The next attempt after happiness, carried him into the field. For two or three years nothing made him so happy as _hunting_; he entered upon it with all his soul, and leaped more hedges and ditches than had ever been known in so short a time. You never saw him but in a _green coat_; he was the envy of all that blew the _horn_, and always spoke to his dogs in great propriety of language. If you met him at home in a bad day, you would hear him blow his horn, and be entertained with the surprizing accidents of the last _noble chace_. No sooner had _Flatus_ outdone all the world in the breed and education of his dogs, built new kennels, new stables, and bought a new _hunting-seat_, but he immediately got sight of another happiness, hated the senseless noise and hurry of hunting, gave away his dogs, and was for some time after deep in the _pleasures of building_.
Now he invents new kinds of _dove-cotes_, and has such contrivances in his barns and stables, as were never seen before: he wonders at the dulness of the old builders, is wholly bent upon the improvement of _architecture_, and will hardly hang a door in the ordinary way. He tells his friends, that he never was so delighted in any thing in his life; that he has more happiness amongst his _brick_ and _mortar_, than ever he had at _court_; and that he is contriving how to have some little matter to do that way as long as he lives.
The next year he leaves his house unfinished, complains to every body of _masons_ and _carpenters_, and devotes himself wholly to the happiness of _riding about_. After this, you can never see him but on horseback, and so highly delighted with this new way of life, that he would tell you, give him but his _horse_ and a _clean country_ to ride in, and you might take all the rest to yourself. A variety of new saddles and bridles, and a great change of horses, added much to the pleasure of this new way of life. But however, after some time having tired both himself and his horses, the happiest thing he could think of next, was to go abroad and _visit foreign countries_; and there, indeed, the happiness exceeded his imagination, and he was only uneasy that he had begun so fine a life no sooner. The next month he returned home, unable to bear any longer the impertinence of _foreigners_.
Alter this, he was a great _student_ for one whole year; he was up early and late at his _Italian grammar_, that he might have the happiness of understanding the _opera_, whenever he should hear one, and not be like those unreasonable people, that are pleased with they don’t know what.
FLATUS is now at a full stand, and is doing what he never did in his life before, he is _reasoning_ and reflecting with himself. He loses several days, in considering which of his cast-off ways of life he should try again.
But here a new project comes in to his relief. He is now living upon herbs, and running about the country, to get himself into as _good wind_ as any _running footman_ in the kingdom.
I have been thus circumstantial in so many foolish particulars of this kind of life, because I hope, that every particular folly that you here see and read of, will naturally turn itself into an argument for the wisdom and happiness of a religious life.
But you will perhaps say, that the ridiculous, restless life of _Flatus_, is not the common state of those, who resign themselves up to live by their own humour, and neglect the strict rules of religion; and that therefore it is not so great an argument of the happiness of a religious life, as I would make it.
I answer, that I am afraid it is one of the most _general characters_ in life; and that few people can read it, without seeing something in it which belongs to them. But let it be granted, that the _generality_ of people are not of such restless, fickle tempers as _Flatus_; the difference is only this, _Flatus_ is continually changing and trying something new, but others are content with some one state; they do not leave _gaming_, and then fall to _hunting_; but they have so much steadiness in their tempers, that some seek after no other happiness, but that of heaping up riches; others grow old in the sports of the field; and others are content to drink themselves to death, without the least enquiry after any other happiness.
Now is there any thing more happy or reasonable in such a life as this, than in the life of _Flatus_? Is it not as great and desirable, as wise and happy, to be constantly changing from one thing to another, as to be nothing else but a gatherer of money, a hunter, a gamester, or a drunkard all your life? Shall religion be looked upon as a burden, or as a dull and melancholy state, for calling men from such a happiness as this?
But turn your eyes now another way, and let the glorious joys, the exquisite happiness of _Feliciana_, teach you how miserable, and how dull they must needs be, and what a delusion they are in, whole hearts are not wholly devoted unto GOD.