4

I find that many of my errors in judgement arise from
the habit which is so common among all classes of
reasoners, moralists, philosophers & diviners, of illustrating
a moral point, by a physical analogy; thus when we
compare life to a voyage on a tempestuous ocean, we
make use of the threat'ning waves, the roaring winds,
the rocks, thunder, lightning &c to which all voyages
are subject, as figures which truly represent the evils
incident to human life. -- What can be more false! --
He who commits himself to the elements, has no control
over them; he cannot hush the winds, speak peace
to the troubled waves, or turn aside the thunderbolts
of heaven! -- But which of the evils incident to life,
can we not avert by [freight?], by wisdom, by temperance,
by virtue? Sickness, is that which seems most out of
our own control, but even that, in most cases, might
be prevented by care or temperance. The ills of life,
are generally of our own procuring, & there are few who
if they impartially examine their own hearts, who will
not acknowledge that its sorrows & its joys depend
much less on those external circumstances, over which we
have little or no control, than on our affections, passions,
& tempers. From my own experience & from my observation
on others, I am persuaded that this is the case; & that
there is no situation, which can make us miserable
or make us happy, independant of ourselves. In the proper
regulations & government of our affections, passions &
tempers, consists human liberty.