8.  This is even the worst of that man’s condition whose mind is possessed with the habitual fear of which I am now speaking.  But it very often happens, that those which appear evils in our own eyes, appear also as such to him who has human nature under his care, in which case they are certainly averted from the person who has made himself, by this virtue, an object of divine favour.

9.  Histories are full of instances of this nature, where men of virtue have had extraordinary escapes out of such dangers as have enclosed them, and which have seemed inevitable.

10.  There is no example of this kind in Pagan history which more pleases me than that which is recorded in the life of Timoleon.  This extraordinary man was famous for referring all his successes to Providence. Cornelius Nepos acquaints us that he had in his house a private chapel in which he used to pay his devotions to the goddess who represented Providence among the heathens.  I think no man was ever more distinguished by the Deity, whom he blindly worshipped, than the great person I am speaking of, in several occurrences of his life, but particularly in the following one, which I shall relate out of Plutarch.

11.  Three persons had entered into a conspiracy to assassinate Timoleon as he was offering up his devotions in a certain temple.  In order to it they took their several stands in the most convenient places for their purpose.  As they were waiting for an opportunity to put their design in execution, a stranger having observed one of the conspirators, fell upon him and slew him.  Upon which the other two, thinking their plot had been discovered, threw themselves at Timoleon’s feet, and confessed the whole matter.

12.  This stranger, upon examination, was found to have understood nothing of the intended assassination, but having several years before had a brother killed by the conspirator, whom he here put to death, and having till now sought in vain for an opportunity of revenge, he chanced to meet the murderer in the temple, who had planted himself there for the above-mentioned purpose.

13. Plutarch cannot forbear on this occasion, speaking with a kind of rapture on the schemes of Providence, which, in this particular, had so contrived it that the stranger should, for so great a space of time, be debarred the means of doing justice to his brother, till by the same blow that revenged the death of one innocent man, he preserved the life of another.

14.  For my own part, I cannot wonder that a man of Timoleon’s religion should have this intrepidity and firmness of mind, or that he should be distinguished by such a deliverance as I have here related.

The folly of youthful Extravagance.

RAMBLER, No. 26.

1.  It is usual for men, engaged in the same pursuits, to be inquisitive after the conduct and fortune of each other; and therefore, I suppose it will not be unpleasing to you to read an account of the various changes which have appeared in part of a life devoted to literature.  My narrative will not exhibit any great variety of events, or extraordinary revolutions; but may perhaps be not less useful, because I shall relate nothing which is not likely to happen to a thousand others.