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It is one of the blessings of a happy constitution, which education may improve but not produce. Justice seems most agreeable to the nature of God, and Mercy to that of man. A being who has nothing to pardon in himself, may reward every man according to his works; but he whose very best [[unclear]] must be seen with grains of allowance, cannot be too mild, moderate, and forgiving. For this reason, among all the monstrous characters in human nature, there is none so odious, nor indeed so exquisitely ridiculous, as that of a rigid severe temper in a worthless man. This part of Good-nature, however, which consists in the pardoning and overlooking of faults is to be exercised only in doing ourselves justice, and that too in the ordinary commerce and occurrences of life; for in the public administrations of justice, mercy to one may be cruelty to others. [[note]] No: 172. [[/note]] Those men only are truly great, who place their ambition rather in acquiring to themselves the conscience of worthy enterprizes, than in the prospect of glory which attends them. These exalted spirits would rather be secretly the authors of events which are serviceable to mankind, than, without
