tion, in polite Company, a religious Truth, or a Text of Scripture; the pretty Chat, though ever fo profufely flowing, stagnates in an Inftant. Each voluble and facetious Tongue feems to be struck with a fudden Palfy. Every one wonders at the ftrange Man's Face; and they all conclude Him, either mad, or a Methodist. Afp. Agreeable Strokes of Wit, are by no Means incompatible with useful Converfation. Unless we mistake an infipid Vivacity, or fantaftic Levity, for Wit and Facetiousness.—Neither have I heard, that, among all our Acts of Parliament, any one has paffed to divorce Good Senfe and Good-humour. Why may they not both refide on the fame Lips, and both circulate through the fame Affembly?—For my own Part, I would neither have our Difcourfe foured with Aufterity, nor evaporate into Impertinence: but unite (as a judicious Antient advises) the Benefits of Improvement, with the Blandishments of Pleasantry *.-And as to your polite People; if they can find more Mufic, in the Magpie's Voice, than in the Nightingale's Note; I must own myself as much furprised at their Ears, as they are at the strange Man's Face. Ther. With all your grey-headed Authorities, I fanfy, You will find very few Profelytes, among the Profeffors of modern Refinement. Fashion * Cum quadam Illecebrâ ac Voluptate utiles. Aul. Gel. Fashion is, with the World, the Standard of Morals, as well as of Clothes. And He must be of a very peculiar Turn indeed, who would choose to be ridiculous in either. Afp. Rather, Theron, He must be of a very pliant Turn, who tamely delivers up his Conduct, to be moulded by a Fashion; which has neither true Elegance to dignify it, nor the leaft Usefulness to recommend it. And which, I befeech You, is most ridiculous?-He, who fervilely imitates every idle Fashion, and is the very Ape of corrupt Cuftom?-Or He, who afferts his native Liberty; and refolutely follows, where Wisdom and Truth lead the Way. Ther. Would you then obtrude religious Difcourse, upon every Company? Confider, Afpafio, what a motley Figure this would make.A Wedding, and a Sermon !-Quadrille, and St. Paul! The last new Play, and primitive Christianity! Afp. You know the Rule, Theron, which is given by the great "MASTER of our Affemblies;" Caft not your Pearls before Swine *. Some there are, fo immerfed in Senfuality, that they can relish nothing, but the coarsest Husks of Converfation. To thefe, neither offer your Pearls, nor prostitute your Intimacy. But, *Matt. vii. 6. But, when Perfons of a liberal Education, and elevated Sentiments-when these meet together; why fhould not their Difcourfe be fuitable, to the Eminence of their Rank, and the Superiority of their Genius? Raised, far above the Level of that trite and effeminate Strain-" Upon my Honour, the Actress topt "her Part. Heavens! How charmingly fhe "fung! How gracefully fhe trod the Stage!" Ther. Indeed, my Afpafio, I am intirely in your Way of Thinking; however I have hitherto put on the Mask.-The Gift of Speech, is one great Prerogative of our rational Nature. And 'tis Pity, that such a superior Faculty, should be debased to the meanest Purposes. Suppofe, all our ftately Veffels, that pafst and repafs the Ocean, were to carry out nothing but Tinfel, and theatrical Decorations; were to import nothing but glittering Baubles, and nicely-fanfied Toys. Would such a Method of Trading, be well-judged in itself, or beneficial in its Confequences?—Articulate Speech, is the Inftrument of a much nobler Commerce; intended to tranfmit and diffufe the Treasures of the Mind. And will not the Practice be altogether as injudicious, must not the Iffue be infinitely more detrimental, if this Vehicle of intellectual Wealth, is freighted only with pleafing Fopperies? Afp. Afp. Such Folly and Extravagance, would be hiffed out of the commercial World. Why then are they admitted and cherished in the Social? Ther. Why indeed? He must be far more acute than your Theron, who can assign a fingle Reason to countenance them. To explode them, ten thousand Arguments occur.-A continual Round of gay and trifling Conversation*, of Vifits quite modish, and Entertainments not moral, must give an indolent Turn to the Mind. Such as will enervate its Powers; indifpofe it for generous Action; and gradually sap very Foundation of Virtue.-Whereas, a frequent Conference on the Glories of the GODHEAD, or the Wonders of Creation, would invigorate and ennoble the Soul. Would enlarge her Faculties, and elevate her Defires. the Afp. Did not our Hearts burn within us, faid the Travelers at Emmaus, while HE talked with us by the Way? Thofe Difcourfes, 'tis true, were conducted with a Spirit, and enforced with an Energy, abfolutely unequalled. Yet, the fame happy Effects would, in fome inferior Degree, * The Significancy and Importance of fuch Conversation, was fmartly reprefented by the Philofopher. Who, being afked, How he left the Company employed, made Answer Some in milking the Ram, Others in holding the Pail. + Luke xxiv. 32. Degree, refult from our friendly Conferences, if they turned upon the fame important Points. We also should feel our Hearts, warmed with holy Zeal, and glowing with heavenly Love. Ther. Such Conferences would not only be productive of present Advantage; but yield a renewed Pleasure, in the Retrospect. We might reflect, with real Complacency, on Hours fpent in fo rational a Manner. And who would not prefer the filent Applause of the Heart, to all thofe tumultuous Joys; which wanton Jefts create, or the circling Glass infpires? Afp. One, who thoroughly knew Mankind, and had tried the Merits of the jovial Board, very pertinently compares fuch Flashes of Mirth, to the Crackling of Thorns under a Pot. The tranfient Blaze of the One, and the fenfeless Noife of the Other, continue but for a Moment; and then expire, that in Smoke and Darkness, this in Spleen and Melancholy. I faid, Spleen and Melancholy.-For, however jauntee and alert the various Methods of modish Trifling may feem, whatever Ease and Grace they are supposed to give the Converfation; fure I am, it will be afflictive, to look back upon Interviews, fquandered away in very Vanity; and shocking, to look forward upon * King Solomon. + Ecclef. vii. 6. the |