NUMBER LVI. A COMMENT UPON A CELEBRATED ALLEGORY OF ANTIQUITY. A CELEBRATED ancient philosopher of the pagan school, has represented human nature under the similitude or analogy of a chariot drawn by two horses; the one of excellent mettle and lively motion; and the other sluggish and obstinate; so that while the former sprung forward, his mate hung back. And it must be owned that there is a striking aptness in this little allegory. Of all the animals in the whole living world, none are seen to act inconsistently but those of Adam's race. The lower animals, acting from what we call blind instinct, are, nevertheless, uniform and consistent in their conduct; while we, who proudly lay claim to the high endowments of reason, run into inconsistencies and absurdities every day of our lives. We know the right, and approve it; we see the wrong, and condemn it; and after all, very often the right we reject or forsake, and the wrong we pur sue. This marvellous phenomenon, namely, the disjointed condition of human nature and the perpetual variance of man with himself, has been plainly visible in all ages; and oft and many a time, has mole-eyed philosophy puzzled herself in vain to account for it. It used to be thought by the engrossers of the wisdom of this world, that the mind and the body were unequally yoked together; that the former, being of celestial mould, was naturally inclined to mount upward, and that the latter ever checked the noble flights of its yoke-fellow, forcing it back to kindred earth. The wise son of Sirach seems to have been tinctured by this fashionable philosophy, when he remarked, "The corruptible body weigheth down the soul." For which reason, the body has met with hard usage among the religionists of different schools. The bigots of paganism, and the bigots of popery in the dark age, regarding their bodies. as clogs to, and polluters of their nobler part, proceeded to treat these unworthy co-partners with unmerited scorn and cruelty. Revelation, fairly understood, sets this whole matter in a clear light. In it we see whence sprang the strange inconsistency in human nature, and from it we learn that, as neither the soul can subsist in the present state without the body, nor the body without the soul, so they should live together in harmony-provided that the inferior be never permitted to get the upper hand, but be kept at all times in due subjection to its superior. This allegory of Plato, aptly represents the strange disparity of the Mind and Heart, and the unnatural discord and strife so often existing between these two neighboring powers. And here I must premise that by the mind is meant the intellectual faculties, and by the heart, the turbulent tribe of appetites, passions, prejudices, and wayward volitions, as well as the benign family of moral virtues. The subject is no less prolific than interesting;-but here it must suffice barely to mention two prominent particulars. 1. Not unfrequently there are yoked together minds and hearts, very unequal as respects natural strength. Some have stout hearts, but feeble minds; what is called valor they possess in a high degree, but their understandings are dwarfish. On the other hand, some men of large and powerful understandings, are devoid of valor, and even remarkable for their timidity.-Horace, the first of geniuses, threw away his shield in battle, and took to his heels. And Cicero, a man of a most luminous mind, had far less active courage than Pompey, who was many degrees below him on the intellectual scale. 2. There are some persons, strong in understanding, and yet weak to resist the impulses of passion and appetite; and this moral defect is fatal to their character and ruinous to their happiness. A firmness of Will to obey the dictates of reason, in despite of the din of clamorous appetites and passions, is the parent of every thing morally good and noble. On the contrary, if this strength be wanting to the heart, the highest degree of intellectual strength and brightness may be associated with the lowest degree of moral debasement. How powerful, and almost seraphic the mind of Bacon! How pitifully weak the fortress of his heart! The reverse of this appalling picture may be seen in the life of him, whose memory we so delight to honor. A biographer of Washington remarks;"Possessing strong natural passions, and having the nicest sense of honor, he was in early life prone keenly to resent practices which carried the intention of injury or insult, but the reflections of maturer age gave him the most perfect government of himself.” His characteristic feature was a persevering resolution to act, on every emergency, according to his sense of right and duty.—And it is probable that there is no man, either among the living, or mentioned on the page of history, who followed more unswervingly the dictates of his profound and discriminating judgment, and of his enlightened conscience; and it is that which makes his character so peculiarly venerable. "Illustrious man! deriving honor less from the splendor of his situation than from the dignity of his mind; before whom all borrowed greatness sinks into insignificance, and all the princes and potentates of Europe become little and insignificant. He has no occasion to have recourse to any tricks of policy or arts of alarm; his authority has been supported by the same means by which it was acquired, and his conduct has uniformly been characterized by wisdom, moderation and firmness." Resolutely to deny, in all cases, one's appetites, passions and desires, when they are inconsistent with reason and duty, is a cardinal virtue in human character, which, however, is rarely seen in persons who were not disciplined to it in their early years. Wherefore, to lead its pupils to master their appetites and passions, is one of the essential arts of a good education; nor is any thing more necessary through the whole course of life, than to suppress and to subdue those rebellious emotions of the heart, which war against the law of the mind. The goodness and wisdom of Providence, directed to the production of human happiness, puts the means, in a great mea |