’He had the profoundest Veneration for the Great God of Heaven and Earth that I have ever observed in any Person.  The very Name of God was never mentioned by him without a Pause and a visible Stop in his Discourse; in which, one that knew him most particularly above twenty Years, has told me, that he was so exact, that he does not remember to have observed him once to fail in it.’

Every one knows the Veneration which was paid by the Jews to a Name so great, wonderful and holy.  They would not let it enter even into their religious Discourses.  What can we then think of those who make use of so tremendous a Name in the ordinary Expressions of their Anger, Mirth, and most impertinent Passions?  Of those who admit it into the most familiar Questions and Assertions, ludicrous Phrases and Works of Humour? not to mention those who violate it by solemn Perjuries?  It would be an Affront to Reason to endeavour to set forth the Horror and Prophaneness of such a Practice.  The very mention of it exposes it sufficiently to those in whom the Light of Nature, not to say Religion, is not utterly extinguished.

O.

[Footnote 1:  This story is taken from Book I. of Cicero ’De Natura Deorum’.]

[Footnote 2:  ‘Human Understanding’, Book II. ch. xxiii.  Sec. 33.]

[Footnote 3:  [conceiving him.]]

[Footnote 4:  Ecclus. xliii. 26-32.]

[Footnote 5:  Bishop Burnet’s sermon at the funeral of the Hon. Robert Boyle (who died in 1691).]

* * * * *

No. 532.  Monday, November 10, 1712.  Steele.

  ’—­Fungor vice cotis, acutum
  Reddere quae ferrum valet, exsors ipsa secandi.’

  Hor.

It is a very honest Action to be studious to produce other Men’s Merit; and I make no scruple of saying I have as much of this Temper as any Man in the World.  It would not be a thing to be bragged of, but that it is what any Man may be Master of who will take Pains enough for it.  Much Observation of the Unworthiness in being pained at the Excellence of another, will bring you to a Scorn of yourself for that Unwillingness:  And when you have got so far, you will find it a greater Pleasure than you ever before knew, to be zealous in promoting the Fame and Welfare of the Praise-worthy.  I do not speak this as pretending to be a mortified self-denying Man, but as one who has turned his Ambition into a right Channel.  I claim to my self the Merit of having extorted excellent Productions from a Person of the greatest Abilities, [1] who would not have let them appear by any other Means; to have animated a few young Gentlemen into worthy Pursuits, who will be a Glory to our Age; and at all Times, and by all possible Means in my Power, undermined the Interests of Ignorance, Vice, and Folly, and attempted to substitute in their Stead, Learning, Piety, and good Sense.  It is from this honest Heart that I find myself honoured