore,
But from their useful temperance forbore;

Those vile and grov'ling sensualists, who waste, 35
The labor of the mind, to please the taste;
Effem'nate, by no hardy virtue fir'd;

In the low pleasures of a brute bemir'd.

Nor can I now, since higher themes inspire
My glowing breast, as I was wont, admire
The rugged Stoic whose congealed mind,
Nor accident nor passion could unbind ;
Who joy and grief alike disdain'd to know,
Lament his own, or melt at other's woe;

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Yet blended temp'rance with a noble pride,

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And fortitude with patriotism allied:

Or visionary Platonist, with schemes

Of idle import, and fantastic dreams;

Tho' oft from well-urg'd arguments he draws, Bright truths relating to the great First Cause: 50 Or Academic with a flimsy mind,

Now to this school, and now to that inclin❜d,

As veering and as unsubstantial as the wind.

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And satisfied of truth, I wish no more

The fam'd Lyceum's doctrines to explore;
Tho' ever and anon she casts a light,

On the learn'd page of the shrewd Stagyrite.
Nor now conviction do I seek to find,
From the deep search of Tully's vig'rous minds
(With whom, at Tusculum's serene retreat,
Enquiring sages oft were wont to meet)
For this the more it is discuss'd I know,
From vain Philosophy can never flow.
Some truths among its errors lie confus'd,
Like light and shade unorderly diffus'd.

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But still in all its systems we can meet,

No scheme consistent, regular, complete.
For its imperfect and corrupted lore,

(Tho' gloss'd with eloquence elab'rate o'er)
Who leaves the blest enlighten'd Christian school, 70
Quits truth for dang'rous error; as a fool,

The constant light of faithful heav'n he leaves,

For a false fire of earth, a Vapor that deceives.

If the Philosophy of ancient schools,

For life's just conduct cannot give the rules;
From these if no conviction we receive,

That comfort less the modern Sceptics give:
Who to the gospel's purity averse,

Frame other systems hateful and perverse.

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Such was bewilder'd Hobbes, who idly strove, 80

'Twixt right and wrong no nat'ral line to prove; Or Bolingbroke fallacious, who denies

Of just morality the sacred ties;

And though he grants there is a great First Cause,
Thinks that he only rules by gen'ral laws;
Like Catiline endu'd with little sense,

Tho' grac'd with all the pow'rs of eloquence.

And less will Reason give her sober ear,
To flimsey, faithless, profligate Voltaire;
And less the dang'rous sophistries assume,
The baleful principles of erring Hume;

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Line 82. It is said that Addison used emphatically to call this nobleman (who was the high-priest of his time, for immorality, falsehood, and profaneness)"The cankered Bolingbroke."

Who wish'd Jehovah from his throne to tear,
And his vain idol Chance to settle there.

From these what mischiefs have aris'n to man!
Of virtue and of happiness the bane!

95

How their accurst contagion have they spread!

Which is more horrid, than that Pest'lence dread, Which oft its livid banner doth uprear,

Where'er the Turks their fell dominion bear,

And stalks by fierce Destruction lacquey'd and

Despair.

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And what is this auspicious gospel's aim?
What undiscover'd truths does it proclaim?

It clears the doubt of immortality,
From which philosophy was never free;

And which, at times obtrusive, would molest 105
The expectations e'en of Tully's breast;
Convinces us the soul will always live,

From which incessant comfort we receive;

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It seeks to form upon the justest plan,

The temper, conduct, and the hope of man.
And while it fills his heart with highest aims, 115
His weakness strengthens, and his fierceness tames:
Makes him undaunted his resolve maintain,

Unconquer'd, or by pleasure or by pain;
And polishes his harsh asperity,

To mansuetude and gentle courtesy.

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Each gen'rous manly virtue 'twill impart,

And draw out all the venom from the heart.
But most to mild benevolence 'twill move,
And melt the steel'd obdurate mind to love.

Lines 123 and 124. One would imagine that the most unrelenting insensibility would be softened by the heavenly injunctions of the apostle. "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil-speaking be put away from among you,

with

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