*
* I allude to various biographical writings, but particularly to
Boswell's Life of Johnson.
With respect to that anxiety to preserve a reputation hardly earned,
which leads sagacious people to analyze it, I shall not make the
obvious comment; but I am afraid that morality is very insidiously
undermined, in the female world, by the attention being turned to
the shew instead of the substance. A simple thing is thus made
strangely complicated; nay, sometimes virtue and its shadow are set at
variance. We should never, perhaps, have heard of Lucretia, had she
died to preserve her chastity instead of her reputation. If we
really deserve our own good opinion we shall commonly be respected
in the world; but if we pant after higher improvement and higher
attainments, it is not sufficient to view ourselves as we suppose that
we are viewed by others, though this has been ingeniously argued, as
the foundation of our moral sentiments.* Because each by-stander may
have his own prejudices, beside the prejudices of his age or
country. We should rather endeavour to view ourselves as we suppose
that Being views us who seeth each thought ripen into action, and
whose judgment never swerves from the eternal rule of right. Righteous
are all his judgments- just as merciful!
* Smith.
The humble mind that seeketh to find favour in His sight, and calmly
examines its conduct when only His presence is felt, will seldom
form a very erroneous opinion of its own virtues. During the still
hour of self-collection the angry brow of offended justice will be
fearfully deprecated, or the tie which draws man to the Deity will
be recognized in the pure sentiment of reverential adoration, that
swells the heart without exciting any tumultuous emotions.
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