this innate fincerity! But how foon is it contaminated in that great school, the world!—I would, therefore, my young Audience, point out to you the symptoms, which first appear, of a deviation from integrity of mind; with the confequence it naturally leads to, if not restrained

in due time.

The most infallible teft of fincerity is the love of truth. A disregard to this principle is foon followed by diffimulation. Truth is amiable in itfelf; and whoever departs from it must be influenced by fome fordid motive-some selfish gratification. There are in truth and fincerity fuch irresistible charms, that they even have admirers, amongst those who practice falfehood and duplicity. We liften with attention, and with the ease of security, to the conversation of thofe, who are candid and ingenuous; but we are upon our guard, when in company with Perfons, whofe characters are marked for equivocation and double-dealing; because we fufpect the veracity of their declarations, and the honefty of their profeffions. Our Pride too is hurt, when we find ourfelves deceived. To avoid, therefore, being dupes, we become incredulous; and examine more critically, than perhaps our natural temper inclines us, the words and actions of others. A conduct very proper with refpect to thofe, who, in their intercourfe with mankind, have given proofs of infincerity; but

may

may appear too diftrustful towards thofe of a different difpofition; yet as it is not always poffible to diftinguish the laft, prudence perhaps will justify the precaution.

The love of Truth feems congenial to human nature; fo that we are difappointed, if we do not find it in young Perfons; because they are not yet hackneyed in the ways and policy of the world: Their interefts are not involved with those of others; they are warm in their attachments, generous in their motives, unsuspecting in their tempers, and ingenuous in their fentiments. If they betray a different difpofition, they must be actuated by fome powerful motive.

The first act of infincerity in children is that of lying. This word, I doubt not, founds gratingly in your ears. The reason is obvious. It conveys an idea of fomething that is odious and vu'gar; because no perfon of a liberal mind would be guilty of an action, to which this name has been given. The practice of lying is in itself fo mean and dishonourable, that it may appear, at firft fight, a matter of aftonishment, that any one, brought up to good manners, fhould be addicted to it. Let us, then, confider, the ufual incentives to this vice; thefe once known, there may be fome hopes of curing fo hateful a propenfity; becaufe there are but few who accustom them

felves to it, through wantonnefs, or to excite wonder, from the relation of marvellous ftories. If, then, the speakers of falsehood were once convinced of the pernicious tendency of thofe caufes which lead to it, they would probably avoid the effect.

One motive for lying is to conceal a fault. But the impropriety of fuch a conduct will appear from this confideration, that it feldom meets with fuccefs. The confcious fhame of thofe, who have had recourfe to fo fcandalous a vindication of themfelves, will generally betray them. Befides, the ways of falfehood are fo intricate, that they, who are once entered into this labyrinth, can feldom find their way out. They may be compared to Travellers in a Wood, who are loft and bewildered, amidst the different paths and avenues which appear before them. Equally embarraffed are thofe, who would difguife the truth by prevarication. They generally entangle themfelves in their difcourfe, by relating improbable circumftances, or by uttering flat contradictions. Their ftory is feldom of a piece. It wants uniformity. It is related different ways to different Perfons. The unity of time and place is feldom obferved; and, in fhort, they, for the most part, confute themselves, and confirm their own guilt.

But fuppofing they fhould betray no out

ward

ward figns of delinquency, and fhould frame fo confiftent a ftory, that it could not be immediately difproved, yet there are many motives which will induce others to difcover, if poffible, the real offender. The firft is, the abhorrence in which a Liar is held. The lovers of Truth will, out of their regard to that, endeavour to detect falfehood. And as they would be unwilling to affociate with thofe, who are even fufpected of this vice, they will be the more defirous of having their guilt or innocency eftablished. Becaufe, if the former could be proved, they would withdraw their confidence. If the latter, they would be fo far prompted by justice, as to remove the fufpicion and filence calumny.

But the moft prevailing motive, which will ftimulate the vigilance of others, in order to expofe a lie, is this that they themselves, from their fituation or connexion, may be fufpected of the fault, which the lie is intended to conceal. A regard, therefore, to their own reputation will give energy to their endeavours of finding out the aggreffor.

The conduct of thofe, who are guilty of lying in order to hide a fault, is farther ftigmatized with the ignominy of cowardice. Not having courage enough to make a confeffion of what they have done, but pofitively afferting their innocence, which must be admitted, till

there

there appear proofs of the contrary, the accufation or fufpicion may fall upon another who is guiltless; and who probably has no other mode of defence than denial, the fame which is adopted by the Perpetrator; so that till the fact be established, the odium of speaking falfehood may be incurred by the former.

From these remarks, let us now fix the character of a lie; that kind, I mean, which is under confideration. In the first place, it is violating the facred obligation we are all under, of Jpeaking every Man truth with his Neighbour; and perverting one of the beft gifts, with, which God has endowed us, the ufe of speech. In the fecond, it is intended to hide a fault, which ought to be acknowledged. And in the third instance, it is aggravated with the circumftance of blemishing, perhaps, the reputation of an innocent Perfon. For can they, who have any regard to their own honour, be eafy and compofed, under the imputation of having told a lie, when, in fact, they have not?. You will fay, probably, that innocent Perfons may foon exculpate themfelves of the fuppofed offence. But here I would obferve to you, that extraordinary as it may feem, this is not always in their power; because a certain combination of accidental circumftances may appear unfavourably in regard to the fufpected Party.

For