(26) CHAPTER Í. NARRATIVE PIECES. SECTION I, No Rank or Poffeffions can make the guilty Mind happy. DIONYSIUS, the tyrant of Sicily, was far from being happy, though he poffeffed great riches, and all the pleasures which wealth and power could procure Damocles, one of his flatterers, deceived by these specious appearances of happiness, took occafion to compliment him on the extent of his power, his treafures, and royal magnificence; and declared that no monarch had ever been greater or happier than Dionyfius." Haft thou a mind, Damocles," fays the King," to tafte this happiness; and to know, by experience, what the enjoyments are, of which thou haft fo high an idea?” Da mocles, with joy, accepted the offer. The King ordered that a royal banquet fhould be prepared, and a gilded fofa, covered with rich embroidery, placed for his favourite. Side-boards, loaded with gold and filver plate of immense value, were arranged in the apartment. Pages of extraordinary beauty were ordered to attend his table, and to obey his commands with the utmost readiness, and the most profound fubmiflion. Fragrant ointments, chaplets of flowers, and rich perfumes, were added to the entertainment. The table was loaded with the moft exquifite delicacies of every kind. 77 3 Damocles, intoxicated with pleasure, fancied himself amongst superior being But in the midft of ? all this happiness, as he lay indulging himself in 2 state, he sees let down from the ceiling, exactly ( over his head, a glittering fword hung by a fingle hair. The fight of impending deftruction put a fpeedy end to his joy and revelling. The pomp of his attendance, the glitter of the carved plate, and the delicacy of the viands, ceafe to afford him any pleasure. He dreads to stretch forth his hand to the table. He throws off the garland of rofes. He haftens to remove from his dangerous fituation; and earnestly entreats the king to restore him to his former humble condition, having no defire to enjoy any longer a happiness fo terrible.. By this device, Dionyfius intimated to Damocles, how miferable he was in the midft of all his treafures; and in poffeffion of all the honours and enjoyments which royalty could bestow. CICERO. SECTION II. Change of external Condition often adverfe to Virtue. In the days of Joram, King of Ifrael, flourished the prophet Elifha. His character was fo eminent, and his fame fo widely fpread, that Benhadad the King of Syria, though an idolater, fent to confult him, concerning the iffue of a diftemper which threatened his life. The meffenger employed on this occafion was Hazael, who appears to have been one of the princes, or chief men, of the Syrian court. Charged with rich gifts from the king, he prefents himself before the prophet; and accofts him in terms of the higheft refpect. During the conference which they held together, Elitha fixed his eye ftedfaftly on the countenance of Hazael; and difcerning, by a prophetic fpirit, his future tyranny and cruelty, he could not contain himself from bursting into a flood of tears. When Hazael, in furprife, inquired into the cause of this fudden emotion, the prophet plainly informs him of the crimes and barbarities, which he forefaw that hereafter he would commit. The, foul of Hazael abhorred, at this time, the thoughts of cruelty. Uncorrupted, as yet, by ambition or greatnefs, his indignation rofe at being thought capable of fuch favage actions, as the prophet had mentioned; and, with much warmth, he replies; "But what? is thy fervant a dog that he fhould do this great thing?" Elifha makes no return, but to point out a remarkable change, which was to take place in his condition; "The Lord hath fhewn me that thou shalt be king over Syria." In courfe of time, all that had been predicted came to pafs. Hazael afcended the throne, and ambition took poffeffion of his heart. "He fmote the children of Ifrael in all their coafts. He oppreffed them during all the days of king Jehoahaz" and, from what is left on record of his actions, he plainly appears to have proved what the prophet forefaw him to be, a man of violence, cruelty, and blood. In this paffage of history, an object is presented, which deferves our ferious attention. We behold a man who, in one ftate of life, could not look upon certain crimes without furprife and horror; who knew fo little of himself, as ta believe it impoffible for him ever to be concerned in committing them; that fame man, by a change of condition, and an unguarded state of mind, transformed in all his fentiments; and as he rose in greatness rifing alfo in guilt; till at last he completed that whole character of iniquity which he once detested. BLAIR. SECTION III. Haman; or, The Mifery of Pride. AHASUERUS, who is fuppofed to be the prince known among the Greek hiftorians by the name of Artaxerxes, had advanced to the chief dignity in his kingdom, Haman, an Amalekite, who inherited all the ancient enmity of his race to the Jewish nation. He appears, from what is recorded of him, to have been a very wicked minister. Raised to greatnefs without merit, he employed his power folely for the gratification of his paffions, 2 As the honours which he poffeffed were next to royal, his pride was every day fed with that fervile homage, which is peculiar to Afiatic courts; and all the fervants of the king proftrated themfelves before him. In the midst of this general adulation, one perfon only ftooped not to Haman. This was Mordecai the Jew; who, knowing this Amalekite to be an enemy to the people of God, and, with virtuous indignation, despifing that infolence of profperity with which he faw him lifted up, "bowed not, nor did him reverence.” this appearance of difrefpect from Mordecai, Hawas full of wrath: but he thought scorn to man Oa lay hands on Mordecai alone." Perfonal revenge was not fufficient to fatisfy him. So violent and black were his paffions, that he refolved to exterminate the whole nation to which Mordecai belonged. Abufing, for this cruel purpofe, the favour of his credulous fovereign, he obtained a decree to be fent forth, that, against a certain day, all the Jews throughout the Perfian dominions fhould be put to the sword. Meanwhile, confident of fuccefs, and blind to approaching ruin, he continued exulting in his profperity. Invited by Ahafuerus to a royal banquet, which Efther the queen had prepared, "he went forth that day joyful, and with a glad heart." But behold how flight an incident was fufficient to poison his joy! As he went forth, he faw Mordecai in the king's gate; and obferved, that he ftill refufed to do him homage: "He stood not up, nor was moved for him;" although he well knew the formidable defigns, which Haman was preparing to execute. One private man, who defpifed his greatnefs, and difdained fubmiffion, while a whole kingdom trembled before him; one fpirit, which the utmost ftretch of his power could neither fubdue nor humble, blafted his triumphs. His whole foul was fhaken with a ftorm of paffion. Wrath, pride, and defire of revenge, rofe into fury. With difficulty he restrained himself in public; but as foon as he came to his own houfe, he was forced to difclofe the agony of his mind. He gathered towith Zerefh his gether his friends and family, wife. "He told them of the glory of his riches," and the multitude of his children, and of all the things wherein the king had promoted him; and |