----Trahit sua quemque voluptas.... Virgil.
It is a fact which can never be successfully controverted, that man,
in every stage of society, is addicted to pleasure; the uncultivated
savage, and the sage philosopher are equally devoted to the
attainment of felicity; are equally desirous to secure a perpetuity
of happiness. The benevolent Creator of the universe seems to have
endowed the human race with faculties peculiarly susceptible of
pleasurable sensations; accordingly it becomes the business of
every one, almost from his first entrance into life, to seek after
such pleasures as are peculiar to the bent of his disposition, and
to avoid every object or pursuit that has a tendency to pain or
disappointment. If, however, all pleasures were in their nature
innocent, and left behind no sting of remorse and anxiety, still man
would inevitably soon feel the approaches of languor, especially
whilst indulging in a round of mere sensual gratifications, and
would earnestly sigh for some more permanent species of felicity; a
felicity which might gently affect his mind, without overpowering
his faculties in such a degree as to produce subsequent pain. But
as the world is now constituted, it becomes the indispensable duty
of the moralist, not only to guard mankind against excess in their
pleasures, but also to warn them against such as are accompanied
with vice and criminality. He therefore is not the true friend of
mankind, who recommends to his fellow beings a continual abstinence
from every gratification, or who would lead them to expect pleasure
from sensual gratifications alone; but he who points out to their
notice, those delights which are most durable, and at the same time,
consistent with the strictest virtue.
It must, without hesitation, be allowed, that religion is the
source of the most exalted happiness that any human being can
enjoy. Religion alone inspires the soul with a perfect dependance
on the goodness and love of the DEITY, and diffuses over the
mind that calmness and serenity, which inevitably proceed from a
reception of his mercy and benevolence, ever manifested towards
all his creatures. All the pleasures of life are so many poisonous
ingredients in our cup, till religion purifies and destroys the
noxious qualities with which they are tainted. Let religion mingle
with our pleasures, and every thing of an evil tendency vanishes
before it. Religion furnishes genius with its noblest theme, and
it affords the fullest employment for all the energies of the
human intellect. But another species of pleasure, most grateful,
and ennobling to the human mind, arises from the exercise of the
understanding in literary pursuits, and in the study and admiration
of the various productions of human genius. A life thus devoted
will afford more real gratification to an uncorrupted mind, than
voluptuousness, with all her allurement, can offer, or than
intemperance, with her bacchanalian crew, has power to bestow. We
may indeed almost venture to assert, that if pure and rational
happiness is any where to be found, except in the temples of
religion, she resides in the studies of the learned, and sweetens
all their labours. The cultivation of a literary taste is the
source of rational and innocent entertainment; it is a powerful
preservative from vice, and contributes to exercise in the soul a
love of virtue. The pleasures of sense are all transitory in their
nature, and have a direct tendency to debase the mind; while on the
contrary, intellectual pursuits, delight us the more we are engaged
in them, and even when their novelty is worn off, they still retain
their charms. From the first period in which man is endowed with
the use of his reasoning faculties, there is a constant struggle
between the animal and intellectual powers. These endeavour to raise
man to a state of immortal felicity, those, to sink and degrade him
to a level with the brutes. Whatever pleasures, therefore, tend to
increase the predominance of reason over the sensual desires, are
favourable to the interests of virtue and religion. The pleasures
of literature are of this nature; they strengthen and invigorate
the faculties of the mind, and render it capable of manly exertion;
they inspire cheerfulness and serenity, and produce an exquisite
gratification to the mental powers; in short, they are as much
superior to any thing of a sensual nature, as the nature of the
human soul is superior to that of the body.
W. M.
Jan. 4th, 1820.