ever, is a Companion of Love. Upon my making fome Hefitation to join the Crowd, the immediately put on such a Frown of Terror, that my Blood ran chill to my Heart; the Slaves of her Retinue too, though fecretly averse to her Tyranny, joined the Menaces that were made against me, till the Fear of being left de-folate and alone, made me add one more to the unhappy Number. We had not proceeded many Paces, before another Angel appeared to us, whofe Afpect was fair and gentle, whose Demeanor was open and delightful, and her Garments were the unfullied Brightness of Heaven. Our Eyes were instantly fixed on this lovely Object, and Joy began to infpire our Hearts. As foon as the Apoftate Sifter, who enthralled us, faw this Miniftrefs of Happiness, the filled the Air with a Mist that obftructed our Sight, and we could behold our Comfort no more; but as Refolution is a Guide to Truth, I and fome few more left this feeming Sorcerefs, and with a loud Voice implored the Affiftance of that other cœleftial Being. Our Prayers were heard, and the Air to

our

our Sight grew ferene and clear again; though the rest of our late Fellow-Sufferers, who durft not relinquish their Errors through Fear, still remained under the Enchantment. Our great Protectress appeared again to us, and spoke in the following Manner: " Happy are you, O "Mortals, to escape from that fell Im

"

poftor, who ufurps my Likeness and "Office, to delude the Unwary. I am "RELIGION, the brightest of Beings un"der the OMNIPOTENT, who conduct "the Good to the Realms of unperishable

Joy. SHE is SUPERSTITION, who leads "them aftray into the Path of Error. I "rule in the Heart, She in Action; and "there is not even one of her Dependants "fo infatuated, but would declare, if

they durft, against her impious Reign. "She has been attended long by a Matron "called CUSTOM, the Fallacy of whose " venerable Countenance entices Mankind "into her Miftrefs's Train, and then "OPINION guards the Entrance against "their Escape. Let her delude those

"mistaken Wretches for a while with "her antick Shows, whilft I lead

you

to

"behold

"behold the Court of unalterable De

light." As foon as she had done speaking, there appeared a glorious Light that extended to the uttermoft Parts of the Earth, and filled our Bofoms with the moft Heavenly Senfation. At a Distance Myriads of cœleftial Inhabitants came flying down, and showered innumerable Bleffings upon us, as we ftood looking up at them. They seemed continually paffing to and from that eternal Source of Light. Whilft we were admiring this ftupendous Scene, one of those divine Meffengers, who had been to comfort our mistaken Brethren, involved in numberlefs Calamities by their deceitful Guide, afcended from them up to the Throne of the MOST HIGH; fhe was called on Earth REPENTANCE, and feemed beautiful even in Tears and Mourning. Not long after another defcended, cloathed in ætherial Mildnefs; the Smiles of Grace beamed from her Eyes, as if the feemed delighted with being charged with the firft Office of Heaven, doing Good; her Name was FORGIVENESS. MERCY went before her Presence, and TRUTH guided

As

her Flight. She had in her Hands the Balm of Comfort, and the more fhe beftowed, the more her Store encreased. On a fudden the Clouds that had hitherto obfcured the reft of our Species, were dispelled, and the Majefty of the SUPREME fhone upon them; at whofe Appearance, the Sorceress that had mifled them, retired again to the native Realms of infernal Darkness, and was feen no more. we were all going to offer up Thankf givings for our Deliverance, I was awakened by the publick Rejoicings for the News of the Succefs of our *Arms. Which Accident, and my preceding Dream, afforded me fufficient Matter for Reflection all the Day after, on the fuperintending Goodness of Providence, which constantly does the beft for Mankind, educing Good and Happiness even out of Evil and Calamities.

* This was written a little after a Victory,

ESSAY

ESSAY VI.

On FRIENDSHIP.

Difpares mores difparia ftudia fequuntur, quorum diffimilitudo diffociat amicitias.

A

TULL. de Amic,

S I am in a great measure an Enthufiaft in regard to that facred Paffion Friendship, nothing fooner raises my Indignation than to hear the Name prostituted upon every trifling Occafion, to the meanest and bafeft Ends; the common Use of which has made it so cheap, that it is at length become a worn-out Note to carry on the Commerce of the World, alike at the Exchange or Newmarket, the Court or the Bear-garden. Men of different Ages, Rank, and Inclinations, indiscriminately herd together; and the Acquaintance of Debauchery and Folly ufurps the Title of Friendship. But what has given me the most Concern is, to observe, even among the Virtuous, a Want of Judgment in this Point, which

has