The National Register.
London, England, 1816-04-14 00:00:00

No. 431.—V0!.. IX.

Amit4cincitt

" Divide SuNn.ty front the Week."—Su IKESPILAR.
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QN EASTER.

THE principle of the atiociation of ideas is strong in
the human mind. By it, when one thought in a series
that has formerly commanded our attention is recalled,
the whole train is again brought under our review, at-
tended with corresponding affectioas, li:clings, or moo-
tions. It, after a long absence, we return to visit the
spot where we first drew our breath, or passel the days
°four infimey tind childhood, or if we find our imagina-
tions led to such a scene by accidental circumstances,
our memory runs over the whole transactions of our
youthfel days, peopled the place with our youthffil com-
panions, and., acts over again oar youthful sports and
amacineuts. From this principle it results, that the
look presented us as a memorandum by a friend, though
at a great distance in time or place, recalls his features,
his actions, or 14is akrits ; that the Aght of a house where
an acquaint:me.; or a relation resides, excites in our minds
thei magi: of the gorily roup by which it is inhabited; and
th tc the site whare a' celebrated event occarretl recalls
the cireanisain,.es with which it was accompanied, and
renews the feeliags which it is calculated to inspire.
Hence it happeos, that Rome is more interesting to the
scholar than Paris, and that Jerusalem is more interest-
ing to the Christian than either;—hence it happens,
that the rubbish of Athens excites grander ideas than
the architectural symmetry of other cities;—and hence it
happens that the Tiber, though an insignificant stream
in comparison with the Don or the Wolga, occupies a
larger space in the imagination of all those acquainted
wit the revolutions of empire. - That scholar must have
a narrow capacity or unsuseeptible feelings, whose ima-
gination could remain unexcited on the site ofCieero's
or beside the tomb of Virgil; anti that Englishman would
have no reason to boast of his sympathy in his country's
feelings, who did not experience a glow or pride and
patriotism on the field of Cressy or Waterloo. Without
pursuing these illustrations any further, it may be re-
marked, that individuals, states, and religions, have
grafted upon this associating principle ofour nature, many
of those customs and institutions that diversify the pe-
riods of our existence, and render the recurrence ofdays,
months, and years, something more than the revolution
of mere divistatif time, or a bare calendar of the changes
of the heave n• bodies. Hence we view paillitailar sea-
sons, not as distinguished by bad or good weather, not
as being blessed for a longer or a shorter period with the
light of the sun, but as being the remembrancers of im-
portant events—the chronicle of our fortunes or our hap-
piness. I fence, among individuals, the observance of the
anniversary of their births or their marria!scs—hence, in
states, the attention paid to the periodical returns of sea-
sons diatinguishial for revolutions or remarkable events
in their own history, or the history of their sovereigns ;
and hence, in religion, the origin of tints and festivals.
The Mahometan system, taking advantage of this pro-
pensity and habit of the human mind, has connected the
origin of' the Mussulmati era with the flight of the Pro-
phet, has ordered all the ftithful to pray with their faces
turned to the city in which he was born, and ordained a
pilgrimage once in their, lives to Mecca, to invigorate
their piety in the temple consecrated by his presence and
devotions. The most remarkable events in the history
of the Jews were likewise recalled to them by their ca-
lendar and by rites to be periodically performed. Hence
the feast of the Passover commemorated their deliverance
Irian Egyptian bondage, and a few simple ceremo-
Ines and institutions excited annually through suc-
ve,sive generations, all the piety and gratitude which
the original (injects of such a providential intertir-
taco must have experienced. Christianity, as it has
availed itself of many of the innocent propensities of our
nature to promote our spiritual improvement, has not
disdained the powerfid principle of associati ,n among its
ways arid means of warming our feeling+, and influencing.
oar conduct. The most interesting events in the history
of its founder—those events chiefly calculated to furnish

the subject of our most impmving moral reflections, such
as his birth, his death, his resurrection, are all written on
the wheels of revolving time, :aid with the recurrence of
pleticular lays or seasons, are presented to the mind
along with the feelings they are calculated to excite.
The return of the Sabbath recalls weekly the remem-
brance of his romrreetion from the deal, and renews the
hopes of our own. The appearance of Christmas reminds
us of th_ circumstances in which h tame into the world,
awl the purpose which his mission was intended to serve.