all the obligations of love and obedience to those who gave us birth. To honour our Parents is a divine law. To affift them in diftrefs, when it is in our Power, is a debt of gratitude. And is it poffible there can be an human Being, fo loft to all fense of filial duty as not to provide for those, in the infirmities of old age, who fo amply provided for them, in the helpless state of childhood? Is it poffible there can be an human Being, fo deftitute of natural affection, as not to reverence thofe, who gave them life; and who watched over its prefervation, with all the anxiety of parental love? It is poffible, when once Pride has taken poffeffion of the heart, which is a Paffion of so baneful a tendency, as to pervert the best propenfities and incli nations. How apt is wealth to intoxicate the Mind! How few are there, who enjoy the gifts of fortune, with dignity to themfelves, and as the inftruments of good to others! Luxury tempts them with her dainties. Grandeur dazzles them with the pageantry of pomp and splendour. Pride flatters them with ideas of felf-importance. And the voice of Truth is but feldom heard in the midst of Profperity; a fituation in life, that requires the advice of Friends more than any other, though, if offered, it is generally received with disdain, and rejected as impertinent. Mankind, it is true, have fixed a value on Riches, fuperior to their real worth; because, though they cannot cannot purchase Wisdom or Knowledge, yet they can procure, what fome imagine of more confequence, the gaieties and fuperfluities of life; and are, therefore, regarded as the fources of human happiness. Wants are frequently multiplied with the increase of wealth: And they, who could be contented in a moderate station, are often unhappy in an elevated one. We ought, no doubt, by every honeft means in our power, to secure such a portion of this world's goods, as may supply our real neceffities, provide us with thofe conveniencies, which our station requires, and, if possible, place us above the temptations of dependance. But Riches ought not to be eagerly pursued, for the purpose of gratifying Pride, or pampering Luxury. For though their utility is obvious, yet their power of conferring perfonal Merit, must appear to the Moralift small indeed; efpecially when it is confidered, that, in the courfe of human events, they are promifcuoufly. diftributed; and are too often. the Mammon of unrighteousness. When acquired unjustly-when hoarded covetoufly, or employed improperly, they communicate no honour to the Poffeffor, but are often the means of fenfuality, oppression, and revenge. But when, on the contrary, they are the rewards of integrity and diligence; when they are received with humility; enjoyed with moderation; and a reasonable portion of them difpenfed to the relief of penury and want, they fhed, like the dews of Heaven, a grate ful ful refreshment around. In fuch hands wealth is a bleffing. It is a fource of cheerfulness to the Poffeffor, and of happiness to others. The Almoners of these gifts of Providence procure to themfelves respect and esteem; not on account of their Riches, but because of the ufeful application. Yet how often does it happen, that thofe, who know not their real-value, bring on themselves an odium, instead of receiving that honour, which they proudly expect! How often has the fudden poffeffion of Wealth, destroyed that felicity which was enjoyed before! A change of Fortune has produced, in many, a change of manners; which, from being virtuous and respectable, have become vicious and intemperate, Inftead of being courteous and affable, they have arrogated a proud fuperiority over others; and have despised the restraints of decency and decorum. From what has been faid, we may fairly infer, that Rank and Fortune are but the feeble supports of human Pride; that they are not refpectable without perfonal merit, that suitable manners are requifite to ftamp them with worth and dignity; and that Perfons, in high ftations, can only render themselves honourable, by being useful to that community, in which they make fo confpicuous a figure, on account of the external advantages they enjoy. We fhall have less reason to envy Perfons of condition, when we reflect, that their exalted Rank, or their abundance, enlarges their sphere of action, action, and encreafes their duties of life; for unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required. They are, at the fame time, exposed to more temptations, than those who are placed in a more humble department. They are the light of the World, because of the influence of their example, which cannot be bid. But if their lives and actions are depraved, it is impoffible to fay, how far the mifchief of fuch manners may extend, be. caufe of the pronenefs of mankind to imitate their fuperiors. But unfortunately vice and luxury are too prevalent amongst the Great. Many, prefuming on their wealth and fituation, neglect to acquire those intellectual and moral qualities, which alone can enable them to employ the leisure, that falls to their lot, as rational Beings. The manner, in which they spend their time, renders them of but little confequence to Society; however important they may appear in their own eyes. They seem to live for no other purpofe than, as Horace fays, to confume the fruits of the earth. Can fuch Perfons have any pretenfions to Pride? They ought rather to hide their diminished heads; instead of boafting of that Birth, which they difhonour, or infulting others with that wealth, which they mifapply. LECTURE LECTURE XXII. beauteous Order reigns! Manly Submiffion, uninpofing Toil, Trade without Guile, Civility that marks, From the foul Herd of Brutal Slaves, thy Sons, THOMPSON. THE HE Pride of Power, or the Luft of Dominion, is a paffion very predominant in human nature. Authority, when lodged in good hands, is productive of general benefit; but when poffeffed by Perfons of a cruel and tyrannical temper, is the cause of evils both public and private. It is of fo intoxicating a quality, that many, when fuddenly elevated to high places, have been deprived, as it were, of reafon; and have behaved with arrogancy and imperiousness; though, before their acceffion to power, when in an humbler department of life, they conducted themselves with moderation and affability. This is a striking proof of the weakness of the human mind, and how apt it is be feduced by |