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Article ORIGINAL LETTER OF DOCTOR JOHNSON. ← Page 2 of 2
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Original Letter Of Doctor Johnson.
looks abroad impatient pf itself , and finds nothing but emptiness and horror . The blameless life—the artless tenderness—the pious simplicity—the modest resignation—the patient sickness , and the quiet death , —are remembered only to add value to the loss to aggravate regret for what cannot be amended to deepen sorrow for what cannot be recalled .
These are the calamities by which Providence gradually disengages us from the love of life . Other evils fortitude may repel , or hope may mitigate ; but irreparable privation leaves nothing to exercise resolution , or flatter expectation . The dead cannot return , and nothing is left us here but languishment and grief . Yet such is the course of nature , that whoever , lives long mtist
outlive those whom he loves and honours . Such is the condition of our present existence , that life must one time lose its associations , and every inhabitant of the earth must walk downward to the grave alone and unregarded , without any partner of his joy or grief , without any interested witness of his misfortunes or success . Misfortunes indeed he may yet feel , for where is the bottom of the misery of man ! but what is success to him who has none to enjoy it ? Happiness is not found in self-contemplation;—it is perceived only when it is reflected from another .
We- know little of the state of departed souls , because such knowledge is not necessary to a good life . Reason deserts us at the brink of the grave , and gives no farther intelligence . Revelation is not wholly silent . " There is joy in the angels of heaven over a . sinner " that repenteth . " And surely this joy is not incommunicable to souls disentangled from the body , and made like angels .
Let the hope , therefore , dictate what revelation does not confutethat the union of souls may still remain ; and that we , who are struggling with sin , sorrow , and infirmities , may have our part in the attention and kindness of those who have finished their course , and are now receiving their reward . These are the great occasions which force the mind to take refuge
in religion . When we have no hel p in ourselves , what can remain but that we lcok up to a hi gher and a greater Power ? And to what hope may we not raise our eyes and hearts , when we consider that the greatest Povser is the best ?
Surely there is no man who , thus afflicted , does not seek succour in the Gospel , which has brought life and immortality to light ! the precepts of Epicurus , which teach us to endure what the laws of the universe make necessary , may silence but not content us . The dictates of Zeno , who commands us to look with indifference on abstract things , may dispose us to conceal our sorrow , but cannot assuage it , Real
alleviation of the loss of friends , and rational tranquillity in the prospect of" our own dissolution , can be received only from the promise " of Him in whose hands are life and death , and from the assurances of another and better state , in which all tears will be wiped from our eyes , and the whole soul shall be filled with joy . —Philosophy may infuse stubbornness , but religion only can give patience . SAM . JOHNSON . Cc 2
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Original Letter Of Doctor Johnson.
looks abroad impatient pf itself , and finds nothing but emptiness and horror . The blameless life—the artless tenderness—the pious simplicity—the modest resignation—the patient sickness , and the quiet death , —are remembered only to add value to the loss to aggravate regret for what cannot be amended to deepen sorrow for what cannot be recalled .
These are the calamities by which Providence gradually disengages us from the love of life . Other evils fortitude may repel , or hope may mitigate ; but irreparable privation leaves nothing to exercise resolution , or flatter expectation . The dead cannot return , and nothing is left us here but languishment and grief . Yet such is the course of nature , that whoever , lives long mtist
outlive those whom he loves and honours . Such is the condition of our present existence , that life must one time lose its associations , and every inhabitant of the earth must walk downward to the grave alone and unregarded , without any partner of his joy or grief , without any interested witness of his misfortunes or success . Misfortunes indeed he may yet feel , for where is the bottom of the misery of man ! but what is success to him who has none to enjoy it ? Happiness is not found in self-contemplation;—it is perceived only when it is reflected from another .
We- know little of the state of departed souls , because such knowledge is not necessary to a good life . Reason deserts us at the brink of the grave , and gives no farther intelligence . Revelation is not wholly silent . " There is joy in the angels of heaven over a . sinner " that repenteth . " And surely this joy is not incommunicable to souls disentangled from the body , and made like angels .
Let the hope , therefore , dictate what revelation does not confutethat the union of souls may still remain ; and that we , who are struggling with sin , sorrow , and infirmities , may have our part in the attention and kindness of those who have finished their course , and are now receiving their reward . These are the great occasions which force the mind to take refuge
in religion . When we have no hel p in ourselves , what can remain but that we lcok up to a hi gher and a greater Power ? And to what hope may we not raise our eyes and hearts , when we consider that the greatest Povser is the best ?
Surely there is no man who , thus afflicted , does not seek succour in the Gospel , which has brought life and immortality to light ! the precepts of Epicurus , which teach us to endure what the laws of the universe make necessary , may silence but not content us . The dictates of Zeno , who commands us to look with indifference on abstract things , may dispose us to conceal our sorrow , but cannot assuage it , Real
alleviation of the loss of friends , and rational tranquillity in the prospect of" our own dissolution , can be received only from the promise " of Him in whose hands are life and death , and from the assurances of another and better state , in which all tears will be wiped from our eyes , and the whole soul shall be filled with joy . —Philosophy may infuse stubbornness , but religion only can give patience . SAM . JOHNSON . Cc 2