RURAL PHILOSOPHY.

PART IV.

IN WHICH A COMMON OBJECTION AGAINST A LIFE OF RETIREMENT, NAMELY, THAT IT DESTROYS

OR

DIMINISHES USEFULNESS, IS PARTICULARLY CON

SIDERED.

SECTION I.

Containing some Remarks on the Utility arising from Public Station.

THAT to withdraw from the world is the way to become less serviceable, if not absolutely useless, is a notion which carries so much appearance of truth, that we ought not to wonder, if men who venture upon such a step, usually incur the censure of those who still maintain their post in society. To moderate this cen

sure, which I apprehend is often too severe, I would submit to the consideration of these more active citizens, a few remarks on the utility of their own occupations; and should this appear to be, in many cases, very equivocal, and, in general, to be much less than they have imagined, such a discovery may help to increase their candour towards those who prefer more retired

situations.

Utility has respect to an end, and implies means adapted to its attainment. The end may be good or evil. In the latter case, the term useful is predicated of the means with less propriety, as they can only merit this character, when, besides their lawfulness in themselves, they are directed to a good purpose.

The chief and ultimate end of man, is to please God; and to please him, we must conform to his will; and his will is that we should be holy and happy. Virtue then, (according to the extensive mean

ing in which we take the word,) and virtuous happiness, are the great ends to which we should direct our endeavours; and every mean which may contribute to their accomplishment is properly ranked under the head of utility, provided it be allowable in its own nature: for it requires as much to be considered that no goodness of the end can sanctify any wrong means which are made use of to promote it, as that no end can be good which is not favourable to the cause of virtue and happiness.

Having premised these principles, let us now endeavour to apply them in the case before us.

It is evidently a great part of the business of the world, to provide food and clothing for the body; and, so far as this provision is needful, to supply the necessities and modest conveniencies of nature, and to mark that subordination which must subsist in every well regulated com

munity, neither reason nor religion reclaim against it. Such, however, is the present corrupt state of mankind, that it is difficult to provide for their wants, and not to feed their luxuries; or to furnish them with the proper distinctions of the place which they hold in society, and not to minister at the same time to their vanity. And though the honest tradesman is not answerable for such abuses, he has reason to lament them as a blot and disparagement to his calling.

The like apology cannot be made for those whose business it is, at least in part, studiously to hold out temptations to such abuses, and to minister directly to pride and luxury. So far as any occupation is employed to gratify the appetites at the expence of health or innocence, or to adorn the body to the prejudice of feminine modesty, or of manly grace and dignity, it certainly cannot be numbered amongst those useful arts which are necessary to preserve the due gradations of