158 Pleasure and Happiness-an Allegory. if, on any occasion, Temperance chanced to be absent from her place, she herself (being always subject to fits) fainted away at table, and could never be revived till Temperance brought her restoratives. This signal being given, the whole company rose from table, and immediately repaired to their respective apartments. Those to which Happiness first conducted me, and which formed one extensive wing of the building, were under the superintendance of Industry, that brisk youth on whose arm Happiness leaned when I first saw her; and who was, she told me, (with the exception of Devotion) her nearest relation. This long suit of rooms was vá riously furnished, according to the different rank and circumstances of the inhabitants. Here were to be heard the clatter of machinery, the groans of the engine, the strokes of the hammer, and the roaring of the forge. There were to be seen the implements of husbandry, and the bustle of trade. Further on, I observed countless numbers of females, plying the busy needle. Beyond those, we reached apartments of greater elegance; over which two persons presided of remarkably interesting appearance; called Science and Literature. The former a silver-headed sage, of a mild venerable aspect; before whom, as we approached, I involuntarily made a low prostration. The latter, an ardent, interesting youth, with a fine eye and a pale cheek he wore a wreath of evergreens on his temples, and was attended by all the muses. As we passed bim, I turned to Happiness, and inquired if she did not spend the greatest proportion of her time in this part of her residence? She smiled at the question, and replied, that she was prevented from showing any such partiality, by certain evil genii, which occasionally infested her domains, and which often compelled her to fly from one apartment to another, especially if she had stayed in any of them rather longer than usual. "Here, for instance," said she, "there are two, or three little impertinent demons, called Ambition, Envy, and Irritability, who tease that poor youth sadly, and make him look so pale and wan: for my part I have so great an antipathy to them, that I can never stay in the same room with any of them; so that, I assure you, I am glad sometimes to make my escape from these parts to go yonder and sing among the spinning wheels. There is, however," continued she, "an amiable handmaid of Devotion's, of low stature, called Humility, who has power to charm away these intruders; and when they send her to solicit my return, she never fails to bring me back again." She next led me to the other great wing of the building, where I observed the apartments were fitted up with the greatest attention to comfort and accommodation. Here presided a glowing, warm-hearted, interesting looking creature, called Affection. As we approached she smiled sweetly upon us; but there was a tear in her eye, and something of anxiety in her expression. As I looked into the many rooms which formed this division of the building, I beheld cheerful fires blazing, and small domestic cir cles formed around them. There were smiling mothers, with in Pleasure and Happiness-an Allegory. 159 fants in their arms; and fathers with groups of rosy children climbing their knees; there were brothers and sisters walking band in hand; and hoary heads reclining on youthful bosoms. "This is a pretty sight," said I: "Yes," said Happiness," and perhaps, if I had any preference, it is here that I should most frequently repose. But I must tell you, that these apartments are peculiarly subject to invasion. There is a stern matron called Afliction, wearing a mourning dress, who walks up and down this gallery, and is continually turning in to one or other of the rooms: whenever she appears, I am obliged to retire; but during my absence, Devotion, when applied to, dispatches two gentle handmaids, called Peace and Resignation, who are the most excellent substitutes I could employ. And if they are treated courteously, and made heartily welcome, it is seldom long before I show my face again; and I have heard it remarked, that I never look so healthy, nor wear so cheerful a smile, as after I have been banished for a time by that stern matron. There are some few of these rooms, indeed, where she has been so busy, that I bave never since been able to gain free admittance; I am not even invited to return; they com h plain that my eye is too bright, and my manners too lively; and they find Peace and Resignation more congenial associates, Yet there are times when I steal in unperceived, behind one or other of these handmaids, and enliven their spirits, though they do not suspect lam there. "But the worst enemy these apartments have to dread, is an ugly noisy fiend, called Discord, who occasionally crawls in through some breach, that Charity, (whose business it is to keep the hangings in repair) has left unclosed. When this happens, I fly quite out of hearing and cannot be prevailed upon to return, unless that kind-hearted girl comes with an apology to petition for my re-appearance. As to Affliction, I am far from regarding her as an enemy: she is, in fact, but a faithful ally. You observed the vast numbers that flocked to the palace of Pleasure it is always thus that she succeeds in leading off a large majority. And although comparatively few ever make their escape from her halls, yet, for that few, I am almost entirely indebted to the address of Affliction. Of all the messengers I dispatch with invitations to my abode, none are so successful as she. You would be surprised to hear how many of the inhabitants of this place, have been first driven by her, from the palace of Pleasure, and then led by Devotion to eur quiet valley." The last suit of rooms I visited, was on the upper story; and they presented a very interesting scene. A benignant personage, called Benevolence, presided here. The moment we ascended, I observed that a fresh glow overspread the face of Happiness, and her eyes beamed with more than their wonted effulgence. She met Benevolence with a cordial salutation, though it was but a hasty one; for he declared he had so much business on his hands, that he could not stay even to chat with Happiness. We followed him, however, through several different rooms, where there was much 160 Pleasure and Happiness-an Allegory. to gratify my curiosity. In one, I saw two or three solitary individuals, hard at work in breaking the chains, and unloosing the fetters, from thousands of black men, and warding from their bleeding backs the strokes of the lash, which a whole band of gentlemen-ruffians were attempting to inflict. In another room, there was a small circle of females, surrounded with a crowd of widows and orphans, to whom they distributed coats and garments. In one long apartment I saw thousands of children, of all colours and countries, receiving instruction. And while some were engaged in their tuition, other persons were running to and fro, along the gallery, and up and down the staircase, with piles of Bibles under their arms, which they distributed to every body that passed. "Here," said I, "I should presume no evil powers dare intrude." At that Benevolence shook his head: “In time," said he, we hope to expel them entirely; but I assure you, that if I do but fall to sleep for a few minutes, there are two officious beings, one called Ostentation, the other Party-spirit, who have the impudence to put on my cloak; however," said he, "to confess the truth, these impertinent fellows work very hard, and do a great deal of business for me, so that I sometimes should scarcely know how to get on without them; and till I have more of my own family grown up, I am obliged to wink at their intrusion: sometimes, indeed, I am quite ashamed to see how much more they can accomplish than I do myself." I had now visited all the great divisions of the building, and Happiness said it would be endless to conduct me through every secret passage, and into every retired closet, to which no one had access but herself. When she ceased to speak, I gazed at her and sighed; "Alas!" said I," and is it so, that even your sanctuary is thus liable to invasion, and that those who come to reside under your protection cannot insure your presence for an hour: whither, then, shall I go?" Forbear these murmurings," said she, “and follow me." I did so; and she led me once more to the temple of Devotion. We found the priestess employed in trimming the flame on her altar, which during the light and bustle of day, was, she said, very apt to languish. Happiness told her my complaint, and she thus addressed me: "Know you not, poor mortal," she said, "that although Happiness has been permitted to erect a temporary residence in this valley, it is not her native country; and that she reigns here only by a limited and precarious right. Her paternal mansion is in a higher region; there her reign will be ab solute, and her presence perpetual: and there the inhabitants of this valley will eventually accompany her. From the upper windows of this temple," continued she, "the golden towers of that palace are occasionally visible: when the sky clear and the air serene, I can always distinguish them. Do but look steadily for a time, and you also may perceive them." I turned eyes towards the quarter where Devotion pointed; but a gross pour, rising from the earth, prevented my discerning a single turret. Devotion, however, assured me that she could see them distinctly; and I believed her. Youth's Mag my tearful va THE CHRISTIAN HERALD. Vo... iv.] Saturday, December 6, 1817. [No 11. (Communicated in manuscript for the Christian Herald.) THE EXCELLENCE OF THE CHRISTIAN DISPENSATION, by the Rev. Robert Hall, M. A. of Leicester, (England) Let us remember the dignity of the dispensation under which we live; that it is not the institution of man, but the wise and gracious plan of GoD, to make us happy. With this view he raised up the people of the Jews, kept them distinct from all others, and gave them such a portion of knowledge as might, in due time, prepare for the display of the Gospel. With this view, a succession of priests was kept up, the eye of prophecy was enlightened, and the hand of Omnipotence stretched forth. After thus preparing the way. our great Redeemer himself appeared upon earth; lived in bumiliation and sorrow, and died in agony and disgrace. During the time of his personal ministry, he had every attestation of Deity in his favour, and the power of God was often exerted in a most signal manner. After his ascension, a larger measure of kuowledge and power was given to his disciples than had been afforded them before. They asserted his character, and affirined that he had risen from the dead, in the very place in which he had been crucified. They were endued with a miraculous skill in tongues, for the very purpose of spreading the Gospel through the different parts of the world and with what success they did it, and how, in the face of danger and of death, they maintained their cause, whilst many of them perished in their sufferings, is well known, and will draw tears of admiration and gratitude from all succeeding ages. When we see the Saviour descending from Heaven as a witness for God, and behold his sufferings and death, we cannot help being astonished at so stupendous a scene, and inquiring into the purpose it was intended to accomplish. One, among many other great ends which are answered by it, is the removing the ignorance and error in which we are by nature involved, and giving us the knowledge of God and our true happiness. If there be a moral governor of the world, it must be of great importance to know upon what terms we stand with him, and what expectations we may form from him. A sober reflecting man could scarcely feel himself at ease, till he has attained to some certainty in points of so much consequence; and yet how little information we can derive from reason in inquiries of this nature, may be seen from the experience of past ages, and those the most enlightened and refined; who, after all their researches, lave not been able to come to any agreement, or to gain any satisfaction. We may discover by the light of nature the existence of a being who is possessed of all possible perfection. The works of God sufficiently display his wisdom, power, and goodness; but with respect to the applicacation of these in any particular instance, it leaves us entirely at a loss. We have no measure which we can apply to the opera L 162 The Excellence of the Christian Dispensation, tions of an infinite mind: and, therefore, though we may be assured the Divine Being possesses all the attributes which compose supreme excellence, it is impossible for us to say in particular instances what path of conduct may best consist with those perfections in their most extensive operation. Indeed, to discover, not only the leading attributes of the divine nature, but to be acquainted before hand with every direction they will take, would be fully to comprehend the most High. When, therefore, without the aid of revelation, we attempt to foretell the dispensations of the Almighty, we are lost in amaze, and are obliged to rest in vague and uncertain conjectures. This holds true more especially when applied to the conduct of Providence with respect to only a small part of creation. In this case our uncertainty is doubled, since we know that all the works of God form one vast system, and that the regulation of the parts must be subservient to the administration of the whole. But this situation is ours. Confined to a point in our existence, and limited in our ideas, we cannot tell what relation we bear to other beings, or how it may seem fit to Divine Providence to dispose of us in relation to those higher and more ultimate designs which are continually carrying on. Our meaning may be illustrated by the following instance. It is certain that the Divine Being is in the greatest degree compassionate and good; but if a number of creatures render themselves unhappy by a wilful rebellion against him, a singular instance would arise. It would be impossible to say whether the exercise of compassion here would best comport with the highest goodness and the greatest happiness in the general administration of Providence, because no one could trace every relation which the parts bear to the whole. This you will perceive is a case entirely to the point, for disorder has entered into the world. It is evident things are turned out of their natural and original channel, that they are not what they have been, nor what they ought to be. Men have corrupted their way. A change so singular in the creation, a situation so striking, and so little to be apprehended under the government of a holy and perfect being, naturally leads us to look for a revolution in the dispensations of Providence. In such a state some new and awful interposition of the divine hand might well be expected There is something at the same time in the idea of having provoked the displeasure of God, when seriously thought of, too heavy for the heart of man to bear. We cannot leave his presence, we cannot resist his power, we cannot evade his stroke. Hence mankind in all ages have had their fears awakened, and have taken a gloomy survey of a hereafter. They saw death busy around them, carrying their fellow-creatures out of their sight. Anxious and fearful for themselves, they sought for them in the dreams of poetic illusion, and followed them in the gloomy visions of unenlightened fancy. They found that life was filled with vanity and sorrow, they knew not but death would extinguish their existence, or transmit them to still greater misery. They had just light enough dimly to show them the Judge of the Universe, seat |