/ 264 On the Nativity. de!ign: and yet I would not have you in2a– ginc, that innocence and fev.erity are infc- , parable eompanions, or that a free and ehearful cou~nance is a 'certain fign ofan ill n1ind,. or that n1en ought always to be f1d under the notion of being ferious. I . \-vould not have you in love with. .a fiudied face, nor think it a crirne to laugh, or {cru– puloufly to refufe fuch innocent and inge– nioLlS divcrtifements as you find ufeful to rcfreih your fpirits, and preferve their ala– crity: for chearfulnefs enlightens the n1ind, and encourages, the heart, 'and raifeth the foul, as it were to breath in a purer ~ir. It n1iiliecomes none but the wicked, in whom it is con1n1only a light n1irth and foolifh jollity. As a curious dre~s n1ay f~t off a handfome face, which yet' will render thofe \vho are ugly, n1ore ill-favoured; fo doth chearfulnefs exceedingly become good ' fouls; in bad n1en it is n1ofl: ridiculous. On the other hand, a fad and fullen hu– n10lH, a dumpi!h, ry.1orofe, .and n1elancholy difpofition, is fo far fron1 being comtnend– able, that at befl: it n1ufl: be looked upon as an infirmity and weaknefs in the befl: of thofe · in whon1 it ,reG.deth; and, if pur– pofcly affeCted or cherifued, n1ay deferve a fevcrcr cenfure; being di!honourable fo , God~
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