re ascribe most of the agreeable, to the love of action we
may attribute most of the useful and respectable, qualifications. The
character in which both the one and the other should be united and
harmonized, would seem to constitute the most perfect idea of human
nature. The insensible and inactive disposition, which should be
supposed alike destitute of both, would be rejected, by the common
consent of mankind, as utterly incapable of procuring any happiness to
the individual, or any public benefit to the world. But it was not
in this world, that the primitive Christians were desirous of making
themselves either agreeable or useful. *

The acquisition of knowledge, the exercise of our reason or fancy, and
the cheerful flow of unguarded conversation, may employ the leisure of
a liberal mind. Such amusements, however, were rejected with abhorrence,
or admitted with the utmost caution, by the severity of the fathers,
who despised all knowledge that was not useful to salvation, and who
considered all levity of discours eas a criminal abuse of the gift of
speech. In our present state of existence the body is so inseparably
connected with the soul, that it seems to be our interest to taste,
with innocence and moderation, the enjoyments of which that faithful
companion is susceptible. Very different was the reasoning of our devout
predecessors; vainly aspiring to imitate the perfection of angels, they
disdained, or they affected to disdain, every earthly and corporeal
delight. Some of our senses indeed are necessary for our preservation,
others for our subsistence, and others again for our information;
and thus far it was impossible to reject the use of them. The first
sensation of pleasure was marked as the first moment of their abuse. The
unfeeling candidate for heaven was instructed, not only to resist the
grosser allurements of the taste or smell, but even to shut his ears
against the profane harmony of sounds, and to view with indifference the
most finished productions of human art. Gay apparel, magnificent houses,
and elegant furniture, were supposed to unite the double guilt of pride
and of sensuality; a simple and mortified appearance was more suitable
to the Christian who was certain of his sins and doubtful of his
salvation. In their censures of luxury, the fathers are extremely minute
and circumstantial; and among the various articles which excite their
pious indignation, we may enumerate false hair, garments of any