Useful REFLECTIONS ON Several Subje&s, &c. CHAPTER I. That whatfoever Condition we are in, the Love of the World ought not to make us forget God. E read in the Fable, that the Oftridge, having made a Meal of Bones and old Pieces of Iron, took a Walk, as ufual, in the Fields, where not knowing how to employ Herfelf, and looking up, fhe fpy'd in the Air a Bird of an extraordinary Body and Feathers. After she had spent fome time in taking notice of him Flying, and feeing that he did not perch upon any Tree, the vainly thought, that he did it out of Pride, to fhew that he wanted neither Strength nor Breath: Howfoever the faid, to herself, Thou must stop when thou art tired; but A after after having feen him turn and wind for a long time, without being able to discover his Defign, wearied with Impatience, the conjured him to come nearer, and alight. The Bird answer'd her, That the Earth was not his Element, and that Nature had affign'd him the Air for his Habitation: You shall tay but as little as you please, replies the Oftridge, grant me at least this Satisfaction, that we may converfe fome Moments together: I am not Jo Contemptible, but what you may easily judge of my Merit, by the Largeneß and Diversity of my Feathers. Howfoever fine they are, reply'd the other, I plainly fee they are not frong enough to raise your heavy and bulky Body in the Air. Remain where you are, 'tis fufficient for me to tell you, that I cannot keep any Correspondence with you, I am the Bird of Paradife, that have no Feet to walk upon the Ground; and your Wings, tho' very large and thick, are too weak to bear your Body in the Air, and befides your Nourishment is all Terreftrial, and I feed only upon the Dew. The MORAL. The Wicked commonly put a wrong Construction even on good Actions. Two Perfons of a different Humour avoid the Opportunities of feeing one another, Great Men often make their Power the Bafis of their Merit. 'Tis as difficult for a pious Man to mind terreftrial Things, as it is for a Man of the World to lift up his Heart to Heaven. What Society can there be between thofe, who have a Heart of Lead and Earth, and thofe pious and heavenly Souls, who defpife earthly Things and trample them under Foot? And what Friendfhip can there be between those, who have entirely forfook the Vanities of this World, and thofe lewd and debauch'd Men, who elteem no thing but the transitory Pleasures of this Life? Who is fo Brutish, as not to lift up his Heart to Heaven, and confider that however close the Union between his Soul and Body is, he muft be oblig'd fometime or other, to leave and renounce the Earth? There is not one Man, in whatsoever Condition or Employment, but may fometimes, and ought often, to caft his Eyes towards Heaven, and feek after the Place of his first Original. Without doubt a contemplative Life is the beft and furest way to procure us an eafy Accefs to God Almighty, because it takes us off entirely from the World, which is the Theatre where the common Enemy continually lays his Snares for us: But as we are to live in the Society of Men, I am apt to think we do enough if we can keep their Communication from infecting us, and our Souls from receiving any Earthly Alteration. A Pagan has fet us an excellent Example, 'tis Anaxagoras the Philofopher, who, having found by Experience, that his Concern for the World hinder'd his Thoughts in their Flight towards Heaven, refign'd all his Patrimony to his Relations, that he might apply himself with more Freedom to the Study of Wisdom, and the fearch of Nature, without concerning himself with any publick Affairs. Some of his Friends laugh'd at his new Fancy, imputing that Refolution to Vanity or Folly; and one of them put the Question to him, If he had no Care at all of his Country? his Anfwer was Admirable, and a chriftian Philofopher could have given no better, Tes, fays he, stretching his Hands towards Heaven, I have an extraordinary Care of my Country. This Philofopher's Behaviour, was certainly much more Commendable than that of Crates, |