"Giv'n and receiv'd; but in disparity "All rational delight.". But it is "the unhappy chance of many men, finding (as Taylor quaintly expresses it,) many inconveniencies upon the mountains of a single life to descend into the vallies of marriage to refresh their troubles; and there they enter into fetters, and are bound to sorrow by the cords of a woman's peevishness; and the worst of the evil is, they have to thank their own folly." But may we not ask, with some degree of indignation, whether justice or humanity can require such an outrageous punishment of mere folly and mistake? Is it not an infliction that we should deprecate falling on the head of the most atrocious criminal? And may we not hope, that amidst the rapid improvement in political science and legislation that the counsels of the wise, and the efforts of the benevolent will prepare an effectual remedy for this evil, which, according to present intitutions, is lengthened to the utmost period of the life of man? Of Milton himself it is no longer necessary to speak either in the language of censure or applause. He has gained the summit of the immortality to which he knew the justice of mankind would one day advance him. But it is impossible to reflect on his noble struggles in the cause of his country with out admiration. He presents to the imagination one of the most sublime and affecting moral spectacles ever exhibited in human nature. 66 My mind," says Coleridge, (and with this quotation I shall close my observations) "is not capable of forming a more august conception, than arises from the contemplation of this great man in his latter days; poor, sick, old, blind, slandered, persecuted "Darkness before, and Danger's voice behind,” in an age in which he was as little understood by the party for whom, as by that against whom he had contended; and among men before whom he strode so far as to dwarf himself by the distance; yet still listening to the music of his own thoughts or if additionally cheered, yet cheered only by the prophetic faith of two or three individuals, he did nevertheless 66 "Argue not Against heaven's hand or will, nor bate a jot From others only do we derive our knowledge that Milton in his latter day had his scorners and detractors; and even in his day of youth and hope, that he had enemies would have been unknown to us, had they not been likewise the enemies of his country." TO THE PARLIAMENT OF ENGLAND, WITH THE ASSEMBLY. If it were seriously asked, (and it would be no untimely question,) renowned parliament, select assembly! who of all teachers and masters, that have ever taught, hath drawn the most disciples after him, both in religion and in manners? it might be not untruly answered, Custom. Though virtue be commended for the most persuasive in her theory, and conscience in the plain demonstration of the spirit finds most evincing; yet whether it be the secret of Divine will, or the original blindness we are born in, so it happens for the most part, that custom still is silently received for the best instructor. Except it be, because her method is B so glib and easy, in some manner like to that vision of Ezekiel rolling up her sudden book of implicit knowledge, for him that will to take and swallow down at pleasure; which proving but of bad nourishment in the concoction, as it was heedless in the devouring, puffs up unhealthily a certain big face of pretended learning, mistaken among cre dulous men for the wholesome habit of soundness and good constitution, but is indeed no other than that swoln visage of counterfeit knowledge and literature, which not only in private mars our education, but also in public is the common climber into every chair, where either religion is preached, or law reported filling each estate of life and profession with abject and servile principles, depressing the high and heaven-born spirit of man, far beneath the condition wherein either God created him, or sin hath sunk him. To pursue the allegory, custom being but a mere face, as echo is a mere voice, rests not in her unaccomplishment, until, by secret inclination, she accorporate herself with error, who, being a blind and serpentine body without a head, willingly accepts what he wants, and supplies what her incompleteness went seeking. Hence it is, that error supports custom-custom countenancés error: and these two between them would persecute and chase away all truth and solid wisdom out of human life, were it not that God, rather than man, once in many ages calls together the prudent and religious counsels of men, deputed to repress the encroachments, and to work off the inveterate blots and |