>high Opinion of our Honour; it affects Character and Distinction among its Equals and Superiors; it disdains every thing that is little and base; it breaks out into furprizing Acts of Munificence, and exceeds the Expectation of its most forward Dependants. You fee plainly that this moves in a higher Orb, and fhines with a stronger Luftre than the other. It is extremely active in its Undertakings, and quick in its Refolutions; Courage is its near Ally, and conftant Companion: Its Prefents are like Facob's, they pals before it in Droves; its Returns for Favours offered, like David's to Araunah, who as a King gave unto the King his Oxen for a Sacrifice and his Inftruments of Husbandry for Wood. But the King faid unto him, Nay; but I will furely buy it of thee at a Price: neither will I offer Burnt-Offerings unto the Lord my God, of that which doth coft me no

thing. Here was a Contest of true Generofity. Here the Lord was entreated for the Land, and the Plague was flayed from Ifrael. This is perhaps the most dazzling and admired of all Characters: One Act of Generosity shall be more talk'd of, than a whole Life of Good-nature. But this has likewife its Imperfections; as what, that is merely Human, has not? As it acts chiefly from a high Senfe of Honour, and confults Grandeur and Dignity, the lower Ranks of Men are feldom the better for it. Occafions of Mifery which are deem'd little, tho' they are really great in themselves, do not often fall under its Confideration; it is not apt to defcend to the Cottages of the Poor, nor to attend to the Cry of the Widow and Fatherlefs. It is not indeed fo liable to be impos'd upon by fpecious Appearances, as Good-nature,

* 2 Sam. xxiv. 24, 251

but

but it neglects many good Offices, which never escape the other.

The next Kind of real and undif fembled Love, is that of Friendship. This Sort of Love feldom appears in the World; but when it does, it is greatly and justly admired. The Ancients laid it down as a Maxim, That none were capable of it but the Wife, or Virtuous; for where Folly or Vice take Place, they always bring with them Occafions of Diflike, and Dif cord; and Friendship cannot long fubfift with them. This Love is of far greater Force, than any before enumerated: It is one of the strongest Enthusiasms of the Soul; it swallows up all Selfish Regards, and is always ready to make a Freewill-Offering of all, even of Life itself. But how great foever its Force may be, it is very narrow and confined: All its Intercourse is betwixt two Perfons only; and tho' it makes them extremely VOL. I. happy

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happy in each other, yet it is to be queftion'd, whether it would not be of more Use to the World, were there no fuch frict Unions, which thus engross the whole Regard of two virtuous Perfons; whether it would not be better to have them friendly, than Friends. But as this is a Cafe which very rarely happens, fo we need not raise any further Questions or Speculations upon it.

The next Kind is the Love of our Country, much talked of by the Ancients, and as much pretended to, but perhaps less known, in later Days. Where it is real, it is doubtless a most noble, generous, and extensive Paffion By its Regard to the whole, it includes every Member. It displays a great and comprehenfive Genius, to take in fo large an Object; and the most unbounded and difinterested Generosity to provide for it; and requires a high Station, and great Opportunities

portunities to furnish fuch a Capacity with a Sphere of Action. It fuperfedes even the Power of Friendfhip, is fuperior to all Influence, which a fingle Object or Relation can lay upon it. It arifes from the moft generous Principles, and is of the utmost Advantage in all Communities, where the leaft Remains of Freedom are left. Nay, the very Affectation of it, if not carried too far, is of great Ufe; as it is a strong Check to the Encroachments of a Court, and the Love and Abuse of Power, which are its too frequent Attendants. But it is hard to distinguish this Love of our Country, this real Patriotism, from Refentment and Ambition; which very often affume that Character, and fhelter themselves under the Cover and Protection, which it gives them. And the true publick Spirit is by that means as often miftaken. Be it ever fo fincere, it is feldom

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