 attain. It is a Happiness for which the immortal Soul is athirst, and, though she finds the whole World no better than an empty Vessel, she is never tired of her Trials and endeavours to drink.
This however was not, altogether, the Case between the World and me, at this Period. I had been so bruised and buffeted and treated with such Severity, and Bitterness, by it; that I neither looked nor wished for any Advantage from it. I, therefore, cast about for some kinder Support; and I said, to myself, as the best Lover of earthly Happiness may say with great Truth; if there is not another State, to which this System of Things is merely preparatory; if there is not some infinite Good to be derived from this World of multiplied Evils; the Author thereof must have been some very malevolent or very petulent Being, who delights in the Misery and Anguish of others; or makes Sport of the Wretchedness of the Creatures of his Power. Neither can Angels or Men, Invention or Reason, any otherwise account for the present calamitous State of mortal Nature.
In these Sentiments, I eagerly applyed, for further Instruction, to those Writings that had brought Life and Immortality to Light. I began at the Creation, and proceeded with the deepest Attention and Delight. Again, another System of Matter and Morals, another World and another God presented themselves before me. But I shall not, here, detain you with an Account of my new Faith, as I may justly call it. For, though I always had held myself, vulgarly speaking, a Christian; I found, on Examination, that I had been wholly a Stranger to the Necessity; as well as Beauty, of the Christian Dispensation; neither had I felt a single Ray of its comforting Influence.
My Wife began now to recover of her Rhumatism, and hoped soon, again, to be able to take in Work. I determined however to be beforehand with her, if possible; for, at this Time, I regarded not how mean or humiliating my Occupation would be, provided I might earn any kind of lawful and honest Bread.
Accordingly, as I rambled in Search of such Employment, I observed a Porter, attending before the Door of a Tavern, clad in an ordinary Frock, with a Belt about his Waste, and an Apron before him. I thereupon went to
Monmouth Street,
and purchased a Uniform for the like Purpose. I then passed through several Streets, till I came to a splendid Tavern, where no Porter was in Waiting. I stepped
