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Some ACCOUNT of the

Life, Writings, and Character

O F

LONGINUS.

T

HERE is no part of History more

agreeable in itself, nor more im

proving to the Mind, than the
Lives of those who have diftinguish-

ed themselves from the Herd of Mankind, and set themselves up to public Regard. A particular Tribute of Admiration is always due, and is generally paid to the Heroe, the Philofopher, and the Scholar. It requires indeed a ftrength of Understanding and a folidity of Judgment, to distinguish those Actions, which are truly great, from fuch as have only the Shew and Appearance of it. The Noife of Victories and the Pomp of Triumphs are apt to make deeper Impreffions on common Minds,

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Minds, than the calm and even Labours of Men of a ftudious and philofophical Turn, tho' the latter are, for the most part, more commendable in themselves and more useful to the World. The Imagination of the bulk of Mankind is more alive than their Judgment: Hence Cafar is more admired for the part he acted in the Plains of Pharfalia, than for the Recollection of his Mind the Night after the Victory, by which he armed. himself against the Infolence of Succefs, and formed Refolutions of forgiving his Enemies, and triumphing more by Clemency and Mildnefs, than he had before by his Courage and his Arms. Deeds which we can only admire, are not fo fit for fedate Contemplation, as those which we may also imitate. We may not be able to plan or execute a Victory with the Scipio's and Cafars, but we may improve and fortify our Understandings, by inspecting their Scenes of Study and Reflexion; we may apply the Contemplations of the Wise to private use, so as to make our Paffions obedient to our Reason, our Reafon productive of inward Tranquillity, and fometimes of real and fubftantial Advantage to all our Fellow-crea

tures.

Such

Such Remarks as the preceding can be no improper Introduction to whatever may be collected concerning the Life of our Author. It will turn out at beft but dark and imperfect; yet opens into two principal Views, which may prove of double use to a thoughtful and confiderate Reader. As a Writer of a refined and polish'd Taste, of a found and penetrating Judgment, it will lead him to fuch methods of thinking, as are the innocent and embellishing Amusements of Life; as a Philofopher of enlarged and generous Sentiments, à Friend to Virtue, a fteddy Champion and an intrepid Martyr for Liberty, it will teach him, that nothing can be great and glorious, which is not juft and good; and that the Dignity of what we utter, and what we act, depends entirely on the Dignity of our Thoughts, and the inward. Grandeur and Elevation of the Soul.

Searching for the particular Paffages and Incidents of the Life of Longinus, is like travelling now-a-days thro' thofe Countries in which it was spent. We meet with nothing but continual Scenes of Devaftation and Ruin. In one place, a beautiful Spot smiling through the Bounty of Nature, yet over-run with Weeds and Thorns for want of Culture, presents itfelf to view; in another, a Pile of Stones ly

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