were furrounded. As the followers of EDUCATION did not appear fenfible of the presence of thefe dangerous affociates, or, ridiculing their diminutive fize, did not think it poffible that human beings fhould ever be brought into fubjection by fuch feeble enemies, they generally heard her precepts of vigilance with wonder; and, when they thought her eye withdrawn, treated them with contempt. Nor could I myself think her cautions fo neceffary as her frequent inculcations feemed to fuppofe, till I obferved that each of thefe petty beings held fecretly a chain in her hand, with which The prepared to bind those whom the found within her power. Yet thefe HABITS, under the eye of EDUCATION, went quietly forward, and feemed very little to increase in bulk or ftrength; for though they were always willing to join with APPETITE, yet, when EDUCATION kept them apart from her, they would very punctually obey command, and make the narrow roads in which they were confined easier and smoother.

It was obfervable, that their ftature was never at a ftand, but continually growing or decreafing, yet not always in the fame proportions; nor could I forbear to express my admiration, when I faw in how much less time they generally gained than loft bulk. Though they grew flowly in the road of EDUCATION, it might however be perceived that they grew; but if they once deviated at the call of APPETITE, their ftature foon became gigantic; and their ftrength was fuch, that EDUCATION pointed out to her tribe many that were led in chains by them, whom he could never more rescue from their flavery. She pointed them out, but with little effect; for all her pupils appeared confident of their own superiority to the strongest HABIT, and fome seemed in fecret to regret that they were hindered from following the triumph of APPETIite.

It was the peculiar artifice of HABIT not to suffer her power to be felt at firft. Those whom the led, the had the addrefs of appearing only to attend, but was continually doubling her chains upon her companions;

which were fo flender in themselves, and so filently fastened, that while the attention was engaged by other objects, they were not easily perceived. Each link grew tighter as it had been longer worn; and when by continual additions they became fo heavy as to be felt, they were very frequently too strong to be broken.

When EDUCATION had proceeded in this manner to the part of the mountain where the declivity began to be craggy, the refigned her charge to two powers of superior afpect. The meaner of them appeared capable of prefiding in fenates, or governing nations, and yet watched the fteps of the other with the most anxious attention, and was vifibly confounded and perplexed if ever she suffered her regard to be drawn away.

The

other feemed to approve her submission as pleasing, but with fuch a condescension as plainly fhewed that she claimed it as due: and indeed fo great was her dignity and sweetness, that he who would not reverence, must not behold her.

"Theodore," said my protector, "be fearless, and be "wife; approach these powers, whofe dominion ex"tends to all the remaining part of the Mountain of "Existence." I trembled, and ventured to address the inferior nymph, whofe eyes, though piercing and awful, I was not able to fuftain. "Bright power," said I,

by whatever name it is lawful to addrefs thee, tell "me, thou who prefideft here, on what condition thy "protection will be granted?" "It will be granted, faid he, "only to obedience. I am REASON, of all fubordinate beings the nobleft and the greatest; "who, if thou wilt receive my laws, will regard thee

like the rest of my votaries, by conducting thee to "RELIGION." Charmed by her voice and aspect, I profeffed my readiness to follow her. She then prefented me to her mistress, who looked upon me with tenderness. I bowed before her, and fhe smiled.

When EDUCATION delivered up thofe for whose happinefs fhe had been fo long folicitous, the feemed to expect that they fhould exprefs fome gratitude for her

care

care, or fome regret at the lofs of that protection which fhe had hitherto afforded them. But it was easy to discover, by the alacrity which broke out at her departure, that her prefence had been long difpleafing, and that she had been teaching those who felt in themfelves no want of inftruction. They all agreed in rejoicing that they fhould no longer be fubject to her caprices, or difturbed by her documents, but fhould be now under the direction of REASON, to whom they made no doubt of being able to recommend themselves by a fteady adherence to all her precepts. REASON counfelled them, at their firft entrance upon her province, to enlist themselves among the votaries of RELI GION; and informed them, that if they trufted to her alone, they would find the fame fate with her other admirers, whom she had not been able to secure against APPETITE and PASSION, and who, having been seized by HABIT in the regions of DESIRE, had been dragged away to the caverns of DESPAIR. Her admonition was vain; the greater number declared against any other direction, and doubted not but by her fuperintendency they should climb with fafety up the Mountain of Existence. My power," faid REASON, "is to advife, not to "compel; I have already told you the danger of your "choice. The path feems now plain and even, but "there are afperities and pitfalls, over which RELIGION "only can conduct you. Look upwards, and you will "perceive a mist before you fettled upon the highest "vifible part of the mountain; a mift by which my "prospect is terminated, and which is pierced only by "the eyes of RELIGION. Beyond it are the temples of "HAPPINESS, in which thofe who climb the precipice "by her direction, after the toil of pilgrimage, repofe "for ever. I know not the way, and therefore can "only conduct you to a better guide. PRIDE has "fometimes reproached me with the narrowness of my "view, but, when the endeavoured to extend it, could "only fhew me, below the mift, the bowers of CON"TENT; even they vanished as I fixed my eyes upon

«them;

" them; and those whom the perfuaded to travel to "wards them were enchaired by HABIT, and ingulfed "by DESPAIR, a cruel tyran, whofe caverns are beyond "the darkness on the right fide and on the left, from "whofe prifons none can efcape, and whom I cannot "teach you to avoid."

Such was the declaration of REASON to those who demanded her protection. Some that recollected the dictates of EDUCATION, finding them now feconded by another authority, fubmitted with reluctance to the ftrict decree, and engaged themfelves among the fol lowers of RELIGION, who were diftinguished by the uniformity of their march, without appearing to regard the profpects which at every ftep courted their

attention.

The Vision of Theodore continued.

LL those who determined to follow either REASON

or RELIGION, were continually importuned to forfake the road, fometimes by the PASSIONS, and fometimes by the APPETITES, of whom both had reafon to boast the fuccefs of their artifices; for fo many were drawn into by-paths, that any way was more populous than the right. The attacks of the APPETITES were more impetuous, thofe of the PASSIONS longe continued. The APPETITES turned their followers directly from the true way, but the PASSIONS marched at first in a path nearly in the fame direction with that of REASON and RELIGION; but deviated by flow degrees, till at last they entirely changed their course. APPETITE

drew afide the dull, and PASSION the sprightly. Of the APPETITES, Luft was the strongeft; and of the PASSIONS, Vanity. The most powerful affault was to be feared, when a PASSION and an APPETITE joined their enticements; and the path o? REASON was beft followed, when a PASSION called to one fide, and an APPETITE to the other,

These feducers had the greatest fuccefs upon the followers of REASON, over whom they scarcely ever failed to prevail, except when they counteracted one another. They had not the fame triumphs over the votaries of RELIGION; for though they were often led afide for a time, RELIGION commonly recalled them by her emiffary CONSCIENCE, before HABIT had time to enchain them. But they that profeffed to obey REASON, if once they forfook her, feldom returned; for fhe had no meffenger to fummon them but PRIDE, who generally betrayed her confidence, and employed all her skill to fupport PASSION; and if ever she did her duty, was found unable to prevail, if HABIT had interposed.

I foon found that the great danger to the followers of RELIGION was only from HABIT; every other power

was