Security? I know your Anfwer will be, That fuch flender Lines will be eafily fill'd up, and are no manner of Defence against the Enemy.

Crit. Right: For, to come out of the Allegory either the Performance is de} fenfible or not; if the first, Protection is needlefs, if the fecond 'tis insufficient: If a Book has not fenfe enough to make its own way, 'tis in vain to call in the Affistance of Quality: If a great Man fhould happen to mifcarry in Print, the Patronage of his Titles would fignifie little: In this cafe he could not cover himself with his Peerage: The Criticks would be fure to prefs through his Privilege, and play their Cenfure upon him: Nero, with all his Legions, could not defend his Fuftian, and ill Poetry, from the Satyr of his Subjects. Upon the whole; if a Man can't be his own Patron, and ftand upon his own Legs, he had better keep clofe, and be quiet: To come abroad like a Cripple, and turn Beggar in the Dedication, is but an odd Contrivance.

Enlab. In my Opinion, as the Fashi on ftands, 'tis no eafy matter to find out proper Perfons for a Dedication; there being, it may be, not many that either deferve the ufual Commendations, or

are

you

are willing to go without them. But I forget my self, and must not detain from your Company any longer: Pray put them in mind that they manage fairly, and don't let fly at random, if 'twere only for their own fakes: A Gun over-charg'd, is apt to recoil: He that pronounces without Thought, and cenfures without Reason, makes an unlucky Discovery of himself; and fhews his Ignorance, and lean Temper at the fame time. Adieu.

OF

OFF

POWER.

P

Ower belongs properly to none but intelligent Beings; and therefore may be defcrib'd a Capacity to remove Impediment, to accomplish Defire, and execute the Orders of the Will. We are powerful only fo far as we can fatisfie our Inclinations. Whenever our Fancy is difobeyed, and our Wishes lie unperformed; we are pafs'd the Limits of our Power, and got out of our Dominions: And here 'tis that the State of Impotence begins. For Defire always proceeds from a Judgment of Advantage; and when the Faculty remains ungratified, tis only becaufe the Object hangs out of reach. Power is the general With both of the Good and Bad. But then they differ very much both in the End, and the Means. The latter defire Power to abuse it. To indulge their Vice, to please their Pride, and fwagger over their Neighbours.

"Tis

61

'Tis fometimes to make a Figure out of publick Misfortune, and do as much Mischief as they can think on. This seems to have been somewhat of Nero's Difpofition: His Empire would have been infipid, had it not made him abfolute in his Frenzy, given him the Opportunity of murthering his Subjects, and setting his Capital on fire. Then as for the Methods of acquiring this Capacity, they are for the fhorteft Way: If the Business lies through Fraud and Rapine, Blood, and Barbarity, they will never drop the Project, but charge thorough. On the other fide, Persons of Probity with their Power enlarg'd, to difcourage Wickedness, to stop the Progrefs of Injustice, and help thofe to right that fuffer wrong.

In fhort, their Wish is to oblige the World, and make Happiness universal: To proportion Station and Defert, and put Vertue in a Poft of Honour. And then as to the Means; no Suggestions of Interest, no Pretences of Neceffity, shall ever make them remove the ancient Land-marks, or break through the Rules of Duty. Befides, they are always moderate and refigned, and acquiefce in the Pleasure of Providence. If 'tis ask'd

why Vertue has no larger a Jurifdiction, and why a good With lies dead so often upon a Man's hand: To this it may be answer'd; that Power is best lodg'd with the fupream Being; that our Views of things are imperfect, and our Wishes not always good when we think them fo.

For instance, 'tis natural to defire we could relieve Want, and cure Diseases when we fee People fuffer: But poffibly those we are thus willing to affift, may be punish'd for their Faults; and can't be reclaim'd any other way; and that their Rescue might prove their Ruine. It may be their Patience is exercis'd, and their Merit put to the Teft; and then to take off the Hardship, is to leffen the Reward.

Thus, if our good Nature was always gratified, the Schemes of Providence must be difturb'd, and the Meafures of Justice broken. At this rate the Wisdom of Heaven must be disappointed, Omnipotence attend Ignorance, and Miracles be wrought for Mistakes. Not but that a kind Wish is a commendable Difpofition, and ought to be push'd forward as far as our Abilities will give leave. To return: Power,is a noble Privilege