thort his health and life-And is it for fuch doubtful and fallacious rewards, that the deceiver fills his mouth with lies, the friend betrays his benefactor, the apoftate renounces his faith, and the affaffin covers himself with blood! Whoever commits a crime, incurs a certain evil for a moft uncertain good-What will turn to his advantage in the courfe of this life, he cannot with any affurance know;-but this he may know, with full certainty, that he will draw upon his head that difpleasure of the Almighty, which fhall crush him for ever. The advantages of this world when obtained by criminal means carry a curfé in their bofom, nay even when innocently gained, are uncertain bleffings. To the virtuous, they are often no more than chaff-to the guilty they are always poison. VIRTUE AND PROSPERITY CONTRASTED. THOS HOSE fituations which favour pleasure are too generally adverfe to virtue. Virtue requires internal government and difcipline; profperity relaxes the mind, and inflames the paf fions:-virtue is supported by a regard to what is future-profperity attaches us wholly to what is prefent:-virtue checks our pursuits, which are the result of intemperance-refrains our defires, and makes them flow in the calm tide of modera tion-prosperity encreafes our evil propenfities, inflames our paffions, and plunges us deep in the Stream of riot and excess:-virtue is the fovereign pilot which steers us into the harbour of true lafting pleasure-profperity is too apt to turn the helm to the port of fenfual enjoyment-unites us too clafely to the things of this world-and makes us eye the moment of our diffolution with regret and horror. The characteristics of virtue are modefty and humility-the most common attendants upon profperity are pride and prefumption; and often prove the motive of impiety. VIRTUE S the univerfal charm: even its fhadow is courted, when the substance is wanting.-It muft be formed and fupported, not by unfrequent acts, but by daily and repeated exertions, in order to its becoming vigorous and useful. Great events give fcope for great virtues; but the main tenor of human life is compofed of fmall occurrences Within the round of thefe, lie the materials of the happinefs of most men; the subjects of their duty, and the trials of their virtue. Whatever is to be our profeffion, no education is more neceflary to fuccefs, than the acquirement of virtuous difpofitions and habits. This is the univerfal preparation for every character, and every station in life-Bad as the world is, respect is always paid to virtue. In the ufual courfe of human affairs, it will be found that a plain understanding, joined with acknowledged worth, contributes more to profperity than the brightest parts without probity or honour. Whether science, or business, or public life, be our aim, virtue ftill enters, for a principalfhare, into all thofe great departments of fo ciety. It is connected with eminence in every liberalart; -with reputation in every branch of fair and useful business with diftinction, in every public ftation. The vigour which it gives to the mind, and the weight which it adds to the character ;the generous fentiment which it breathes ;-the undaunted spirit which it inspires ;-the ardour of diligence which it quickens ;-the freedom which it procures from pernicious and dishonourable avocations, are the foundation of all that is high in fame, or great in fuccefs among men. Whatever ornamental or engaging endow ments we poffefs, virtue is a necessary requifite in order to their fhining with proper luftre-By whatever arts we may at first attract the atten tion, we can hold the ofteem, and fecure the hearts of others, only by amiable difpofitions, and the accomplishments of the mind-These are the qua lities whose influence will last, when the luftre of all that once sparkled and dazzled has paffed away. THE VOLUPTUARY. HE corrupted temper, and the guilty paf fions of the bad, fruftrate the effect of every advantage which the world confers on them— The world may call them men of pleasure; but of all men they are the greatest foes to pleasure: from their eagerness to grafp, they strangle and destroy it-riotous indulgence enervates both the body and the mind: fo that in the midft of his ftudied refinement the voluptuary languishes. Where Wherever guilt mingles with profperity, a certain gloom and heaviness enter along with it. Vicious intrigues never fail to entangle and embarrass those who engage in them;-befides, the selfish gratifications of the bad are both narrow in their circle, and fhort in their duration. THE WORLD. HE world is the great deceiver, whofe fallacious arts it highly imports us to detect. But in the midft of its pleafures and purfuits, the detection is impoffible. We tread as within an enchanted circle, where nothing appears as it truly is. We live in delufion, forming plans of imaginary blifs. We wander for ever in the paradife of fools-meditating in fecret on the means of attaining worldly fuccefs;-which acquired, has feldom in one inftance fulfilled our expectation; but where we have reckoned moft upon enjoyment, there have we generally found the leaft. It is too often confidered as the only field of pleasure; and beat over and over in queft of joys unfubftantial and tranfitory:-Pleafed with the vifionary trifles which it affords, we forget the K 3 proba |