We must however make one clause in favour of virtue, and true religion, which instead of declining from their original beauty, acquire new lustre by enjoyment. Yet even here, if we investigate with nicer scrutiny this apparent exception, we shall find it to be a stronger corroboration of the fact. For it is here also impossible to remain fixed in the same degree of elevation; a really virtuous man will every day make further progress in the exercise of his faith, and should he unavoidably pass a few hours without improvement, he would discontentedly exclaim in the words of Titus, "I have lost a day."

These sensations of inquietude and discontent seem purposely implanted in our souls by nature, to prevent that stagnation which might otherwise deaden the tumultuous ocean of life, were we to be satisfied by obtaining the first objects of our ambition. Each man would place his views upon one obvious point; would exert himself for a short time to the accomplishment of his limited desires, and then sink quietly into the vale of contentment and obscurity. It is not in the nature of man, during the early period of his youth, to aim at the highest degree of eminence which can be acquired; were it so, my argument would become vain and futile, but his ambition is cherished by success, and at every new stride he

learns to aspire to the more exalted situations that may fall within his reach. For man is a progressive being, he is fond of variation and advancement, and however great his acquirements, however extensive his knowledge, however extraordinary his abilities, yet is he never found to arrive at so excellent a degree of preeminence, that his faculties are incapable of further enlargement and perfection. Mr. Addison, in one of the numbers of his Spectator produces this, as a strong and convincing proof of the immortality of the soul. For since this ambitious principle is found never to be satiated with the greatest advantages that fortune can present, or labour attain in this world, and is known to influence us when the approach of death has calmed, and extinguished the other tumults of the heart, we have an undoubted right to conclude that there must be something after dissolution, the enjoyment of which alone is calculated to overcome the workings of this avaritious quality.

Moreover if we consult the lives, and search into the characters and sentiments of those illustrious heroes and philosophers, who have flourished in the ages of antiquity, or of those who, by their prowess, or writings, have raised our own country to its present state of political and

literary grandeur; if we look upon those, who are now in various conditions, labouring in the pursuit of their respective objects; or if we inspect the internal operations of our own minds, we shall universallly perceive this restless impulse to be the constant spring of human actions, and the chief animator of life itself.

Whilst I was occupied in meditating upon the foregoing observations, a sudden sleep fell upon me, and in a moment I was transported into the fields of imagination.

METHOUGHT I was in a green valley, reclining under the shade of a large plane-tree; I felt as if awakened from a most refreshing slumber, but without the smallest recollection of the place in which I found myself. I immediately arose, and looked around in the hope of seeing some object which might assist me in discovering my situation: but whilst I was admiring the beauty of a river which was gliding through the fields on my left hand, a loud clamour, as of a great multitude, obliged me to turn round, when at a small distance from the tree, under which I had been reposing, I perceived a vast concourse of people directing their steps towards a lofty mountain, which terminated one side of the valley.

At

Impelled by curiosity I ran forwards, and soon mingled with the crowd; but I was astonished in no small degree at receiving no answer from several persons to whom I addressed myself; by some I was rudely pushed aside, by others I was politely requested to give way, and all seemed to have a particular object in view, from which they could not for an instant be diverted. length perceiving an aged personage seated on a rising mound near the public road, I ventured to accost him with civility, and intreated him to inform me by what name the valley, in which I had first found myself, was known, and with what intention that concourse of people were pressing so eagerly towards the mountain. He listened to my enquiries with courtesy and attention, and upon my being silent addressed me in the follow

ing words: " My son, you must without doubt have lately arrived from some very distant country, or you could not be ignorant of these celebrated regions; however as you seem desirous of information, sit down by me on this bank, and I will endeavour to explain every thing to you.

"The valley through which you passed, is called the VALE of CONTENTMENT; that smooth, unruffled stream beyond the Plane-trees on your right hand, is the RIVER of OBLIVION, it takes its

rise in a grove, on the other side of the mountain, and flows in an undisturbed current as far as the eye can reach, till it is lost in the mists which overhang the western horizon: you may with difficulty perceive some boats and small vessels gliding down the water, while the several crews appear quite insensible of their motion, and entirely occupied with admiring the flowers which adorn the banks on either side. The broad way, which lies before us, is called the ROAD of AMBITION; a little higher up it branches off into a variety of paths, at which place this multitude will separate, and each individual will turn into that path which most delights him, Yonder lofty hill is the MOUNTAIN of LIFE; it is the constant employment of the travellers to toil up those heights by the different tracts which I mentioned to you.

"Now raise your eyes towards the centre of the mountain, just beyond the division of the road; you may observe that each person fixes his attention upon the nearest of those resting places. which are within his view, and seems animated by the hopes of arriving at a spot, where alone he expects to find happiness. Many after making a small progress, have been precipitated over the ROCK DESPAIR, many, as you perceive, float down the RIVER of OBLIVION, and some few, chiefly