DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3689#0112
no zA Serious Call to
But you will perhaps say, that the ridiculous, restless life of
Flatus, is not the common state of those who resign themselves
up to live by their own humours, and neglect the strict rules of
religion ; and that therefore it is not so great an argument of the
happiness of a religious life, as I would make it.
I answer, that I am afraid it is one of the most general
characters in life; and that few people can read it, without
seeing something in it that belongs to themselves. For where
shall we find that wise and happy man, who has not been
eagerly pursuing different appearances of happiness, sometimes
thinking it was here, and sometimes there ?
And if people were to divide their lives into particular stages,
and ask themselves what they were pursuing, or what it was
which they had chiefly in view, when they were twenty years old,
what at twenty-five, what at thirty, what at forty, what at fifty,
and so on, till they were brought to their last bed ; numbers of
people would find, that they had liked, and disliked, and pursued
as many different appearances of happiness, as are to be seen in
the life of Flatus.
And thus it must necessarily be, more or less, with all those
who propose any other happiness, than that which arises from a
strict and regular piety.
But Secondly, let it be granted, that the generality of people are
not of such restless, fickle tempers as Flatus; the difference then
is only this, Flatus is continually changing and trying something
new, but others are content with some one state; they do not
leave gaming, and then fall to hunting. But they have so much
steadiness in their tempers, that some seek after no other happi-
ness, but that of heaping up riches ; others grow old in the
sports of the field; others are content to drink themselves to
death, without the least inquiry after any other happiness.
Now is there anything more happy, or reasonable, in such a life
as this, than in the life of Flatus? Is it not as great and
desirable, as wise and happy, to be constantly changing from one
thing to another, as to be nothing else but a gatherer of money, a
hunter, a gamester, or a drunkard, all your life ?
Shall religion be looked upon as a burden, as a dull and
melancholy state, for calling men from such happiness as this, to
live according to the laws of God, to labour after the perfection
of their nature, and prepare themselves for an endless state of
joy and glory in the presence of God ?
But turn your eyes now another way, and let the trifling joys,
the gewgaw-happiness of Feliciana, teach you how wise they are,
what delusion they escape, whose hearts and hopes are fixed
npon an happiness in God.
But you will perhaps say, that the ridiculous, restless life of
Flatus, is not the common state of those who resign themselves
up to live by their own humours, and neglect the strict rules of
religion ; and that therefore it is not so great an argument of the
happiness of a religious life, as I would make it.
I answer, that I am afraid it is one of the most general
characters in life; and that few people can read it, without
seeing something in it that belongs to themselves. For where
shall we find that wise and happy man, who has not been
eagerly pursuing different appearances of happiness, sometimes
thinking it was here, and sometimes there ?
And if people were to divide their lives into particular stages,
and ask themselves what they were pursuing, or what it was
which they had chiefly in view, when they were twenty years old,
what at twenty-five, what at thirty, what at forty, what at fifty,
and so on, till they were brought to their last bed ; numbers of
people would find, that they had liked, and disliked, and pursued
as many different appearances of happiness, as are to be seen in
the life of Flatus.
And thus it must necessarily be, more or less, with all those
who propose any other happiness, than that which arises from a
strict and regular piety.
But Secondly, let it be granted, that the generality of people are
not of such restless, fickle tempers as Flatus; the difference then
is only this, Flatus is continually changing and trying something
new, but others are content with some one state; they do not
leave gaming, and then fall to hunting. But they have so much
steadiness in their tempers, that some seek after no other happi-
ness, but that of heaping up riches ; others grow old in the
sports of the field; others are content to drink themselves to
death, without the least inquiry after any other happiness.
Now is there anything more happy, or reasonable, in such a life
as this, than in the life of Flatus? Is it not as great and
desirable, as wise and happy, to be constantly changing from one
thing to another, as to be nothing else but a gatherer of money, a
hunter, a gamester, or a drunkard, all your life ?
Shall religion be looked upon as a burden, as a dull and
melancholy state, for calling men from such happiness as this, to
live according to the laws of God, to labour after the perfection
of their nature, and prepare themselves for an endless state of
joy and glory in the presence of God ?
But turn your eyes now another way, and let the trifling joys,
the gewgaw-happiness of Feliciana, teach you how wise they are,
what delusion they escape, whose hearts and hopes are fixed
npon an happiness in God.