REFLEXION.
HERE's a Reproof to Men of Senſuality, and Pleaſure. The Moral Preaches Induſtry, and Beats down Sloth, and Shews that Alter-wit is Nothing Worth. It muſt be an Induſtrious Youth that provides againſt the Inconveniencies, and Neceſſities of Old Age; And He that Fools away the One, muſt either Beg or Starve in the Other. Go to the Ant thou Sluggard; (ſays the Wiſe-man) which in Few Words Summs up the Moral of This Fable. 'Tis Hard to ſay of Lazineſs, or Luxury, whether it be the more Scandalous, or the more Dangerous Evil. The very Soul of the Slothful, does Effectually but lie Drowzing in his Body, and the Whole Man is Totally given up to his Senſes: Whereas the Profit and the Comfort of Induſtry, 1s Subſtantial, Firm, and Laſting; The Bleſſings of Security and Plenty go along with it, and it is never out of Seaſon. What's the Graſshoppers Entertaimment now, but a Summers Song? A Vain. and an Empty Pleaſure? Let it be Underſtood however, that we are not to Paſs Avarice upon the World under the Title of Good Husbandry, and Thrift: and under That Cover to Extinguiſh Charity by not Diſtributing the Fruits of it. We are in the Firſt Place, to Conſult our Own Neceſſities, but we are Then to Conſider in the Second Place, that the Neceſſities of our Neighbours have a Chriſtian Right to a Part of what we have to Spare. For the Common Offices of Humanity, are as much Duties of Self-Preſervation, as what Every Individual Contributes to it's Own Well-Being. It is in ſhort, the Great Intereſt and Obligation of Particulars, to Advance the Good of the Community.
The Streſs of This Moral lies upon the Preference of Honeſt Labour to Idleneſs; and the Refuſal of Relief on the One Hand, is intended only for a Reproof to the Inconſiderate Loſs of Opportunity on the Other. This does not Hinder yet, but that the Ants, out of their Abundance, ought to have Reliev'd the Graſshopper in her Diſtreſs, though ‘twas her Own Fault that brought her to't: For if One Man's Faults could Diſcharge Another Man of his Duty,there would be no longer any Place left for the Common Offices of Society. To Conclude, We have our Failings, Every Mothers Child of us, and the Improvidence of my Neighbour muſt not make Me Inhumane. The Ant did well to Reprove the Graſshopper for her Slothfulneſs; but ſhe did Ill then to refuſe her a Charity in her Diſtreſs.
FAB.
