In the next Place we should consider, though the Evil we imagine should come to pass, it may be much more supportable than it appeared to be.  As there is no prosperous State of Life without its Calamities, so there is no Adversity without its Benefits, Ask the Great and Powerful, if they do not feel the Pangs of Envy and Ambition.  Enquire of the Poor and Needy, if they have not tasted the Sweets of Quiet and Contentment.  Even under the Pains of Body; the Infidelity of Friends; or the Misconstructions put upon our laudable Actions, our Minds (when for some Time accustomed to these Pressures) are sensible of secret Flowings of Comfort, the present Reward of a pious Resignation.  The Evils of this Life appear like Rocks and Precipices, rugged and barren at a Distance, but at our nearer Approach, we find little fruitful Spots, and refreshing Springs, mixed with the Harshness and Deformities of Nature.

In the last Place, we may comfort our selves with this Consideration; that, as the Thing feared may not reach us, so we may not reach what we fear:  Our Lives may not extend to that dreadful Point which we have in View.  He who knows all our Failings, and will not suffer us to be tempted beyond our Strength, is often pleased in his tender Severity, to separate the Soul from its Body and Miseries together.

If we look forward to him for Help, we shall never be in Danger of falling down those Precipices which our Imagination is apt to create.  Like those who walk upon a Line, if we keep our Eye fixed upon one Point, we may step forward securely; whereas an imprudent or cowardly Glance on either Side will infallibly destroy us.

[Footnote 1:  Wisd. xvii. passim.]

[Footnote 2:  Horace, Bk III.  Od. 3.]

* * * * *

No. 616.  Friday, November 5, 1714.

  ‘Qui bellus homo est, Cotta, pusillus homo est.’

  Martial.

Cicero hath observed, that a Jest is never uttered with a better Grace, than when it is accompanied with a serious Countenance.  When a pleasant Thought plays in the Features, before it discovers it self in Words, it raises too great an Expectation, and loses the Advantage of giving Surprize.  Wit and Humour are no less poorly recommended by a Levity of Phrase, and that kind of Language which may be distinguished by the Name of Cant.  Ridicule is never more strong, than when it is concealed in Gravity.  True Humour lies in the Thought, and arises from the Representation of Images in odd Circumstances, and uncommon Lights.  A pleasant Thought strikes us by the Force of its natural Beauty; and the Mirth of it is generally rather palled, than heightened by that ridiculous Phraseology, which is so much in Fashion among the Pretenders to Humour and Pleasantry.  This Tribe of Men are like our Mountebanks; they make a Man a Wit, by putting him in a fantastick Habit.

Our little Burlesque Authors, who are the Delight of ordinary Readers, generally abound in these pert Phrases, which have in them more Vivacity than Wit.