fion yet unfatisfied, it must certainly be ambition: that though in general it was an irregular appetite, which in most cafes 'twas dangerous to gratify, yet in effect 'twas only fo far criminal, as the power which is acquired was perverted to bad and vicious purpofes, which it was not likely to be here, from the specimen she had already given of her difpofition, which fhewed that if she did with for an increase of wealth or honour, the wished it only, as it would enable her more generously to extend her arm in kind offices, and increase the power as well as the opportunities of doing good.

In juftice to Elifha's motive, which must have been good, we must fuppofe he confidered his offer in this light; and

what principally led him to propose it, was the great interest which he had with the king of Ifrael at that time, which he had merited by a fignal service; and as he had no views for himself, he thought it could not be employed fo well as in eftablishing the fortune of one, whofe virtue might be fo fafely trufted with it. It was a juftifiable prepoffeffion in her favour,--though one, not always to be relied on; for there is many a one who in a moderate station, and with a leffer degree of power, has behaved with honour and unblemished reputation, and who has even borne the buffetings of adverse fortune well, and manifested great prefence and ftrength of mind under it, whom nevertheless a high exaltation has at once overcome, and fo entirely changed, as if the party had left

not

not only his virtue, but even himfelf.behind him.

Whether the Shunamite dreaded to make this dangerous experiment of herfelf,-or, which is more likely, that she had learned to fet bounds to her defires, and was too well fatisfied with her prefent condition to be tempted out of it, fhe declines the offer in the clofe of the text:-" I dwell amongst my own people;" as if he had faid, "The intended kindness is far from being small, but it is not useful to me; I live here, as thou art a witness, in peace, in a contented obfcurity;-not fo high as to provoke envy,, nor fo low as to be trodden down and despised. In this fafe and middle ftate, as I have lived amongst my own people, fo let me die out of the reach, both of the cares and glories of the world.———

VOL. II.

'Tis fit, O holy man of God! that I learn fome time or other to fet bounds to my defires, and if I cannot fix them now, when I have already more than my wants require, when fhall I hope to do it ?Or how fhould I expect, that even this increase of honour or fortune would fully fatisfy and content my ambition, should I now give way to it?"

So engaging an inftance of unaffected moderation and felf-denial, deferves well to be confidered by the buftlers in this world; because if we are to trust the face and courfe of things, we scarce fee any virtue fo hard to be put in practice, and which the generality of mankind feem fo unwilling to learn, as this of knowing when they have enough, and when it is time to give over their worldly pursuits.-Aye.! but nothing

is more eafy, you will anfwer, than to fix this point, and fet certain bounds to it.

"For my own part, you will fay, I declare, I want and would wish no more, but a fufficient competency of those things, which are requifite to the real ufes and occafions of life, fuitable to the way I have been taught to expect from use and education."-But recollect how feldom it ever happens, when these points are fecured, but that new occafions and new neceffities prefent themselves, and every day as you grow richer, fresh wants are discovered, which rife up before you, as you afcend the hill; fo that every step you take, every acceffion to your fortune, fet your defires one degree farther from reft and fatisfaction;--that fomething you have not yet grafped, and poffibly never fhall;--that devil of a phantom unpoffeffed and unpoffeffable is L 2

per