V. Unnumbered Comforts to my Soul
          Thy tender Care bestow’d,
        Before my infant Heart conceiv’d
          From whom those Comforts flow’d.

  VI.  When in the slippery Paths of Youth
          With heedless Steps I ran,
        Thine Arm unseen convey’d me safe
          And led me up to Man.

  VII.  Through hidden Dangers, Toils, and Deaths,
          It gently clear’d my Way,
        And through the pleasing Snares of Vice,
          More to be fear’d than they.

  VIII.  When worn with Sickness oft hast thou
          With Health renew’d my Face,
        And when in Sins and Sorrows sunk
          Revived my Soul with Grace.

  IX.  Thy bounteous Hand with worldly Bliss
          Has made my Cup run o’er,
        And in a kind and faithful Friend
          Has doubled all my Store.

  X. Ten thousand thousand precious Gifts
          My Daily Thanks employ,
        Nor is the least a chearful Heart,
          That tastes those Gifts with Joy.

  XI.  Through every Period of my Life
          Thy Goodness I’ll pursue;
        And after Death in distant Worlds
          The Glorious Theme renew.

  XII.  When Nature fails, and Day and Night
          Divide thy Works no more,
        My Ever-grateful Heart, O Lord,
          Thy Mercy shall adore.

  XIII.  Through all Eternity to Thee
          A joyful Song I’ll raise,
        For oh!  Eternity’s too short
          To utter all thy Praise.

C.

[Footnote 1:  By himself.]

* * * * *

No. 454.  Monday, August 11, 1712.  Steele.

  ‘Sine me, Vacivum tempus ne quod dem mihi Laboris.’

  Ter.  Heau.

It is an inexpressible Pleasure to know a little of the World, and be of no Character or Significancy in it.  To be ever unconcerned, and ever looking on new Objects with an endless Curiosity, is a Delight known only to those who are turned for Speculation:  Nay, they who enjoy it, must value Things only as they are the Objects of Speculation, without drawing any worldly Advantage to themselves from them, but just as they are what contribute to their Amusement, or the Improvement of the Mind.  I lay one Night last Week at Richmond; and being restless, not out of Dissatisfaction, but a certain busie Inclination one sometimes has, I rose at Four in the Morning, and took Boat for London, with a Resolution to rove by Boat and Coach for the next Four and twenty Hours, till the many different Objects I must needs meet with should tire my Imagination, and give me an Inclination to a Repose more profound than I was at that Time capable of.  I beg People’s Pardon for an odd Humour I am guilty of, and was often that Day, which is saluting any Person whom I like, whether I know him or not.  This is a Particularity would be tolerated in me, if they considered that the greatest Pleasure I know I receive at my Eyes, and that I am obliged to an agreeable Person for coming abroad into my View, as another is for a Visit of Conversation at their own Houses.