THE
IMMORTAL MENTOR :
OR,
MAN'S UNERRING GUIDE
TO A
HEALTHY, WEALTHY, AND
HAPPY LIFE.
In three Parts.
BY
LEWIS CORNARO, DR. FRANKLIN, and
DR. SCOTT.  
" Reason's whole pleasure, all the joys of sense.   
" Lie in three words—health, peace, and competence.
" Blest health consists with temperance alone,
" And peace, O virtue ! peace is all thy own."
PHILADELPHIA:
PRINTED FOR THE REV. MASON L. WEEMS,
BY FRANCIS AND ROBERT BAILEY,
NO. 116, HIGH-STREET.
1796.



CONTENTS.
PART I.
PAGE.
CHAP. I. MAN'S unerring Guide
to a Long and Healthy
Life - 1
II. The Method of Correcting
a Bad Constitution - 41
III. A Letter from Sig. Lewis
Cornaro, to the Right
Rev. Barbara, Patri-
arch of Aquileia - 50
IV. Of the Birth and Death of
Man - 62
APPENDIX.

iv 
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
APPENDIX. Golden Rules of Health,
selected from Hippocra-
tes, Plutarch, and seve-
ral other eminent Physi-
cians and Philosophers - 81
PART II.
INTRODUCTION - 97
The Way to Wealth - 107
Advice to a Young Tradesman - 126
PART III.
Chap. I. A sure Guide to Happi-
ness - 133
II. On Social Love - 234 

FOLLOWING EULOGIUM ON THE AU-
THOR OF THE FIRST PART OF THIS
WORK.
" CORNARO was of an infirm con-
stitution till about forty, when, by obsti-
nately persisting in the Rules recommended
in this Book, he recovered a perfect state of
health, insomuch, that at four-score he
published this Treatise. He lived to give
a fourth edition of it, and after having
passed his hundredth year, died without
pain or agony, like one who falls asleep.
This Book is highly extolled by many emi-
nent authors, and is written with such a
spirit of cheerfulness and good sense, as
are the natural concomitants of temperance
and virtue."



THE
IMMORTAL MENTOR, &c.
IT is an unhappiness into which the
people of this age are fallen, that
luxury is become fashonable and too ge-
nerally preferred to frugality. Prodi-
gality is now-a-days tricked up in the
pompous titles of generosity and gran-
deur; whilst blest frugality is too often
branded as the Badge of an avaricious
and sordid spirit.
This error has so far seduced us, as to
prevail on many to renounce a frugal
way of living, though taught by nature,
and to indulge those excesses which serve
only 
B

2 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
only to abridge the number of our days.
We are grown old before we have been
able to taste the pleasures of being young.
And the time which ought to be the
summer of our lives is often the begin-
ning of their winter.
OH unhappy Italy! Doest thou not
see, that gluttony and excess rob thee,
every year, of more inhabitants than
pestilence, war, and famine could have
done? Thy true plagues, are thy nu-
merous luxuries in which thy deluded ci-
tizens indulge themselves to an excess
unworthy of the rational character, and
utterly ruinous to their health. Put a
stop to this fatal abuse, for God's sake,
for there is not, I am certain of it, a
vice more abominable in the eyes of the
divine Majesty, nor any more destruc-
tive. How many have I seen cut off, in
the flower of their days by this unhappy
custom of high seeding! How many ex-
cellent friends has gluttony deprived me
of, 

3
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
of, who, but for this accursed vice, might
have been an ornament to the world, an
honour to their country, and have af-
forded me as much joy in their lives, as
I now feel concern at their deaths.
IN order, therefore, to put a stop to
so great an evil, I have undertaken this lit-
tle book, and I attempt it the more readi-
ly, as many young gentlemen have re-
quested it of me, moved thereto by see-
ing their fathers drop off in the flower
of their youth, and me so sound and
hearty at the age of eighty-one. They
begged me to let them know by what
means I attained to such excellent health
and spirits at my time of life. I could
not but think their curiosity very laud-
able, and was willing to gratify them,
and at the same time do some service to
my countrymen, by declaring, in the first
place, what led me to renounce intem-
perance and lead a temperate life; se-
condly, by shewing the rules I observed;
and 

4 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
and thirdly, what unspeakable satisfac-
tion and advantage I derived from it;
whence it may be very clearly seen how
easy a thing it is for a wise man to escape
all the curses of intemperance, and secure
to himself the inestimable felicities of
vigorous health and chearful age.
THE first thing that led me to em-
brace a temperate life, was, the many
and fore evils which I suffered from
the contrary course of living; my
constitution was naturally weakly and
delicate, which ought in reason to have
made me more regular and prudent, but
being like most young men, too fond of
what is usually called good eating and
drinking, I gave the rein to my appetites.
In a little time I began to feel the ill ef-
fects of such intemperance; for I had
scarce attained to my thirty-fifth year, be-
fore I was attacked with a complication
of disorders, such as, head-achs, a sick
stomach, cholicky uneasinesses, the gout,
rheumatic

5
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
rheumatic pains, lingering fevers, and
continual thirst; and though I was then
but in the middle of my days, my con-
stitution seemed so entirely ruined that I
could hardly hope for any other termi-
nation to my sufferings but death.
THE best physicians in Italy employed
all their skill in my behalf, but to no ef-
fect. At last they told me, very candidly,
that there was but one thing that could
afford me a single ray of hope, but one
medicine that could give a radical cure,
viz. the immediate adoption of a temper-
ate and regular life. They added more-
over, that, now, I had no time to lose,
that I must immediately, either chuse a
regimen or death, and that if I deferred
their advice much longer, it would be
too late for ever to do it. This was
a home thrust. I could not bear the
thoughts of dying so soon, and being con-
vinced of their abilities and experience,
I thought the wisest course I could take,
would
B 2

6 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
would be to follow their advice, how
disagreeable soever it might seem.
I THEN requested my physicians to tell
me exactly after what manner I ought to
govern myself? To this they replied, that
I should always consider myself as an in-
firm person; eat nothing but what agreed
with me, and that in small quantity. I
then immediately entered on this new
course of life, and, with so determined a
resolution, that nothing has been since
able to divert me from it. In a few days
I perceived that this new way of living
agreed very well with me; and in less
than a twelvemonth I had the unspeak-
able happiness to find that all my late a-
larming symptoms were vanished, and
that I was perfectly restored to health.
No sooner had I began to taste the
sweets of this new reflection, but I
made many very pleasing reflections on
the great advantage of temperance, and
thought within myself, " if this virtue has
" had 

7
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
" had so divine an efficacy, as to cure me
" of such grievous disorders, surely it
" will help my bad constitution and con-
" firm my health." I therefore applied
myself diligently to discover what kinds
of food were properest for me, and made
choice of such meats and drinks only as
agreed with my constitution, observing
it as an inviolable law with myself, always
to rise with an appetite to eat more if I pleas-
ed. In a word, I entirely renounced in-
temperance, and made a vow to continue
the remainder of my life under the same
regimen I  had observed: A happy reso-
lution this! The keeping of which entire-
ly cured me of all my infirmities. I ne-
ver before lived a year together, without
falling once, at least, into some violent ill-
ness; but this never happened to me af-
terwards; on the contrary, I have always
been healthy ever since I was temperate.
I MUST not forget here to mention
a circumstance of considerable conse-
quence.

8 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
quence. I have been telling of a great,
and to me, a most happy change in my
way of living. Now all changes, tho'
from the worst to the best habits, are, at
first, disagreeable, I found it so; for
having long accustomed myself to high
feeding, I had contracted such a fond-
ness for it, that though I was daily de-
stroying myself, yet did it, at first, cost
me some struggle to relinquish it. Na-
ture, long used to hearty meals, expected
them, and was quite dissatisfied with my
moderate repasts. To divert my mind
from these little dissatisfactions, I used
immediately after dinner, to betake my-
self to some innocent amusement or use-
ful pursuit, such as, my devotions, my
book, music, &c.
BUT to return. —Besides the two fore-
going important rules about eating and
drinking, that is, not to take of any
thing, but as much as my stomach could
easily digest, and to use those things only
which 

9
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
which agreed with me. I have very
carefully avoided all extremes of heat and
cold, excessive fatigue, interruption of
my usual time of rest, late hours, and too
close and intense thinking. I am likewise
greatly indebted for the excellent health
I enjoy, to that calm and temperate state
in which I have been careful to keep
my passions.
THE influence of the passions on the
nerves, and health of our bodies, is so
great, that none can possibly be ignorant
of it. He therefore who seriously wishes
to enjoy good health, must, above all
things, learn to conquer his passions,
and keep them in subjection to reason.
For let a man be never so temperate in
diet, or regular in exercise, yet still some
unhappy passion, if indulged to excess,
will prevail over all his regularity, and
prevent the good effects of his tempe-
rance; no words, therefore, can ade-
quately express the wisdom of guarding
against

10 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
against an influence so destructive. Fear,
anger, grief, envy, hatred, malice, re-
venge and despair, are known by eter-
nal experience, to weaken the nerves,
disorder the circulation, impair diges-
tion, and often to bring on a long train
of hysterical and hypochondriacal disor-
ders; and extreme sudden fright, has
often occasioned immediate death.
ON the other hand, moderate joy, and
all those affections of the mind which
partake of its nature, as chearfulness,
contentment, hope, virtuous and mutual
love, and courage in doing good, invi-
gorate the nerves, give a healthy motion
to the fluids, promote perspiration, and
assist digestion; but violent anger (which
differs from madness only in duration)
throws the whole frame into tempest and
convulsion, the countenance blackens,
the eyes glare, the mouth foams, and in
place of the most gentle and amiable, it
makes a man the most frightful and ter-
rible

11
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
rible of all animals. The effects of this
dreadful passion do not stop here; it
never fails to create bilious, inflamma-
tory, convulsive, and sometimes apoplec-
tic disorders, and sudden death.
SOLOMON was thoroughly sensible of
the destructive tendencies of ungovern-
ed passions, and has, in many places, cau-
tioned us against them. He emphati-
cally styles " envy a rottenness of the
" bones;" and says, that " wrath slay-
" eth the angry man, and envy killeth
" the silly one*;" and, " that the wick-
" ed shall not live out half their days."
For
*THE reader will I hope excuse me for relating
the following tragical anecdote, to confirm what the
benevolent Cornaro has said on the baneful effects of
envy, Sec.
IN the city of York in England, there dieds ome
time ago, a young lady by the name of D-n.
For five years before her death, she appeared to be
lingering and melancholy. Her flesh withered away,
her appetite decayed, her strength failed, her feet
could no longer sustain her tottering emaciated body,
and her dissolution seemed at hand. One day she
called her intimate friends to her bed-side, and as
well as she could, spoke to the following effect: 

12 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
For as violent gales of wind will soon
wreck the strongest ships, so violent pas-
sions of hatred, anger, and sorrow, will
soon destroy the best constitutions.
HOWEVER, I must confess to my
shame, that I have not been at all times
so
" I know you all pity me, but alas! I am not
worthy of your pity; for all my misery is entirely ow-
ingto the wickedness of my own heart. I have two
sisters; and I have all my life been unhappy, for no
other reason but because of their prosperity. When
we were young, I could neither eat nor sleep in com-
fort, if they had either praise or pleasure. As soon
as they were grown to be women, they married great-
ly to their advantage and satisfaction: this galled me
to the heart; and though I had several good offers,
yet thinking them rather unequal to my sisters, I re-
fused them, and then was inwardly vexed and dis-
tressed, for fear I should get no better. I never
wanted for any thing, and might have been very
happy, but for this wretched temper. My sisters
loved me tenderly, for I concealed from them as
much as possible this odious passion, and yet never
did any poor wretch lead so miserable a life as I have
done, for every blessing they enjoyed was a dagger
to my heart. 'Tis this Envy, which, preying on
my very vitals, has ruined my health, and is now
carrying me down to the grave. Pray for me, that
God of his infinite mercy may forgive me this hor-
rid sin; and with my dying breath I conjure you all,
to check the first risings of a passion that has proved
so fatal to me." 

13
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
so much of a philosopher and Christian,
as entirely to avoid these disorders: but
I have reaped the benefit of knowing by
my own repeated experience, that these
malignant passions have in general a far
less pernicious effect, on bodies that are
rendered firm and vigorous by tempe-
rance, than on those that are corrupted
and weakened by gluttony and excess.
IT was hard for me to avoid every ex-
treme of heat and cold, and to live above
all the occasions of trouble which attend
the life of man; but yet these things
made no great impression on the state of
my health, though I met with many
instances of persons who sunk under less
weight both of body and mind.
THERE was in our family a consider-
able law-suit depending against some per-
sons, whose might overcame our right.
One of my brothers, and some of my
relations, were so mortified and grieved
on account of the loss of this suit, that
they 
C

14 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
they actually died of broken hearts, I
was as sensible as they could be, of the
great injustice done us, but thank GOD,
so far from breaking my heart, it scarce-
ly broke my repose. And I ascribe their
sufferings and my safety, to the difference
of our living. Intemperance and sloth
had so weakened their nerves, and bro-
ken their spirits, that they easily sunk
under the weight of misfortune. While
temperance and active life had so invigo-
rated my constitution, as to make me
happily superior to the evils of this mo-
mentary life.
AT seventy years of age, I had another
experiment of the usefulness of my regi-
men. Some business of consequence
calling me into the country, my coach-
horses ran away with me ; I was overset
and dragged a long way before they
could stop the horses. They took me
out of the coach with my head batter-
ed, a leg and an arm out of joint, and
truly 

15
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
truly in a very lamentable condition.
As soon as they had brought me home,
they sent for the physicians, who did not
expect I could live three days : however,
I was soon cured, to the great astonish-
ment of the physicians, and of all those
who know me.
I BEG leave to relate one more anec-
dote, as an additional proof what an
impenetrable shield temperance presents
against the evils of life.
ABOUT five years ago, I was over-per-
suaded to a thing, which had like to have
cost me dear. My relations, whom I love,
and who have a real tenderness for me ;
my friends, with whom I was willing to
comply in any thing that was reasonable ;
lastly, my physicians, who were looked
upon as the oracles of health, did all
agree that I eat too little ; that the nou-
rishment I took was not sufficient for one
of my years ; that I ought not only to
support nature, but likewise to increase
the 

16 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
the vigour of it, by eating a little more
than I did. It was in vain for me to re-
present to them, that nature is content
with a little; that with this little I had
enjoyed excellent health so many years;
that to me the habit of it was become a
second nature; and that it was more
agreeable to reason, that as I advanced
in years and lost my strength, I should
rather lessen than increase the quantity of
my food, especially as the powers of the
stomach must grow weaker from year to
year. To strengthen my arguments, I
urged those two natural and true pro-
verbs; one, that he who would eat a
great deal must eat but little; that is eat-
ing little makes a man live long, he must
eat a great deal. The other proverb was,
that what we leave, after making a hear-
ty meal, does us more good than what
we have eaten. But neither my proverbs
nor arguments could silence their affec-
tionate intreaties. Wherefore to please
persons 

17
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
persons who where so dear to me, I con-
sented to increase the quantity of food,
but with too ounces only. So that, as
before I had always taken but twelve
ounces of solid food in the day, I now
increased it to fourteen, and as before I
drank but fourteen ounces of wine in the
day, I now increased it to sixteen. This
increase had in eight days time such an
effect on me, that from being remark-
ably chearful and brisk, I began to be
peevish and melancholy, and was con-
stantly so strangely disposed, that I nei-
ther knew what to say to others, nor
what to do with myself. On the twelfth
day I was attacked with a most violent
pain in my side, which held me twenty-
two hours, and was followed by a violent
fever which continued thirty-five days,
without giving me a moment's respite.
However GOD be praised, I recovered,
though in my seventy-eighth year, and in
the coldest season of a very cold winter,
and 
C 2

l8 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
and reduced to a mere skeleton; and I am
positive, that, next to GOD, I am most
indebted to temperance, for my recovery.
O how great is the evil of intemperance,
which could, in a few days bring on me
so severe an illness, and how glorious are
the virtues of temperance, which could
thus bear me up, and snatch me from the
jaws of death! Would all men but live
regularly and temperately, there would
not be a tenth of that sickness which now
makes so many melancholy families, nor
any occasion for a tenth part of those
nauseous medicines, which they are now
obliged to swallow in order to carry off
those bad humours with which they have
filled their bodies by over eating and
drinking.—To say the truth would every
one of us but pay a becoming attention
to the quantity and quality of what he
eats and drinks, and carefully observe the
effects it has upon him, he would soon
become his own physician; and indeed
the 

19
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
the very best he could possibly have, for
people's constitutions are as different as
their faces; and it is impossible, in many
very important instances, for the most
skilful physicians to tell a man of obser-
vation, what would agree with his con-
stitution so well as he knows himself. I
am willing to allow that a physician may
be sometimes necessary; and in cases
of danger, the sooner the better. But
for the bare purpose of preserving our-
selves in good health, there needs no
better physic than a temperate and regu-
lar life. It is a specific and natural medi-
cine, which preserves the man, how ten-
der soever his constitution be, and pro-
longs his life to a above a hundred years,
spares him the pain of a violent death,
sends him quietly out of the world,
when the radical moisture is quite spent,
and which, in short, has all the proper-
ties that are fancied to be in potable
gold 

20 
THE IMMORTAL MEMTOR.
gold, which a great many persons have
sought after in vain.
BUT alas! most men suffer themselves
to be seduced by the charms of a vo-
luptuous life. They have not cou-
rage enough to deny their appetites;
and being over-persuaded by their incli-
nations so far, as to think they cannot
give up the gratification of them, with-
out abridging too much of their plea-
sures, they devise arguments to persuade
themselves, that it is more eligible to live
ten years less, than to be upon the re-
straint, and deprived of whatever may
gratify their appetites. Alas! they know
not the value of ten years of healthy life,
in an age when a man may enjoy the
full use of his reason, and turn all his
wisdom and experience to his own, and
the advantage of the world. To in-
stance only in the sciences. 'Tis certain
that some of the most valuable books
now extant, were written in those last
ten 

21
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
ten years of their authors lives, which
some men pretend to undervalue; let
fools and villains undervalue life, the
world would lose nothing by them, die
when they will. But it is a loss indeed,
when wise and good men drop into the
grave; ten years of life to men of that
character, might prove an inestimable
blessing to their families and country. Is
such an one a priest only, in a little time
he might become a bishop, and by living
ten years longer, might render the most
important services to the world by his
active dissemination of virtue and piety.
Is he the aged parent of a family, then
though no longer equal to the toils of
younger years, yet by his venerable pre-
sence and matured counsels, he may con-
tribute more to the harmony and hap-
piness of his children, than all their la-
bours put together. And so with all
others, whether in church or state, army
or navy, who are advanced in years,
though 

22 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
though not equal to the active exercises
of youth, yet in consequence of their su-
perior wisdom and experiences, their
lives may be of more service to their
country, than the lives of thousands of
citizens. Some, I know, are so unrea-
sonable as to say that it is impossible to
lead such a regular life. To this I an-
swer, Galen, that great physician, led
such a life, and advised others to it as
the best physic. Plato, Cicero, Isocrates,
and a great many famous men of past
and present times, have practised it, and
thereby arrived to an extreme old age.
YOU will tell me that Plato, as sober
a man as he was, yet affirmed, that it is
difficult for a man in public life to live
so temperately, being often in the ser-
vice of the state, exposed to the badness
of weather, to the fatigues of travelling,
and to eat whatever he can meet with.
This cannot be denied; but then I main-
tain, that these things will never hasten
a man's 

23
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
a man's death, provided he accustoms
himself to a frugal way of living. There
is no man, in what condition soever but
may keep from over-eating; and there-
by happily prevent those distempers that
are caused by excess. They who have
the charge of public affairs committed to
their trust, are more obliged to it than
any others: where there is no glory to
be got for their country, they ought not
to sacrifice themselves: they should pre-
serve themselves to serve it; and if they
pursue my method, it is certain they
would ward off the distempers which
heat and cold and fatigues might bring
upon them; or should they be disturbed
with them it would be but very lightly.
IT may likewise be objected, that if
one who is well, is dieted like one that
is sick, he will be at a loss about the
choice of his diet, when any distemper
comes upon him. To this I say, that
nature, ever attentive to the preservation
of 

24 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
of her children, teaches us how we ought
to govern ourselves in such a case. She
begins by depriving us so entirely of
out appetites, that we can eat little or
nothing. At that time, whether the sick
person has been sober or intemperate, no
other food ought to be used, but such as
is proper for his condition; such as
broth, jellies, cordials, barley-water, &c.
When his recovery will permit him to
use a more solid nourishment, he must
take less than he was used to before his
sickness; and notwithstanding the ea-
gerness of his appetite, he must take care
of his stomach, till he is perfectly cured.
Should he do otherwise, he would over-
burden nature, and infallibly relapse in-
to the danger he had escaped. But not-
withstanding this, I dare aver, that he
who leads a sober and regular life, will
hardly ever be sick; or but seldom, and
for a short time. This way of living
preserves us from those bad humours
which 

25
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
which occasion our infirmities, and by
consequence heals us of all those distem-
pers which they occasion. I do not pre-
tend to say that every body must eat ex-
actly as little as I do, or abstain from
fruit, fish, and other things from which
I abstain, because such dishes disagree
with me. They who are not disordered
by such dishes, are under no obligation
to abstain from them. But they are
under the greatest obligations to feed
moderately, even on the most innocent
food, since an overloaded stomach can-
not digest.
It signifies nothing to tell me that
there are several, who, though they live
very irregularly, yet enjoy excellent
health and spirits, and to as advanced an
age, as those who live ever so soberly.
For this argument is founded on such
uncertainty and hazard, and occurs so
seldom, as to look more like a miracle
than the regular work of nature. And
those, 
D

26 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
those, who, on the credit of their youth
and constitution, will pay any regard to so
idle an objection, may depend on it, that
they are the betrayers and ruiners of
their own health.
AND I can confidently and truly af-
firm, that an old man, even of a bad
constitution, who leads a regular and
sober life, is surer of a longer one, than
a young man of the best constitution
who lives disorderly. All therefore who
have a mind to live long and healthy,
and die without sickness of body or
mind, must immediately begin to live
temperately, for such a regularity keeps
the humours of the body mild and sweet,
and suffers no gross fiery vapours to as-
cend from the stomach to the head;
hence the brain of him who lives in that
manner enjoys such a constant serenity,
that he is always perfectly master of
himself. Happily freed from the tyran-
ny of bodily appetites and passions, he
easily 

27
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
easily soars above, to the exalted and
delightful contemplation of heavenly
objects; by this means his mind be-
comes gradually enlightened with divine
truth, and expands itself to the glorious
enrapturing view of the Power, Wis-
dom, and Goodness of the Almighty.
—He then descends to nature, and ac-
knowledges her for the fair daughter of
GOD, and views her varied charms with
sentiments of admiration, joy, and gra-
titude, becoming the most favoured of
all sublunary beings. He then clearly
discerns, and generously laments the
wretched fate of those who will not give
themselves the trouble to subdue their
passions; and those three most ensnaring
lusts, the lust of the flesh, the lust of ho-
nours, and the lust of riches, which all
wise and good men have firmly oppos-
ed and conquered, when they passed
through this mortal state; for knowing
such passions to be inconsistent with rea-
son 

28 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
son and happiness, they at once nobly
broke through their snares, and applied
themselves to virtue and good works,
and so became men of good and sober
lives. And when in process of time, and
after a long series of years, they see the
period of their days drawing nigh, they
are neither grieved nor alarmed. Full
of acknowledgments for the favours al-
ready received from God, they throw
themselves into the arms of his future
mercy. They are not afraid of those
dreadful punishments, which they deserve
who have shortened their days by guilty
intemperance. They die without com-
plaining, sensible that they did not come
into this world to stay for ever, but are
pilgrims and travellers to a far better.
Exulting in this faith, and with hopes
big with immortality, they go down to
the grave in a good old age, enriched
with virtues, and laden with honours.
AND

29
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
AND they have the greater reason not
to be dejected at the thought of death,
as they know it will not be violent, fever-
ish or painful. Their end is calm, and
they expire, like a lamp when the oil
is spent, without convulsion or agony,
and so they pass gently away, without
pain or sickness, from this earthly and
corruptible to that celestial and eternal
life, whose happiness is the reward of
the virtuous.
O HOLY, happy, and thrice blessed
temperance! how worthy art thou of
our highest esteem! and how infinitely
art thou preferable to an irregular and
disorderly life! Nay, would men but
consider the effects and consequences of
both, they would immediately see, that
there is as wide a difference between
them, as there is betwixt light and
darkness, heaven and hell. Some there
are who tell us that old age is no bless-
ing, that when a man is past seventy,
his 
D 2

30 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
his life is nothing but weakness, infir-
mity, and  misery. But I can assure
these gentlemen, they are mightily mis-
taken; and that I find myself, old as I
am, (which is much beyond what they
speak of) to be in the most pleasant and
delightful stage of life.
To prove that I have reason for what
I say, they need only enquire how I
spend my time, what are my usual em-
ployments; and to hear the testimony
of all those that know me. They una-
nimously testify, that the life I lead, is
not a dead and languishing life, but as
happy a one as can be wished for in this
world.
THEY will tell you, that I am still so
strong at fourscore and three, as to
mount a horse without any help or ad-
vantage of situation; that I can not
only go up a single flight of stairs, but
climb a hill from bottom to top, a-foot,
and with the greatest ease; that I am
always

31
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
always merry, always pleased, always in
humour; maintaining a happy peace in
my own mind, the sweetness and sereni-
ty whereof appear at all times in my
countenance.
BESIDES, they know that it is in my
power to pass away the time very plea-
fantly; having nothing to hinder me
from tailing all the pleasures of an a-
greeable society, with several persons
of parts and worth. When I am will-
ing to be alone, I read good books, and
sometimes fall to writing; seeking al-
ways an occasion of being useful to the
public, and doing service to private per-
sons, as far as possible. I do all this
without the least trouble; and in such
times as I set apart for these employ-
ments.
I DWELL in a house, which, besides
its being situated in the pleasantest part
of Padua, may be looked on as the most
convenient and agreeable mansion in
that 

32 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
that city. I there make me apartments
proper for the winter and summer,
which serve as a shelter to defend me
from the extreme heat of the one, and
the rigid coldness of the other. I walk
out in my gardens, along my canals and
walks; where I always meet with some
little thing or other to do, which, at the
same time, employs and amuses me.
I SPEND the months of April, May,
September, and October, at my country-
house, which is the finest situation ima-
ginable: the air of it is good, the
avenues neat, the gardens magnificent,
the waters clear and plentiful; and this
seat may well pass for an inchanted
palace.
SOMETIMES I take a walk to my
Villa, all whose streets terminate at a
large square; in the midst of which is a
pretty neat church, and large enough
for the bigness of the parish.
THROUGH

33
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
THROUGH this Villa runs a rivulet;
and the country about it is enriched
with fruitful and well cultivated fields;
having at present a considerable num-
ber of inhabitants. This was not so
formerly: It was a marshy place, and
the air so unwholsome, that it was more
proper for frogs and toads, than for
men to dwell in. But on my draining
off the waters, the air mended, and peo-
ple resorted to it so fast, as to render
the place very populous; so that I may,
with truth, say, that I have here dedica-
ted to the LORD, a church, altars, and
hearts to worship him; a circumstance
this, which affords me infinite satisfac-
tion as often as I reflect on it.
IT is with great satisfaction that I see
the end of a work of such importance
to this STATE, I mean that of draining
and improving so many large tracts of
uncultivated ground, a work which I ne-
ver expected to have seen completed;
but, 

34 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
but, thank GOD, I have lived to see it,
and was even in person in these marshy
places, along with the commissaries, for
two months together, during the heats
of summer, without ever finding myself
the worse for the fatigues I underwent.
Of such wonderful efficacy is that tem-
perate life which I constantly observe.
IF in discoursing on so important a
subject as this, it be allowable to speak
of trifles, I might tell you, that at the
age of fourscore and three, a tempe-
rate life had preserved me in that spright-
liness of thought, and gaiety of hu-
mour, as to be able to compose a very
entertaining comedy, highly moral and
instructive, without shocking or disgust-
ing the audience; an evil too gene-
rally attending our comedies, and which
it is the duty, and will be the eternal
honor of the magistracy to discounte-
nance and suppress, since nothing has a
more fatal tendency to corrupt the mo-
rals 

35
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
rals of youth, than such plays as abound
with wanton allusions, and wicked sneers
and scoffs on religion and matrimony.
As an addition to my happiness, I see
myself immortalized as it were, by the
great number of my descendants. I meet
with, on my return home, not only two
or three, but eleven grand-children, all
blest with high health, sweet dispositions,
bright parts, and of promising hopes.
I take a delight in playing with the little
pratlers; those who are older I often
set to sing and play for me on instru-
ments of music. —Call you this an in-
firm crazy old age, as they pretend, who
say, that a man is but half alive after
he is seventy? They may believe me
if they please, but really I would not
exchange my serene chearful old age,
with any one of those young men, even
of the best constitution, who give the
loose to their appetites; knowing as I
do, that they are thereby subjecting
themselves 

36 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
themselves every moment to disease and
death.
I REMEMBER all the follies of which
I was guilty in my younger days, and
am perfectly sensible of the many and
great dangers they exposed me to. I
know with what violence young persons
are carried away by the heat of their
blood. They presume on their strength,
just as if they had taken a sure lease of
their lives: and must gratify their appe-
tites whatever it cost them, without con-
sidering that they thereby feed those ill
humours, which do most assuredly hasten
the approach of sickness and death; two
evils, which of all others are the most
unwelcome and terrible to the wicked.
The first of these, sickness, is highly un-
welcome, because it effectually stops
their career after this world's business
and pleasures, which being their sole de-
light and happiness, must be inexpres-
sibly sad and mortifying. And the impa-
tience

37
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
tience and gloom of sickness is rendered
tenfold more insupportable to them, be-
cause it finds them utterly destitute of
those pious affections, which alone can
soothe the severity of sickness and charm
the pangs of pain. They had never
cultivated an acquaintance with GOD,
nor accustomed themselves to look up
to him as to a merciful Father, who sends
affliction to wean us from this scene of
vanity. They had never, by prayers
and good works, endeavoured to secure
his friendship, or cherish that love which
would make his dispensations welcome.
So that unblest with these divine conso-
lations, the season of fickleness must be
dark and melancholy indeed; and be-
sides all this, their hearts often sink
within them at the prospect of DEATH,
that ghastly king of terrors, who comes
to cut them off from all their dear de-
lights in this world, and send their un-
willing souls to suffer the punishment
which 
E

38 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
which their own guilty conscience tells
them is due to their wicked lives.
PUT from these two evils, so dreadful
to many, blessed be GOD, I have but
little to fear; for, as for death, I have
a joyful hope that that change, come
when it may, will be gloriously for the
better; and besides, I trust, that HE
whose divine voice I have so long obey-
ed, will graciously support and comfort
his aged servant in that trying hour.
And as for sickness, I feel but little ap-
prehension on that account, since by
my divine medicine TEMPERANCE, I
have removed all the causes of illness;
so that I am pretty sure I shall never be
sick, except it be from some intent of
Divine mercy, and then I hope I shall
bear it without a murmur, and find it
for my good. Nay I have reason to
think that my soul has so agreeable a
dwelling in my body, finding nothing
in it but peace and harmony between
my 

39
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
my reason and senses, that she is very
well pleased with her present situation;
so that I trust I have still a great many
years to live in health and in spirits, and
enjoy this beautiful world, which is in-
deed beautiful to those who know how
to make it so, as I have done, and like-
wise expect (with GOD's assistance) to
be able to do in the next.
Now since a regular life is so happy,
and its blessings so permament and great,
all I have still left to do, (since I cannot
accomplish my wishes by force) is to
beseech every man of sound under-
standing to embrace, with open arms,
this most valuable treasure of a long
and healthy life; a treasure, which, as
it far exceeds all the riches of this
world, so it deserves above all things to
be diligently sought after, and carefully
preserved. This is that divine sobriety,
so agreeable to the Deity, the friend of
nature, the daughter of reason, and the
sister 

40 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
sister of all the virtues. From her, as
from their proper root, spring life,
health, chearfulness, industry, learning,
and all those employments worthy of
noble and generous minds. She is the
best friend and safest guardian of life;
as well of the rich as of the poor; of
the old as of the young. She teaches
the rich modesty; the poor frugality;
men continence; women chastity; the
old, how to ward off the attacks of
death; and bestows on youth, firmer
and securer hopes of life. She pre-
serves the senses clear, the body light,
the understanding lively, the soul brisk,
the memory tenacious, our motions free,
and all our faculties in a pleasing and
agreeable harmony.
O MOST innocent and divine sobriety!
the sole refreshment of nature, the
nursing mother of life, the true physic
of soul as well as of body. How ought
men to praise thee for thy princely gifts,
for 

41
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
for thy incompatible blessings! But as
no man is able to write a sufficient pane-
gyric on this rare and excellent virtue,
I shall put an end to this discourse,
lest I should be charged with excess
in dwelling so long on so pleasing a
subject. Yet as numberless things may
still be said of it, I leave off with an in-
tention to set forth the rest of its praises
at a more convenient opportunity.
CHAP. II.
THE METHOD OF CORRECTING A BAD
CONSTITUTION.
I WAS born with a very choleric, hasty
disposition; flew into a passion for the
least trifle, huffed every body about me,
and was so intolerably disagreeable, that
many persons of gentle manners abso-
lutely 
E 2

42 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
lutely shunned my company. On dis-
covering how great an injury I was do-
ing myself, I at once resolved to make
this vile temper give way to reason. I
considered that a man overcome by pas-
sion, must at times, be no better than a
madman, and that the only difference
between a passionate and a madman, is,
that the one has lost his reason for ever,
and the other is deprived of it by fits
only; but that in one of these, though
never so short, he may do some deed of
cruelty or death, that will ruin his cha-
racter, and destroy his peace for ever.
A sober life, by cooling the fever of the
blood, contributed much to cure me of
this frenzy; and I am now become so
moderate, and so much a master of my
passion, that no body could perceive that
it was born with me.
IT is true indeed, the most temperate
may sometimes be indisposed, but then
they have the pleasure to think that it
is 

43
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
is not the effect of their own vices;
that it will be but moderate in its degree,
and of short continuance.
MANY have said to me, " How can
you, when at a table covered with a dozen
delicious dishes content yourself with one
dish, and that the plainest too at the table?
It must surely be a great mortification to you,
to see so many charming things before you,
and yet scarcely taste them." This ques-
tion has frequently been put to me, and
with an air of surprize. I confess it has
often made me unhappy; for it proves
that such persons are got to such a pass,
as to look on the gratification of their
appetites as the highest happiness, not
considering that the mind is properly
the man, and that it is in the affections
of a virtuous and pious mind, a man is
to look for his truest and highest happi-
ness. When I sit down, with my eleven
grand-children, to a table covered with
various dainties, of which, for the sake
of 

44 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
of a light easy stomach, I may not, at
times, chuse to partake, yet this is no
mortificaton to me; on the contrary,
I often find myself most happy at these
times. How can it otherwise than give
me great delight when I think of that
goodness of GOD, which blesses the
earth with such immense stores of good
things for the use of mankind; and
which, over and above all this goodness,
has put me into the way of getting such
an abundance of them for my dear
grand-children; and, besides must it not
make me very happy to think that I
have gotten such a mastery over myself
as never to abuse any of those good
things, but am perfectly contented with
such a portion of them as keeps me al-
ways in good health. O what a tri-
umph of joy is this to my heart! What
a sad thing it is that young people will
not take instruction, nor get benefit
from those who are older and wiser than
themselves!

45
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
themselves! I may use, in this matter,
the words of the wise man, " I have
seen all things that are done under the
sun." I know the pleasures of eating,
and I know the joys of a virtuous mind,
and can say from long experience, that
the one excellent the other as far as
light excellent darkness; the one are
the pleasures of a mere animal, the
other those of an angel.
SOME are so thoughtless as to say,
that they had rather be afflicted twice
or thrice a year with the gout, and o-
ther distempers, than deny themselves
the pleasure of eating and drinking to
the full of such things as they like; that
for their part they had rather eat and
drink as they like, though it should
shorten their lives, that is, " give them
a short life and a merry one."  It is
really a surprising and sad thing, to see
reasonable creatures, so ready to swal-
low the most dangerous absurdities. For
how

46 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
how, in the name of common sense, can
the life of a glutton or a sot be a merry
one? If men could eat to excess, drink
to silliness, and rust in sloth, and after
all, suffer no other harm than the a-
bridgement of ten or a dozen years of
life, they might have some little excuse
for calling it a merry life, though surely
it could appear so to none but persons
of a sadly vitiated taste. But since an
intemperate life will assuredly sow in
our bodies the seeds of such diseases as
will, after a few short years of feverish
pleasure, make life a burthen to us,
with what face can any reasonable be-
ing call this a merry life?
O SACRED and most bountiful Tem-
perance! how greatly am I indebted to
thee for rescuing me from such fatal de-
lusions; and for bringing me, through
the divine benediction, to the enjoy-
ment of so many felicities, and which,
over and above all these favours confer-
red 

47
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
red on thine old man, hast so strength-
ened his stomach, that he has now a
better relish for his dry bread than he
had formerly for the most exquisite
dainties, so that, by eating little, my sto-
mach is often craving after the manna,
which I sometimes feast on with so
much pleasure, that I should think I
trespassed on the duty of temperance, did
I not know that one must eat to support
life; and that one cannot use a plainer
or more natural diet.
MY spirits are not injured by what I
eat, they are only revived and supported
by it. I can, immediately on rising
from table, set myself to write or study,
and never find that this application,
though so hurtful to hearty feeders,
does me any harm; and, besides, I
never find myself drowsey after dinner,
as a great many do; — the reason is, I
feed so temperately, as never to load
my stomach nor oppress my nerves, so
that 

48 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
that I am always as light, active, and
chearful after meals as before.
O THOU vile wicked intemperance,
my sworn enemy, who art good for no-
thing but to murder those who follow
thee ; how many of my dearest friends
hast thou robbed me of, in consequence
of their not believing me! But thou
hast not been able to destroy me accord-
ing to thy wicked intent and purpose.
I am still alive in spite of thee, and have
attained to such an age, as to see around
me eleven dear grand-children, all of
fine understandings, and amiable dispo-
sitions, all given to learning and virtue;
all beautiful in their persons and lovely
in their manners, whom, had I not aban-
doned thee thou infamous source of cor-
ruption, I should never have had the
pleasure to behold. Nor should I enjoy
those beautiful and convenient apart-
ments which I have built from the
ground, with such highly improved gar-
dens, 

49
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
dens, as required no small time to attain
their present perfection. No, thou ac-
cursed hag, thy nature is to impoverish
and destroy those who follow thee. How
many wretched orphans have I seen
embracing dunghills; how many miser-
able mothers, with their helpless in-
fants, crying for bread, while their de-
luded fathers, slaves to thy devouring
lusts, were wasting their substance in
rioting and drunkenness!
BUT thou art not content with con-
suming the substance, thou wouldest
destroy the very families of those who
are so mad as to obey thee. The tem-
perate poor man who labours hard all
day, can boast a numerous family of
rosy cheeked children, while thy pam-
pered slaves, sunk in ease and luxury,
often languish without an heir to their
ample fortunes. But since thou art so
pestilential a vice, as to poison and de-
stroy the greatest part of mankind, I
am 
F

50 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
am determined to use my utmost endea-
vours to extirpate thee, at least in part.
And I promise myself, that my dear grand-
children will declare eternal war against
thee, and following my example, will
let the world see the blessedness of a
temperate life, and so expose thee, O
cruel intemperance! for what thou real-
ly art, a most wicked, desperate, and
mortal enemy of the children of men.
IT is really a very surprising and sad
thing to see persons grown to men's
estate, and of fine wit, yet unable to
govern their appetites, but tamely sub-
mitting to be dragged by them into such
excesses of eating and drinking, as not
only to ruin the best constitutions, and
shorten their lives, but eclipse the lustre
of the brightest parts, and bury them-
selves in utter contempt and uselessness.
O what promising hopes have been ship-
wrecked, what immortal honours have
been sacrificed at the shrine of low sen-
suality;

51
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 
suality; Happy, thrice happy, those who
have early been inured to habits of
self-denial, and taught to consider the
gratification of their appetites as the un-
failing source of diseases and death. Ye
generous parents who long to see your
children adorned with virtue, and be-
loved as the benefactors of their kind;
O teach them the unspeakable worth
of self government. Unsupported by
this, every advantage of education and
opportunity will avail them but little:
though the history of ancient worthies,
and the recital of their illustrious deeds,
may at times kindle up in their bosoms
a flame of glorious emulation, yet alas!
this glow of coveted virtue, this flush
of promised honor, is transient as a gleam
of winter sunshine; soon overspread and
obscured by the dark clouds of sensuality.
CHAP. III. 

52 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
CHAP. II.
A LETTER FROM SIGNIOR LEWIS COR-
NARO TO THE  RIGHT REVEREND
BARBARO, PATRIARCH OF AQU1-
LEIA.
MY LORD,
WHAT thanks do we not owe to
the divine goodness, for this
wonderful invention of writing, whereby
we can easily communicate to our absent
friends, whatever may afford them plea-
sure or improvement! By means of this
most welcome contrivance, I shall now
endeavour to entertain you with matters
of the greatest moment. It is true in-
deed, that what I have to tell you is no
news,—but I never told it you at the
age of ninety-one. Is it not a charming
thing, that I am able to tell you, that my
health and strength are in so excellent a
state,

54
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
state, that, instead of diminishing with
my age, they seem to increase as I grow
old? All my acquaintance are surprised
at it; but I, who know the cause of this
singular happiness, do every where de-
clare it. I endeavour, as much as in
me lies, to convince all mankind, that a
man may enjoy a paradise on earth even
after the age of four-score.
Now my Lord, I must tell you, that
within these few days past, several learned
Doctors of this University came to be
informed by me, of the method I take
in my diet, having understood that I
am still healthful and strong; that I
have my senses perfect; that my me-
mory, my heart, my judgment, the tone
of my voice, and my teeth, are all as
sound as in my youth; that I write seven
or eight hours a day, and spend the rest
of the day in walking out a-foot, and in
taking all the innocent pleasures that are
allowed
F 2 

54 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
allowed to a virtuous man; even mu-
sic itself in which I bear my part.
AH, Sir! how sweet a voice would
you perceive mine to be, were you to hear
me, like another David, chant forth the
praises of GOD to the sound of my
Lyre! You would certainly be surprised
and charmed with the harmony which I
make. Those gentlemen particularly
admired, with what easiness I write on
subjects that require both judgment and
spirit.
They told me, that I ought not to be
looked on as an old man, since all my
employments were such as were proper
for a youth, and did by no means resem-
ble the works of men advanced in years;
who are capable of doing nothing after
fourscore, but loaded with infirmities and
distempers, are perpetually languishing
in pain, not half so chearful, pleasant
and happy as I am.
SEVERAL

55
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
SEVERAL physicians were so good as
to prognosticate to me, ten years ago,
that it was impossible for me to hold out
three years longer: however, I still find
myself less weak than ever, and am
stronger this year than any that went be-
fore. This sort of miracle, and the ma-
ny favours which I received from GOD,
obliged them to tell me, that I brought
along with me at my birth, an extraor-
dinary and special gift of nature; and
for the proof their opinion, they em-
ployed all their rhetoric, and made seve-
ral elegant speeches on that head. It
must be acknowledged, my Lord, that
eloquence has a charming force on the
mind of man, since it often persuades
him to believe that which never was,
and never could be. I was very much
pleased to hear them discourse; and
could it be helped, since they were
men of parts who harangued at that
rate? But that which delighted me most,
was 

56 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
was to reflect, that age and experience
may render a man wiser than all the col-
leges in the world can. And it was in
truth by their help, that I knew the er-
ror of that notion. To undeceive those
gentlemen, and at the same time set
them right, I replied, that their way of
arguing was not just: that the favour I
received was no special, but a general
and universal one: that I was but a
man as well as others: that we have all
judgment and reason, which the Creator
has bestowed on us to preserve our lives:
that man, when young, being more subject
to sense than reason, is too apt to give
himself up to pleasure; and that when
arrived to thirty or forty years of age,
he ought to consider, that, if he has
been so imprudent as to lead, till that
time, a disorderly life, it is now high time
for him to take up and live temperately;
for he ought to remember, that though he
has hitherto been held up by the vigour of
youth 

57
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
youth and a good constitution, yet he is
now at the noon of life, and must bethink
himself of going down towards the grave,
with a heavy weight of years on his back,
of which his frequent pains and infirmities
are certain forerunners; and that there-
fore, if he has not been so happy as to
do it already, he ought now, immedi-
ately to change his course of life
I MUST confess, it was not without
great reluctance that I abandoned my
luxurious way of living. I began with
praying to GOD, that he would grant me
the gift of Temperance, well knowing
that he always hears our prayers with de-
light. Then, considering, that when a
man is about to undertake any thing of
importance, he may greatly strengthen
himself in it, by often looking forward
to the great pleasures and advantages
that he is to derive from it. Just as the
husbandman takes comfort under his
toils, by reflecting on the sweets of abun-
dance; 

58 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
dance; and as the good christian glad-
dens in the service of GOD, when he
thinks on the glory of that service, and
the eternal joys that await him; so I, in
like manner, by seriously reflecting on the
innumerable pleasures and blessings of
health, and beseeching GOD to strengthen
me in my good resolutions, immediately
entered on a course of temperance and re-
gularity. And though it was at first highly
disagreeable, yet I can truly say, that in
a very little time, the disagreeableness
vanished, and I came to find great de-
light in it.
Now on hearing my arguments, they
all agreed that I had said nothing but
what was reasonable; nay, the youngest
among them told me, that he was will-
ing to allow that these advantages might
be common to all men, but was afraid,
they were seldom attained; and that I
must be singularly favoured of Heaven
to get above the delights of an easy life,
and 

59
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
and embrace one quite contrary to it;
that he did not look on it to be impos-
sible, since my practice convinced him of
the contrary, but however, it seemed to
him to be very difficult.
I REPLIED, that it was a shame to re-
linquish a good undertaking on account
of the difficulties that might attend it,
and that the greater the difficulty, the
more glory should we acquire: that it
is the will of the Creator, that every one
should attain to a long life, because in
his old age, he might be freed from the
bitter fruits that were produced by sense,
and might enjoy the good effects of his
reason; that when he shakes hands with
his vices, he is no longer a slave to the
devil, and finds himself in a better con-
dition of providing for the salvation of
his soul: that GOD, whose goodness is
infinite, has ordained that the man who
comes to the end of his race, should end
his life without any distemper, and so
pass 

60 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
pass, by a sweet and easy death, to a
life of immortality and glory, which  I
expect. I hope (said I to him) to die
singing the praises of my Creator. The
sad reflection, that we must one day
cease to live, is no disturbance to me,
though I easily perceive, that at my age,
that day cannot be far off;  nor am I
afraid of the terrors of hell, because,
blessed be GOD, I have long ago shaken
hands with my sins, and put my trust
in the mercy and merits of the blood of
Jesus Christ.
To this my young antagonist had no-
thing to say, only that he was resolved
to lead a sober life, that he might live
and die as happily as I hoped to do;
and that though hitherto he had wished
to be young a long time, yet now he
desired to be quickly old, that he might
enjoy the pleasures of such an admir-
able age.
SOME

61
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
SOME sensual persons give out, that
I have troubled myself to no purpose,
in composing a treatise concerning tem-
perance, and that I have lost my time in
endeavouring to persuade men to the
practice of that which is impossible.
Now this surprises me the more, as
these gentlemen must see that I had led
a temperate life many years  before  I
composed this treatise, and that I never
should have put myself to the trouble of
composing it, had not long experience
convinced me, that it is a life which
any man may easily lead, who really
wishes to be healthy and happy. And,
besides the evidence of my own experi-
ence, I have the satisfaction to hear,
that numbers on seeing my treatise have
embraced such a life, and enjoyed from
it the very same blessings which I enjoy.
Hence, I conclude, that no man of good
sense will pay any regard to so frivolous
an objection. The truth is, those gen-
tlemen 
G

62 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
tlemen who make this objection, are so
unhappily wedded to the poor pleasure
of eating and drinking, that they can-
not think of moderating it, and as an
excuse for themselves, they choose to
talk at this extravagant rate. How-
ever, I pity these gentlemen with all my
heart, though they deserve for their in-
temperance, to be tormented with a
complication of distempers, and to be
the victims of their passions a whole
eternity.
CHAP. IV.
OF THE BIRTH AND DEATH OF MAN.
THAT I may not be deficient in that
duty of charity, which all men
owe to one another, or lose one moment
of that pleasure which conscious useful-
ness 

63
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
ness affords; I again take up my pen.
What I am going to say will be looked
on as impossible, or incredible; but no-
thing is more certain, nor more worthily
to be admired by all posterity. I am now
ninety-five years of age, and find myself
as healthy and brisk, as if I were but
twenty-five.
WHAT ingratitude should I be guilty
of, did I not return thanks to the divine
Goodness, for all his favors conferred up-
on me? Most of your old men have scarce
arrived to sixty, but they find themselves
loaded with infirmities: they are melan-
choly, unhealthful; always full of the
frightful apprehensions of dying: they
tremble day and night for fear of being
within one foot of their graves; and are
so strongly possessed with the dread of it,
that it is a hard matter to divert them
from that doleful thought. Blessed be
GOD, I am free from their ills and ter-
rors. It is my opinion, that I ought
not 

64 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
not to abandon myself to that vain fear:
this I will make appear by the sequel.
SOME there are, who bring along
with them a strong constitution into the
world, and live to old age: but it is ge-
nerally (as already observed) an old age
of sickness and sorrow; for which they
are to thank themselves; because they
most unreasonably presume on the strength
of their constitution; and will not on
any account, abate of that hearty feed-
ing which they indulged in their young-
er days. Just as if they were to be as
vigorous at fourscore as in the flower of
their youth; nay, they go about to jus-
tify this their imprudence, pretending
that as we lose our health and vigor by
growing old, we should endeavour to
repair the loss, by increasing the quanti-
ty of our food, since it is by sustenance
that man is preserved.
BUT in this they are dangerously mis-
taken; for as the natural heat and
strength 

65
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
strength of the stomach lessens as a man
grows in years, he should diminish the
quantity, of his meat and drink, com-
mon prudence requiring that a man
should proportion his diet to his digestive
powers.
THIS is a certain truth, that sharp
sour humours on the stomach, proceed
from a slow imperfect digestion; and that
but little good chyle can be made, when
the stomach is filled with fresh food be-
fore it has carried off the former meal.
—It cannot therefore be too frequently,
nor too earnestly recommended, that as
the natural heat decays by age, a man
ought to abate the quantity of what he
eats and drinks; nature requiring but
very little for the healthy support of the
life of man, especially that of an old man.
Would my aged friends but attend to
this single precept which has been so sig-
nally serviceable to me, they would not
be troubled with one twentieth of those
infirmities
G 2

66 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
infirmities which now harrass and make
their lives so miserable. They would be
light, active, and chearful like me, who
am now near my hundredth year. And
those of them who were born with good
constitutions, might live to the age of one
hundred and twenty. Had I been blest
with a robust constitution, I should in
all probability, attain the same age. But
as I was born with feeble stamina, I shall
not perhaps outlive an hundred. And
this moral certainty of living to a great
age is to be sure, a most pleasing and de-
sirable attainment, and it is the preroga-
tive of none but the temperate. For all
those who (by immoderate eating and
drinking) fill their bodies with gross hu-
mours, can have no reasonable assurance
of living a single day longer: oppressed
with food and swoln with superfluous hu-
mours, they are in continual danger of
violent fits of the cholic, deadly strokes
of the apoplexy, fatal attacks of the
cholera 

67
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
cholera morbus, burning fevers, and
many such acute and violent diseases,
whereby thousands are carried to their
graves, who a few hours before looked
very hale and hearty. And this moral
certainty of long life is built on such
good grounds as seldom ever fail. For,
generally speaking, Almighty GOD seems
to have settled his works on the sure
grounds of natural causes, and tempe-
rance is (by divine appointment) the na-
tural cause of health and long life. Hence
it is next to impossible, that he who leads
a strictly temperate life, should breed any
sickness or die of an unnatural death,
before he attains to the years to which
the natural strength of his constitution
was to arrive. I know some persons are
so weak as to excuse their wicked intem-
perance, by saying, that "the race is not
always to the swift, nor the battle to the
strong," and that therefore, let them
eat and drink as they please, they shall
not

68 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
not die till their time comes. How scan-
dalously do these men misunderstand So-
lomon and abuse truth! How would it
startle us to hear our friends say, "that
let them sleep and play, as they please,
they shall not be beggars till their time
comes."
SOLOMON does indeed say, that "the
race is not always to the swift, nor the
battle to the strong;" but he must be no
better than a madman, who thence in-
fers, that it is not generally so. For the
invariable and eternal experience of man-
kind demonstrates, that ninety-nine times
in an hundred, the race is to the swift,
and the battle to the strong, bread to
the industrious, and health to the tempe-
rate.
BUT it is a matter of fact, and not to be
denied, that, though temperance has the 
divine efficacy to secure us from violent
disease and unnatural death, yet it is not to
be supposed to make a man immortal. It
is 

69
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
is impossible but that time, which effaces
all things, should likewise destroy that
most curious workmanship of GOD, the
human body: but it is man's privilege to
end his days by a natural death, that is,
without pain and agony, as they will see
me, when the heat and strength of na-
ture is quite exhausted. But I promise
myself, that day is a pretty comfortable
admittance off yet, and I fancy I am not
mistaken, because I am still healthy and
brisk, relish all I eat, sleep quietly, and
find no defect in any of my senses. Be-
sides, all the faculties of my mind are in
the highest perfection; my understand-
ing clear and bright as ever; my judg-
ment found; my memory tenacious;
my spirits good; and my voice, the first
thing that fails others, still so strong and
sonorous, that every morning and even-
ing, with my dear grand-children around
me, I can address my prayers and chant
the praises of the Almighty. O, how
glorious 


70 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
glorious this life of mine is like to be,
replete with all the felicities which man
can enjoy on this side of the grave; and
exempt from that sensual brutality which
age has enabled my better reason to ba-
nish, and therewith all its bitter fruits,
the extravagant passions and distressful
perturbations of mind. Nor yet can
the fears of death find room in my mind
as I have no licensed sins, to cherish such
gloomy thoughts: neither can the death
of relations and friends give me any o-
ther grief than that of the first move-
ment of nature, which cannot be avoid-
ed, but is of no long continuance. Still
less am I liable to be cast down by the
loss of wordly goods. I look on these
things as the property of heaven; I can
thank him for the loan of so many com-
forts, and  when his wisdom sees fit to
withdraw them, I can look on their de-
parture without murmuring.—This is
the happiness of those only, who grow
old

71
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
old in the ways of temperance and vir-
tue; a happiness which seldom attends
the most flourishing youth who live in
vice. Such are all subject to a thousand
disorders, both of body and mind, from
which I am entirely free: on the contra-
ry, I enjoy a thousand pleasures, which
are as pure as they are calm.
THE first of these is to do service to
my country. O! what a glorious a-
musement, in which I find infinite de-
light, in shewing my countrymen how
to fortify this our dear city of Venice,
in so excellent a manner, as to make her
a famous republic, a rich and matchless
city. Another amusement of mine is,
that of shewing this maid and queen of
cities, in what manner she may always
abound with provisions, by manuring
untilled lands, draining marshes, and
laying under water, and thereby fatten-
ing fields, which had all along been
barren for want of moisture. My third
amusement 

72 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
amusement is in shewing my native city,
how, though already strong, she may
be rendered much stronger; and, tho'
extremely beautiful, may still increase
in beauty; though rich, may acquire
more wealth, and may be made to en-
joy better air, though her air is excel-
lent. These three amusements, all aris-
ing from the idea of public utility, I
enjoy in the highest degree. Another
very great comfort I enjoy is, that hav-
ing been defrauded when young, of a
considerable estate, I have made ample
amends for that loss, by dint of thought
and industry, and without the least
wrong done to any person, have doubled
my income, so that I am able not only
to provide for my dear grand-children,
but to educate and assist many poor
youth to begin the world. And I can-
not help saying, I reflect with more plea-
sure on what I lay out in that way, than
in any other.
ANOTHER

73
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
ANOTHER very considerable addition
to my happiness is, that what I have
written from my own experience, in or-
der to recommend temperance, has been
of great use to  numbers, who loudly
proclaim their obligations to me for that
work, several of them having sent me
word from foreign parts, that, under
GOD, they are indebted to me for their
lives. But that which makes me look
on myself as one of the happiest of men,
is, that I enjoy as it were, two sorts of
lives; the one terrestrial, which I pos-
sess in fact; the other celestial, which I
possess in thought; and this thought is
attended with unutterable delight, being
founded on such glorious objects, which
I am morally sure of obtaining, through
the infinite goodness and mercy of GOD.
Thus I enjoy this terrestrial life, partly
through the beneficent influences of tem-
perance and sobriety, virtues so pleasing
to heaven; and I enjoy, through cordi-
al
H

74 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
al love of the same divine Majesty, the
celestial life, by contemplating so often
on the happiness thereof, that I can
hardly think of any thing else. And
I hold, that dying in the manner I ex-
pect, is not really death, but a passage
of the soul from this earthly life, to a
celestial, immortal, and infinitely per-
fect existence. And I am so far charm-
ed with the glorious elevation to which
I think my soul is designed, that I can
no longer stoop to those trifles, which,
alas! charm and infatuate too great a
part of mankind. The prospect of part-
ing with my favourite enjoyments of this
life, gives me but little concern; on the
contrary, I thank GOD, I often think
of it with secret joy, since by that loss
I am to gain a life incomparably more
happy.
O! who then would be troubled,
were he in my place? what good man,
but must instantly throw off his load of
wordly

75
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
worldly sorrow, and address his grateful
homage to the Author of all this happi-
ness? However, there is not a man on
earth, who may not hope for the like
happiness, if he would but live as I do.
For indeed I am no angel, but only a
man, a servant of GOD, to whom a
good and temperate life is so pleasing,
that even in this world he greatly re-
wards those who practise it.
AND whereas many embrace a holy
and contemplative life, teaching and
preaching the great truths of religion,
which is highly commendable, the chief
employment of such being to lead men
to the knowledge and worship of GOD.
O that they would likewise betake them-
selves entirely to a regular and temperate
life! They would then be considered
as saints indeed upon earth, as those pri-
mitive christians were, who observed so
constant a temperance, and lived so long.
By living like them, to the age of one
hundred 

76 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
hundred and twenty, they might make
such a proficiency in holiness, and be-
come so dear to GOD, as to do the great-
est honour and service to the world; and
they would besides, enjoy constant health
and spirits, and be always happy with-
in themselves; whereas they are now
too often infirm and melancholy. If in-
deed they are melancholy, because they
see GOD, (after all his goodness) so un-
gratefully requitted; or because they
see men (notwithstanding their in-
numerable obligations to love) yet hat-
ing and grieving each other: such me-
lancholy is truly amiable and divine.
But to be melancholy on any other
account, is, to speak the truth, quite
unnatural to good christians; such per-
sons being the servants of God and heirs
of immortality; and it is still more un-
becoming the ministers of religion, who
ought to consider themselves, as of all
others,

77
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
others, in the most important, service-
able, and delightful employment.
I KNOW, many of these gentlemen
think that GOD does purposely bring
these occasions of melancholy on them
that they may in this life do penance for
their former sins; but therein, as I
think, they are much mistaken. I can-
not conceive, how GOD, who loves
mankind, can be delighted with their
sufferings. He desires that mankind
should be happy, both in this world and
the next; he tells us so in a thousand
places in his word, and we actually find
that there is not a man on earth, who
does not feel the good Spirit of GOD,
forbidding and condemning those wick-
ed courses, which would rob him of
that happiness. No; it is the devil and
sin which bring all the evils we suffer, on
our heads, and not GOD, who is our
Creator and Father, and desires our hap-
piness: his commands tend to no other
purpose.
H 2

78 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
purpose. And temperance would not be
a virtue, if the benefit it does us by
preserving us from distempers, were re-
pugnant to the designs of GOD in our
old age.
In short, if all religious people were
strictly temperate and holy, how beauti-
ful, how glorious a scene should we
then behold! Such numbers of vener-
able old men as would create surprise.
How many wise and holy teachers to
edify the people by their wholesome
preaching and good examples! How
many sinners might receive benefit by
their fervent intercessions! How many
blessings might they shower upon the
earth! and not as now, eating and
drinking so intemperately, as to inflame
the blood and excite worldly passions,
pride, ambition, and concupiscence,
soiling the purity of their minds, check-
ing their growth in holiness, and in
some unguarded moment, betraying
them 

79
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
them into sins disgraceful to religion,
and ruinous to their peace for life.—
Would they but feed temperately, and
that chiefly on vegetable food, they
would as I do, soon find it the most
agreeable, (by the cool temperate hu-
mours it affords) the best friend to vir-
tuous improvement, begetting gentle
manners, mild affections, purity of
thought, heavenly mindedness, quick
relish of virtue, and delight in GOD.
This was the life led by the holy fathers
of old, who subsisted entirely on vege-
tables, drinking nothing but pure water,
and yet lived to an extreme old age, in
good health and spirits, and always
happy within themselves. And so may
all in our days live, provided they
would but mortify the lusts of a corrup-
tible body, and devote themselves en-
tirely to the exalted service of GOD;
for this is indeed the privilege of every
faithful christian as Jesus Christ left it,
when 

80 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
when he came down upon earth to shed
his precious blood, in order to deliver
us from the tyrannical servitude of the
devil; and all through his immense
goodness.
To conclude, since length of days
abounds with so many blessings, and I
am so happy as to have arrived at that
state, I find myself bound (in charity) to
give testimony in favour of it, and so-
lemnly assure all mankind, that I really
enjoy a great deal more than what I
now mention; and that I have no other
motive in writing on this subject, than
to engage them to practise, all their
lives, those excellent virtues of tempe-
rance and sobriety, which will bring
them, like me, to a happy old age. And
therefore I never cease to raise my voice,
crying out to you, my friends, may
your days be many, that you may long
serve God, and be fitter for the glo-
ry which he prepares for his children!
APPEN-

APPENDIX.
GOLDEN RULES
OF
HEALTH,
SELECTED FROM HlPPOCRATES, PLU-
TARCH, AND SEVERAL OTHER
EMINENT PHYSCICIANS AND 
PHILOSOPHERS.
OF all the people on the face of the
earth, the Americans are under
the greatest obligations to live temperat-
ly. Formed for commerce, our coun-
try abounds with bays, rivers and creeks,
the exhalations from which, give the air
a dampness unfriendly to the springs of
life. To counteract this infelicity of cli-
mate, 

82 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
mate, reason teaches us to adopt every
measure that may give tone and vigor to
the constitution. This precaution, at
all times necessary, is peculiarly so in au-
tumn, for then the body is relaxed by
the intense heat of the dog-days, the air
is filled with noxious vapours from pu-
trid vegetables; Nature herself wears a
sickly, drooping aspect; the most ro-
bust feel a disagreeable weariness and
soreness of their flesh, a heaviness and
sluggishness in motion, quick feverish
flushings, and sudden chills darting
along their nerves, (all plain proofs of a
sickly atmosphere, and tottering health).
Now, if ever, we need the aid of all-
invigorating temperance, now keep the
stomach light and vigorous by moderate
feeding, the veins well stored with heal-
thy blood, and the nerves full braced by
manly exercise and comely chearfulness.
Be choice of your diet, fruit perfectly
ripe, vegetables thoroughly done, and
meats 

83
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
meats of the easiest digestion, with a glass
or two of generous wine at each meal,
and all taken in such prudent modera-
tion, as not to load but strengthen the
constitution. For at this critical junc-
ture, a single act of intemperance, which
would scarcely be felt in the wholesome
frosts of winter, often turns the scale a-
gainst nature, and brings on obstinate
indigestion, load at stomach, loss of a-
petite, a furred tongue, yellowness of
eyes, bitter taste in the mouth in the
morning, bilious vomitings, agues, fe-
vers, &c. which in spite of the best me-
dicines, often wear a man away to a
ghost. If blessed with a good constituti-
on, he may perhaps crawl on to winter,
and get braced up again by her friendly
frosts; but if old or infirm, it is likely
death will overtake him, before he can
reach that city of refuge.
"THE giddy practice of throwing a-
side our winter clothes too early in the
spring, 

84 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
spring, and that of exposing our bodies,
when overheated, to sudden cold, has
destroyed more people, than famine,
pestilence and sword."*—Sydenham.
THOSE who, by any accident, have
lost a meal, (suppose their dinner) ought
not to cat a plentiful supper; for it will
lie heavy on their stomach, and they
will have a more restless night than if
they had both dined and supped heartily.
He therefore, who has missed his dinner,
should
* I SAW (says an American officer) thirteen gre-
nadiers lying dead by a spring, in consequence of
drinking too freely of the cold water, while dripping
with sweat in a hard day's march, in summer. And
many a charming girl, worthy of a tenderer husband,
has sunk into the icy embraces of death, by suddenly
exposing her delicate frame, warm from the ball-
room, to the cold air. And since "the universal
cause acts not by partial, but by general laws," many
a good soul, with more piety than prudence, turning
out quite warm from a crowded preaching into the
cold air without cloak or surtout, has gone off in a
galloping consumption to that happy world, where
pain and sickness are unknown. What a melan-
choly thing it is, that people cannot take care of
their souls, without neglecting their bodies nor
seek their salvation without ruining their health! 

85
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
should make a light supper of spoon vic-
tuals, rather than of any strong solid
food." Hippocrates.
HE who has taken a larger quantity of
food than usual, and feels it heavy and
troublesome on his stomach, will, if he is
a wise man, go out and puke it up im-
mediately*. Hippocrates.
AND here I cannot omit mentioning a
a very ruinous error into which too
many are fond of running, I mean, the
frequent use of strong vomits and purga-
tives. A man every now and then feeds
too freely on some favourite dish; by
such excess the stomach is weakened, the
body
I
* The wise son of Sirach confirms this precept,
and says, Eccles. xxxi. 21. "If thou halt been
forced to eat, arise, go forth and puke, and thou
shalt have rest." And most certain it is, (adds an
ingenious physician) that hundreds and thousands
have brought sickness and death on themselves, by
their ignorance or neglect of this rule. But at the
same time people should carefully avoid a repetition
of that excess, which renders such an evacuation ne-
cessary, for frequent vomitings do greatly tend to
weaken and destroy the tone of the stomach. 

86
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
body filled with superfluous humours,
and he presently finds himself much out
of sorts. The only medicine in this case,
is moderate exercise, innocent amuse-
ment, and a little abstinence, this is na-
ture's own prescription, as appears by her
taking away his appetite. But having
long placed his happiness in eating and
drinking, he cannot think of relinquish-
ing a gratification so dear to him, and so
sets himself to force an appetite by drams.
slings, elixir of vitriol, wine and bitters,
pickles, sauces, &c. and on the credit of
this artificial appetite, feeds again as if
he possessed the most vigorous health.
He now finds himself entirely disordered,
general heaviness and weariness of body,
flatulent uneasiness, frequent eructations,
loss of appetite, disturbed slumbers,
frightful dreams, bitter taste in the
mouth, &c. He now complains of a foul
stomach, or (in his own words) that his
stomach is full of bile; and immediately
takes 

87
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
takes a dose of tartar emetic or a strong
purgative, to cleanse out his stomach,
and so prepare for another course of high
living. Of all the Apollyons or destroy-
ers of nerves, health and life, this is the
greatest; and I have no sort of doubt on
my own mind but it has broken down
more constitutions, brought on more
distempers, and sent more people to an
early grave, than all the vices of this
bedlam world put together. How much
wiser would it be in this case to follow the
advice of the celebrated Bœrhaave, i.
e. to use a little abstinence, take mode-
rate exercise, and thereby help nature to
carry off her crudities and recover her
springs. I have been often told by a lady
of quality, whose circumstances obliged
her to be a good œconomist, and whose
prudence and temperance preserved her
health and senses unimpaired to a great
age, that she had kept herself out of the
hands of the physicians many years by
this 

88
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
this simple reigmen. People in health
should never force themselves to eat when
they have no appetite; Nature, the best
judge in these matters, will never fail to
let us know the proper time of refresh-
ment. To act contrary to this rule, will
assuredly weaken the powers of digestion,
impair health and shorten life. Plutarch.
"LET us beware of such food as
tempts us to eat when we are not hun-
gry, and of such liquors as entice us to
drink when we are not thirsty." So-
crates.
IT is really surprising (says Plutarch)
what benefit men of letters would re-
ceive from reading aloud every day; we
ought therefore to make that exercise
familiar to us, but it should not be done
immediately after dinner, nor fatigue,
for that error has proved hurtful to
many. But though loud reading is a
very healthy exercise, violent vocifera-
tion is highly dangerous; it has in thou-
sands 

89
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
sands of instances burst the tender blood
vessels of the lungs, and brought on in-
curable consumptions*.
"THE world has long made a just
distinction betwixt men of learning, and
wise men. Men of learning are oft-
times the weakest of men: they read
and meditate incessantly, without al-
lowing proper relaxation or refreshment
to the body; and think that a frail ma-
chine can bear fatigue as well as an im-
mortal
I 2
* Would to God, all ministers of religion (I
mention them because they are generally most want-
ing in this great article of prudence) would but at-
tend to the advice of this eminent Philosopher.
They would, many of them, live much longer, and
consequently stand a good chance to be more useful
men here on earth, and brighter saints in heaven.
What can give greater pain to a man who has the
prosperity of religion at heart, than to see an amiable,
pious young divine, (who promised great services to
the world) spitting up his lungs, and dying of a
consumption brought on by preaching ten times lou-
der than he had need! Since the world began, no
man ever spoke with half the energy which the inte-
rests of eternal souls deserve, but there is a wide
difference betwixt an instructive, moving, melting elo-
quence, and a loud, unmeaning monotony. 

90 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
mortal spirit. This puts me in mind of
what happened to the camel in the fa-
ble; which, refilling though often pre-
monished, to ease the ox in due time of
a part of his load, was forced at last to
carry not only the ox's whole load, but
the ox himself also, when he died under
his burden. Thus it happens to the
mind which has no compassion on the
body, and will not listen to its com-
plaints, nor give it any rest, until some
sad distemper compels the mind to lay
study and contemplation aside; and to
lie down, with the afflicted body, upon
the bed of languishing and pain. Most
wisely, therefore, does Plato admonish
us to take the same care of our bodies
as of our  minds; that like a well
matched pair of horses to a chariot, each
may draw his equal share of weight.
And when the mind is most intent upon
virtue and usefulness, the body should
then be most cherished by prudence
and 

91
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
and temperence, that so it may be fully
equal to such arduous and noble pur-
suits."—Plutarch.
NOTHING is more injurous to health
than hard study at night; it is invert-
ing the order of nature, and ruining
the constitution.
But most of all, it is improper to lie
reading in bed by candle light; for it
not only partakes of the usual inconve-
niences of night study, such as straining
the eyes, weakening the sight, fatiguing
the mind, and wearing away the consti-
tution, but is oft-times the cause of the
saddest calamities; thousands of elegant
houses, with all their costly furniture,
have been reduced to ashes by this very
imprudent practice.
BUT how can giddy youth, hurried
on by strong passions and appetites, be
prevented from running into those ex-
cesses, which may cut them off in the
prime of their days, or at least hoard up
diseases

92 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
diseases and remorse for old age?
Why, their passions and appetites must
early be restrained by proper discipline
and example. This important office
must be done by their parents, whose
first and greatest care should be "to
train up their children in the way they
should go, that when they are old they
may not depart from it."
" O THAT parents (says the excellent
Mr. Locke) would carefully instil into
their children that great principle of all
virtue and worth, viz. nobly to deny
themselves every wrong desire, and
steadily follow what reason dictates as
best, though the appetite should lean the
other way. We often see parents by
humouring them when little, corrupt
the principles of virtue in their children;
and wonder afterwards to taste the bit-
ter waters of their undutifulness or
wickedness, when they themselves have
contributed thereto. Why should we
wonder 

93
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
wonder that he who has been accustomed
to have his will in every thing, when he
was in coats, should desire and contend
for it when he is in breeches? Youth is
the golden season to inure the mind to the
practice of virtue, on which their future
health and respectability depend, and
without which it will be impossible to de-
liver their constitutions, unbroken, to
manhood and old age. Vice is utterly
inconsistent with health, which can never
dwell with lewdness, luxury, sloth and
violent passions. The life of the epicure
and rake, is not only short, but miserable.
It would shock the modest and compassio-
nate, to hear of those exquisite pains,
and dreadful agonies, which profligate
young persons suffer from their debau-
cheries, before they can even reach the
friendly shelter of an untimely grave.
Or if some few stop short in their career
of riot, before they have quite destroyed
the springs of life, yet those springs are
generally 

94 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
generally rendered so feeble and crazy,
by the liberties which they have already
taken, that they only support a gloomy,
dispirited, dying life, tedious to them-
selves, and troublesome to all around
them; and (which is still more pitiable)
often transmit their complaints to an
innocent unhappy offspring."

PART II.
THE
WAY
TO
WEALTH,
BY
DOCTOR FRANKLIN.



INTRODUCTION.
"But for one end, one much neglected use, are riches
"worth your care:
"This noble end is—to shew the virtues in their fair-
"est light;
"To make humanity the minister of bounteous Provi-
"dence,
"And teach the breast the generous luxury of doing good."
Dr. ARMSTRONG.
THERE is scarcely among the evils of
life, any so generally dreaded as poverty.
Many other kinds of misery a man may
easily forget, because they do not always
force themselves upon his regards. But it
is impossible to pass a day or an hour, in the
company of men without seeing how much
poverty is exposed to neglect and insult;
and in its lowest state, to hunger and
nakedness;
K

98 
INTRODUCTION.
nakedness; to injuries, against which,
every passion is in arms; and to wants,
which nature, without the aids of religi-
on, cannot sustain.
OF these calamities, mankind in general
seem to be sensible. We hear on every side
the noise of trade; and see the streets
thronged with numberless multitudes, whose
faces are clouded with anxiety, and whose
steps are hurried by precipitation, from no
other motive than the hope of gain. The
whole world is put in motion by the desire
of that wealth, which is chiefly to be va-
lued as it secures us from poverty and its
miseries. But there are always some
whose passions or follies lead them to a con-
duct widely different from the general prac-
tice of mankind. I mean the thoughtless
and the negligent, who, from an excess of
carelessness, or the seductions of company,
indulge habits of pleasure and expence
above their fortunes; and thus mispend
their time, or waste the inheritance of
their 

99
INTRODUCTION.
their fathers, without ever seeming to re-
flect on the great sacrifice they are making,
or the gulph to which they approach, till
poverty, like an unexpected winter, comes
upon them with all its chilling calamities,
and awakens them to a pungent sense of
their folly and wretchedness. The young,
and those of the most generous and unsus-
pecting tempers, often fall into this evil
net, out of which they seldom escape with-
out suffering injuries, which they painfully
feel and seriously lament through life. No
man had a heart more disposed to pity, nor
a head more able to counsel these unfortu-
nates, than the sage Dr. FRANKLIN, the
friend of man, and the great economist
of AMERICA. His little work, entitled,
"THE WAY TO WEALTH," is uni-
versally considered as a master-piece, on
the art of making and preferring a for-
tune. But before we give the Reader a
sight of this, we will exhibit to his view
some of the many felicities of wealth, that
on 

100 
INTRODUCTION.
on seeing how much happiness he may de-
rive from it to himself, and how many ser-
vices he may therewith confer on others,
he may apply with vigor and perseverance
to the means conducive to so desireable an
end.
IN the first place—WEALTH always
commands respect, unless its owner be an
infamous wretch indeed; and even in that
deplorable case, it has the magic powers of
charity, to cover and hide a multitude of
sins. It gives a man an air of consequence,
and like true beauty, without any exertion
of its own, wins the favour of all behold-
ers. When the rich man goes into compa-
ny, every body rise up to salute him: no
features too hard to assume a smile; no
back so stiff but can afford him a bow.
He is placed in the uppermost seat at the
table, and men covet to direct their con-
versation to him. The poor man speak-
eth, but no one regardeth: the rich
openeth 

101
INTRODUCTION.
openeth his mouth, and lo! silence is
kept.
WHAT can be more pleasing to a man
than to see himself thus honoured by his
friends? But besides this satisfaction,
which to the good, is very exquisite; it
has a very happy moral effect on the mind.
In a mind possessed of common sensibility, it
must kindle the soft fire of good humour, and
good humour naturally inspires benevolence
and affection. Whence we infer, that a
rich man, who is prudent, stands a much
fairer chance to be good humoured than the
poor, whose poverty exposes them to such
frequent slights and neglects.
IN the second place—WEALTH places
a man in a state which all must covet; a
state of INDEPENDENCE. To owe no
man any thing; to be able to go wither-
soever we please; and to face any company
without dread of dunning, is a luxury too
divine, even to be conceived by any who
have not been haunted and hag ridden by
creditors. 
K 2

102 
INTRODUCTION.
creditors. Say, ye debtors, ye poorest of
mankind, say, ye who cannot look at a
creditor without confusion, nor hear the
name of justice without a pang;  who
startle at the sound of a shaken leaf, as
though the feet of the sheriff were at the
door, and fly as the murderer flies from
the avenger of blood, whose sorrowful days
are wasted in meditating fruitless plans of
payment, while your midnight slumbers are
frightened by dreams of bankruptcy, and
apparitions of merciless creditors, sales, and
houseless children: say, wherein is the life
of a debtor better than the life of a dog.
Are not the prospects of independence as
reviving to your hearts, as the prospects of
paradise to souls that have long pined in
purgatory?
BUT, on the other hand, never to go in
debt; or, if accident should render a trifl-
ing debt necessary; to have at home more
than enough to defray it; to receive a cre-
ditor with a smiling countenance; to de-
light 

103
INTRODUCTION.
light his eyes with the promised gold, and
to dismiss him charmed with our punctu-
ality and honour: Must not this, to a good
man, afford a series of satisfactions, too
complicated for detail, and too exquisite for
description?     
IN the third place—WEALTH enables
us to enjoy the purest and sublimest pleasures
that are to be found on earth—the plea-
sures of doing good.
TO a tender parent, the interests of his
children are dear, as the blood which feeds
the fountain of life. When he looks at
them, his bowels are moved within him,
because he remembers the evils which await
them; He considers that ignorance leaves
them an easy prey to the crafty and cruel;
and that want betrays them to dishonesty
and falsehood. Happy the parent who pos-
sesses wealth; he places before his children
the lamp of knowledge, and they perceive
the snares of the artful; he surrounds
them with the blessings of competence, and
they 

104 
INTRODUCTION.
they despise the gains of iniquity. He has
sisters and brothers, perhaps, poor in world-
ly goods, but whom he lives as his own
soul; and young relatives, whose little
strong embraces, kindle all the parent
within him. Is there on earth a happi-
ness equal to that which he feels in supply-
ing their wants; giving them education,
and thus leading them, as by the hand, to
usefulness and honour?
To welcome the weeping widow; to
provide for her a place of rest; to dry up
her tears; to feed and educate her little
orphans, and to put them in a way to gain
an honest livelihood.
To take by the hand poor young trades-
men; to lend them money; to set them up,
and thus to enable them to be very useful
to the community, and to make comfort-
able livings for themselves.
To build in the neighbourhoods of the
poor, places of public worship, where the
people

105
INTRODUCTION.
people may learn the knowledge of GOD,
and the happiness of a good life.
To assist in providing houses where the
sick and aged poor, who are not able to
work for themselves, may be taken in, and
have medicines and physicians to cure their
sicknesses, and food and cloathing to make
the remainder of their days happy.
To feel for a tenant's misfortunes, and to
abate something of his rent in a bad season.
To silence the excuses of a poor debtor
with a "well, well; don't be uneasy
on account of this trifle; I know you
are an honest man, and I am willing to
wait till you can make it convenient to
pay me."
THESE are some of the numberless luxuries
of beneficence which wealth enables a good
man to enjoy. If you would enjoy them,
listen to the instructions of Dr. FRANKLIN,
and let the words of his mouth sink deep
into your heart. Despise them not for their
simplicity; for simple and unlearned is the
multitude to which they are addressed.



THE
WAY TO WEALTH.
COURTEOUS READER,
I HAVE heard, that nothing gives an
author so great pleasure, as to find
his works respectfully quoted by others.
Judge, then, how much I must have
been gratified by an incident I am go-
ing to relate to you. I stopped my
horse, lately, where a great number of
people were collected at an auction of
merchant's goods. The hour of the sale
not being come, they were conversing
on the badness of the times; and one
of the company called to a plain, clean
old 

108 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
old man, with white locks, "Pray,
father, Abraham, what think you of
the times? Will not these heavy taxes
quite ruin the country? How shall we
be ever able to pay them?  What would
you advise us to ?"—Father Abraham,
stood up, and replied, "If you would
have my advice, I will give it you in
short; " for a word to the wise is e-
nough," as Poor Richard says." They
joined in desiring him to speak his mind,
and gathering round him, he proceeded
as follows:
" FRIENDS, says he, the taxes are,
indeed, very heavy; and, if those laid
on by the government, were the only
ones we had to pay, we might more
easily discharge them; but we have
many others, and much more grievous
to some of us. We are taxed twice as
much by our idleness, three times as
much by our pride, and four times as
much by our folly; and from these
taxes 

109
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
taxes the commissioners cannot ease or
deliver us, by allowing an abatement.
However, let us hearken to good ad-
vice, and something may be done for
us; God helps them that help them-
selves,"  as Poor Richard says.
I. "It would be thought a hard go-
vernment that should tax its people one-
tenth part of their time, to be employ-
ed in its service: but idleness taxes
many of us much more; sloth, by
bringing on diseases, absolutely shortens
life. " Sloth, like rust, consumes fas-
ter than labour wears, while the used
key is always bright," as Poor Richard
says. " But dost thou love life, then
do not squander time, for that is the
stuff life is made of," as Poor Richard
says. How much more than is necessa-
ry do we spend in sleep? forgetting that
"The sleeping fox catches no poultry,
and that there will be sleeping enough
in the grave," as Poor Richard says.
"IF
L

110 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
"If time be of all things the most
precious, wasting time must be," as
Poor Richard says, "the greatest pro-
digality;" since, as he elsewhere tells
us, "Lost time is never found again;
and what we call time enough always
proves little enough:" Let us then up
and be doing, and doing to the pur-
pose; so by diligence shall we do more
with less perplexity. "Sloth makes
all things difficult, but industry all easy;
and, he that riseth late, must trot all
day, and shall scarce overtake his bu-
siness at night; while laziness travels so
slowly, that poverty soon overtakes
him. Drive thy business, let not that
drive thee; and early to bed and early
to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy,
and wise," as Poor Richard says.
"So what signifies wishing and hop-
ing for better times? We may make
these times better, if we bestir ourselves.
"Industry need not with, and he that
lives 

111
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
lives upon hope will die fasting. There
are no gains without pains; then, help
hands for I have no lands," or if I have
they are smartly taxed. "He that
hath a trade, hath an estate; and he
that hath a calling, hath an office of
profit and honour," as Poor Richard
says; but then the trade must be work-
ed at, and the calling well followed,
or neither the estate nor the office will
enable us to pay our taxes. If we are
industrious, we will never starve; for
at the working man's house, hunger
looks in, but dares not enter." Nor
will the bailiff or the constable enter,
for "Industry pays debts, while de-
spair increaseth them." What, though
you have found no treasure, nor has
any rich relation left you a legacy, "Di-
ligence is the mother of good luck, and
God gives all things to industry. Then
plough deep, while sluggards sleep, and
you shall have corn to sell and to keep."
Work 

112 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
Work while it is called to-day, for you
know not how much you may be hin-
dered to-morrow. "One to-day is
worth two to-morrows," as Poor Rich-
ard says; and farther, "Never leave
that  till to-morrow, which you can do
to-day." If you were a servant, would
you not be ashamed that a good master
should catch you idle? Are you then
your own master? be ashamed to catch
yourself idle, when there is so much to
be done for yourself, your family, your
relations, and your country. Handle
your tools without mittens: remember,
that "The cat in gloves catches no
mice," as Poor Richard says. It is true,
there is much to be done, and, perhaps,
you are weak-handed; but stick to it
steadily, and you will see great effects;
for "Constant dropping wears away
stones; and by diligence and patience
the mouse ate in two the cable; and
little strokes fell great oaks."
"METHINKS

113
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
"METHINKS I hear some of you say,
"Must a man afford himself no lei-
sure?" I will tell thee my friend what
Poor Richard says; "Employ thy time
well, if thou meanest to gain leisure;
and, since thou art not sure of a minute,
throw not away an hour." Leisure is
time for doing something useful; this
leisure the diligent man will obtain, but
the lazy man never; for, "A life of
leisure and a life of laziness are two
things. Many, without labour would
live by their wits only, but they break
for want of flock; "whereas industry
gives comfort, and plenty, and respect.
"Fly pleasures, and they will follow
you. The diligent spinner has a large
shift; and now I have a sheep and a
cow, every body bids me good-mor-
row."
II. "BUT with our industry, we
must likewise be steady, settled, and
careful, and oversee our own affairs
with 
L 2

114 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
with our own eyes, and not trust too
much to others; for, as Poor Richard
says,
"I never saw an oft-removed tree,
Nor yet an oft-removed family,
That throve so well as those that settled be."
"And again, "Three removes is as
bad as a fire;" and again, "Keep thy
shop, and thy shop will keep thee;"
and again, "If you would have your
business done, go; if not, send." And
again,
"He that by the plough would thrive,
Halftime must either hold or drive."
"And again, "The eye of a master
will do more work than both his hands;"
and again, "Want of care does us
more damage than want of knowledge;"
and again, " Not to oversee workmen,
is to leave them your purse open."
Trusting too much to others care is the
ruin of many; for, "In the affairs of
this world, men are saved, not by faith,
but by the want of it;" but a man's
own 

115
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
own care is profitable; for, "If you
would have a faithful servant, and one
that you like, serve yourself. A little
neglect may breed great mischief; for
want of a nail the shoe was lost; for
want of a shoe the horse was lost; and
for want of a horse the rider was lost,"
being overtaken and slain by the enemy;
all for want of a little care about a
horse-shoe nail.
III. "So much for industry my
friends, and attention to one's own bu-
siness; but to these we must add fruga-
lity, if we would make our industry
more certainly successful. A man may,
if he knows not how to save as he gets,
"keep his nose all his life to the grind-
stone, and die not worth a groat at last.
A fat kitchen makes a lean will;" and
"Many estates are spent in the getting,
Since women for tea forsook spinning & knitting,
And men for punch forsook hewing and splitting."
"If you would be wealthy, think of
saving, as well as of getting. The In-
dies 

1l6 
THE IMMMORTAL MENTOR.
dies have not made Spain rich, be-
cause her outgoes are greater than her
incomes."
"AWAY, then, with your expensive
follies, and you will not then have so
much cause to complain of hard times,
heavy taxes, and chargeable families; for
"Women and wine, game and deceit,
Makes the wealth small, and the want great."
And farther, "What maintains one
vice, would bring up two children."
You may think, perhaps, that a little
tea, or a little punch now and then,
diet a little more costly, cloaths a little
finer, and a little entertainment now
and then, can be no great matter; but
remember many a little makes a mickle."
Beware of little expences; "A small
leak will sink a great ship," as Poor
Richard says; and again, "Who dain-
ties love, shall beggars prove?" and
moreover, "Fools make feasts, and
wise men eat them." Here you are all
got together to this sale of fineries  and
nick- 

117
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
nick-nacks. You call them goods; but
if you do not take care, they will prove
evils to some of you. You expect they
will be sold cheap, and, perhaps, they
may for less than they cost; but, if you
have no occasion for them, they must
be dear to you. Remember what Poor
Richard says, "Buy what thou hast
no need of, and ere long thou shalt sell
thy necessaries." And again, "At a
great pennyworth pause a while:" he
means, that perhaps the cheapness is
apparent only, and not real; or the
bargain, by straitening thee in thy busi-
ness, may do the more harm than good.
For in another place he says, "Many
have been ruined by buying good pen-
nyworths." Again, "It is foolish to
lay out money in a purchase of repent-
ance;" and yet this folly is practised
every day at auctions, for want of mind-
ing the Almanack. Many a one, for
the sake of finery on the back, have
gone 

118 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
gone with a hungry belly, and half
starved their families; "Silks and sat-
tins, scarlet and velvets, put out the
kitchen fire," as Poor Richard says.
These are not the necessaries of life,
they can scarcely be called the conve-
niences: and yet only because they
look pretty, how many want to have
them? By these and other extravagan-
cies, the genteel are reduced to poverty,
and forced to borrow of those whom
they formerly despised, but who, thro'
infantry and frugality, have maintained
their standing; in which case it appears
plainly, that a ploughman on his legs
is higher than a gentleman on his
knees," as Poor Richard says. Perhaps
they have had a small estate left them,
which they knew not the getting of:
they think "It is day, and will never
be night:" that a little to be spent out
of so much is not worth minding; but
always taking out of the meal-tub, and
never 

119
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
never putting in, soon comes to the
bottom," as Poor Richard says; and
then, "When the well is dry, they
know the worth of water." But this
they might have known before, if they
had taken his advice. "If you would
know the value of money, go and try
to borrow some; for he that goes a
borrowing goes a sorrowing," as Poor
Richard says; and, indeed, so does he
that lends to such people, when he goes
to get in again. Poor Dick farther ad-
vises, and says,
"Fond pride of dress is sure a very curse;
Ere fancy you consult, consult your purse."
And again, "Pride is as loud a beggar
as Want, and a great deal more saucy."
When you have bought one fine thing,
you must buy ten more, that your ap-
pearance may be all of a piece; but
Poor Dick says, "It is easier to sup-
press the first desire, than to satisfy all
that follow it:" And it is as truly folly
for 

120 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
for the poor to ape the rich, as for the
frog to swell, in order to equal the ox.
"Vessels large may venture more,
But little boats should keep near shore."
It is, however, a folly soon punished;
for, as Poor Richard says, "Pride that
dines on vanity, sups on contempt;
Pride breakfasted with Plenty, dined
with Poverty, and supped with Infamy."
And, after all, of what use is this pride
of appearance for which so much is risk-
ed, so much is suffered? It cannot pro-
mote health, nor ease pain; it makes
no increase of merit in the person, it
creates envy, it hastens misfortune.
"But what madness must it be to
run in debt for these superfluities? We
are offered, by the terms of this sale,
fix months credit; and that, perhaps,
has induced some of us to attend it,
because we cannot spare the ready mo-
ney, and hope now to be fine without
it. But, ah! think what you do when
you run in debt; you give to another
power 

121
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
power over your liberty. If you can-
not pay at the time, you will be asham-
ed to see your creditor; you will be in
fear when you speak to him; you will
make poor pitiful sneaking excuses, and
by degrees, come to lose your veracity,
and sink into base downright lying; for,
"The second vice is lying, the first is
running in debt," as Poor Richard says;
and again, to the same purpose, "Ly-
ing rides upon Debt's back:" whereas
a free American ought not to be asham-
ed, nor afraid to see or speak to any
man living. But poverty often deprives
a man of all spirit and virtue. "It is
hard for an empty bag to stand up-
right." What would you think of that
nation, or of that government, who
should issue an edict, forbidding you to
dress like a gentleman or gentlewoman,
on pain of imprisonment or servitude?
Would you not say, that you were free,
have a right to dress as you please, and
that 
M

122 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
that such an edict would be a breach of
your privileges, and such a government
tyrannical? And yet you are about to
put yourself under that tyranny when
you run in debt for such dress! Your
creditor has authority, at his pleasure,
to deprive you of your liberty, by con-
fining you in gaol for life, or by selling
you for a servent, if you should not be
able to pay him: when you have got
your bargain, you may perhaps think
little of payment; but as Poor Richard
says, "Creditors have better memories
than debtors, creditors are a superstiti-
ous sect, great observers of set days and
times." The day comes round before
you are aware, and the demand is made
before you are prepared to satisfy it; or,
if you bear your debt in mind, the
term, which at first seemed so long, will,
as it lessens, appear extremely short:
Time will seem to have added wings to
his heels as well as his shoulders. "Those
have

123
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
have a short Lent, who owe money to
be paid at Easter." At present, per-
haps, you may think yourselves in thriv-
ing circumstances, and that you can
bear a little extravagance without in-
jury; but
"For age and want save while you may,
No morning-sun lasts a whole day."
GAIN may be temporary and uncer-
tain, but ever, while you live, expence is
constant and uncertain; and, "It is ea-
sier to build two chimneys, than to keep
one in fuel," as Poor Richard says: So,
"Rather go to bed supperless, than rise
in debt.
"Get what you can, and what you get hold,
'Tis the stone that will turn all your lead into gold."
AND when you have got the philoso-
pher's stone, sure you will no longer
complain of bad times, or the difficulty
of paying taxes.
IV. "This doctrine, my friends, is
reason and wisdom: but, after all, do
not depend too much upon your own
industry 

124 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
industry and frugality, and prudence,
though excellent things; for they may
all be blasted, without the blessing of
Heaven; and therefore, ask that bles-
sing humbly, and be not uncharitable to
those that at present seem to want it,
but comfort and help them. Remem-
ber, Job suffered, and was afterwards
prosperous.
"AND now to conclude, "Experi-
ence keeps a dear school, but fools will
learn in no other," as Poor Richard
says, and scarce in that; for, it is true,
"We may give advice, but we cannot
give conduct:" However remember this,
"They that will not be counselled can-
not be helped;" and farther, that "If
you will not hear Reason, she will sure-
ly rap your knuckles," as Poor Richard
says.
Thus the old gentleman ended his
harangue. The  people heard it, and
approved the doctrine, and immediately
practised

125
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
practised the contrary, just as if it had
been a common sermon; for the auc-
tion opened, and they began to buy
extravagantly. I found the good man
had thoroughly studied my Almanacks,
and digested all I had dropt on those
topics during the course of twenty-five
years. The frequent mention he made
of me must have tired any one else;
but my vanity was wonderfully delight-
ed with it, though I was conscious, that
not a tenth part of the wisdom was my
own, which he ascribed to me; but ra-
ther the gleanings that I had made of
the sense of all ages and nations. How-
ever, I resolved to be the better for
the echo of it; and, though I had at
first determined to buy stuff for a new
coat, I went away, resolved to wear my
old one a little longer. Reader, if thou
wilt do the same, thy profit will be as
great as mine. I am, as ever, thine to
serve thee.
RICHARD SAUNDERS.
M  2

126 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
ADVICE
TO A
YOUNG TRADESMAN.
REMEMBER that time is money. He
that can earn ten shillings a day
by his labour, and goes abroad, or sits
idle one half of that day, though he
spends but sixpence during his diversion
or idleness, ought not to reckon that
the only expence; he has really spent,
or rather thrown away, five shillings
besides.
REMEMBER that credit is money. If
a man lets his money lie in my hands
after it is due, he gives me the interest,
or so much as I can make of it during
that 

127
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
that time. This amounts to a consider-
able sum when a man has good and
large credit, and makes good use of it.
REMEMBER that money is of a pro-
lific generating nature. Money can be-
get money, and its offspring can beget
more, and so on. Five shillings turned
is six; turned again, it is seven and three
pence; and so on till it becomes an hun-
dred pounds. The more there is of it,
the more it produces, every turning, so
that the profits rise quicker and quicker.
He that kills a breeding sow, destroys all
her offspring to the thousandth genera-
tion. He that murders a crown, de-
stroys all that it might have produced,
even scores of pounds.
REMEMBER that six pounds a year is
but a groat a day. For this little sum,
which may be daily wasted either in time
or expence, unperceived, a man of cre-
dit may, on his own security, have the
constant possession and use of an hun-
dred 

128 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
dred pounds. So much in stock, brisk-
ly turned by an industrious man, produ-
ces great advantage.
REMEMBER this saying, "The good
pay master is lord of another man's
purse." He that is known to pay punc-
tually and exactly to the time he pro-
mises, may at any time, and on any oc-
casion, raise all the money his friends
can spare. This is sometimes of great
use. After industry and frugality, no-
thing contributes more to the raising of
a young man in the world, than punctu-
ality and justice in all his dealings: there-
fore never keep borrowed money an
hour beyond the time you promised,
lest a disappointment shut up your
friend's purse for ever.
THE most trifling actions that affect a
man's credit are to be regarded. The
sound of your hammer at five in the
morning, or nine at night, heard by a
creditor, makes him easy six months
longer; 

129
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
longer; but if he sees you at a billiard
table, or hears your voice at a tavern,
when you should be at work, he sends
for his money the next day; demands
it before he can receive it in a lump.
IT shews, besides, that you are mind-
ful of what you owe; it makes you ap-
pear a careful, as well as honest man,
and that still increases your credit.
BEWARE of thinking all your own
that you possess, and of living accord-
ingly. It is a mistake that many people
who have credit fall into. To prevent
this, keep an exact account, for some
time, both of your expences and your
income. If you take the pains at first
to mention particulars, it will have this
good effect; you will discover how
wonderfully small trifling expences mount
up to large sums, and will discern what
might have been, and may for the fu-
ture be saved, without occasioning any
great inconvenience.
IN

130 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
IN short, the way to wealth, if you
desire it, is as plain as the way to mar-
ket. It depends chiefly on two words,
industry and frugality; that is, waste nei-
ther time nor money, but make the best
use of both. Without industry and
frugality nothing will do, and with them
every thing. He that gets all he can
honestly, and saves all he gets, (neces-
sary expences excepted) will certainly
become rich; if that Being; who go-
verns the world, to whom all should
look for a blessing on their honest en-
deavours, doth not, in his wise provi-
dence, otherwise determine.
AN OLD TRADESMAN.

PART III.
SURE GUIDE
TO
HAPPINESS,
BY
DOCTOR SCOTT. 



A
SURE GUIDE
TO
HAPPINESS.
"Oh Happiness! our beings end and aim,
"Good, pleasure, ease, content; whatever thy name,
"That something still which prompts th' eternal sigh,
"For which we bear to live, or dare to die.
"Plant of celestial seed, if dropt below,
"Say in what favour'd soil thou deign'st to grow.'
POPE.
IF there be any truth fully ascertain-
ed by reason and revelation, it is
this, That "Man is not but to be happy."
Surely the mighty author of our being
can have no selfish view in our creation.
His happiness is too immense and too
secure to receive increase, or to suffer
diminution from any thing that we can
do. "Can a man profit his Maker, or
what need hath the Almighty of our Ser-
vices?"
N A MORE 

134 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
A more important question claims
our regard. Wherein consists the hap-
piness of Man?
IN order to answer this, we must re-
member, that man is composed of two
natures, an animal and a rational, each
of which is blest with capacities of en-
joyment, and must have its correspon-
dent objects of gratification before man
can be happy. Hitherto we have con-
sidered him in the first of these, in his
animal capacity: We have placed be-
fore us, a creature of noble shape, erect
and fair, formed of nerves and fibres,
and endued with appetites and feelings.
THOUGH this his animal nature be
infinitely inferior to his rational, yet since
the happiness of the latter cannot be
complete, while the former is destitute
of its proper goods, we have devoted
the two preceding books to the best in-
terests of his animal nature. We have
taken the liberty to send him to Old
CORNARO

135
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
CORNARO and Dr. FRANKLIN, to hear
their excellent lectures on health and
competence, which all allow to be two
very choice ingredients in the cup of
happiness. Nay, some entertain so high
an opinion of these, as to declare, that
if CORNARO and FRANKLIN could in-
sure a quantum sufficit of them, they
would be content, and ask no better
happiness than what they could extract
from these.
BUT let it be remembered that this
is not the language of the wise, but of
the slothful, and of such as are pushed
for money, who frequently experien-
cing the painfulness of being dunn-
ed, and sometimes tasting the sweets
of ease and pleasure, are ready to con-
clude, that if they had but money
enough; Oh if they had but money
enough to retire from the fatigues and
vexations of business, and to spend de-
licious days and nights in all the varied
joys 

136 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
joys of feasted sense, how blest as the
immortal Gods they would be!
AND truly, if man was but a more
elegant sort of beast, and capable of no
higher pleasures than those of sense,
these Mahometan dreamers might be
more than half in the right. In that
case, health and competence might very
well serve our turn; as with the one
we might purchase, and with the other
enjoy, all the happiness of which we
were capable. But since God has been
so good as to raise us many degrees
above mere animal nature; since he has
together with bodies, given us immor-
tal minds, endowed with faculties and
affections capable of angelic joys, it
follows very delightfully, that another
guess bill of fare must be made out for
us, than that which would serve Epi-
curean hogs.
THOSE gentlemen who are so fond of
stinting themselves to mere bodily plea-
sures, 

137
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
sures, would do well to remember, that
every rank of animated nature must
have its proper gratifications or be mi-
serable. Furnish earth and water to a
plant, and it shall look green, and flou-
rish like a cedar in Lebanon; but give
nothing but this to a horse, and he shall
presently perish for want of nutriment.
Again, give grass and water to a horse,
and he shall look plump as pampered
speculation; but confine a man to grass
and water, and you shall soon write
hic jacet on his tomb. Thus every link
in the great chain of being has its re-
spective capacities and enjoyments. Man
is favoured with these in a degree of
perfection above all the creatures that
we have seen. He possesses, harmoni-
ously blended in himself, the various
excellencies of two different natures;
together with a relish for all the pleasures
of the most perfect animal, he can boast
capacities equal to the sublime delights
N 2 of 

138 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
of celestial spirits; now to suppose that
so exalted, I had almost said so divine
a creature as this, can be satisfied with
enjoyments that belong to the poorest
and meanest part of his nature, were
a far greater absurdity, than to suppose
that an animal of the most delicate taste
and sense, can be content with earth and
water, the simple nutriment of a plant.
ACOORDINGLY we find that experi-
ence has ever evinced the mistake of
those, who have expected, that sensual
goods alone could make them happy.
This is not a novel opinion, but seems
to have been a favourite notion of some
in the days of King Solomon, who re-
solved to examine the truth or falsehood
of it. Never man enjoyed equal opportu-
nities; he had gold and silver as the stones
in the vallies for abundance; and in wis-
dom he far exceeded all the sages of the
East. The whole force of this wisdom and
wealth he determined to employ on the
experiment. 

139
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
experiment. "Behold (said he) I will
get me down and make me great works,
and build me houses, and plant me vine-
yards, and make me gardens and pools of
water. I will get me men singers and
women singers, and all the delights of the
sons of men; and whatever mine eyes de-
sire, I will not keep from them." When
every thing is thus planned by himself,
and executed according to his direction,
surely he is arrived to the accomplish-
ment of his wishes, and has ascended to
the summit of all human happiness.
The poor, who are taken with fine
shows, would conclude so: Solomon
certainly knows best; let us ask him,
What does he say?
"Lo! I looked on all the works that
my hands had wrought, and on the labour
that I had laboured to do, and behold all
was vanity and vexation of spirit, and
there was no profit under the sun." Well,
gentlemen, you, I mean who think that
if 

140 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
if you had but an abundance of riches,
and health to enjoy them, you could not
fail to be happy. What do you think
of having against you such a formidable
case in point as this? Are you not be-
ginning to suspect that you may have
been under a mistake all this time? Sup-
press not the friendly suspicion: Instead
of repining, you should rejoice to find
that you have been in an error. Have
you not abundant cause of joy, that
riches and health with all their springs
and streams of pleasure, are not alone
sufficient to quench your thirst of happi-
ness, nor able to fill up the vast capa-
cities of your nature? After conquer-
ing one world, Alexander sat down and
wept, that he had not another into
which he could push his victories: But,
thank God, we have not his cause of
complaint.
FOR after having pushed our conquests
through all those regions of innocent
enjoyment 

141
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
enjoyment which belong to our animal
nature, we can enter upon the far wider
provinces of REASON and AFFECTION
and possess ourselves of all the sublime
pleasures of angels, i.e. the pleasures
of knowledge, imagination, virtue,
friendship and love. When asked there-
fore, Wherein consists the true happiness
of Man? We readily answer, that as
the happiness of a mere animal consists
in exercising its appetites on such goods
as are suited to its nature, and capable
of gratifying all its senses; so the true
happiness of man consists in exercising
his faculties on such objects as are suit-
ed to his rational nature, and capable of
delighting his soul through all her va-
rious affections. But where is that in-
finite good? Who is that wondrous being
that can feast the faculties, and satisfy
the desires of an immortal mind? 'Tis
God; and he alone in whose ineffable
perfections the whole world of ration-
als

142 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
als will find enough, and more than
enough, to employ their admiration and
delight through eternal ages.
ACCORDINGLY we find that Christ,
when asked what a man should do to be
truly happy, replied, "Thou shalt love   
the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and
with all thy mind; and thou shalt love
thy neighbour as thyself."
IN this admirable reply, which for
sublimity of piety and philanthropy,
and for profound wisdom and philoso-
phy, deserves everlasting veneration.
We learn three very important lessons.
I. That the chief good or true happi-
ness of man consists in his mind. II. In
the affections of his mind. And III.
In those affections directed to worthy ob-
jects.
I. HE who was perfectly acquainted
with our nature, places the supreme
happiness of man in the mind. How
strange soever it may seem, yet most
certain 

143
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
certain it is, that this ever was, and still
is a new doctrine to the bulk of man-
kind. For not only the numerous feet
of ancient Epicureans, and sensual Ma-
hometans, but the generality of Chris-
tians to this day, place the seat of hap-
piness in the body.
TALK to them about the pleasures of
the understanding, or the still sublimer
pleasures of devotion, and your words
seem not to be understood; but shift the
subject, and talk about the pleasures of
inheriting large estates, of living at ease
and faring sumptuously every day, and
immediately you perceive, by their smil-
ing countenances and ready conversa-
tion, that you have awakened their fa-
vourite ideas, and that these are the
things which lie nearest to their hearts.
THAT the goods of the body consti-
tute some small part of man's happi-
ness, and that therefore they ought to
be valued, and, as far as conscience and
a regard 

144 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
a regard to higher interests will permit,
should be Sought after, is evident. But
that these goods and pleasures of the
body, constitute man's supreme happiness,
is one of the most degrading, damnable
errors, that ever was broached. No
man who understands the dignity of his
immortal part, and who entertains a
proper love for himself and his fellow
men, can hear such a proposition with-
out abhorrence and indignation. What!
shall happiness which all so vehemently
desire, and so heartily pray for, both
for themselves and for others; shall
happiness, the bare hope of which re-
vives the heart, and does good like a
medicine; which gives strength to the
weak, and courage to the fearful; which
animates us through life; nor defers us
in death—Shall this fondest wish, this
sweetest expectation of all men, consist
merely in the goods and pleasures of
the body. Consider, thou cruel mur-
derer 

145
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
derer of thyself; thou barbarous assassin
of human kind, how few ever attain
those pleasures to which thou stupidly
confinest the happiness of man; how
fewer still ever enjoy them, and how
soon death will snatch them out of the
hands of those who are so fortunate!
Reflect what unnumbered millions are
born to no better inheritance than po-
verty and bondage, and who, instead
of being caressed in the soft lap of ease
and pleasure, are driven through life
by the scourge of cruel tyrants, or
more cruel wants! hard put to it to
get a little bread, and sometimes never
get it, at least not comfortably; but
from various causes, eat it all their lives
long in bitterness of soul! And of
those seemingly happy ones who possess
all the goods of the body, How few
enjoy them without alloy? How many,
by abusing these blessings, contract dis-
eases which render fleeting life one con-
O tinued 

146 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
tinued scene of sorrow and suffering?
And in those apparently fortunate cases,
where the greatest abundance of sensu-
al goods is accompanied with health and
power of enjoyment; yet, alas! how
soon does enjoyment consume the little
good which they contained, and leave
the wealthy glutton to languish under
indifference, to fret through disappoint-
ment, and to sigh for something else?
CAST your eyes on that pale bloated
figure. It is the Emperor Heliogabalus,
corrupted by the brutalizing sophistry
of Epicurus, i.e. that the pleasures of
the body constitute man's only happi-
ness, he resolved to be happy to some
purpose. All Italy was taxed; all Asia
robbed to support his luxury; every
region of the earth was explored; every
element ransacked to furnish his table.
All that bounteous nature bestows of
rare and delicious among her birds,
beasts, fishes, fruits and spices; and
all 

147
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
all these prepared by the nicest hand of
cookery, were served up to feast and
delight his appetites. Surely, if luxu-
rious ease and delicious fare were hap-
piness, Heliogabalus must have been
blest indeed. The discontent visible in
his countenance proves the reverse.
Could you ask him, he would tell you
that his pleasures are at best but vain,
and too frequently vexatious. Some-
times he was mortified, because, through
defect of appetite, he could not enjoy
his delicious morsels. At other times,
tempted by their luscious flavour, he fed
to an excess, which brought on him a
variety of painful and loathsome diseases.
And at all times it was matter of grief
to him, that the pleasures of eating and
drinking should so soon be over. This
circumstance caused one of the Roman
Emperors to quarrel with his own con-
stitution, and to wish, in all the rage of
disappointed pleasure, that he had the
stomach 

148 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
stomach of a horse, that he might en-
joy the satisfaction of eating ten times
as much as its present scanty capacities
would allow. And another Emperor,
for the same swinish reason, preferred
his petition to the Gods, that they
would grant him a neck as long as that
of a crane, vainly hoping, that he
should thereby the longer enjoy the
dear pleasure of swallowing.
BUT granting the sensuality an utter
exemption from all the ills and vexa-
tions of gluttony; that his coveted dain-
ties are all served up in the most invit-
ing style of perfection; that his fruits
are lusciously ripe and fresh; his meats
tender and deliciously flavoured; his
cookery the most exquisite in the
world, and his wines equal to the nectar
of Jove. And granting too that he
has an appetite to season, and health to
enjoy all there dainties, yet, alas! how
soon must the season of enjoyment be
over

149
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
over with him forever! Old age will
presently steal on him; his nerves must
soon grow hard and dull, and lose their
delicate edge and sensibility, and then,
though he may sit down, yet can he not
enjoy his dainty morsels.
BEHOLD, I am now (said the rich old
Barzillai) fourscore years old, and can I
discern what is savoury? Can I taste what
I eat or what I drink; or can I hear the
voice of singing men and singing women?
After this humiliating period, what sad
dishonours will sickness and death soon
bring upon the body, the gluttons pam-
pered pride! His cheeks once so plump
and rosy, are now pale and emaciated.
His skin, formerly so smooth and po-
lished, is now deformed with wrinkles.
His body once straight and erect, is now
crooked and bent with years. His limbs,
late so nimble and active, are now stiff
and scarcely able to move. And he
who forty years ago possessed all the
O 2 bloom

150 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
bloom and vigour of full formed man-
hood, is now shrunk away to inert skin
and bone, and experiences all the help-
lessness of a second childhood.
SUPPORTED on his crutches or cane,
he attempts to move, but it is with dif-
ficulty and pain. His knees knock a-
gainst each other through weakness.
His hands tremble, and his whole body
shakes as with an ague. In a little time
his infirmities prevail; his body, though
but the shadow of his former self, is
now too heavy for his exhausted strength.
In a low faultering voice, he begs to be
led to his bed, and there lies down
never more to rise. Nature now sinks
apace; his heart labours; his breast hea-
ves; his breathing becomes short and
quick; his eyes are hollow and sunk;
his voice grows hoarse; he rattles in
the throat; his limbs wax cold; his
teeth turn black; he foams at the mouth;
a feeble convulsion shakes his frame,
and, 

151
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
and, with a deep groan, his unwilling
spirit takes her leave. Immediately pu-
trefaction and worms begin their loath-
some office; and in a little time, this
pampered, idolized flesh, returns to the
dust of which it was formed.
WHO can contemplate this picture,
and not bewail with tears of blood, the
madness of those who expect their only
happiness from such a vile body! O
how infinitely superior to these miser-
able delusions is the Heaven descended
philosophy of Jesus Christ! In that di-
vine religion, the body, instead of be-
ing exalted as the seat of our happiness,
is depreciated as the principal cause of
our misery, being, as the poet expresses
it, not only a nest of pain and bag of
corruption, but the most fruitful source
of our sins and sorrows. Christ seldom
mentions the body, except to expose
its comparative worthlessness, and to
caution us against its defiling lusts. In
every

152 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
every part of the sacred volume, you
hear his voice exclaiming with all the
earnestness of parental affection: "Woe
be to him who trusteth in the body, and
maketh flesh his hope, for wherein is it to
be relied on? Its origin is but dust, its
beauty but a flower, its life but a vapour,
and its duration but a moment. Pain and
weariness accompany it while living, cor-
ruption and worms seize on it when dead.
O let not thine heart decline to its lusts,
and yeild not to its enticements, for they
have cast down many wounded; yea, many
strong men have been slain by them; their
way is the way to hell, going down by the
chambers of death. But though in the
body thou canst find no true content, yet
think of thy soul and rejoice, for she is
more precious than silver, yea much fine
gold is not to be compared unto her. Her
beginning is from the breath of the Almighty,
and her duration is as the days of eternity.
She was made but a little lower than the
angels, 

153
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
angels, and heaven was prepared of old
for the place of her habitation. Wouldst
thou be happy, deck her with the jewels
of piety, and cloath her with virtue as
with a garment; then shall the lamp of
the Almighty shine into thy heart, and joy
shall be thy constant companion. When
thou walkest by the way, thy foot shall
not stumble; and when thou liest down,
thy sleep shall be sweet. In the day of sick-
ness thou shalt not be afraid, and when
death cometh upon thee, thou shalt laugh
him to scorn; for the Lord of hosts is thy
friend, and underneath thee are the ever-
lasting arms. He shall say unto thee, fear
not, thou worm Jacob, for I am with thee;
be not dismayed for I am thy God. Then
shall he strip off thee the vile rags of mor-
tality, and cloath thee with the garments
of salvation. He shall wipe from thine
eyes the tear of sorrow, and anoint thy
face with the oil of gladness. He shall
conduct thee into his own city, the city of
the 

154 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
the living God, and unto the general assem-
bly of angels, and spirits of just men made
perfect. He shall give thee to drink with
them of his rivers of pleasure, and to feast
on joys at his right hand forever more."
THUS splendid are the honours and
felicities of which the soul of man is
capable. These are the eternal goods
to which Christ intreats us to aspire, and
for the sake of which, he bids us despise
the low unsatisfactory pleasures of a
dying body.
WHAT divine goodness, what per-
fect wisdom, are blended in that philoso-
phy, which enjoins us to seek our happi-
ness in the mind and not in the body.
In that part of our nature which exalts
us to God, and not in that which de-
presses us to the brute. In that part
of us which will live forever, and not
in that which is daily in danger of
dropping into the grave. In that part
of us which can enjoy the noble plea-
sures 

155
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
sures of the glorious ones in Heaven,
and not in that whose few pleasures are
in common with the creatures of the
stalls and styes.
BUT our divine Philosopher places
the supreme happiness of man, not only
in the mind, as we have just seen, but
II. IN the affections of the mind.
THIS also will appear to many as a
strange saying. It must expect to com-
bat, not only the prejudices of coarse
Epicures, but the more serious doubts
of many who seem to be  more refined
and rational in their Schemes of happi-
ness. Many, even of those, who dis-
daining a vile body, sunk their happi-
ness in the immortal mind, have never
yet dreamed that it consists in the af-
fections, but have sought it rather in
the improvements of the understand-
ing. Observing the great respect that
is paid to men of learning, and remem-
bering the high entertainment which
they 

156 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
they themselves have derived from the
conversation of such men, they con-
clude, that learning must be the bright-
est ornament and highest happiness of
human nature. In their estimation, the
man whose comprehensive mind takes
a wide survey of the works of God,
and of the inventions of men; who
soars into the Heavens, and calls the
stars by name; calculates eclipses, and
fortells comets; who thence goes down
into the depths of the sea, and ex-
plains the causes of its ceaseless mo-
tions; who traverses the boundless re-
gions of the earth, knows all their king-
doms, with the glory of them; who speaks
various languages, fathoms the depths
of arts and sciences, understands the
history of nations, the laws and go-
vernment of all people. This, in their
estimation, is the truly happy man. In
a mind thus richly furnished, he pos-
sesses (as they suppose) the materials of
an 

157
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
an enjoyment, of which nothing can
ever deprive him.
FAR be it from me to speak disre-
spectfully of learning, for certainly learn-
ing or wisdom is the pia mater, or first
attribute of God himself, and the vast
circumference within which lies all the
happiness that human or angelic minds
can enjoy. But this I say, that all the
learning in the world, if separated from
the affections, can never make us truly
happy: And that these splendid attain-
ments in science were never intended to
form the supreme happiness of man, is
evident, because the bulk of mankind
are not capable of becoming great scho-
lars and philosophers. Alas! What
numbers, after all the pains that have
been taken with them, never learn even
to read their mother tongue with pro-
priety! How many, who after a seven
years apprenticeship, and a whole life's
employment, never learn to fit on a
P handsome 

158 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
handsome boot or shoe! Many born
with genius equal to the attainment of
learning, are constrained to live and die
in ignorance, for want of means to de-
fray the expence of education; while
others are obliged to stop in the middle
of their career, and to give up the fond
hopes of knowledge, because of a con-
stitution too delicate to bear the fatigues
of study. But granting to the lover of
learning, every advantage of genius,
constitution and fortune, that ever fell
to the lot of the most favoured of man-
kind, what mighty acquisitions can be
made by him whose genius is, at best,
but dullness, and whose days are but a
moment! When he considers the se-
crets of art, so multiplied and mysteri-
ous, he sits down in despair. When he
contemplates the works of God, so in-
finite and unsearchable, the spirit faints
within him, and he seems to himself,
but as a feather floating on the surface
of 

159
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
of a mighty ocean, whose wonders he
can never explore. And were he ask-
ed for the sum of his learning, he
would, if honest, take up the lamenta-
tion of the old philosopher, and reply,
that after the vain toils of threescore
years, he has learned to know that he
knows nothing.
BUT admitting that he has acquired
that stock of learning on which vain
mortals are so adventurous as to set up
for masters and doctors. Admitting that
he has learned languages, studied arts
and sciences, &c. &c. What is there
in all this to make him happy, or to
satisfy the desires of an immortal mind?
As to languages, what folly to dream
as some do, of great wisdom and ho-
nour to be found in learning them!
For, What is language but words or
sounds by which we communicate our
thoughts to one another? If these
words or sounds had the power like
charms, 

l60 
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
charms, to brighten our wits, or to bet-
ter our hearts, this language-mongery
would be a noble speculation; but,
alas! instead of making us wiser, these
learned languages often make us greater
fools. For, allowing, that after an ex-
pence of five years, and of at least as
many hundred pounds, a young man
has learned enough to give his horse a
Latin or Greek name; What mighty
advantages does he derive from this
pretty art of nick-naming God's crea-
tures? Does it teach him any new ideas
relative to the nature and qualities of a
horse? Or can it furnish him one use-
ful receipt in farriery, or a single rule
for the better management and choice
of that noble animal?
EVIDENTLY, therefore, the summum
bonum, or chief good of man does not
consist in dead languages.
AND as to systems of human learning,
from which some fondly expect unfail-
ing

161
THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
ing pleasure and eternal honour, what
are they, frequently, but systems of hu-
man error, monuments of the pride of
man, who, impatient to be thought ig-
norant of any thing, boldly seizes fan-
cy for fact, and conjecture for evidence,
and with these fairy workmen, present-
ly runs up vast Babels of philosophy, vain-
ly so called. A whole lifetime is hardly
sufficient to understand these pompous
errors; and scarcely are they under-
stood, before they are exploded to make
room for some other set of notions,
equally vain and perishable.
BUT, admitting that we have turned
our studies to the noblest of human
sciences, sciences founded on truth, and
promising much entertainment and useful
knowledge; yet, alas! full soon shall ex-
perience prove the truth of the remark
made by Solomon, that "In much learn-
ing is much trouble; and he who increas-
es knowledge, increases sorrow" See!
P 2 how

l62 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
how enviously, sharp thorns and briars
shoot up among the sweet flowers which
we expected to gather. To make any
considerable progress in sciences, we
must renounce some of the freedom and
amusements of life; this is mortifying;
confinement is wearisome; hard study
fatigues the brain; intense thinking
sours the temper; flow progress is dis-
heartening; doubts are vexatious; and
presently darkness and thick clouds ga-
ther over the path of science, and for-
bids us to proceed any farther. Sure-
ly man walketh in a vain shadow, and dis-
quieteth himself in vain.
BUT supposing that we could under-
stand all human sciences in the most
perfect degree, how very short lived
would be the pleasures arising from
them! When first made, and fresh on
the mind, the discoveries of truth are
highly gratifying to curiosity, but in a
short time they become familiar, and
thence

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 163
thence almost insipid. Hence we often
see learned men as discontented and pee-
vish as others; a plain proof that hu-
man learning opens no spring of lasting
happiness in the mind. Indeed, so far
from producing this very desireable ef-
fect, it frequently nurses passions the
most unfriendly to his happiness, both
in this world and the next. The bright-
er talents and superior fame of a rival
wit, often pierce his heart with the
keenest pangs of envy; success puffs
him up with pride, and renders him
insufferably disagreeable; disappointment
fires him with rage, or sinks him into
despondency: While the flash of an
unguarded witticism often loses him a
valuable friend, or creates a mortal
enemy. But allowing that he were the
greatest scholar and orator of the age,
and could harangue on any subject, with
all the force of argument and charms
of eloquence: that whenever he appear-
ed

164 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
ed, the impatient crowds repaired to
hear the magic of his enchanting tongue:
that princes were his patrons, and
the great ones of the earth his admir-
ers; yet how vain and treacherous a
good would all this be! How utterly
unworthy to be coveted as the chief
good of man! For yet but a few fleet-
ing years, and the cold hand of age will
be on him, and then, alas! all these
fine talents and blooming honours, shall
perish as the lovely flower perishes when
touched by the killing frosts of winter.
His wit shall sparkle no more; no more
shall his fancy charm us with the splen-
dor of its images, nor his mind asto-
nish us with the vastness of her con-
ceptions; his memory must then give
up all her precious treasures; and dumb
forever will be that tongue whose elo-
quence, like Sweet muffin, soothed
each listening ear, and led in triumph
all the obedient passions.
And 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 165
AND are such fading accomplishments
as these, fit food for an immortal soul
that was born for heaven?
BUT although this acknowledged va-
nity and vexation of human learning,
sufficiently proves the sad mistake of
those who make an idol of it; yet let
us not, on the other hand, run into
the equal error of such as trample it
under their feet as vain and worthless
altogether. Along with its dross, it
contains much useful metal, for the
sake of which we may well afford to
toil.
EVEN the languages, though the least
necessary of all human learning, are
not entirely without their uses. We
may chance to fall in with a poor for-
eigner who has not broken English
enough to tell us his wants. We may
get honest bread by interpreting, trans-
lating, or teaching languages. Or should
it be our fortune to stand behind a coun-
ter, 

166 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
ter, we may, with the help of a little
bad French, fell a great deal of good
merchandize. We may likewise find
much pleasure in reading the enchant-
ing works of foreign poets, historians,
&c. and this effect may lead to one still
more valuable; it may inspire us with
sentiments of friendship for the nation
to which these excellent men belong,
and thus happily moderate that resent-
ment, which, under certain circum-
stances we might feel against them.
These effects, in a very comfortable de-
gree, I have myself experienced. I
have found, that my passions, kindling
into pain from the blows struck our un-
offending country, by the British, have
been considerably calmed by recollect-
ing, that these our injurers, are the
children of the same once glorious island
which gave to us and to all mankind,
a Milton, a Newton, a Locke, a Bar-
row, and other UNEQUALLED LIGHTS
of

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 167
of philosophy and divinity, whose friend-
ly splendors have contributed so happi-
ly to repel the coming clouds of "chaos
and old night," and to establish the em-
pire of reason and pure religion.
HITERTO we have endeavoured to
point out the mistake of those, (a nu-
merous race) who look for happiness
among sensual pleasures, and in human
learning. Two other orders of candi-
dates, equally numerous, and, as I
think, equally mistaken, present them-
selves,—I mean the hardy sons of ava-
rice and ambition. The first of these,
the miser, blesses God; wonders how
people can be so weak as to throw away
their time and money on book learning
and silly pleasures. He has juster no-
tions of things. Gold is with him the
one thing needful. He rises early, early, late
takes rest, and eats the bread of careful-
ness and toil, in order to join house to house,
Q and 

168 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
and field to field, and thus to remove
himself far from all dread of want.
BUT of wealth it may be said, happi-
ness is not here. Gold, it is true, is the
quintessence of lands, houses, soft cloath-
ing, sumptuous fare, and of every other
pleasure that flesh and blood is heir to.
But evident it is to reason, that all the
treasures on earth can never satisfy an
immortal soul: And Scripture asserts,
that "A man's life consisteth not in the
abundance of the things which he possesseth."
And whose experience doth not witness
it? We call the rich happy! Alas!
could we but see their anxious cares,
their inward restlessness, the miseries of
desires delayed or disappointed, which
sometimes attend even the most fortu-
nate; could we know their constant
fears of losing, and their thirst for more,
which suffers them not to enjoy their
present gains; could we follow one who
is "making haste to be rich" through
all

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 169
all his toils and labours, his weary days
and sleepless nights, and all his various
vexations, we should be fully convinced
of the truth of this, that he who increas-
eth riches, increaseth sorrow.
I MAY appeal to every man's heart
who has fought happiness from this
quarter, if this has not been his con-
stant experience. You promised your-
self that you should be perfectly happy
when the other thousand was added to
your flock, or the next purchase enlarg-
ed you estate: You had your wish, and
yet you still wanted: Something was
lacking. You proposed new additions,
and waited for your happiness again;
but a new thirst urged you again to new
cares and to new toils. And if the
time should ever come, that you shall
think that you have enough, and like the
rich man in the gospel, "begin to pull
down your barns and build greater; and
to say to your soul, Soul, thou hast much
goods 

170 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
goods laid up for many years, take thine
ease, cat, drink, and be merry:" Then
expect the final disappointment in that
alarming message, "Thou fool, this night
shall thy soul be required of thee; then
whose shall all those things be which thou
hast so laboriously laid up?"—Such is
the happiness of those who trust in un-
certain riches.
THE ambitious seeks his happiness in
the attainment of honour: And indeed
to be distinguished in the world, treated
with reflect, spoken of with admira-
tion, caressed and courted by all around
us, is highly pleasing to the heart of
man, and, in the eyes of many, posses-
ses charms far superior to the vanities of
pleasure, or the sordidness of gain; yet
doth the desire of wordly esteem re-
move the soul as far from true happi-
ness as the former. The enjoyment
arising from the honour which cometh
from man, stand continually on a pre-
carious 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 171
carious foundation; it totters before
every blast of disrespect, and every ru-
mour of malevolence. Like grass on
the house top, it often withereth before it
is plucked up; For what can stand be-
fore envy? The hopes of men, like
bubbles in the air, usually burst as they
expand. The labours of ambition are
disappointed, the pride of honor mor-
tified, the idol of reputation broken to
pieces, and the friendships of the world
generally faithless.
ALAS! That man, born for heaven,
should waste his short day of grace in
torturing himself to conform to the hu-
mours of a vain world; seeking a phan-
tom of same lighter than air; grasping
at distinctions vain and insignificant;
staking his happiness on the beck or
breath of worms like himself; and after
all, too frequently obliged to take up
the lamentation of the once great Car-
dinal Woolsey: "Had I but served God
Q 2 as 

172 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
as faithfully as I have served the world,
he would not thus have forsaken me in
my grey hairs."
BUT the vanity of seeking happiness
from riches, honors and pleasures, is
yet more convincingly felt when death
comes to put a final close to this mortal
scene. Ah! my friends, this is the aw-
ful hour that strips off the tinsel cover-
ings of folly, stamps vanity on all be-
neath the fun, and shews that
"Too low they build, who build beneath the stars."
IN that day of terror and despair, what
can a vain world offer its poor deluded
followers? Will a party of pleasure suit
the chamber of sickness? Or the songs
of folly delight the ear that listens with
trembling to the striking hour? What
music will sound in concert with dying
groans? Or what joy can jewels and
brocades afford when the shroud is ready
to supplant them? Will the sparkling
bowl revive any longer, when the par-
ched

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 173
ched tongue begins to faulter? Or beau-
ty kindle the unhallowed fire when death
sits on the fixed eye balls, and spreads
his chilling damps over the heart? Alas!
my brother, vanity of vanities, all is va-
nity, is now seen in characters too legible
to be overlooked. The remembrance
of a life mispent in vain or in guilty
pleasures, will fill the soul with pangs
of remorse, with agonies of horror, of
which none but the wretched sufferers
can form any idea. "Ah pleasure, plea-
sure, Thou vile sorceress! Thou cursed de-
stroyer of my soul! Thou once smiledst as
with the charms of innocence, now I feel
thee sting as a viper. Where are thy pro-
mises of delight? Fool that I was to believe
thee! For thy sake I have enslaved my
soul to the lusts of a brute, and cherished
the passions of a demon! I have neglected
God, and fold my birth-right to heaven!
Me, miserable! Whether am I going?
My golden sands are all run out! The
sun

174 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
sun of my life is about to set, and, utterly
unprepared, I am going to appear before
God. Oh! that I had but my precious
days to go over again! Eternal God, if
thy mercy be infinite, exert it now to save
such a self-ruined wretch as I am!"
BUT will riches better stand the test
of that day's trial? Alas! they who
have put their confidence in fine gold, will
find that it profits not in the day of wrath.
When death lifts his arm, and swift as
lightening, disease and pain enter the
heart, vain is the hoarded treasure. See
that generally esteemed happy man who
trusted in riches, stretched upon the bed
of languishing; his body is panting for
breath; his throat is parched; his heart
flutters; his eyes grow dim; and life's
silver cord is loosing: What joy now
can riches bring? Surround his dying
bed with bags of gold, will they allevi-
ate the pains of the body, purchase a
moment's respite from death, or silence
the 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 175
the agonizing remonstrances of con-
science? Alas! a golden God is but a
dumb idol, neither able to kill nor make
alive.
THEN, when earth, and only earth,
hath been the pursuit, what wretched-
ness to be torn from all that was count-
ed happiness; to leave this dear world
behind them forever, to go-Ah!
Whither? Not to treasures laid up for
them in heaven; not to the place where
they have made themselves friends of the
mammon of unrighteousness; but where
that rich man went who lift up his eyes
in torment, because, though rich in this
world, he was not rich towards God.
Now, this is the boasted happiness of
numbers. This is the unutterable plea-
sure of dying worth so many thousand
pounds.
"Guilt's blunder, and the loudest laugh of hell."
YOUNG.
Nor 

176 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
Nor will HONOR and FAME render our
departure at all more comfortable.
SEND forth your imagination to view
the last scene of the greatest and proud-
est man who ever awed and governed
the world. See a poor, infirm, miser-
able, short-lived creature, that passes
away like a shadow, and is hastening
off the stage where the theatrical titles
and distinctions, and the whole mask of
pride which he has worn for a day,
will fall off and leave him naked as a
neglected flare. Behold the empty va-
pour disappearing! One of the arrows
of mortality this moment sticks fast
within him: See, it forces out his life,
and freezes his blood and spirits.
APPROACH his bed of state,—draw
aside the curtain,—regard a moment
with silence.
ARE these cold hands and pale lips
all that are left of him who was canon-
ized 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 177
ized by his own pride, or made a god
of by his flatterers?
O GOD! What is man? Even a thing of
nought.
ALAS! That a being whose existence
on earth is but for a moment, and whose
future mansion is heaven; a being whose
immortal soul carries its hopes far be-
yond time, and extends them even to
eternity, should set his mind on objects
which time destroys! What is this but
to mistake the changeable colours of
the dew-drop for the lustre of the ruby,
or the radiance of the diamond?
"LAY not up for yourselves treasures on
earth" says the divine Teacher. Long
tossed by tumultuous passions, enrap-
tured and alarmed with hopes and fears,
we at last find earth's boasted treasures
to be vain; its riches, honors, and plea-
sures utterly insufficient to make us hap-
py. Full seldom are they obtained by
the anxious candidate, and seldomer
still 

178 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
still without much pain and labour; and
after all, made tasteless by disease or
age, or embittered by vexation, they
are held but a few feverish years, and
then forgotten forever in tie grave.
"LAY not up for yourselves treasures
on earth, where moth and rust do corrupt,
and where thieves break through and steal;
but lay up for yourselves treasures in hea-
ven; for where the treasure is, there will
the heart be also."-What treasures?
Why love,—Love to God and to our
neighbour.
THESE are the true treasures; the
treasures of the heart. No pleasures
are comparable to those that affect the
heart; and there are none that affect it
with such exquisite delight, as loving
and being beloved by a worthy object.
Ask the young Theodosius, and he will
tell you, that the most delicious feelings
his heart ever experienced, were those
of virtuous love; and that he never
knew

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 179
knew what rapture was until he saw the
incomparable Constantia, in whose per-
son and manners are concentered all the
charms of beauty, and all the graces of
virtue.
Now, if love, when directed to a crea-
ture, can open such a heaven in our
bosoms, what must it do when directed
to God, the eternal fountain of all per-
fection and goodness? Would you
know the blessing of all blessings, it is
this love dwelling in the soul, sweetening
our bitter, lightening our dark, enliven-
ing our sad, and filling to the full of
joy the souls that must ever thirst until
they come to this great fountain of all
happiness. There is no peace, nor ever
can be for the soul of man, but in the
exercise of this love; for as love is the
infinite happiness that created man; so
love is the only perfection and felicity
of man; and no one can live in happi-
ness, but as he lives in love. Look at
R every

180 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
every pain and disorder in human na-
ture, you will find it to be nothing else
but the spirit of the creature turned from
love to selfishness; and thence, in course,
to anxiety, fear, covetousness, wrath,
envy, and all evil: So that love alone
is, and only can be, the cure of every
evil; and he who lives in love is risen
out of the power of evil into the free-
dom and joy of one of the spirits of
heaven. All wants are satisfied, all dis-
orders of nature are removed; no life
is any longer a burden; every day is a
day of peace; every thing is a spring of
joy to him who breathes the sweet gentle
element of love.
BUT some men, of gloomy and me-
lancholic humours, will ask, Is it cer-
tain that God loves mankind? Sure-
ly the innumerable favours which he la-
vishes upon us, must set his love be-
yond all doubt.
To 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 181
To ask whether God loves mankind,
is indeed to ask whether he is good,
which is the same as questioning his
very existence; for how is it possible to
conceive a God without goodness? And,
what goodness could he have were he
to hate his own works, and to desire
the misery of his creatures?
A GOOD prince loves his subjects; a
good father loves his children: We
love even the tree we have planted;
the house we have built; and is it pos-
sible for God not to love mankind?
Where can such a suspicion rise, except
in the minds of those who form a ca-
pricious and barbarous being of God;
a being who makes a cruel sport of the
fate of mankind; a being who destines
them, before they are born, to hell, re-
serving to himself one, at most, in a
million, and that one no more meriting
that preference, than the others have
deserved their damnation? Impious blas-
phemers, 


182 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
phemers, who endeavour to give me an
aversion to God, by persuading me that
I am the object of his aversion!
YOU will say, he owes nothing to man;
well, but he owes something to him-
self; he must necessarily be just and
beneficent. If a virtuous heathen could
declare that he had much rather it
should never be said that there was such
a man as Plutarch, than that he was
cruel and revengeful, how must the Fa-
ther of mercies be displeased to find him-
self charged with such hateful qualities?
BESIDES, I know he loves me, by
the very love I feel for him; it is be-
cause he loves me that he has engraved
on my heart this sentiment, the most
precious of all his gifts. His love is
the source of mine, as it ought to be,
indeed, a motive to it.
GIVE me leave, in order to convey
an idea of the love of God, to describe
the passion of a virtuous lover for his
mistress 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 183
mistress. The comparison in itself has
nothing indecent. Love is a vice only
in vicious hearts. Fire, though the
purest of all substances, will yet emit
unwholesome and noxious vapours when
it is fed by tainted matter; so love, if
it grow in a vicious mind, produces no-
thing but shameful desires and criminal
deigns, and is followed with fear, vex-
ation and misery. But let it rise in an
upright heart, and be kindled by an
object adorned with virtue as well as
beauty, it is safe from censure; far
from being offended, God gives, it his
approbation. He has made amiable ob-
jects only that they might be loved.
Now let us see what passes in the
heart of a person deeply smitten with
love. He thinks with delight of the
person beloved; he hurries with impe-
tuosity towards the charming object,
and whatever keeps or removes him
from her is tormenting; he is afraid of
R 2 giving 

184 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
giving her any displeasure; he inquires
into her taste and inclinations, in order
to comply with and gratify them; he
likes to hear her commended; talks of
her with satisfaction, and caresses every
thing that renews the agreeable idea.
IT is a mistake to think that there is
an essential difference between this and
divine love. We have but one way of
loving: Men love God and their friends
in the same manner; and these affec-
tions differ only in the diversity of their
objects and ends. Thus a pious man
filled with sentiments towards God, like
those of a virtuous lover, would be
glad to behold him, and to be united
to him; he thinks of him with delight,
and speaks of him with reverence; he
rejoices to see him honored, and is hap-
py to hear him praised; he meditates
on his laws with pleasure, and obeys
them with alacrity.
THAT

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 185
THAT this love by which a pious
mind is united to its Creator, is a source
of the purest pleasures, we now proceed
to shew, not solely on the authorities of
scripture, but by the force of reason
and common sense.
THE man who loves God, enjoys
that first of felicities, the consciousness of
having placed his affections on the only
object in the universe that truly deserves
them. Our love is the most precious
thing we possess; it is indeed the only
thing we can properly call our own, and
therefore to bestow it unworthily, is the
greatest shame and sorest mistake that
we can ever commit. A man must
needs be infinitely mortified and troub-
led, when he finds that the object of
his love possesses not that excellence
which he fondly expected would satisfy
his wishes and make him completely
happy. Alas! What is a little skin
deep beauty, a few flashes of wit, or
some 

l86 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
some small degrees of goodness? We
soon see to the bottom of such shallow
goods, and consequently must experi-
ence a decay of that admiration and
affection which constitutes happiness in
the first degree. But to no such mor-
tifying disappointment is he liable, who
directs his love to God. In him the
enlightened eye of true philosophy dis-
covers so much of all that is great and
good, as to keep the happy mind in an
eternal extacy of admiration and love.
DIVINE love advances the happiness
of man, because it tends, above all other
attachments, to refine and ennoble his
nature. The most inattentive must have
observed, that love has a surprizing
force to give our manners a resemblance
to those of the person we love. Seen
through the eyes of a tender affection,
even blemishes appear like beauties, and
heaven born virtue puts on charms more
than human. No wonder then that we
so 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 187
so easily adopt the sentiments, and imi-
tate the manners of those we love. This
is a conduct so natural and common,
that to tell the character of any man,
we need but be told that of the per-
son's he loves.
HENCE, the anxious parent rejoices
to see his child fond of the society of
the virtuous and wise: he knows that
such an attachment indicates a relish for
virtue, and promises an honourable and
happy event: while, on the other hand,
he deplores his attachment to the vain
and vicious, as a sad, but certain pre-
sage of folly and depravity.
CERTAINLY then, in order to be hap-
py, it most nearly concerns us to direct
our love to the proper object. But who,
or what is that object? The creatures
all have their imperfections. They are
all utterly unworthy, and beneath the
supreme love of an immortal mind.
And to love these in the extreme, is
infinitely

l88 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
infinitely to demean ourselves, to dis-
grace our understandings, to contract
low earthly passions, and consequently
to make ourselves miserable. Would
we do honour to our reason, would we
dignify our affections, ennoble our na-
ture, and rise to true happiness, let us
give our hearts to God. The man who
loves God is animated with an ambi-
tion becoming the dignity of his birth;
he is inspired with a greatness of soul
that spurns, all grovelling passions and
base designs. The love which he has
for God impells him, by a sweet and
powerful influence, to imitate his all
lovely and adorable perfections, and
consequently renders him every day a
more divine and heavenly creature.
GOD is the only worthy object of our
love, because he is the only one who
will certainly and generously reward it.
Love, as we have observed, was design-
ed to be the spring of joy, but, alas!
when

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 189
when placed on the creature, it often
proves a source of sorrow, because it
is too often treated with ingratitude and
neglect. The lover in giving his heart,
gives his all; and, if after so great a sa-
crifice, he cannot obtain the fond re-
turn he coveted, what can be expected
but that he should sicken with grief, and
sink under an oppressive load of melan-
choly? But though our fellow worms
should reject our love with disdain, yet
it is always—O! adorable goodness! it
is always acceptable to God. Amidst
the adorations of millions of glorious
angels, he graciously observes the atten-
tions we pay him, and receives with
complacency our smallest tribute of af-
fection. He knows that the souls which
he has made cannot be happy until they
return to him. Unceasingly he calls
to them—
"SEEK ye my face." And if, con-
vinced by a thousand disappointments,
of 

190 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
of the vanity of all other loves, we
should at length, happily take up our
resolution and say, "Thy face, O God,
we will seek." Immediately his prevent-
ing love meets us more than half way;
the harps of Heaven swell with louder
strains of joy, and songs of congratula-
tion fill the eternal regions.
DIVINE love infinitely exceeds in
point of true happiness, all other attach-
ments, because, it does not, like them,
expose us to the pangs of separation.
If that sweet passion, which, with chains
dearer than those of gold, unites earth-
ly lovers, were never to be dissolved, it
would be well: But, alas! this is a fe-
licity which Heaven has not thought
fit to confer on erring mortals. The
iron hand of necessity or duty often tears
us away from our dearest friends, and
consigns us to wearisome months of
mutual fears and restless longings for
re-union. Sometimes, in the happiness
moments

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 191
moments of friendship, the thought of
death occurs and throws a sudden damp
on our rising joys. Sometimes it is our
lot to sit by the sick beds of those we
love, and hear their piercing moans, to
mark, with unutterable anguish, the
faultering speech and sinking eye, or
wipe the cold damps of death from those
cheeks which we have kissed a thousand
times. Such cenes and separations,
and all mortal loves are liable to such,
occasion a grief not to be equalled by
all the misfortunes of life, and make us
dearly pay for all the past pleasures of
friendship.
IN these melancholy moments we are
made to feel how truly blessed are they
who have made the eternal God their
love, nothing can ever separate them
from him. When the fairest of the
human fair are gone down into the
dust, and have left their lovers to mourn-
ing and woe. Nay, when after millions 
S of 

192 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
of revolving years, the sun is extin-
guished in the skies, and the lamps of
heaven have lost their golden flames;
when old time himself is worn away,
and nature sunk under the weight of
years; even then the God Jehovah will
be the same, and his days shall never
fail. Even then shall his triumphant
lovers behold his glorious face cloathed
in eternal beauty, and shall drink of
the rivers of pleasure that flow at his
right-hand forevermore. Neither will
the lovers of God ever experience, even
in this world, the pangs of separation
from him, while they walk firmly in
the golden path of duty. Should they
be driven from their homes, and oblig-
ed to forsake their dearest friends;
should they be compelled to plough dis-
tant seas, or to toil in the remotest re-
gions of the earth; even there they
will sweetly feel that
"They cannot go where universal love reigns not
"around." THOMPSON.
Even 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 193
Even there they meet and rejoice in their
ever present friend; with sacred plea-
sure they inhale his breath in the fra-
grant gale, they mark his pencil adorn-
ing the fields and meadows in their
flowery pride; or with sublimest awe,
they behold his hand swelling the ever-
lasting mountains, or,
"Hanging the vast expanse in azure bright, and cloath-
"ing the sun in gold."
YOUNG.
HENCE it is, that the man who loves
God is seldom lonesome, seldom knows
what it is to want agreeable company.
A great addition this to our happiness!
For as man is by nature a social being,
he must be miserable unless he has some
beloved friend to converse with. But,
as those who do not love God, take
little or no delight in conversing with
him, they become more dependent on
the company and conversation of their
earthly friends. And, when destitute
of

194 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
of these, they are often found, though
in palaces, to be restless and wretched.
OH! how disconsolate is the condi-
tion of the man, who, though always
present with his maker, yet finds no joy
nor satisfaction in his presence! Though
every particle of matter is actuated by
this almighty being; though nature,
through all her works, proclaims his
wisdom, power, and goodness, unutter-
able; yet the man who is a stranger to
divine love, views all this wonderful
scenery
"With a brute unconscious gaze."—THOMPSON.
HE tastes none of that sacred joy
which these things were meant to in-
spire. The divinity is with him and in
him, and every where about him, but
is of no advantage to him. It is in
fact the same thing to him as if there
were no God in the world.
HAPPILY different is the condition of
the man who loves the great author of
his 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 195
his being! When that divine passion,
(the soul's true light) is set up in our
hearts, the scales of blindness fall from
our eyes, the shades of night fly far away,
and God, the blessed God, stands con-
fessed before our admiring view. Tho'
we cannot behold him with the eyes of
sense, yet, we can feel his presence, we
can taste and see his adorable perfections
which shine so brightly on all his glo-
rious works.
WHEN we consider the infinite host;
of stars which adorn the evening skies;
when enlarging the idea, we con-
template another heaven of suns and
worlds rising still higher, and these again
enlightened by a still superior firmament
of luminaries, overwhelmed by such an
immensity of prospect, we scarcely
breathe out—"Eternal God! what is
man that thou art mindful of him, or the
Son of Man that thou regardest him!"
S 2 WHEN,

196 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
WHEN, leaving these amazing scenes,
we contemplate other parts of the divine
dominions; when we walk through the
fields and observe his wondrous work-
manship in the touring trees or humbler
shrubs; in the gentle rill or majestic
flood; in the birds winging their airy
flight, or perched on branches warb-
ling their melodious lays; in the peace-
ful flocks grazing their simple pastures
with herds of nobler cattle; or, in the
swarms of gilded infects that, with cease-
less buzz, and vigorous motion, pre-
sent their golden wings to the sun. In
these, in all his infinitely varied crea-
tures, we see, we admire, we adore the
great creator.
THE man whom love has thus taught
to correspond with God, enjoys the most
delightful and improving society. In
the deepest solitude where others are de-
pressed, he is happy, because he knows
that he is with the greatest and best of
beings:

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 197
beings: and when his earthly friends
have withdrawn their agreeable com-
pany, he returns with still superior plea-
sure to that of his heavenly.
DIVINE love adds greatly to our hap-
piness, because it disposes us to rejoice
in every thing that seems connected with
the honor of God. His Sabbath, his
house, &c. become objects of our most
hearty love and delight.
WE live in a country,  where one day
in every week is set apart for the public
worship of God. To the man who loves
not his maker, this disposition of the
seventh day is not very likely to be pleas-
ing. As he is not a religious man, it is
more than probable that he is a man of
the world, a man of business or pleasure;
and in either case the Sabbath must be
unwelcome, as it is an interruption, and
indeed a clear loss of one day's pleasure
or profit in every week. A loss, which
in the course of years must grow to be
very 

198 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
very serious: For, if we take fifty,
(the number of tasteless and unprofit-
able Sabbaths in the year,) and multi-
ply those by seventy, (the years in a ve-
teran's life) we shall find that it will
amount to eight or ten years. Now,
out of so short a life as threescore and
ten, to be obliged to spend eight or ten
years in lounging, moping, tiresome
Sabbaths, must appear to men who have
their interests and pleasures at heart,
a heavy tax, a great drawback. Sure-
ly such men would give their thanks;
nay, I suppose, would chearfully vote
the thanks of all christendom to him,
who should put them in the way to
make the Sabbath the most agreeable
day in the week. Let us love God, and
the work is done. We shall then rejoice
that there is such a day, because our
hearts will then approve the purposes
for which it was appointed. A day
that is taken from the cares of a short
life, 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 199
life, and laid out on the interests of
eternity. A day that is spent in con-
sidering our obligations to God, in
thanking him for his favours, confessing
our unworthiness, and imploring his
forgiveness; in short, a day spent in a
way so admirably adapted to instruct
the ignorant, to reclaim the bad, to
strengthen the good, to honour God,
and to make ourselves happy; such a
day must, to him who loves God and
man, be the most joyful day of the
whole week.
ON this account too, the man who
loves God, will see a church in quite
another light, and with sentiments hap-
pily different from those of the man
who loves him not. To the latter,
prayers, psalms and sermons, have al-
ways been wearisome; and, as it is in
the church that he has been accustom-
ed to do such penance, he insensibly
contracts a dislike to it, and comes at
last

200 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
last to view it with sentiments such as
those with which an idle boy regards
his school-house.
BUT the pious man, considering the
church as the place where people meet
to honor the God whom he delights to
honor, to learn and love that goodness
which he sees to be so essential to the
happiness of the world, such a man re-
gards the church as the most beautiful
and lovely building in the world; and
the view of it gives him a more sincere
pleasure than that which others feel in
viewing the places of their most favour-
ite amusement.
"How amiable are thy tabernacles, O
God of hosts; how pleasant is the place
where thine honor dwelleth!"
BUT if gratitude, when exerted from
man to man, produces so much plea-
sure, it must exalt the soul to rapture,
when it is employed on this great object
of gratitude, on this infinitely benefi-
cent

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 201
cent being, who has given us every thing
we already possess, and from whom we
expect every thing we yet hope for.
When a good man looks around him
on this vast world, where beauty and
goodness are reflected from every ob-
ject, and where he beholds millions of
creatures in their different ranks, en-
joying the blessings of existence, he
looks up to the universal Father, and
his heart glows within him. And in
every comfort which sweetens his own
life, he discerns the same indulgent
hand. Is he blest with tender parents,
or with generous friends who press him
with their kindness? Is he happy in
his family rising around him, in the
wife who loves him, or in the children
who give him comfort and joy? In
all these pleasing enjoyments, in all
these beloved objects he recognizes the
hand of God. Every smile of love,
every act of tenderness is an effect of
his 

202 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
his goodness. By him was kindled every
spark of friendship that ever glowed on
earth, and therefore to him it justly
returns laden with the purest incense
of gratitude. Has God prepared a table
for him, and caused his cup to over-
flow? Instead of ascribing it to the
policy of his own councils, or to the
strength of his own arm, he gives the
praise to him alone, who strews the
earth with good things for man, and
teaches him wisdom to improve and
convert them to his own use.
THUS it is that gratitude prepares a
good man for the enjoyment of prosperi-
ty; for not only has he as full a relish as
others of the innocent pleasures of life,
but, moreover, in these he holds commu-
nion with God. In all that is good or
fair, he traces his hand. From the beau-
ties of nature, from the improvements of
art, from the blessings of public or pri-
vate life, he raises his affections to the
great

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 203
great fountain of all the happiness which
surrounds him, and thus widens the
sphere of his enjoyments, by adding to
the pleasures of sense, the far more ex-
quisite joys of the heart.
BUT divine love adds greatly to our
happiness, not only by giving a fresh
flavour to the sweets of prosperity; but
by correcting in an eminent degree, the
bitterness of adversity.
As in times of prosperity, among
perhaps a few real friends, many pre-
tended ones intrude themselves, who in
the hour of distress are quickly dispers-
ed and know us no more; so in those
times also, many false and pretend-
ed joys court the affections and gain
the heart of inconsiderate man. But,
when calamity comes, those vain joys
immediately discover their deceitful
nature, desert the astonished man in
his greatest need, and leave him a
prey to shame, sorrow and remorse.
T Adversity 

204 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
Adversity is the grand test of what is
true and what is false among the differ-
ent objects of our choice; and our love
of God, tried by this test will soon dis-
cover its infinite value and excellence.
Persons of every character are liable to
distress. The man who loveth God,
and he who loveth him not, is exposed
to the stroke of adversity. But on the
bad man, adversity falls with double
weight, because it finds them without
defence and without resource. When
his health, his riches and pleasures in
which he placed his happiness, are all
torn from him, overwhelmed with sad-
ness and despair, he knows not whether
to turn for relief. If, as is most natur-
al for a creature in distress, he lifts his
supplicating eyes to his maker, consci-
ous ingratitude and disobedience to God,
immediately check him: if he turn to
his fellow-men, whom he has abused or
neglected, consciousness of meriting their
contempt 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 205
contempt or aversion, discourages him.
If he seeks relief in his own mind, there,
shame, remorse and self-condemnation,
must overwhelm him.
BUT to the man whose soul rejoices
in his God, adversity has nothing
gloomy and terrible. Believing every
thing in the world to be under the ad-
ministration of God, and looking up to
that God, as to an all-wise and benevolent
father and friend, he welcomes every
thing that comes from him. Persuaded
that the Father of Mercies, delighteth
not needlessly to grieve the children of
men; and well knowing that he fore-
saw this impending affliction, and could
easily have prevented it: he concludes,
that, since it is come, it is come on
some errend of love.
"Since all the downward tract of time,
God's watchful eye surveys,
O who so wise to chuse our lot,
To regulate our ways!
Since 

206 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
Since none can doubt his equal love,
Measurably kind,
To his unerring gracious will,
Be every with resign'd.
Good, when he gives, supremely good,
Nor less when he denies,
E'en crosses from his sovereign hand.
Are blessings—in disguise."
O the sweetly powerful influences of love!
Love can enable the sugar-doating child
cheerfully to take the cup of wormwood,
from the hand of the parent whom he
loves. Love can cause the delicate wo-
man to forget better days, and to smile
in poverty and toil with the husband
whom she loves. Aye, and if we loved
God as we ought, none of his dealings
would seem grievous to us. The very
idea, that this or that affliction was
brought on us by him, would sweetly
reconcile us to it, and kindle in us a di-
vine ambition to please him by the
cheerfulness of our submission. Afflic-
tions we should look on not as marks of
God's 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 207
God's displeasure, but as certain evi-
dences of his love—
"As many as I love, I chastise."——JEHOVAH.
"I have smitten you with blasting and
mildew, your vineyards and your fig trees
did the palmer worm devour."—JEHOVAH.
AND then the love that did this,
makes this complaint, "Yet ye have
not returned to me."
"PESTILENCE have I sent amongst you;
I have made the smell of your dead to come
up even in your nostrils."
AND then the same love that inflicted
this wholesome chastisement repeats the
complaint. O my brethren, see here
the design and end of all God's chas-
tisements! "Yet have ye not returned to
me."
THESE are the views in which the di-
vine lover is taught to contemplate the
afflictive dispensations of his God; not
as the messengers of his wrath, but as
the ministers of his mercy, and the great
T 2 means

208 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
means of wisdom and virtue. Such
views of God's adorable government,
impart the most sensible consolation to
every pious heart. They place the com-
passions of the universal Father, in the
most endearing light. And these afflic-
tions, which human follies render neces-
sary; instead of estranging, do but the
more closely attach a good man to his
God. "Although the fig tree shall not
blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vine;
the labour of the olive shall fail, and the
fields shall yield no meat: yea, though the
flock shall be cut off from the fold, and
there shall be no herd in the stalls; yet,
will I rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the
God of my salvation."
BUT a supreme love of God adds
unspeakably to the happiness of life,
because it raises us superior to the dread
of death. To form a tolerable idea of
the magnitude of this blessing, let us
visit the death bed of him who is about
to 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 209
to depart without love or hope in his
God.
BEHOLD him arrested by the strong
arm of death, and stretched out hope-
less and despairing on that last bed from
which he is to rise no more. Art has
done its all; the mortal malady mocks
the power of medicine, and hastens with
restless impetuosity to execute its dread-
ful errand. See the thick gloom that
covers his ghastly countenance, and the
wildness and horror that glare on his
rolling eye-balls! Whither now is fled
that giddy thoughtlessness which mark-
ed his mad career through life? Where
now are his scoffs, his sneers, his plea-
santries on religion? Where are his
boon companions who joined him in his
dull profanity, and who applauded the
keeness of his satire and the brilliancy
of his wit? Alas! such scenes as these
are not for them. To cheer the droop-
ing spirits of wretchedness, and to ad-
minister 


210 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
minister consolation to a dying friend is
no employment of theirs. In far dif-
ferent scenes they are now forgetting
their no longer entertaining friend, and
their present alarming thoughts.
UNHAPPY Man! wherever he turns
his eyes, he sees none but subjects of
sorrow and distress. Forsaken by those
whom he fondly called his friends; cut
off from all the pleasures and cheerful
pursuits of men, abandoned to the hor-
rors of a dying chamber, with no sen-
sations but those of a tortured body;
no comfortor but a guilty conscience,
and no society but such as fills his
troubled mind with shame and remorse;
a weeping wife whom he has injured;
children whose best interests he has ne-
glected; servants whom he has treated
with cruelty; and neighbours with whom
he has long lived at shameful variance—
Whither shall he look for help? If he
look backward he sees nothing but scenes
of 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 211
of horror, a precious life mispent, an
immortal soul neglected; and, O insup-
portable thought! his day of trial about
to set forever. If he looks forward, he
sees an offended God, a fearful reckon-
ing, and an awful eternity. If he looks
up to Heaven for mercy, conscious guilt
depresses his spirits and overwhelms him
with despair. Ah! what mortal scene
can well be conceived more fraught
with wretchedness! Shuddering, he
stands upon the dreadful brink, afraid
to die, and yet, alas! unable to live.
"IN that dread moment, how the fran-
tic soul raves round the walls of her clay
tenement; runs to each avenue and shrieks
for help, but shrieks in vain: how wish-
fully she looks on all she's leaving, now
no longer hers! a little longer, yet a little
longer: O! might she stay to wash away
her crimes and fit her for her passage!
Mournful sight! her very eyes weep blood;
and every groan she heaves is big with hor-
ror; 

212 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
ror; but the foe, like a staunch murderer,
steady to his purpose, pursues her close
through every lane of life, nor misses once
the track, but presses on, till forced at last
to the tremendous verge—at once she sinks."
BLAIR.
THIS, or very similar to this, is often
the end of him who has lived without
God in the world.
BUT turning from so distressing a
scene, to its happy opposite, let us view
the man who loves his God, and who
enamoured with its beauty, and sensible
of its blessed effects, has lived a life of
piety and virtue. Let us behold him
when about to leave this world of sor-
row and suffering and to wing his way
to that which is far better. Lo! the
time is come that Israel, the lover of
God, must die. The last sickness has
seized his feeble frame. He perceives
that the all conquering foe is at hand,
but marks his approach without dismay.
He 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 213
He is not afraid of death because he
fears God, "and he who fears God has no-
thing else to fear."
HE is not afraid of death, because it
has long been his care to make a friend
(the almighty and everlasting Jehovah),
who shall stand by him in that awful
hour. He is not afraid of death, be-
cause he loves God above all things;
and to him, to die, is to go to see and
live with God.
Is the poor hireling afraid of the earn-
ing, which is to refresh him with re-
pose, and to rejoice him with his re-
ward?
Is the soldier, covered with scars and
tired of wars alarms, afraid to hear the
cry of victory? O no! delightful sound,
sweeter than music to his longing ear;
it is the signal to return to his native
country, and to reign the din and dan-
gers of war for the sweets and safety of
long coveted peace.
EVEN

214 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
EVEN so, to the good Christian this
world is the field of hard, though glo-
rious warfare. In the service, and un-
der the eye of God, he is now fight-
ing against the armies of his own flesh-
ly lusts, and of his own malignant pas-
sions. Ever and anon, he hears the
voice of his great Captain—Persevere
and thou shalt conquer; endure unto the
end and thou shalt be crowned. To him
therefore the day of death is welcome as
the last day of his toils and dangers. He
is now going to exchange a long conflict-
ing war for the blessings of everlasting
peace: having fought the good fight, he
is about to receive his wages, even eter-
nal life, and to put on a crown of glory
that shall never fade away. Sure that
serene look, beaming all the sweetness
of love and hope, bespeaks the already
half-formed seraph; and the heaven,
almost opened on his placid counte-
nance, gives glorious evidence of his
intended 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 215
intended journey. Soon bidding fare-
well forever to these realms of woe,
and haunts of malignant beings, he
shall join the blessed society of angels and
spirits of just men made perfect. There
he shall see health blooming eternal on
each immortal face, friendship smiling
on every glorified countenance, and a   
perfection of love forming a paradise of
happiness, unknown and unconceived
by us who have dwelt in the tents of
hatred.
BUT, above all, the sweetest motives
to resignation in death, he is now go-
ing to see him, whom oftentimes with
trembling joy, he has longed to see,
even his God, his first, his last, his
only friend, the author of his being and
of all his mercies. Shortly shall he see
his glorious face unclouded with a frown,
and hear from his ambrosial lips the lan-
guage of approbation and affection—
"Well done good and faithful servant."
U PRAISING

210 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
PRAISING God for advancing him to
such an height of honor, and for setting
before him such an eternity of happi-
ness: Praising God for all the loving
kindnesses that have accompanied him
through life, and especially for that
greatest of all, the grace that brought,
him to repentance and a good life:
earnestly exhorting his friends to that
love of God, which now not only sup-
ports, but enables him even to triumph
in this dying hour, an hour so alarm-
ing to the fears of nature: rejoicing in
a sense of the pardon of his sins, and
exulting in the hopes of the glory to
be revealed, he breathes out his soul
with these victorious words,—"into thy
hands, O God, I commend my spirit."
WELL may his friends, edified by
such an example, cry out with weeping
joy,—"Who can count the rewards of
wisdom, or number the fourth part of the
blessings of virtue? Let us die the death of
the 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 217
the righteous, and let our latter end be like
theirs."
BUT divine love not only renders life
pleasant, and death peawhich ceful, but it ac-
companies us into heaven, and there
gives us to enjoy the most exquisite plea-
sures, that God himself can confer on
happy souls: For there we shall always
live in the presence of God, the great
fountain of all loveliness and glory, and
shall love him with ten thousand times
more ardour than we now do, or even
can imagine; for the longer we behold,
the more we shall know him, and the
more we know, the better we shall love
him; and so through everlasting ages,
our love shall be extending and enrap-
turing itself with his infinite beauty and
loveliness. Now love is the sweetest and
happiest of all passions, and it is merely
by accident that it is accompanied with
any disquieting or painful feelings.
Either the person beloved is absent,
which 

218 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
which corrodes it with unquiet desire,
or he is unhappy, or unkind, which im-
bitters it with grief; or he is fickle and
inconstant, which inflames it with rage
and jealousy; but, separated from all
these disagreeable accidents, and it is all
pure delight and joy.
BUT in heaven, our love of God will
have none of these disquieting circum-
stances attending it; for there he will
never be absent from us, but will be
continually entertaining our amorous
minds with the prospect of his infinite
beauties. There we shall always feel
his love to us in the most sensible and
endearing effects, even in the glory of
that crown which he will set upon our
heads, and in the ravishing sweetness
of thole joys which he will infuse into
our hearts. There we shall experience
the continuation of his love in the con-
tinued fruition of all that an everlast-
ing heaven means, and be convinced,
as 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 219.
as well by the perpetuity of his good-
ness to us, as well as by the immutabi-
lity of his nature, that he is an un-
changeable lover. And there we shall
find him a most happy being, happy be-
yond the vastest wishes of our love; so
that we shall not only delight in him, as
he is infinitely lovely, but rejoice and
triumph in him too as he is infinitely
happy. For love unites the interests,
as well as the hearts of lovers, and
gives to each, the joys and felicities of
the other. So that in that blessed state
we shall share in the felicity of God
proportionably to the degree of our
love to him: For the more we love him,
the more we shall still espouse his hap-
py interest; and the more we are inte-
rested in his happiness, the happ
must be, and the more we mu
of it. Thus love gives us a r
sion and enjoyment of God:
us co-partners with  him in h
U 2 

220 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
rives his happiness upon us, and makes
it as really ours as his. So that God's
happiness is, as it were, the common
bank and treasury of all divine lovers,
in which they have every one a share,
and of which, proportionably to the
degrees of their love to him, they do
all draw and participate to all eterni-
ty. And could they but love him as
much as he deserves, that is infinitely,
they would be as infinitely blessed and
happy as he is: For then all his happi-
ness would be theirs, and they would
have the same delightful sense and feel-
ing of it, as if it were all transplanted
into their own bosoms. God, there-
fore being an infinitely lovely, infinite-
ly loving, and infinitely happy being,
when we come to dwell forever in his
blessed presence, our love to him can
be productive of none but sweet and
ravishing emotions; for the immense
perfections it will then find in its object,
must 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 221
must necessarily refine it from all those
fears and jealousies, those griefs and
displeasures that are mingled with our
earthly loves, and render it a most pure
delight and complacency. So that when
thus refined and grown up to the per-
fection of the heavenly state, it will be
all heaven, it will be an eternal paradise
of delights within us, a living spring
whence rivers of pleasures will flow for
evermore.
THESE, O man, are some of the gold-
en fruits that grow upon the tree of di-
vine love. Happy, therefore, is the
man, beyond all expression of words,
beyond all conception of fancy, happy
is he who obtaineth this angelic virtue!
"FOR the merchandise of it is better
than the merchandise of silver, and the
gain thereof than fine gold. She is more
precious than rubies, and all the things that
thou canst desire are not to be compared
unto her. She is a tree of life to them
that 

222 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
that lay hold upon her, and happy is every
one that retaineth her."
SINCE a supreme love of God is the
only true wealth of an immortal mind,
O! with what diligence should we apply
ourselves to obtain it! We are all ready
enough to acknowledge our obligations
to God, and to own that it is our duty
to love him, but till complain of the
difficulty that attends it. But let us re-
member that this difficulty is chargeable
upon ourselves, and is the effect of our
own shameful inconsideration. Taken
up with the little cares of life, we ne-
glect and forget God; hence, it is not
surprising that we do not love him.
Would we but often think of him, what
he is in himself, and contemplate him
in the full blaze of his wonderful and
amiable perfections, we should be over-
whelmed with delightful admiration of
him, and easily take up the most exalt-
ed esteem and friendship for him. And
were

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 223
were we but frequently to consider him,
what he is to us, how infinitely condes-
cending, generous and good, we should
soon feel our hearts melting into, all the
tenderness of love and gratitude. We,
none of us think it hard to love the
tender mother who brought us into the
world, the fond father who supplies our
wants, or the attentive teacher who in-
structs us in useful and ornamental
knowledge; ah! why then should we
think it hard to love our God? Did we
but reflect, we should soon perceive that
he is really and truly our mother, our
father and our teacher; and that those
whom we honor as such, are, properly
speaking, only the instruments of his
goodness to us.
SYLVIA arrived to years of maturity,
receives the addressees of a young and
accomplice lover. Sylvia blushes and
likes him. Youthful modesty causes
her to hesitate a while, yet, unable to
resist

224 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
resist so much merit, she at length yields
to the impulse of a virtuous passion and
marries. In due season she becomes a
mother. Now, what has Sylvia hither-
to done for her child? The whole is the
work of God. When he laid the foun-
dations of the heavens and the earth,
he had this child in view, and disposed,
from so remote a period, a long chain
of events, which were to terminate in
his nativity. The time being come for
the opening of this bud, he was pleased
to place it in Sylvia's womb, and took
care himself to cherish and unfold it.
THAT this child should love and ho-
nor his mother is what he certainly
ought to do, for she has suffered, if not
for his sake, at least through him, the
inconveniences of pregnancy, and the
pains of child-birth. But let him carry
his grateful acknowledgments still high-
er, and not imitate those superstitious
idolators, who, seeing the earth yearly
covered 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 225
covered with corn, fruits and pastures,
stupidly worshipped this blind instru-
ment of the bounties of their Sovereign
Lord, without ever thinking to praise
the powerful arm from whence it de-
rives its fruitfulness.
CHARLES loves his father Eugenis.
Charles does well; but what has Eu-
genis done for Charles? Eugenis has
not, it is true, resembled that proud pa-
rent who beggars the rest of his child-
ren in order to swell the fortune of an
elder brother. Nor is he like that stern
tyrannical father who never looks at his
children but with fury, never speaks to
them but in passion, never instructs them
but by threats, and corrects them like
a butcher and a murderer. Nor yet
does he act like Florimond, that unna-
tural father, who lives like a stranger
in his own house; goes in and out,
drinks, games, and saunters; mean-
while his neglected children grow up
to 

226 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
to the years of maturity; happy indeed
if of themselves inclinable to virtue,
they make any attainments in useful
knowledge and accomplishments, or
think of settling in the world; for as
to his part, he never troubles his head
about them. No, far unlike these, Eu-
genis is the best of parents; he spares
no pains nor expence to render his son
Charles an ornament and a blessing to
his country. He accustoms him by
times to a temperate diet, furnishes him
with decent apparel, and charges the
ablest masters with his instruction; he
carefully teaches him his relation to
God, and his obligations to that best
of beings; and, at the same time, by
precept and example, endeavours to in-
spire him with the love of justice, ho-
nor and industry. These are, to be
sure, the dearest expressions of a fa-
ther's love, and hard and detestable in-
deed would be Charles' bosom, if he
could

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 227
could refuse to love such a parent; but
let him remember, that all this comes
ultimately from God; for we should
always ascend to this original of bles-
sings. When Eugenis watched for his
son's preservation; it was God who pre-
served him; when he took care to in-
struct him, it was God who opened his
understanding; and when he entertain-
ed him with the charms of virtue, it
was God who excited him to love it.
"THE labourer digs the mine; the phi-
losopher directs the work; but neither of
them furnish the gold which it contains."
BUT what heart so hard as to resist
the golden shafts of love, especially when
coming from a friend that is far supe-
rior to us? If some good and mighty
prince were to invite us to his court,
and to treat us with all the tenderness
of parental affection, should we not find
it a very easy thing to love him? Now,
has not this been the conduct of God
X our 

228 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
our Maker? When we lay in all the ob-
scurity of dust, he sent a message of
love, and called us into life, not the
life of fluttering insects, but of infant
immortals. For us, and for our sakes,
he built this vast world; he covered it
with the canopy of the heavens, and
stored it with good things innumer-
able. At his command the sun rises
to gladden us with the golden day;
and the moon with silver beams to
cheer the darkness of the night. He
waters the hills from his secret cham-
bers, and bids the clouds pour down
their fattening showers upon the earth.
Thus he covers our tables with bread
to renew our strength, and with wine
that makes glad our hearts.
BUT he has not only compassed us
round, like so many fortunate islands,
with a vast ocean of good things for
our bodies; but he has likewise inspir-
ed us with immortal minds, and has
induced

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 229
induced them with the high capacities
of knowledge and love, whereby, as on
golden ladders, we may ascend to the
perfection and happiness of celestial be-
ings. And to gratify these our noble
capacities, he has prepared for us a
glorious heaven, and has furnished it
with all the pleasures and delights that
heavenly spirits can desire or enjoy.
Besides all this, he has sent his own
son from heaven to reveal to us the
way thither, and to encourage us to
return into it by dying for our sins,
and thereby obtaining for us a public
grant and charter of mercy and par-
don, on condition of our return; and,
as if all this were too little, he hath
sent his spirit to us in the room of his
son, to reside amongst us, and, as his
vicegerent, to carry on this vast design
of his love to us, to excite and persuade
us to return into the way leading to
heaven, and to assist us all along in
our 

230 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
our good travels thither. Such won-
derful care has he taken not to be de-
feated of this his kind intention to make
us everlastingly happy. "O that men
would therefore love the Lord for his good-
ness, and declare the wonders that he
doth for the children of men."
THAT these dear pledges of God's
love may inspire our hearts with suit-
able returns of gratitude, we should
often reflect on them, and spread them
before our minds in all their endearing
circumstances. We should frequently
set our cold and frozen affections before
these melting flames of his love, and
never cease fanning the smoking flax
until we feel the heavenly fire begin-
ning to kindle in our bosoms.
AND, while we are seeking this Israel
of great price, let us, as we hope for
success, guard our innocence, as the trem-
bling miser guards his hoarded gold.
The bosom that burns with impure de-
sires,

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 231
sires, or that is corroded with malig-
nant passions, finds no delight in God.
No, that is a happiness reserved only
for the pure in heart, and for him who
knows how to pity an offending bro-
ther.
AND, together with our own exer-
tions, we should often implore the aid
of all assisting heaven. To him, who
alone knows its inestimable worth, let
our fervent prayers be constantly ascend-
ing.
"FATHER of life and love, thou God
supreme, O teach our hearts to love thee:
For to whom, O Lord, shall we give our
hearts but to thee? Thou alone hast gene-
rously created them; thou alone hast infi-
nitely deserved them; and thou alone canst
completely and eternally satisfy them."
THESE prescriptions, faithfully observ-
ed, will soon produce in our hearts that
love, whose joy passeth all understand-
ing, that love, possessed of which, the
X 2 poorest

232 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
poorest slave is passing rich; while with-
out it, the sceptered monarch walks but
in splendid poverty.
HE who loves God is the alone wise,
dignified and happy man. For he loves
the only good that is worthy the af-
fections of an immortal mind. He loves
a friend who alone possesses almighty
power to protect him, unerring wisdom
to counsel him, and infinite love to
bless him. He loves an immortal friend
who can never die and forsake him, and
an unchangeable friend who will never
requite his love with neglect.
His love of God sweetens every duty,
and makes the yoke of obedience to fit
light. It heightens the smile of prospe-
rity, and cheers the gloom of adversity.
Blessings are doubly dear coming from
such a friend; and afflictions not un-
welcome, when looked on as tokens
of his no less tender love. Under the
languors of sickness he remembers, not
without

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 233
without sacred comfort, that the end of
his sufferings is at hand; and even
when this earthly tabernacle of his flesh
is pulling down, he is not disconsolate;
he rejoices in the hope of that glori-
ous house not made with hands, eter-
nal in the heavens. There, far remov-
ed from all the miseries of this mortal
life, advanced into the presence of him
who made him, and accompanied by
millions of loving and blessed spirits, he
shall enjoy a happiness as far exceed-
ing his expectations as his deserts:—
*A happiness which eye hath not seen nor
ear heard, nor hath entered into the heart
of man to conceive."
CHAP.

234 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
CHAP. II.
ON SOCIAL LOVE.
"This only can the bless bestow,
"Immortal souls should prove,
"From one short word all pleasures flow,
"That blessed word is— LOVE."
PROUD.
THE first fruits of a creature's love
are due to God, as to his Crea-
tor and the author of all his good;
the second are due to men, as to his
brethren and fellow sharers in the boun-
ties of their common parent. Having
in the preceding chapter, demonstrated
the importance of loving God, proceed
we in this to consider the beauty and
blessedness of social love.
To 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 235
To be caressed and beloved by all
around us, is one of the dearest wishes
of the human heart. It is a natural,
it is a laudable wish. Great pains have
been taken, and infinite expence incur-
red to attain this coveted honor, and
yet the greater part never attain it,
merely through defect of love on their
own part. Let beauty, wit, gold, &c.
boast and do all they can, yet will it
be found in the end, that
"In spite of all the dull mistaken elves,
"They who wou'd make us love, must love, them-
"selves."
LOVE is the universal charm. It pos-
sesses a beauty that wins and ravishes
every heart. A single spark of it in
generosity of dealing excites our ad-
miration; a glimpse of it in courteous
behaviour secures to a man our esteem,
and sweetly endears him to us. How
charming is the countenance that is
brightened by the smiles of love! How
sweet the voice that is tuned by the
melody 

236 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
melody of love! How gladdening to
the heart, the beams that sparkle from
the eye of love! Indeed love, or good-
ness, which is but another name, is the
only amiable thing in nature. Power
and wealth may be respected, wit and
beauty may be admired, but if separat-
ed from goodness, they neither deserve
nor can command our love: For the
worst and most wretched of beings pos-
sess them in a very high degree. The
prince of darkness has more power,
and tyrannizes over more slaves by far
than the Great Turk. One devil may
have more wit than all the Achitophels
in the world, and yet, with all his wit,
he is very odious and miserable. And
such, in proportion, is every one who
partakes in his accursed disposition of
hatred and malice.
SEE how Pandorus is beloved and
caressed. Is it because of his honesty?
This virtue only gains our esteem, but
does

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 237
does not captivate the heart. Is it be-
cause he is beneficent and friendly?
Many who are so fond of his company
have no need of his assistance. Is it
because he is gay, humorous, and en-
tertaining? This would render him a-
greeable, only when gaiety is season-
able. No, he is more beloved than
any other man in the world, only be-
cause he is the most affectionate man in
it. He seems to live but to please, to
oblige, and to serve his friends. If he
find out what will please you, he pre-
vents your desires, and does it with such
an air of cheerfulness, that, while he
has no other view than to oblige you,
he seems to follow nothing but his own
choice and inclinations. This charming
complaisance of Pandorus was not learn-
ed in the school of the world; but is
the rich fruit of his genuine benevo-
lence. Hence it renders him equally
endearing and equally agreeable, at all
times, 


238 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
times, and to all ranks. He is not a
sycophant to the great, and scornful or
negligent of the poor; he does not
treat you to-day as a dear friend, and
to-morrow knows you not, but uniformly
his looks and manners are those of the
man who considers both the rich and
the poor as his brethren. If you love
like Pandorus, and like him take a plea-
sure in contributing to the happiness of
others, I will answer for the friendship
oi all who know you; this is a perfec-
tion that will engage people at all times,
in all places, and on all occasions.
BUT love not only renders us thus
dear and desireable to others; but it
spreads the sunshine of sweetest peace
over our own  minds. It delivers us
from the tyranny of all those bad pas-
sions which make us miserable. Like
a golden curb it checks the fierceness
of anger, that dangerous storm and hur-
ricane of the soul. A man can hardly
be 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 239
be incensed against those whom he ten-
derly loves: an accidental neglect, a
hasty word, a small unkindness, will
not agitate a loving spirit, much less
work it up to hateful fire-eyed fury.
It banishes envy, that severely just
vice which never fails to punish itself;
for it is impossible to repine at the
wealth or prosperity, at the virtue or
same of him whom we cordially love.
It excludes revenge, that cruel canker
of the heart; for who can indulge bit-
ter resentments, or form dark designs
of evil against him whom he tenderly
loves, and in whose good he heartily
delights?
IT subdues ambition and avarice,
those aspiring painful passions. For who
could domineer over those whom he
loves, and whose honor he tenders as
his own? Who could extort from and
impoverish those whom he earnestly
wishes and would gladly see to prosper?
Y A competence 

240 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
A competence will seem like abundance
to him who lives as among brethren,
taking himself but for one among the
rest, and can as ill endure to see them
want as himself.
IT is in the prevalence of such bad
passions as these, that human misery
chiefly consists. Love is their only so-
vereign antidote. It alone subdues and
expels their fatal poison, and thus re-
stores health and happiness to our long
tortured bosoms. Love, like a celestial
queen, walks before, meekness and gen-
tleness follow as her eldest daughters,
while joy and peace, with all the sister
graces, make up the immortal retinue.
BUT love preserves us not only from
our own, but from the malignant pas-
sions of others. Like sweetest music, it
has power to sooth the savage breast, to
melt hearts of flint, and to tame the
fiercest spirits. Its mild and serene
countenance, its soft and gentle spirit
its 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 241
its courteous and obliging manners, its
fair dealing, its endearing conversation,
its readiness to do good services to any
man, is the only charm under heaven
to disarm the bad passions of men, and
to guard our person from assault, our
interest from damage, and our reputa-
tion from slander. For who can be so
unnatural as to hate the man who loves
us and is ever ready to do us good?
What wretch, what demon, can find in
his heart to be a foe to him who is a
warm friend to all? The vilest sinner
cannot be so vile, so destitute goodness.
If you love those who love you what reward
have you, do not even sinners the same?
OF this wonderful power of love, to
convert foes into friends, we have many
pleasing examples in holy writ. Esau
was a rough man, and exceedingly an-
gry with his brother Jacob, and yet
how easily did Jacob's meek and affec-
tionate behaviour overcome him! "Esau
ran

242 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
ran to meet Jacob, and fell on his neck and
kissed him, and they wept."
SAUL was possessed with a furious
envy and spite against David. Yet what
acknowledgments did David's generous
dealing extort from him?—
"Is this thy voice my son David? Thou
art more righteous than I, for thou hast re-
warded me good, whereas I have reward-
ed the evil; behold I have played the fool,
and erred exceedingly."
THOUGH gratitude is not so common
a virtue as it ought to be, yet the re-
membrance of his former kindnesses
often surrounds a good man in distress,
with many warm friends and generous
comforters. Is he in danger, who will
not defend him? Is he falling, who will
not uphold him? Is he slandered, who
will not vindicate him?
Love disposes us to put to their pro-
per uses every blessing that may fall to
our lot; while, without it, the most
splendid 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 243
splendid advantages that we could de-
sire, the largest fortunes and brightest
parts, will become vain and fruitless, if
not pernicious and destructive to us.
For, what is our reason worth if it serve
only to contrive little sorry designs for
ourselves? What is wit good for, if it
"be spent only in making sport, or creat-
ing mischief? What signifies sealth, if
it be uselessly hoarded up, or vainly
thrown away on the lusts of one poor
worm? What is our credit but a mere
puff of air, if we do not give it sub-
stance by making it an engine of doing
good? What is our virtue itself, if bu-
ried in obscurity it yield no benefit to
others by the lustre of its example, or
by its real influence? If these advantages
minister, only to our own particular
pleasure or profit, how mean and in-
considerable they appear!
BUT under the management of love,
see what worth and importance they as-
V 2 sume. 

244 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
sume. Our wealth becomes the bank
from which the weeping widow, the in-
digent young tradesman, and the help-
less orphan, draw the supply of their
wants. Our wit is employed to expose
the deformities of vice, and to paint
virtue in her loveliest colours. Our
knowledge is applied to instruct the ig-
norant, to admonish the guilty, and to
comfort the wretched. Thus love ena-
bles us to lay out our talents in so ex-
cellent a manner as to secure those in-
estimable blessings—the love of God,
the friendship of mankind, and all the
exquisite pleasures of doing good. How
great then is the worth of love, since
without it the goods even of the weal-
thiest are but temporal and transient,
such as too often prove dangerous snares
and baneful poisons, and are at best but
impertinent baubles.
LOVE gives worth to all our apparent
virtues, insomuch, that without it no
quality 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 245
Quality  of the heart, no action of life
is valuable in itself or pleasing to God.
Without love, what is courage, but the
boldness of a lion or the fierceness of a
tyger? What is meekness but the soft-
ness of a woman, or the weakness of a
child? What is politeness, but the gri-
mace of a monkey, or the fooleries of
a fop? What is justice; but passion or
policy? What is wisdom but craft and
subtilty? Without love, and what is
faith but dry opinion? What is hope
but blind presumption? What is alms-
giving but ostentation? What is mar-
tyrdom  but stubbornness? What is de-
votion but a mockery of God? What
is any practice, how specious soever in
itself, or beneficial to others, but the
effect of selfishness and pride? "Though
I have faith so that I could remove moun-
tains, and have not love, I am nothing.
Though I give all my goods to feed the
poor,

264 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
poor, and have not love, it profiteth me
nothing."
BUT love sanctifies every action, and
converts all that we do into virtue. It
is true bravery indeed, when a man, out
of love to his neighbour, and a hearty
desire to promote his good, encounters
dangers and difficulties. It is genuine
meekness, when a man out of love, and
an unwillingness to hurt his neighbour,
patiently puts up with injuries. It is
politeness indeed, when cordial affection
expresses itself in civil language, re-
spectful manners, and obliging actions.
It is excellent justice, when a man re-
garding his neighbour's case as his own,
does to him as he would have it done
to himself. It is admirable wisdom,
which studies to promote our neigh-
bour's welfare. It is a noble faith,
which, working by love, produces the
rich fruits of obedience. It is a solid
hope, which is grounded on that ever-
lasting 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 247
lasting basis of love which never fails.
It is a sincere alms, which not only the
hand but the heart reaches out. It is
an acceptable sacrifice, which is kindled
by the holy fire of love. It is an hal-
lowed devotion which is offered up from
a heart pure and benevolent like the be-
ing whom it adores.
LOVE is a grand instrument of our
happiness, because it alone renders sweet
and pleasant all the duties which we
owe to our neighbour. All agree; that
the second great business of men in this
life is to learn to love one another;
And since the constant performance of
kind and generous services to each other,
tends most effectually to fan the flame
of love, our heavenly Father is perpe-
tually calling on us to perform those
good offices to our brethren. He com-
mands the strong to bear the burdens of
the weak, the rich to abound in good works
to 

248 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
to the poor, the poor to be cheerfully oblig-
ing to the rich, and all of us to exercise
meekness, gentleness, hospitality, justice,
honor, truth, &c. Such sentiments and
works of beneficence and love, make a
considerable part of our duties, duties
that occur every day and hour of our
lives. To perform these with alacrity
and pleasure must add greatly to our
happiness, because, since they occur so
frequently, if we have but the art to
turn them into pleasures, our whole
life must be one continued round of
pleasure. Whereas, on the contrary, if
we take no delight in them, we stand
a fair chance to lead very uneasy lives;
as we shall be continually called on by
duties which we cannot perform with-
out reluctance, nor yet neglect without
much vexation and regret.
WOULD we have this, our field of
trial, to become a garden of pleasant-
ness? Let us love. Love is the great
wonder- 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 249
wonder-worker. It converts duties into
delights, and penances into pleasures.
Are you wealthy? In making you so,
heaven kindly intended for you the joy
of acting as the friend and benefactor
of the poor. That you may be sensible
how essential love is to the cheerful dis-
charge of the duties of beneficence,
turn your eyes towards Dives: In him
you behold one of the wealthiest of the
sons of fortune. His cellars, his barns,
his coffers, are all bursting out with
abundance; but his heart possesses not
one spark of love. Alas! the sad con-
sequences of his lacking this one thing
needful. Hence, though possessed of
wealth sufficient to enable him, like the
good angel of his neighbourhood, to
scatter blessings around him on at least
fifty needy families; he loses the joy,
and they the benefit of such noble cha-
rities. Destitute of love, Dives takes
no delight, even in feeding the hungry,
in

250 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
in cloathing the naked, or in soothing
the sorrows of sickness and poverty.
Unhappy Dives! Works of love which
blessed angels would prefer to their nec-
tar and ambrosia, are set before thee,
but thou hast no relish for them. Dives
keeps a splendid table, has vast apart-
ments, rich furniture, costly jewels, a
large number of servants, and sumptu-
ous equipages; and that is enough for
him; his poor childish fancy has no
idea of any thing superior.
BUT see the noble and excellent De-
mophilus. Demophilus possesses an es-
tate not inferior to that of Dives; but
his estate, though ample, is not half
so ample as his heart. Demophilus de-
nies himself all the pomps and super-
fluities of life, in order that he may
swell the tide of his liberality to the
poor. It were an endless, though pleas-
ing task, to relate how many friendless
little children he has educated, how
many

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 251
many poor young tradesmen he has set
up in good business; and how many
helpless old persons, provided for by
his bounty, are now spending the even-
ing of their days in peace and comfort.
Every day is to Demophilus a day of
happiness, because it is spent in offices
of kindness to those whom love has
taught him to view in the endearing
light of relations; and, in serving
whom, he acts with all the alacrity of
a brother. Thus love employs him in
such good works as yield the purest
pleasures while he is engaged in them,
and the remembrance of which will be
a well of sweetest waters springing up
in his bosom to eternal life.
ARE you a poor man? You will find
love to be equally essential to your hap-
hapiness. Love will not only preserve
you from all the pangs of envy and dis-
content; those infernal vipers which
pry on the vitals of too many of our
Z poor

252 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
poor brethren! But it will enable you
to look with the joy of a brother on
the superior prosperity of your neigh-
bour. It will inspire you with that
sublimest devotion, prayers for your
wealthy neighbour, that he may be
sensible of the blessings he possesses in
possessing wealth and power, that he
may be thankful for them, and put them
to such good use as at once to please
the supreme giver, to win the gratitude
of the poor, and to fill his own heart
with joy.
ARE you in debt to your neighbour?
Then it nearly concerns you to love
him. I will not indeed say, that if you
do not love, you will never pay your
debts, for a sense of honor may incline
you, as it does many who are destitute
of love, to be honest; but this I will
say, that if you love your neighbour,
you will pay him with much more cer-
tainty and satisfaction than you other-
wise 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 253
wise could. If you love your neigh-
bour, you will not be able to run in
debt to him, when you forsee that you
can never pay him.
A CERTAIN lawyer—a case in point—
made application to a certain hair-dres-
ser for a wig. The generous trades-
man, who was just about to sit down
to dinner, invited his customer to take
pot-luck with him. After having made
a plentiful repast, and emptied the se-
cond bowl, "Now Sir," said the be-
nevolent shaver, addressing his guest,
"I'll make you as handsome a wig as ever
graced the head of a counsellor."—"No,
that you shall not."—"Hie! what's the
matter? Did you not come to bespeak a
wig ?"—"True, I did, but I have altered
my mind. You are so clever a fellow that
I have a great liking for you, and this
makes me scorn to take an advantage of you:
For were you to make me a wig, I do not
know that I should ever be able to pay you
for

254 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
for it."—What a generous thing must
love be, since a few feathers of it only
could thus bear a man up above a dis-
honest action! Would God, that not
only all lawyers, but that all men also
had more of it!
To the man who loves not, the pay-
ment of his debts is often a great pe-
nance. Avaro owes 500 guineas—500
guineas! Avaro had as lieve it were 500
drops of his heart's blood. To-mor-
row is the day of payment; a sad day
to Avaro! Avaro goes with a heavy
heart to his strong box to take one more
view of his dear poor guineas. He
takes them up in his hands; he hugs
them to his breast:—"Sweet precious
gold, and must I part with you! Dear
delight of my eyes and joy of my heart,
must I to-morrow resign you for ever!"
Avaro sighs piteously, and locking them
up again in his box, goes out groaning
like 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 255
like one who follows his first born to
the grave.
Now turn your eyes to a very diffe-
rent character; I mean Benevolus. It
is love only that makes the difference.
Benevolus owes a sum of money to his
neighbour Agathos. Benevolus pos-
sesses not only that delicate sense of ho-
nor, and that nice regard to reputation,
those laudable motives to duty which
animate all men of honor; but he feels
some of a sweeter and still stronger na-
ture.—Benevolus loves his neighbour
Agathos; hence he takes an interest
in his welfare. Agathos, in lending this
money, shewed a confidence in Bene-
volus. Benevolus is eager to evince
that it was well-sounded. Agathos, may
by this time be wanting his money,—Be-
nevolus feels an anxiety to replace it.
Benevolus has reason to believe that it
would be a pleasure to Agathos to re-
Z 2 ceive 

256 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
ceive it—Benevolus hastens to give him
that pleasure.
"I ONCE, said the charming Pulche-
ria, owed a neighbouring woman, a
sum: On going to her house to pay
it, I met one of her daughters, whose
dress shewed a tattered wardrobe: my
heart rejoiced that the supply of their
wants was at hand: and had I, conti-
nued the dear girl, been in sufficient
circumstances, nothing would have made
me happier than to have owed them
ten times as much."—O for more love;
more love! Without this, there can be
not only no pleasure, but indeed no
steadiness in the payment of debts.—
Great stress I know has been laid on
what is called a sense of honor: But a
mere man of honor is an unsafe debtor.
In those corrupted countries, where the
laws and fashions are not very decidedly
in favour of justice, men of honor have
been 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 257
been found to fit perfectly easy under
the weight of their debts.
MISOCHRISTIS is a man of honor; but
he lives in a country where it happens not
to be the fashion for men of honor to pay
their debts under three or four years.
Misochristis, you see, is surrounded by
a croud of creditors, who are impor-
tunate with him for their money. Of-
ten had he avoided them before by
making his servants deny him; but,
unfortunately, that stratagem would not
answer to day, for they poped in upon
him before his usual hour of rising.
He at first determined not to stir out of
his chamber; but they as obstinately
determined not to stir until they saw
him. He then ordered his servant to
tell them that he was indisposed and
could speak to no body; but the news
of his indisposition did not soften them
in the least:—See him they must.
Whereon he sent word that he would
surrender,

258 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
surrender, and immediately comes to a
parley.
"How now, gentlemen," says he,
"can't a person be sick in his own
"house? Give me leave to tell you,
"that you don't behave handsomely.
"WHAT have you to say, Mr Rhe-
"don? You made me a coach I fancy
"about three years ago; and have I
"not paid you twenty pistoles on ac-
"count? Indeed you are vastly to be
"pitied! Go, go, don't be afraid of
"your money; no body loses any thing
"by me. See there is an honest man
"who has been my baker these six
"years; he knows how to behave him-
"self to a person of my distinction;
"he has had great patience, and he
"shall not be a sufferer by it. Mr Rhe-
"don, your Servant,—I have something
"to say to these gentlemen,—you will
"call again.
"MY

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 259
"MY good friend, Artopolus, I have
"really a regard for you: You serve
"me extremely well. How do you
"manage to make such good bread as
"you send me? 'Tis excellent; there
"can be no fault found with such
"bread. Let me see what it is I owe
"you? Two thousand three hundred
"and forty-six livres—That's just what
"I owe you.—Well, I shall not exa-
"mine your account; I don't question
"but it is right. Two thousand three
"hundred and odd livres. I shall be
"able to pay you.—Well, Mr. Arto-
"polus, the first money I receive shall
"be yours. You shall not be at the
"trouble of coming for it; 'tis not
"reasonable you should;—why man 'tis
"you who keep me alive.
"So, here is my wine merchant:—
"I have longed for an opportunity, my
"friend, to take you to task. You
"know full well, Mr. Vintner, that
"you 

260 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
"you have a pleasure in poisoning me
"with your wine. What the devil is
"it you put into it? I cannot drink
"three bottles but it deprives me of
"my understanding; and yet it is mo-
"ney you want—Go about your busi-
"ness—go; people who expect to be
"paid never serve their customers in
"that manner. You shall have no
"money till every body else is paid, if
"it were only to teach you to sell good
"wine.
"As for you, Monsieur Guillaumet,
"I am quite ashamed to have been so
"long without paying you. I am sen-
"sible of all the complaints you have
"against me. You have cloathed me
"and my whole family these five years,
"and I have not as yet paid you a sous.
"I promised to pay you towards the
"end of the last year, but I disappoint-
"ed you.—Is not that all you have to
"say to me? You know me very well,
"Monsieur 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 261
"Monsieur Guillaumet; do you ima-
"gine I could be so cruel as to let you
"be all this time out of your money,
"after you had disbursed such consi-
"derable sums for my use, if my ten-
"ants did but pay me? I must be a
"great villain if I could behave after
"that manner: But they will pay me
"by and by, and then you shall have
"your money.—Your servant,—Give
"me leave to speak to that gentle-
"woman.
"GOOD morrow, Mrs. Pernelle, I
"suppose you are come to demand
"your money for those thirty pieces
"of linen which I had of you two
"years ago? Well, I cannot pay you
"very soon. You see what a number
"of people I have promised already.
"But you can afford to wait a little.
"You are well to pass!"—"No, Sir,
"you are mistaken, my circumstances
"are very indifferent."—"Oh, so much
"the 

262 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
"the worse, my good mistress: when
"people cannot afford to give credit,
"they should never pretend to sell.
"AS to the rest of you, my good
"friends," says Misochristis, addressing
himself to those creditors who had not
as yet received audience: "I fancy I
"don't owe you any great matters.
"You see I am endeavouring to regu-
"late my affairs. Give me a little more
"time; and if I can do no better at
"present, I will at least look over and
"settle your accounts."
AS soon as Misochristis had finished
these words, the flew from them like
lightening, leaving his creditors so asto-
nished at his impudence, that he was
quite out of their hearing before they
had recollected themselves sufficiently to
make him a reply.
BUT if men of honor have been bad
pay-masters, because punctuality was un-
fashionable, they have been found equal- 
ly

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 263
ly so in those happy play-times, when
their good old master, the law, fell
drowsy, and took no notice of his pu-
pils actions.
YOUNG Adrastus, hard run for mo-
ney, determines to try his friends. He
goes to Agathocles, and in the bated
breath and whispering humbleness of
a borrower, begs the loan of a thou-
sand guineas.—A good round sum! But
the benevolent Agathocles, a stranger
to suspicion, grants the loan. Adrastus
pockets the money and rides off, the
happiest man in the world. For three
years the good Agathocles got nothing
from Adrastus but empty promises and
sorrowful details of disappointments and
loses. At length a war breaks out, and
the country wanting money, the press
is converted into a mint, and paper
dollars are struck off by the ream.
These the legislator pronounces to be
of equal value with gold and silver,
A a and 

264 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
and threatens trouble to the tory that
shall refuse them as such. "Hurra for
us debtors," is now the cry. Blessed
times! Whole caravans of honest men
are now in motion to pay their debts.
Adrastus joins the happy throng; and
taking a witness with him, waits on
the good old Agathocles, whose gene-
rous loan of a thousand guineas, he pays
off with half a quire of paper cur-
rency—worth about £. 40.
ALAS! poor honor! when severed
from the love of God, and of man,
what art thou but an empty name! Had
Adrastus loved his God, could he thus
have despised that golden precept which
enjoins him—to do unto others as he would
that others should do unto him?—Had
Adrastus loved the generous Agatho-
cles, could he have thus requited him
evil for good—could he have thus re-
payed the noblest friendship with the
basest 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 265
basest ingratitude?—Let the following
true story reply.
A YOUNG gentleman, whom we shall
call Leander, had the good fortune to
be born of parents, who well knew that
happiness consists rather in the good
qualities of the heart, than in the rich
contents of the strong box. He was
therefore early taught to look on the
love of God and of his neighbour, as
the best wealth that man or angel can
possess. His progress in virtue was
equal to the fondest expectations of his
parents. Truth, honor and goodness,
shone so conspicuously in all his con-
duct, that to love him, one needed but
to know him. At the age of three and
twenty he lost his father; and possessing
but a very small fortune, he resolved
to go into trade. Leander had five or
six mercantile friends, each of whom
throwing in a couple of hundred pounds
worth of goods, made him up a pretty
assortment. 

266 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
assortment. With great alacrity he en-
tered upon this new employment; but,
as it would seem, merely to evince the
error of those parents, who think that
religion alone is sufficient to make their
children happy. His father had taken
great pains to fit him for heaven; but
had not sufficiently instructed him to
make his way good here on earth. He
had scarcely ever told Leander, that
though it be happiness to love, it is
still virtue to be prudent; and, that to
mingle the harmlessness of the dove with
the wisdom of the serpent, and to take
head of men, even while he loves them,
are commandments of the Great Tea-
cher himself. He had hardly ever men-
tioned to Leander, the importance of
receipts, vouchers, and written con-
tracts; nor related to him the many
sad instances of unsuspecting goodness
snared and ruined by insidious villainy;
and how often, for want of receipts,
the 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 267
the best men have been compelled to a
second payment of debts that have kept
their noses to the grindstone half their
lives after. No; but to consider all
men as the children of God, and co-
heirs of glory; to love them as him-
self, and to think evil of no man—these
were the only sentiments which Lean-
der was taught: These he carried with
him behind the counter. Leander was
soon found out to be a fine young man!
every body admired his goods, and
wished to buy if they could but have
a little credit. Leander anticipated every
wish, and credited every body.      
IN a very short time, out of a thou-
sand pounds worth of goods, he had
not a remnant left. His rivals were
fit to burst with spleen and envy at such
prodigious sales; while his friends as-
cribed such singular success to divine
interposition. At the appointed time
his creditors demanded their money.
A a 2  The 

268 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
The too credulous Leander was not
prepared to pay. Unable to wait longer,
they seized on his little patrimony, and
threw him into prison. Cruel parents,
who thus expose your children uncover-
ed by the shield of prudence, to the
fiery darts of fraud and villainy! O re-
member that the want of prudence, is
too often, even in the best men, suc-
ceeded by the want of virtue; and that,
in many instances, the devil himself asks
not an abler advocate for vice than po-
verty. Happily for Leander, his vir-
tue was full grown, and of a good con-
stitution. He did not, as thousands
have done, curse that easiness of na-
ture, that benevolence of sentiment,
which had duped and betrayed him;
he did not vow eternal war against his
species, and resolve to practise in future
the same arts which had wrought his
ruin. No! fraud and injustice now ap-
peared to him hateful as the hags of hell.
While, 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 269
While, by contrast, his love of virtue
was exalted to adoration. To have de-
ceived, though unintentionally, and
thence to have injured his patrons, cau-
sed Leander much grief; but it was
grief unimbittered by the gall of guilt.
To have discovered such a want of vir-
tue and humanity among men, excited
emotions, but they were the emotions
of compassion, not of resentment. Still
his prayers and his benevolence went up
before God. After fifty days confine-
ment, the still virtuous Leander was
discharged from prison, and from all
legal obligation to pay his former debts.
He then went round again among his
debtors; many of whom affected by
his pathetic remonstrances, discharged
their accounts. With this money, pur-
chasing a small assortment of goods, he
entered a second time into trade, and
with becoming caution. At the expi-
ration of five years, having saved enough
for 

270 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
for that purpose, he hastened up to
town to pay off his former debts, and
to evince the divinity of that love,
which cannot be happy while it owes
any man any thing. He called toge-
ther his former creditors to a tavern,
where, by his orders, a handsome din-
ner was prepared for them. He receiv-
ed them with the utmost cordiality, and,
without having as yet gratified their
curiosity as to the occasion of the meet-
ing, he politely pressed them to sit
down to dine. On turning up their
plates, every man beheld in a heap of
shining gold, the full amount, princi-
pal and interest, of his former claim
against Leander.
"Lord, who's the happy man that may
"To thy blest courts repair?
"Not stranger like to visit them,
"But to inhabit there.
"'Tis he who to his vows and trust,
"Has ever firmly stood;
"And tho' he promise to his loss,
"He makes his promise good."
WE

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 271
WE have been copious on this part
of our subject, for a very plain reason:
the payment of our debts is a duty
that occurs so frequently, that whatever
tends to make it a pleasure, must con-
sequently add greatly to our happiness;
and have abundantly shewn it is love,
and love alone that can make honesty
at all times a pleasure.
BUT there are many other duties, of
equal importance to our own, and to
the happiness of society, to the cheer-
ful performance of which, love is as
indispensibly necessary. This man's ava-
rice may claim a part of our estate; or
that man's unprovoked rage may insult
our person, or slander our name; now,
to bear all this with temper, and to ne-
gociate so discreetly with these our un-
generous neighbours, as to disarm their
passions, and to make an honorable and
lasting peace, is certainly a most de-
sireable event; but it is an event which
nothing 

272 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
nothing but almighty love can accom-
plish. And through defect of this love,
how frequently have we seen the slight-
est incroachments, or provocations to
stir up such horrid passions, in the bo-
soms of neighbours, and to hurry them
into such shameful excesses of injury
and revenge, as have ended in the de-
struction of each others souls, bodies,
and estates!
LET the real history of goodman
Gruff and his neighbour Grub, eluci-
date this melancholy truth.
THESE two men, whose fortunes were
ample, lived near neighbours to each
other; so near, that their lands, un-
moved by the passion of their owners,
lay and slept together in the most friend-
ly embraces. That good being who
had thus appointed their lots together
in the same pleasant places, had un-
questionably intended, that they should
learn from their own experience, how
happy 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 273
happy a thing it is for brethren to dwell
together in unity. But alas! the ways
of peace they knew not, for they were
both strangers to love; and, by natu-
ral consequence, both proud, selfish,
irascible and vindictive. On a resurvey
of his plantation, goodman Gruff found
that his neighbour Grub had about
two acres and a quarter of his ground
in possession.
No sooner had he made this impor-
tant discovery, than he sent orders to
Mr Grub, and not in the most gentle
terms, instantly to remove his fences,
from that spot of ground, or he should
adopt measures to compel him. From
no friend on earth, would Mr. Grub
have brooked such a message; but from
Gruff, it was altogether insupportable.
A reply, such as pride and hatred could
dictate, was immediately made. A law
suit, of course, commenced.
THIS

274 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
THIS produced the effect that usually
attends law-suits,—"a death unto friend-
ship, and a new birth unto hatred."
Every expence incurred in the course
of the suit inflamed their mutual hat-
red; for they never failed to set down
these expences to the account of each
others roguery: They never deigned to
salute, or to exchange a word; and,
is accident at any time threw them into
the same company, they cast such eyes
of death on one another, and were so
pointedly brutal in their manners, as to
shock all who were not lost to humanity.
To be threatened with the loss of two
acres of land, or to have that much with-
held, though each possessed many more
than they could cultivate, was enough
in such sordid souls, to awaken the
most deadly passions. These were soon
communicated to the rest of their fa-
milies. The wives and daughters, could
not, even at church, treat each other
with 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 275
with common civility; and the sons
often disgraced themselves in bloody
battles. Nor was this all, for their
poor unoffending cattle, their hogs and
horses, who, poor things! knew not the
right leg from the left, were made to
feel the sad effects of this unnatural
strife: For, if carelessly wandering in
quest of grass or roots, their homely
fare, they happened in luckless hour,
to stray within the hostile lines, straight
a troop of angry slaves, with worrying
dogs and furious stones, attacked them:
or slily taking and loading them with
yokes, doomed them to waste full many
a day in woe and pain.
"CURSED be their anger, for it was
fierce, and their wrath, for it was cruel.
O my soul! come not thou into their secret,
unto their assembly; mine honor, be not
thou united!" JACOB.
Bb THUS

276 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
THUS we see men, though born to
walk with angels high in salvation,
and the clims of bliss, acting, because
destitute of love, just as if they were
candidates for the society of infernal
spirits!
A STRANGER to the origin of this
shameful contest, would reasonably have
supposed, from the fury with which it
was conducted, that the actors in it,
expected some signal advantages from
it. "Surely," would he have said,
"vast fields of fertile earth, with migh-
"ty forests, and flocks and herds, with
"heaps of golden treasure, must de-
"pend on this important suit." But
what would have been his astonishment,
on finding, that the dear bought pur-
chase of two acres of poor land, was
the whole extent of their hopes!
"Verily, man without love is as the
wild ass's colt, and stupid as the beast that
perisheth."
BUT

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 277
BUT to return to our litigious far-
mers, whom we left just engaged in a
suit, Gruff against Grub, for two acres
and a quarter of land, held and culti-
vated by the latter, but found by a re-
survey to belong to the former. The
case seemed sufficiently simple, and, as
was generally thought, would soon be
knocked off the doquet, and with but
small damages. But being found, as
generally happens, much more compli-
cated than it had at first appeared; it
was kept so long in the different courts
in which it had the fortune to be tried,
that goodman Gruff was often heard
to say, that "though he had gained
"his suit, yet, through loss of time,
"neglect of business, tavern charges,
"and extra fees to lawyers, he had
"expended at least one hundred half-
"joes." While poor Grub, obliged
to carry on so long a suit with monies
borrowed on an exorbitant premium,
incurred 

278 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
incurred a debt which cost him the
whole tract, together with the two acres
and a quarter which he had so obsti-
nately defended.
"BLESSED are the meek, for they shall
inherit the earth."
Had these unfortunate men but loved,
they might have lived happy. Like
good Job's children, "they would have
gone and feasted in their houses each man
his day, and sent and called for his neigh-
bour to eat and to drink with him." And
then having his heart warmed and ex-
panded with generous love, had good-
man Gruff discovered that his neigh-
bour held unknowingly an acre or two
of his land, he would have scorned to
notice it.
ASK the benevolent old Ralph, whe-
ther he would thus have threatened and
persecuted his neighbour Paul for a
couple of acres? Observe how he shakes
his venerable locks, and, with a coun-
tenance 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 279
tenance strongly marking his abhorrence
of such a thought, thus replies:—
"No, my friend, two acres of land
"should never have set me and my
"neighbour Paul at variance. Forty
"years have we lived near each other,
"and, thank God, it has been forty
"years of peace and friendship. Paul
"appears to me now like a brother;
"and the affection that I have for him,
"gives me a double enjoyment of what
"I have, because of the pleasure I find
"in communicating of it to him. If I
"take a hive, he is sure to receive a
"plate of the choicest comb. If I kill
"a fat mutton, the best quarter is sent
"to him. His company heightens my
"joys, his counsel and assistance lessen
"the weight of my sorrows. Toge-
"ther we enjoy the good things of
"this life, and together we often con-
"verse about the happiness of that bet-
"ter life to come. Now, shall I mar
Bb 2 "all 

280 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
"all this sweet heavenly peace, and
"plunge myself into hellish hatred and
"strife, by quarrelling with my good
"friend Paul on account of two acres of
"ground? No, no, no; sooner than see
"that hated day, let these eyes be closed
"for ever; and let my grey hairs go
"down with joy to the grave! Take
"two acres of land from Paul? O how
"gladly would I give him a thousand!"
BUT supposing, Father Ralph, that
instead of the gentle Paul, it had
been your destiny to dwell in the
neighbourhood of the churlish Mr.
Gruff, how would you have relished
his orders to relinquish two acres of
your land?
"WHY, I would have endeavoured
"an accommodation, by proposing a
"reference of our matter to some
"of our well informed and impartial
"neighbours."
BUT, 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 28l
BUT, what if he had replied, that since
by the late variation of the compass,
the limits of his tract were so en-
larged as to take in those two acres
of yours, he claimed them by virtue
of the law, and would have nothing
to do with arbitrators?
"WHAT would I have done? Why,
"I would have pitied him—from the
"bottom of my heart would I have
"pitied him for such a sentiment.
"And on taking my leave, would
"have addressed him in such words
"as these:—Neighbour Gruff, the good
"for which you seem so ready to
"contend, deserves not to be put in
"the scale against the numerous evils
"of a law-suit. Let famished sea-
"men quarrel and fight for a mor-
"sel of bread, or draw lots for each
"others lives, but for us who live
"in a land so thickly strewed with
"the blessings of heaven, that we
need 


282 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
"need but stretch forth the hand of
"industry and we shall gather abun-
"dance—for us to go to law for a
"slip of ground, were a reproach to
"us, both as men and as christians.
"I feel, neighbour Gruff, that love
"and peace are the greatest blessings
"of life, and, well knowing that law-
"suits are no friend to those, but,
"on the contrary, their most mortal
"enemies, I wish never to have any
"thing to do with law-suits—I mean
"on such trifling occasions. There-
"fore, for the sake of God, the lo-
"ver of peace, and for our mutual
"good, I cheerfully compliment you
"with these two acres for which you
"are so ready to go to law with me.
"And I think my heart gives me
"comfortable assurance that I shall
"never want them."
"Blessed are the peace makers, for
they shall be called the children of God."
LOVE

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 283
LOVE adds greatly to the happiness
of man, because it puts us in possession
and gives us the enjoyment of every
thing that is good and desireable in
this life. By it, we may, without
greedy avarice, or its cares and drudge-
ries, swim in tides of wealth. With-
out proud ambition or any of its dif-
ficulties and dangers, we may ascend
to the highest seats of honor: without
sordid voluptuousness, or its diseases and
disgust, we may bask in the lap of true
pleasures; without its pride, luxury or
sloth, or any of its snares and tempta-
tions, we may feast at the table of pro-
sperity. We may pluck the richest fruits
of science and learning, without the
pain of laborious study: and we may
taste the sweets of virtue and goodness
without their toils. For, are not all
these things ours, if we make them so,
by finding much delight and satisfaction
in them? Does not out neighbour's
wealth 

284 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
wealth enrich us, if we are happy in
his possessing and using it? Does not
his preferment advance us, if our spirit
rises with it into a cordial complacency?
Does not his pleasure delight us, if we
are pleased with his enjoyment of it?
Does not his prosperity bless us, if our
hearts exult and triumph in it? This is
the true Philosopher's stone, the divine
magic of love which conveys all things
into our hands, giving us a possession
and use in them of which nothing can
deprive us.
BY virtue of this, (as Paul justly ob-
serves) "Being sorrowful we yet always
"rejoice; having nothing we yet possess all
"things." Neither is this property in
our neighbour's goods merely imagin-
ary, but real and substantial; indeed, for
more real to the true lover of men, than
it is generally to the legal owners of
them. For how is property in things
otherwise to be considered than by the
satisfaction 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 285
satisfaction which they yield to the pre-
sumed owner? And if the  benevolent
man find this satisfaction in them, and
in a high degree, why are they not truly
his? May not the tree with some de-
gree of propriety be called yours if you
can pluck and enjoy its fruits at plea-
sure? Nay, does not the propriety more
truly belong to you, if you equally en-
joy the benefit, without partaking the
trouble and expence which fall on the
real owner? A loving man therefore
can never be poor or miserable, except
all the world should come to want and
distress, for while his neighbour has any
thing, he will enjoy it— "rejoicing with
"those who rejoice."
BUT love not only advances us to
the highest pitch of happiness attain-
able in this life, but, like a true friend,
it will accompany us into heaven, and
there complete our felicity, by exalting
us

286 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
us to the society of "angels and spirits
"of just men made perfect."
AMONG all the nations of the earth,
the pleasing persuasion has prevailed,
that the souls of good men shall pass
away after death into brighter climes
than these, where assembled in the sweet-
est society, they shall enjoy pleasures
which were never permitted them to
taste in this vale of tears.
THIS strongest and dearest sentiment
of nature, is confirmed by revelation,
which assures us, that heaven, the city of
the eternal King, is inhabited by a great
multitude, which no man can number,
composed of all the wise and good that
ever existed in the universe of God;
and who, now separated from every in-
firmity, dwell together in the dearest
amity and peace.
DESIREABLE indeed must an access
to such a society appear to us, who
dwell in these abodes of frail humanity,
whose 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 287
whose passions are so much at variance
with our repose! This man wounds us
by a mortifying neglect, that insults
us with scorn and contempt. A third
cruelly envies our felicity. A fourth
inhumanly slanders our good name.
And a fifth goes to law with us for our
estate. While those few who love us,
often add to our uneasiness by their
follies or vices. Who would not leave
such a wretched society as this, and
gladly go to mingle with those blessed
friends, who can no more be miserable
themselves, nor render us so? Where
every countenance will shine upon us
with smiles of undissembled affection;
and every eye will beam unutterable
love? Where mighty angels will be as
endearingly attentive to us, as fondest
bretheren; while heavenly sages will
pour forth the treasures of their wisdom
to entertain us, though the feeblest of
saints?
Cc BUT, 

288 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
BUT, alas! is it for us whose hearts
are defiled, and who drink in iniquity
like water, to be numbered with these
children of God, and to have our lot
among such saints? Yes it is. For
though the precious gold of Ophir could
not purchase such high honors for us;
and though rocks of proffered diamonds
would not be received in exchange;
yet there is a power, a secret charm,
that can open for us the everlasting
doors, and admit us into those courts of
glory. That charm is LOVE, which,
by exercising every odious passion, and
adorning us with its own celestial gra-
ces, will secure our welcome, and ren-
der us dear to every saint in paradise.
And were it not for love, which thus
refines our nature, and transforms us
into angels of light, never could we
mingle in the society of those heavenly
lovers.
"BIRDS

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 289
"BIRDS of a feather flock toge-
"ther."—As gentle doves, who delight
in mutual caresses, fly on wings of ter-
ror, from those birds whose fiery eyes
threaten hateful strife; so angels of
love, must retire with as natural an ab-
horrence, from the society of dark and
malignant spirits. Between no two
things in nature, does there exist so
irreconcilable an opposition, as between
love and hatred. Water and oil—fire
and snow, may, by the powerful arts of
chemistry, be taught to forget their na-
tive antipathies, and to rush together
into friendly embraces: But by no arts
can tender-hearted love be brought to
look with complacency on any appear-
ance of hatred and misery. And the
more ardent our love, the more exqui-
site will be our distress, at the view of
such scenes.
PHILANDER, whose life is a series of
beneficence that reflects honor on hu-
man 

290 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
man nature, was, during the earlier
part of his days, strangely fond of that
most vulgar practice, boxing. But hap-
pening to read Dr. Blair's sermon on
gentleness, he was brought to see so
clearly, the beauty and blessedness of a
benevolent temper, that he has ever
since cultivated it as the brightest orna-
ment, and highest happiness of his life.
Philander often now observes to his
friends, that nothing surprises him more
than the difference which he finds be-
tween the feelings, of the present and
past periods of his life. That formerly,
when a stranger to love, the fight of a
battle was matter of fun to him; and a
broken head, or a bloody nose, a mere
bagatelle, quite a trifle. But that now,
were he compelled to see two men stri-
ving in battle, and with furious counte-
nances and eyes darting hatred, inflict-
ing cruel blows on each other, he verily
believes it would harrow up his soul
and 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 291
and fill him with insupportable horror.
And such, I am confident, would be the
feelings of every truly benevolent heart.
Now, if we who are but babes in love,
and whose hearts still retain much of their
former hardness and insensibility, are,
notwithstanding, so shocked at the sight
of bad passions; how much more would
the blessed angels, those pure spirits of
love, he shocked at the sight of such
things? Hence, it clearly appears, that
were God to throw open the gates of
heaven, and to invite us to enter with
all our  pride, haughtiness, scorn, envy
and hatred about us; so far from being
welcome to the angels, we should turn
their heaven into hell. It would grieve
their generous bosoms, to see us so
completely damned; and it would equal-
ly shock their feelings to see us so per-
fectly loathsome and abominable; and
they would, no doubt, prefer their joint
petitions to God, for permission to re-
C c 2 tire 

292 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
tire into some other part of his domini-
ons, where, far removed from such dis-
quieting scenes, they might renew their
joys in contemplating the beauty of each
others virtues, and in rejoicing in the
greatness of their mutual bliss. Would
we therefore gain a welcome admission
into those blest abodes, where angels
and the youngest sons of light, spend
their blissful days in joys unknown to
mortal sense—Let us Love. This is
the darling attribute of God; "For
God is love." And this is the grace
that gives to ministering spirits all their
surpassing joys and glories. Washed in
this heavenly Jordan, the foulest leper
becomes fresher than the new-born
babe. Bathed in this divine Bethesda,
the blackest heart and most malevolent
spirit becomes whiter than snow. Mark
the glorious change. His eyes, lately
glaring with infernal fires, now emit
the softest beams of benevolence. His
cheeks 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 293
cheeks, once pale with envy, now bloom
with the rosy-red of joy. His counte-
nance, e'er while dark with angry pa-
sions, now wear the opening radiance of
friendship. His voice, lately broken and
discordant with rage, is now sweeter than
music; his heart, once the den of poi-
sonous adders, is now the abode of gen-
tlest affection; and he who some time
ago was the terror or hatred of all who
knew him, is now become the delight
of each eye and joy of every heart. His
admiring friends, view him with trans-
port as a dear monument of the mighty
power of love; while holy angels wel-
come him with sweetest symphonies,
and fill the eternal regions with accla-
mations of joy. "Behold, this our bro-
ther was lost, but is found, he was dead,
but is alive."
AND though on our first entrance
into the company of blessed angels, we
cannot be half so loving and lovely as
they

294 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
they are, yet will not this diminish their;
affection for us; for, clearly perceiving,
that though but babes, we yet possess
the fair features and precious qualities
of godlike souls, they will cordially love
and tenderly embrace us, as their young-
er brethren, and as infant angels. While
meeting with no cruel obstructions to
our love, as in this world, but on the
contrary, finding ourselves beloved and
caressed by each saint and angel, we
shall daily become more grateful and
affectionate, and consequently more love-
ly in the eyes, and more dear to the
hearts, of those blessed people. And
now, what words can express, what fan-
cy can conceive the various and exqui-
site pleasures, that we may expect to
meet with, in so wise, so all-accomplished
and endearing a society? If the conversa-
tion of great and good natured wits, be so
highly entertaining, that men of taste
would give any thing to spend an even-
ing 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 295
ing with a party of such; how much
more desireable must it be to spend an
eternity in the company of angels? For,
as in point of knowledge, wit, and elo-
quence, they must be far superior to
the brightest geniuses of our world, and
incomparably more affectionate, they
cannot but make the most delightful
company. From the vast stores of their
wisdom and experience, they can easily
draw an almost infinite variety of the
most entertaining topics, on which such
good and gentle spirits, will not fail to
converse in the most free and endear-
ing manner. Then, what a heavenly
conversation must theirs be, whose scope
is the most glorious knowledge, and its
law the most perfect friendship?
WHO would not willingly leave a child-
ish, forward and ill natured world, for
the blessed Society of those wise friends
and perfect lovers? And what a felicity
must it be to spend an eternity, in such
a noble 

296 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
a noble conversation? Where we shall
hear the deep philosophy of heaven com-
municated with mutual freedom, in the
wise and amiable discourses of angels,
and of glorified spirits, who, without any
reserve or affectation of mystery, without
passion or peevish contention for victory,
do freely philosophize and impart the
treasures of each others knowledge?
For since all saints there are great philo-
sophers, and all philosophers perfectly
saints, we may conclude, that knowledge
and goodness, wisdom and love, will be
most charmingly intermixed throughout
all their conversation, and render it de-
lightful in the highest degree. When
therefore we shall leave this vain and
unsociable world, and on our landing
on the chores of eternity, shall be met
by all our good old friends, who are
gone to heaven before us, and who
now with infinite joy for our safe ar-
rival, receive and conduct us into the
splendid 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 297
splendid society of all the good and ge-
nerous souls, who ever lived in the
world: when we shall be familiar friends
with angels and archangels; and all the
shining courtiers of heaven shall call us
bretheren, and welcome us into their
glorious society, with all the tender en-
dearments and caresses, of those heaven-
ly lovers, O how will all these mighty
honors and joys, swell our bosoms with
tides of transport almost too big to bear!
BUT love not only renders us thus
happy, by adorning us with such graces
as give us a hearty welcome to the so-
ciety, and joys of angels; but, O god-
like power of charity! it even enables
us to make all their joys our own.
IT is a natural property of love, when
sincere, to unite so closely the hearts o
lovers, as to make their interests com-
mon, and thus to render the joys of
the one, the joys of the other. Every
man carries in his own bosom a proof of
this 

298 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
this delightful truth. Do not the vir-
tues of a dear brother, give us as exqui-
site joy, as if we ourselves were adorn-
ed with them? Have not the high com-
mendations bestowed on a beloved sister,
thrilled through our hearts, in as pure
streams of pleasure as if we ourselves
had been the honored subject of them?
Now, if love, which is a native of hea-
ven, produces, even in the cold soil of
the human heart, such delicious fruits of
joy at the sight of our neighbour's happi-
ness, how much more copious and ex-
quisite must be its growth and flavour,
when restored to heaven, it enjoys all
the energies of its native soil and cli-
mate? If therefore, while here on earth,
we make such progress in brotherly
love, as to relish our neighbour's happi-
ness as our own, "heartily rejoicing
with him when he rejoices;" we may
rest assured, that on going to heaven,
and entering into the society of blessed
angels 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 299
angels, we shall find the joys of congra-
tulating love, far superior to what we
ever experienced in this world. With
what sacred delight shall our hearts
overflow, when, on opening our eyes
in those blissful mansions, we behold
around us, such bright bands of glori-
ous beings? The sight of these lovely
and happy people, will open new springs
of joy in our bosoms. With what
wonder, love, and praise, shall we con-
template that hand which drew such mag-
nificent scenes; these streets paved with
gold, these gorgeous palaces hewn from
diamond quarries, these walls flaming
with the stones of heaven, these rivers
flowing with liquid silver, these fields
decked with immortal flowers, these
sacred shades formed by the trees of
God; and which, after having cloathed
these regions in such godlike splendors,
raised up so many myriads of glorious
beings to inhabit them forever? There,
D d among 

300 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
among those favoured spirits, we shall
meet with none of those melancholy
scenes which here so often embitter our
lives. Here, the strong pains and cries
of those whom we love, often wring
our hearts and call tears of bitterest
sorrow from our eyes; but there, God
shall wipe all tears from our eyes, and
pain and sickness are unknown. Here,
the pale cheek, the hollow eye, and
trembling voice of languishing friends,
often sicken our hearts, and press our
spirits to the earth; but there, health
blooms with freshest roses on each im-
mortal cheek, and imparts a vigor that
shall never know decay. Here, we often
behold our dearest relatives struggling
in the agonies of death, and hear, with
stupifying grief, their last expiring
groans; but there, among those holy
angels, death never shewed his ghastly
countenance, and their glorified bodies
are deathless as the eternal Jehovah.
Now 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 301
Now, what words can express the joys
of those blessed people, who love each
other with a tenderness unknown to
mortal bosoms, and whose love is con-
tinually feasted with the view of each
others happiness, a happiness which no
time can terminate, and which neither
man nor devil can impair! For perfect
lovers have all their joys and griefs in
common between them; but the heaven-
ly lovers having no griefs among them,
do only communicate their joys to one
another. And where they love so per-
fectly as they do in heaven, there can be
no such thing as a private or particular
happiness, but every one must have a
share in that of every one, and conse-
quently in this, their mutual communi-
cation of joys, every one's happiness,
will, by his friendship to every one, be
multiplied into as many happinesses as
there are saints and angels in heaven;
and thus, every joy, of every member
of 

302 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
of the church triumphant, runs round
the whole body, in an eternal circula-
tion. For that blessed body being all
composed of contenting hearts, that, like
perfect unisons, are tuned up to the
same key, when any one is touched,
every one echoes, and resounds the same
note: and while they thus mutually
strike upon each other, and all are af-
fected with every one's joys, it is im-
possible, but, that in a state where there
is nothing but joy, there should be a
continual concert of ravishing harmony
among them. For such is their dear
concern for one another, that every
one's joy not only pays to, but receives
tribute from the joy of every one: so
that when any one blessed spirit rejoices,
his joy goes round the whole society,
and then all their rejoicings in his joy,
reflow upon, and swell and multiply it;
and so as they thus cordially borrow
each others joys, they always pay them
back 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 303
back with interest, and by thus recipro-
cating, do everlastingly increase them.
And now, what unspeakable rejoicing
and congratulations will there be among
us, when we shall pass all heaven over,
through ten thousand millions of blessed
beings, and meet none but such as we
most dearly love, and are as dearly be-
loved by? especially when we shall find
no defect either of goodness, or happi-
ness in them, nor they in us, to damp
our mutual joy and delight, but every
one shall be what every one wishes him—
a perfect and blessed friend.
WHAT eternal thanks do we not owe
to the author of all good, for giving us
souls that are capable of ascending to
the society of these glorious beings, and
of participating forever in their exalted
delights? And how must it inflame our
gratitude to him for appointing love to
be the golden road leading to those ce-
lestial regions, and for employing so
D d 2 many 

304 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
many arguments, and taking, if we may
thus speak, so much pains to persuade
us to walk in it? For, take all the laws
of God, whether written on hearts of
flesh, or tables of stone, or on softer
leaves of evangelic paper, and cast them
up—What is their amount? LOVE.—
Love is the bond of perfection. Love is the
fulfilling of the law. He hath shewed thee,
O man! what is good, and what doth the
Lord thy God require of thee but to love
him, thy Parent God, with all thy heart,
and thy neighbour as thyself.
AND as God has thus enjoined love,
so has he disposed every thing in an or-
der the most favourable to the produc-
tion of it.
FOR who is this neighbour whom we  
are enjoined to love? Is he some vile
inferior creature whom it were hard, if
not impossible to love? No, he is, on
the coutrary, a most noble being, and
descended from the greatest family in
the

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 305
the universe. He is no less a personage,
than a young prince, a son of the Great
King eternal, whom he is not only allow-
ed but even commanded to call his father.
If some young nobleman cloathed in silks
and broad-cloaths, scented with rich per-
fumes, and richly equipaged, were to
call at our houses, we should instantly
be impressed with sentiments of respect,
and good will for him, and readily in-
vite him to the hospitalities of our tables.
But what are silver and gold? what are
silks and broad-cloths? what are fine
horses and servants? in comparison of
that immortal soul which this neighbour
possesses, and those eternal beauties of
which his soul is capable? know, that
he was made but a few degrees lower
than the angels, and that God, the true
judge of merit, has, on account of the
rich excellencies of his nature, created
this world, with all the goodly bright-
ness 

306 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
ness of heaven, and all the costly fur-
niture of earth, to serve him.
"THOU madest him to have dominion
over the works of thy hands; thou hast
put all things under his feet."
HE possesses a soul capable of so ex-
ceedingly great and eternal a weight of glo-
ry, that rather than he should be depri-
ved of it forever by sin, God himself
came down on earth to expiate it, and
by his own most perfect and amiable
life and lessons, to allure him back to
love heaven. God has adopted him as
his son, and made him a free denizen
of his heavenly city; and has appointed
his own glorious angels to wait on him,
as on the heir of salvation and candi-
date for eternal glory. Can we then
think it hard to love him whom God
thus loves and thus delights to honor?
BUT if it be easy to love a person of
eminent dignity and excellence, it be-
comes easier and pleasanter still to love
him, 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 307
him, if he be a near kinsman and friend.
Well, this is truly the case betwixt our
neighbour and us. He is our near rela-
tion—our brother—bone of our bone,
and flesh of our flesh. God kindly rais-
ed him up to be unto us as a companion
and a help-mate, to lighten our burdens,
to multiply our comforts, and, like dear
children walking in love, to enjoy toge-
ther the rich fruits of our mutual in-
dustry, rejoicing in the present bounties
of our common parent, and exulting
in the hopes of better yet to come.
AND as if all these tender and en-
dearing circumstances were not suffi-
cient, God himself has put forth his
hand, and touched our hearts with sen-
timents of good will towards each other.
THESE native sentiments of love, these
dear remains of God's own image, origin-
ally stamped on our minds, appear very
viable in all, even in those unfortunates,
whose 

308 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
whose hard lot and corrupting compa-
nions have done much to stifle them.
TAKE you poorest of men! who
gleans precarious and scanty bread, by
hard and humble toil. His sour looks
and crabbed manners give room to sup-
pect that he is a misanthrope, an utter
stranger to natural affection; but the
slightest experiment will soon discover
what tender sympathies unite him to his
kind.
YOU need not tell him of flourishing
cities, with all their gay inhabitants,
swallowed up by the devouring sword,
or ruthless flames, while mourning mil-
lions loaded with chains, are driven far
from their native homes to make room
for new masters. No; such horrid tra-
gedies are not necessary to touch the
springs of his compassion. Let him but
hear the song of Chevy Chase, or the
tender ballad of the Babes in the Wood;
or carry him to the Theatre, and let
him 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 309
him hear, though but in a play, in mere
fiction, the story of poor Barnwell, let
him behold that unfortunate young man,
who set out in life adorned with co mely
virtues, and the darling of all who knew
him; but soon alas! too soon, arrested
by a beauteous harlot, he falls an easy
prey to her wiles, is stript of all his
virtues and honors, and betrayed into
crimes for which he dies on the igno-
minious gallows.—'Tis enough, this sim-
ple tale of woe calls up all his feelings
of generous distress, and bathes his
cheeks in floods of sympathetic tears.
DOES not this our ready disposition
to suffer with our suffering neighbour,
and to weep with him when he weeps,
plainly prove how much God has done
to make it easy for us to love one ano-
ther. To this he has added another
charming evidence, I mean the inex-
pressible joy which he infuses into our
hearts 

310 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
hearts on doing works of love to the
necessitous.
"PRAY sir," said a young Virginian
to his friend, "on what act of your
"life do you reflect with the highest
"complacency?" "Why sir," replied
the other, "happening to hear that an
"old slave of my father's was sick, I went
"up to his quarter to see him. On enqui-
"ry, I found, that in consequence of his
"extreme age, and inability to render
"further services in the crop, he was
"cruelly neglected by the overseer, and
"often made to suffer for a meal of vic-
"tuals. Blushing to find that this was
"the principal cause of his present in-
"disposition, I instantly returned, and
"taking a negro lad, carried up a flitch
"of bacon, a loaf of bread, and a peck
"of meal. On seeing the present which
"I had brought him, his half-famished
"nature revived, and a sudden gush
"of tears trickled down his cheeks.
"Lifting
                                    

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 311
"Lifting up his eyes, he gave me such
"a look of gratitude and love, as pier-
"ced my very soul, and kindled a plea-
"sure, which time, instead of diminish-
"ing, does but increase!"
THE pleasures which we find in eat-
ing and drinking, we gratefully consi-
der as given by the Creator, to attach
us to those refreshments so necessary to
life. With equal wisdom and gratitude,
let us remember that the heartfelt de-
light which accompanies and succeeds
our deeds of love, were meant to allure
us to cherish that divine affection which
is better than life.
FOR the same benevolent purpose, the
author of our being is pleased to exert
on us the whole force of another power-
ful spring of action; I mean interest.
Our dearest interests in this world are
best promoted, by maintaining a loving
correspondence with our neighbours.
So uncertain is our condition, so liable
E e are 

312 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
are we all to the changes and chances
of this mortal life, that no man can tell
how soon he may owe his very life and
fortune to the gratitude of a poor neigh-
bour or slave who loves him. How
many accounts have we heard of poor
negroes, whose love for a good master
has made them bravely to step in be-
twixt him and danger; sometimes, like
faithful spaniels, plunging in, and draw-
ing him out of deep waters, where he
was in the very act of drowning? Some-
times, like Salamanders, rushing upon
and extinguishing furious fires, that
were destroying his houses, and perhaps
half the labours of his life? And some-
times, like Hectors, fighting with despe-
rate courage in his defence, when at-
tacted, and in danger of being severely
beaten and killed by his enemies?
BUT love not only thus marshals an
army with banners around us for our
safety; 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 313
safety; it also pours a sweet sunshine
of peace and harmony over our days.
ST. PAUL, who was a much safer
guide in matters of religion, than Mr.
Paine, advises us to walk in love with
our neighbours, if we would lead a quiet
and peaceable life. For as men naturally
perceive a fragrance in the rose, and a
sweetness in the honey-comb; so natu-
rally do they discern a heavenly charm
and beauty in love. Adorned therefore
with the friendly dispositions, the fair
dealings, and gentle manners of this di-
vine passion, we shall not fail to find
favour in the eyes of our neighbours,
and to be beloved and caressed by them.
Hence we walk among them as among
brothers, in every face we see a friendly
smile, at every house a hearty welcome,
never devising any mischief against them,
we never dream of their devising any
against us. Our hearts are now at rest,
our countenances are serene, our voices
melodious, 


314 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
melodious, our manners mild, our sleep
sweet, and our whole life quiet and
peaceable: And, as a blessed conse-
quence of all this, together with the
highest enjoyment of the present life, we
are in the best frame of mind to prepare
velours for that which is to come.
Happily freed from the anxiety and vex-
ation of all bad passions, we profitably
contemplate our numberless obligations
to love God and one another, and thus,
in the multitude of our good thoughts,
daily grow in virtue and piety.
BUT all this goodly Canaan, this land
of love, flowing with richest milk and
honey of peace, is snatched from our
eyes by the demon-hand of hatred, and
nought appears in its place but a land
of darkness and of death, whose streams
are of gall, and its fruits of bitter ashes.
BY over-reaching a neighbour in a
bargain (which we shall be too apt to
do if we love him not), we make him
our 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 315
our enemy. Perhaps he has the spirit
to tell us of our baseness to our faces,
or to talk of it behind our backs. This
fires our bosoms with odious and pain-
ful passions. Challenges or law-suits,
with all their ignominious vexations,
hurtful, and often fatal consequences,
ensue.
OR by treating him with unreason-
able severity (a thing very feasible if
we love him not), we enflame his re-
sentment to such an height, that not
content with stabbing our reputation,
he threatens our property and lives.
Our curses now multiply thick and fast
upon our heads. We can no longer
sleep in quiet, from dread of having our
houses fired over our heads. We are
actually afraid (the memory of those
who read may help them to instances)
to stir out, or, like people in the neigh-
bourhood of hostile Indians, must make
E e 2 our

316 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
our visits with pistols in our pockets,
and carabines in our hands.
THUS, through defect of love, we are
often dragged upon the stage against
our wills, and there made to act parts
in tragedies, which neither become nor
please us. Our thoughts taken off from
all delightful subjects, are turned to so-
licitous cares of self-preservation and de-
fence. Our minds are discomposed by
vexatious passions. Our credit is blast-
ed by false reports and slanderous defa-
mations. Our hearts are kept continu-
ally boiling with choler, our faces over-
clouded with discontent, our ears filled
with discordant noises of contradiction,
clamor and reproach; and our whole
frame of body and soul distempered with
the worst of passions. In the meantime
our natural rest is disturbed, our necessa-
ry business is hindred, our happiness in
this life is utterly wretched and lost,
and the great concerns of heaven and
eternal 

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 317
eternal glory are entirely laid aside. O
how much better it is to walk in the
smooth and flowery paths of love, than
thus to wander in the rugged ways of
hatred, overgrown with briars, and be-
set with snares; to sail gently down
the course of life on the silver current
of friendship, than to be tossed on the
tempestuous sea of contention; to be-
hold the lovely face of heaven smiling
with a cheerful serenity, than to see it
frowning with clouds or raging with
storms! How much a peaceful state re-
sembles heaven, into which no strife nor
clamor ever enter, but where blessed
souls converse together in perfect love,
and perpetual concord! And how a
condition of enmity resembles hell, that
black and dismal region of dark hatred,
fiery wrath, and horrible tumult! How
like a paradise the world would be flou-
rishing in joy and rest, if men would
but cheerfully conspire in love, and ge-
nerously 

318 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
nerously contribute to each others good:
and how like a savage wildness it now
is, when like wild beasts, they vex and
persecute, worry and devour each o-
ther.
AND to conclude, let us remember,
that "Love shall never fail," and that,
the man of love "shall be had in ever-
lasting remembrance, and his memory shall
be blessed." No spices can so embalm a
man, no monument can so preserve his
name, as works of love. The renown
of power, of wit, and of learning, may
rest on the minds of men with some
admiration; but the remembrance of
love reigns in their hearts with sincerest
affection, there erecting trophies trium-
phant over death and oblivion. The
good man's very dust is fragrant, and
his grave venerable. His name is never
mentioned without the tribute of a sigh,
and loud acclamations of praise. And
even when he is gone hence, and in per-
son 

319 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
son is no more seen, he remains visible
in the footsteps and fruits of his good-
ness. The poor man beholds him in
the comfortable subsistence which he
still receives from his bounty. The
sick man feels him in the refreshments
which he yet enjoys from his charity.
He survives in the hearts of the afflicted,
who still remember the services which
he rendered them so cheerfully. And
his weeping friends dry up their tears
when they think of his virtues, the rich
fruits of which they  doubt not, he is
now enjoying in a better world. His
memory shall likewise endure forever, in
the favor of God, and in those glorious
rewards which he will bestow upon him
for his love to his brethren. God will
not forget his labour of love, but will raise
him up after the short slumbers of the
grave, to receive that unfading crown,
and that precious pearl of eternal life;—
"Well done good and faithful servant,—I
was

320 THE IMMORTAL MENTOR.
was hungry and you gave me food, I was
thirsty and you gave me drink, naked was
I and you cloathed me, sick and in prison
and you visited me, enter now into the joy
of your lord."
THUS, when all the flashes of sensual
pleasure are quite extinct; when all the
flowers of secular glory are withered
away; when all earthly treasures are
buried in darkness; when this world
with all its fashions are utterly vanished
and gone, the good man's state will be
still firm and flourishing, and his righte-
ousness shall endure for ever.
IF then you would be happy indeed;
happy in every condition, and in the
discharge of every duty; happy in life
and in death; happy in this world and
in that which is to come; learn to
LOVE.
"THIS having learnt, thou hast at-
"tained the sum of wisdom. Hope no
"higher, though all the stars thou
"knowest

THE IMMORTAL MENTOR. 321
"knowest by name, and all the etherial
"powers; all secrets of the deep; all
"nature's works, or works of God in
"heaven, earth, air, or sea; and all
"the riches of this world enjoyedst,
"and all that rule one empire. Only
"add deeds to thy knowledge answer-
"able. Add faith, add virtue, patience,
"temperance; add LOVE, the soul of
"all the rest; then shall thou not be
"loath to leave this world, but shalt in-
"herit a world that's happier far."
MILTON.
FINIS.