ILLINOIS
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
Production Note
Project Unica
Rare Book & Manuscript Library University of Illinois Library at Urbana-Champaign 2015

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NATURE
T- •
A N
<:■.
ETHIC EPISTLE,
Infcribed to the
Honourable Mrs. D—Y.

Nonne cupidinibus ftatuit Natura modum ? Hor.
i ■
LONDON:
Printed for W. F L E X N E Y, near Gray's-Inn-Gate,
Holborn^
M.DCC.LXIV.
£ Price One Shilling. ]


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XVI\
VU\
Advertifement.
TH E author of the following performance thinks it incumbent on him to declare, that in the charader he has drawn, no particular perfons are meant. A general obfervation of mankind gave birth to the plan on which this epiftle proceeds; and he flatters himfelf that the leaft furvey of the world will prove it juft. He hopes alfo that no dedudion to his difadvantage will be made, or he looked on as one of a cynical, ill-natured difpofltion, from any fevere refledions he has had occafion to draw': The fhaft is not levelled at particulars, particulars therefore cannot rea— ibnably be offended at what arifes. from, daily experience.Infcribed to the
Honourable Mrs.	D—Y.
TT” INDEST of parents! liften and excufe This fond intruiion of my filial mufe :
How bleft my foul! how glows my honeft pride !
To thee by nature’s tendered tie ally’d :
Pleas’d, and with wonder, all thy worth I view, Then pay the homage to fuch virtue due.
Others too praife thee, and admiring fee A perfect pattern of all good in Thee.
Thy foft’ring care firft prun’d my trembling wing, Taught me to foar, and gave me life to fing:

( 2 )
'’Tis filial piety inferibes thy name,
And fondly gives thee this attempt to fame.
How oft with pleafing rapture have I hung On each foft accent flowing from thy tongue 1 Thy method fo endearing, Virtue wore A gayer face, and charms unknown before :
But, when o’erflowing with thy deep diftrefs,
Silence fpoke more than language cou’d exprefs, When the big drop flood trembling in thy eye,
A parent’s yearnings bur fling in a figli,
When thy fond foul did o’er thy pratling gaze, Revolving future feenes for future days,
And, in the anguifli of thy troubled breaft,
Clafpt thy young babe, while tears declar’d the reft ; The foft infection caught my infant eye,
I wept to fee thee weep, yet knew not why. li in thefe pages fcatter’d thou canft find,
A few faint traces of thy own good mind,
Forgive my faults too numerous; nor complain Thofe LeiTons infancy receiv’d were vain.
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O read attentive ! whilft, in artlefs lay,
Truths drawn from juft experience I convey . Explore the mazy labyrinth of man;
Trace each maeander of the god-like plan ; Aflign a caufe, why ail our aft ions tend (Tho’ varying in themfelves) to one great end With honeft freedom due enquiring ufe,
Judge for myfelf, and by my judgment chufe. But bold the tafk, and arduous to the mind, Unlefs ftrong parts with ftronger fenfe is join’d. For error oft, too fpecious to the fight, Deceives our judgment, by appearing right.
If once we err, in vain conviftion tries To point the truth, all aid our pride denies. And, rather than acknowledge it is wrong, Defends its faults, and boldly blunders on. Confcious of this, may Reafon be my guide, Sweet-fmiling Candour o’er my fteps prefide, Whilft, boldly daring, I attempt to know The feerct fpring whence human aftions flow.C 4 ]
Our firil polition, and great truth, is this :
* 1 Who follows nature cannot ait amifs.’
Hence J conclude, and to this point refer, c That thofe who moil forfake her, moil will err.' What Nature means, 'tis proper next to fean,
‘ Nature is active Providence in man ;
£ Great Truths implanted on the foul by Heav’n,
‘ And a juft Rule for human actions giv’n.’
But moil, impatient of this general law,
Will deviate iiril, then falfe concluiions draw.
And, pleas’d their own abfurdities to fereen,
Make nature, what fhe ne’er intended, mean.
Aik you the caufe ? Oh ! view that endlefs ftrife With warring paflions which we wage thro’ life <vFor moil will cherifh fome peculiar vice,
Ambition, Pleafure, Pride, or Avarice,
And, as directed by this fav’rite will,
They aft obedient either good or ill.)
* Natura optima rede vivendi dux. Tull, de Amic.
Naturam lifequemur ducem, nunquam aberrabimus. OtTc. j. Natura duce errari nullo pado poteii dc Leg.
/Blindly capricious, never twice tire fame, To-morrow praifing, what to-day we blame : Always unhappy, as without controul,
Thefe paffions rule defpotic o’er the foul y Give one indulgence, give it fcope and cafe, Another rifes harder yet to pleafe.
Yet even here arraign not heav’n’s intent,
Who with each pailion, hath in wifdom lent Means to controul, authority to bind,
And fenfe to guide each ftruggling of the mind. But, tho’ fo changeable the heart of man,
So inconfiftent in his ev’ry plan,
Yet one fixt principle in all we find,
In terest, the conftant bias of the mind: Intereft, the fpring whence all our ads proceed, The fecret caufe that reconciles each deed : Intereft thro’ life attendant on the foul,
Blends in our adions, and direds the whole.
But ads with lefs or greater influence,
As men have better or inferior fenfe.( 6 )
The difference then ’twixt fools and men of parts,
Lies here, (alike their principles and hearts,)
But with nice care the man of fenfe conceals
Thofe truths, a fool without a blufh reveals.
Look round the world ! — Lo! one for private ends,
To fome peculiar quality pretends :
(Deceit at heart, low cunning all his rule,)
Procures the friendfhip of fome wealthy fool;
Studies his foibles with unwearied pains,
Flatters them nicely, and his purpofe gains :
That knows you childlefs, — then protcfls regard,
And has your fortune as his. lie’s reward.
A third becomes a patriot, and pretends
lie ferves his country, — but he ferves his ends ;
Like Fahlaff thinks, that honor’s but a name,
J (
And ilerling gold of greater worth than Fame.
Cloak d with religion, (ev’ry rafcal’s tool,)
A fourth fccurely cheats each praying fool.
How plain the inference! — virtue only means Superior cunning in life’s bufy fccnes ;[ 7 ]
That Knavery always muft triumphant rife, Whilft real Merit unfupported dies :
That Friendihip’s but a bubble, that regard Not from the perfon rifes, but reward :
And he efteem’d of higheft worth, who can With niceft art deceive his fellow man.
Hence too our fenfe of honor has its rife,
As all our influence with our honor dies :
(A word of that nice meaning it conveys A rafcal’s virtue, and a hero’s praife.)
Nor farther will the world each other trufl: Than as they think each other’s actions juft. Yet fome exceptions to this rule we find Men who poifefs an open worthy mind; Whofe days are chequer’d by this Ample plan, Refpeft to Heav’n, humanity to man :
Who, unpolluted by the gen’ral ill,
Follow true nature, and are honefl: ftill:
But thefe how few ! how feldom he appears! The riflng wonder of a thoufand Years!( 8 )
Now buriting on the world, O D-----------e ! in thee,.
A bleiling to thy country, and to me.
Others there are, in whom ’tis hard to fay
If vice or virtue bear the greater fway :
A motley brood ! fo very dull they find
No ruling paffion to impel the mind :
Whom neither kindneis nor affronts can roufe.
To juft revenge, or friendfhip’s mutual vows,
But plod thro’ life, implicitly obey,
As the iiril whim or rafeal leads the way :
When age advances, and in headflrong youth,
Or blindly err, or Humble upon truth.
Others we find too lazy to be knaves*
Too dull for bufinefs, and to fancy flaves ;
Who, born of folly, chequer ev’ry day
With various fports, and trifle life away :
Who fancy Heav’n no pleafures can difpenfe,
Beyond the dull enjoyments of their fenfe;
And reafon giv’n them merely to fupply	1
The wants of nature, eat, drink, fleep, and die l
’ I
Whilft nobler ends are thrown neglected by.r 9 ]
Haplefs to thofe the prefent moment flies,
Nor with more pleafure does the future rife,
For no ideas in themfelves they find,
t
(If time once lingers) to employ the mind,
But fill the void with bufy trifling things,
As catching butterflies, or counting pins.
Turn then from thefe, and view with cautious looks, Men deeply vers’d in languages and books;
Morofe, impertinent, ill-natur’d, proud,
Dull, and (to hide it) troublefome and loud.
Who, their fmall knowledge from old authors draw, Efteem them facred, and their writings Law ;
Opine that Empires, Laws, and Cuftoms, laft The fame at prefent as in ages pafi::
Can tell why Tarquin was expell’d and fled,
Yet know not whether Charles, or Cromwell bled : Try each young genius by fcholaftic rules,
Then boldly praife them, or pronounce them fools, As fancy, intereft, or more powerful pride Dire<a their reafon, and their judgment guide:
DWho form their notions of the world, and nmn>
On fome philofopher’s exploded plan,'
Then come in life, pedantic and unknown,
Arc cheated, laugh’d at, ridicul’d, undone.
Say then,—can thefc who ftudy to no end,
Or thofe, whofe hours important trifles fpend‘,
Their great Creator’s high intent fulfil By partial ads againft a general will ?
Oh, no! Hark ! Nature thro’ her works cries loud, ‘ The world is made for man, and man for God.’ To this, three feparate duties owe their birth, Binding to all, and man’s great end on earth.
The firft we pay in rev’rence due to Heav’n, Ourfelves the next, to man the third is giv’n :
Yet e’en- in thefe obferve diftindions nice,
And know that — ‘ Virtue in extreme is vice.’ That Reafon fails, and Error leads afide,
When man obeys not this ne’er failing guide ;
Then timely wife, projed a better plan,
And know, ‘ a proper medium is for mam"Follow this maxim, fafely deer between The two extremes, and find the golden mean ; Aim not at excellence : — let aftins well Suffice : — Heav’n never made us to excel.
How few acknowledge thefe great truths below ! Of thefe, how few will practice what they know But form and follow, as their paifions will,
Some plan abfurd, that always tends to ill.
From this ftrange difcord in the human bread, (Where all efteem their own opinions befit :)
How hard the path of happinefs to find !
And yet how eafy to a willing mind !
Mod, difcontented of their lot complain; "j Wifh for a change,—but find that change in vain j > As they their own unhappinefs remain.	J
The fecret art to gain her wouldd. thou know ? Think thyfelf happy, — thou art really fo :
Due refignation to the will of Heav n,
A fecond means of happinefs is giv’n.
Supported thus, dependent on the foul,
In vain externals would didurb the whole,.Tho’ pleafure fmile, or dire misfortune frown,
Still may’ft thou call true happinefs thy own.
But moll will follow, (fuch the pride of man!)
As heft, tho’ word, their own concerted plan; Forget that Nature’s fecond law is this,
* Due moderation in enjoying blifs :’
Exert their utmoff efforts to purfue Some trifle, ever varying, ever new :
And ad, regardlefs of thofe duties giv’n,
For general motives, by the hand of Heav’n :
On thefe their fchemes of happinefs depend ;
But find their means improper to its end :
Too foon perceive their long-fought phantom fled; And meet a train of fbrrows in its fiead.
Aik you more proofs ? ftands not this truth confefi ? That ‘ Nature ads in all things for the befi :
‘ Always fhe moves confident and the fame,
4 And, if man errs, his only is the blame.’
Yet fome perhaps may cavil, and pretend Man form’d unable to fulfil his end :( '3 )
Too weak, (tho’ fuch his duty) to controul Thofe very paiTions nature gave his foul.
If wrong to pleafe thofe paflions why firft giv’n ? If not, why made fo ? — By the will of Heav’n. That Nature errs not muft appear from this j Brutes in their ftations never a£t amifs;
Blind to the future, heedlefs of the pail,
Their hours are only noticed as they laft:
Each, as fhe guides his proper lot fupplies,
Fulfils her orders, and unnoticed dies.
Its various talks the natural world performs:
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Now rules the fun, and now impetuous ilorms, And thro’ the whole creation we can fee Preferv’d fair order, and juft harmony.
If then fo perfect in her general plan,
Why fhould fhe droop, and fail alone in man ? But, how unjuft, how erring, fhail we find Thefe bold arraigners of th’ eternal mind !
On us, as fav’rite children, is beftow’d Freewill and Reafon, — two belt gifts of God !
EGod gave us paffions for this general end,
That man might mutual each on each depend.
(For all our wants muft from thefe paffions rife,
And man to man thefe daily wants fupplies.)
But, leaf! theie paffions, with reffillefs force Should bear down all before them in their courfe j Deftroy fociety, confufe the whole,
And rule defpotic mafters of the foul;
He gave us Reafon as a proper rein,
To check their fury, and their fpeed reflrain : Freedom of choice, he added to the reft,
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That man might chufe what Reafon thought the be ft But, if perverted, different ends purfued,
Thefe turn to curfes tho’ intended good ;
If proudly man refufes to fupply His proper rank, or act confidently,
Abufes reafon to fome favourite ill,
And fondly calls each foolifh choice freewill,
Can Nature juftly bear the blame of this ?
Pure are her ways, — ’tis we that a& amifs.All-ieeing Wifdom made dillindtions nice ’ Fwixt every virtue and it’s kindred vice,
Mud; he be blam’d if thefe are oft deftroy’d ?
Or render’d, by abfurd caprices, void ?
If, as opinion dictates, they obey To-morrow virtue, what is vice to-day ?
How juftly therefore we infer that man Rifes in all things equal to his plan !
When nature planted paiTions on the foul,
To form fociety, arid link the whole,
It wifely added Reafon, that the mind Might guide them to the good of all mankind, Turn to its proper objedt all their force,
And mark the limits of their utmoil courfe.
(When therefore errors in our condudt rife,
With us the blame, and not with Nature, lies.)
And when th’ Almighty form’d ’twixt good and ill
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Diftinclions nice, He then bellow’d Freewill.
Since therefore men implicitly purfue What intereft wills, or pailion bids them do,( I<S )
Forget the nobler motives of their birth,
And live but reafonable brutes on earth,
Guided by thee, dear parent, let me fly
Thofe dangerous follies, vvhich they tafte, and die :
Study the book of nature, • and its laws ;
Before I ad, flrft: know the adion’s caufe :
Inform my mind : Truth’s facrcd call obey :
Follow where Reafon points the dubious way : Conflftent be in every thing I can:
And mould complete the charader of Man,
f i n -i s.