Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 1
Est Aliquod quo Tendis et in quod dirigis Arcum:1
As I this morning Sat in my chamber consulting with my self what was the Immediate business of this day; and what should be the End to which I by every action should Tend this was the short but general Result of my thoughts That I should live today as 1 would if I were to Dy tonight. And altho' these thoughts were pobably in some measure the product of my present illness and indisposition (for I have something of the Throat Disease and a latent fever) Yet Imagine they are permanent Truths an Animadversion of which mayn't be altogether Disagreeable to you or unprofitable to me at this time. Happiness is the grand goal or mark to which all our Thoughts Aspire but then here in lies our Misery. We have Imbibed mistaken Notions with respect to this Momenteous point. We Esteem that to be Essential happiness which is but nominally so: And from this our Unhappy Mistake is it that we grasp at meer Vanity & Direct the Tedious Course of Action to that which in the possession will be but Vexation of Spirit. Verily from this blind Cause of Misery & 46Distraction do all those Disquietudes Axiety & Disappoinments which flow Impetuously in a Distressing round upon our Souls and harrass our Misguided Thoughts Derive their original: thus the Ambitious practically say that the Summate of happiness is Rapt in the Splendid but dazzling Garb of honour. The Miserable Worldling says verily it lies hid in the huge piles of glittering gold or buried in the Mass of Shining Dust. The Letcherous & Voluptuous say nay but some Dalilah has Engrossed it and I'll Caress it there. But the Scholar or Mathematician the happier of the four affirm it is concealed in Nature or Consist in the Knowledge of some Unknown Number; And to these several Secondary Ends they bend the whole Course of their Lifes & will perish at last with a ly in their Right hands unless better inform'd: while the Real Christian being Irradiated with the beamings of Gods Love looks down with Contempt upon these things & with a Discerning Eye perces thro' the gaudy Dress of honour pleasure &c, And contemnes the Lurking Deceit. And verily he Rightly Judges himself happy in An Eminent Degree in a Contemplation of the Divine perfections and Transformation into his Image. And hether lend all his Actions, here is all his Desire, here in is all his Joy. For God he Studyes for him he Uses his lawfull recreation to God he lives and in Christ will he dy not only so but Arise again to a glorious immortality & be Crown with an Eternal weight of Glory.
Dear Sr. may't we say then as the Apostle in the Like Case how shall we Escape if we Neglect so great Salvation. Let us Endeavour by every Action of life and under every Circumstance so to behave as that we may be able to at the Conclusion of our lives to take a Joyfull Survey of our past Actions. That when we arrive ad quod Dirigimus Arcum2 We may be able to Say with ineffable pleasure that thro' the Grace of God and in the Testimony of a good Conscience with Simplicity and Godly Sincerty we have had our Conversation in the World. But I have run an Unexspected Length. But must farther add that I wait impatient to See you and your Chum at Framingham. I have had the cancer badly and something of a fever for ne'r a fortnight however I am at present (thro the smiles of Heaven) upon the mending hand. I shall be quite obliged to you if you'll give your self the Trôble & me the pleasure of a visit Please to Answer to Mr. Hancock if there is enquiry made: I hope to go Down to college in about a fortnight.
These Lines Dear Sr. are from One who Esteems himself fortunate in 47your friendship And Under a Sense of Gratitude Subscribes himself your True Friend & humble Servt.,
P:S My Father Sends his Service: please to give my Love to all Enquirers Especially to the Noble Phenephilenick.
There is something towards which you proceed and at which you direct your bow.
At which we direct our bow.
As their is nothing that raises us above the Bruit Creation but the Noble facultys of the Soul and as knowledg is the most divine and extensive of all the other; I think it the duty of every one to Strive to attain to as much of this perfection as their Curcumstances and Natural powers permit.
Nature has been very Liberal to Some and Given them Such Clearness of thought and quick decerning facultys that they can easily penetrate the greatest Misteries of Nature and Providence and with Small Study Solve the hardest doubts. But to others she has been more Spairing So that they must redouble their Labours if they wou'd be Masters of any perticular Branch of Knowledg, and can never arrive at that perfection as to have a Clear Idia of things in General, but they may have a Sufficiencie to enable them to Set a good Exemple in all the dutys of this Life and be ever adding to their Stock by following the rules perscribed in the valuable Book you Sent me, which I think by what I have read justly deserves the Comendations you gave it. I shall think my self oblig'd to you for every help to me in my Search after this knowledg which has a Lasting Seat in the Soul that will be ever encreasing throughout eternity. Their is many other Branches that are valuable and worthy our Study but this is most worthy our first application, and constant delight. I am Sencible that you dont Live a Life of Idleness in Body nor in mind and tho' most of your present Studys are What I am a Strainger to, yet I make no Doubt but 48you have Some intervales when you unbend your mind from Sines and Tangents and your midnight thoughts from Conick Sections and give a Loose to your Idieas, if it wou'd not hinder you from more valuable Excercise's I Shou'd be very glad to be favour'd with Some of those reflections just as they hapen to be writ without takeing pains to Coppy for Ceremony's Sake.
Pray make a favourable excuse for the Errors of this peice and point them out to me for my future amendment. I hope this will find you well as they Leave us. I Shall take Care to read & return the book. Speedily pray Spare us a few hours assoon as you can for we want to See you. I Remain your Loving & highly oblig'd Sisster,