which nature had implanted within him, he does no more than follow nature.

Miferable and deluded man! to what art thou come at the last! Doft thou pretend to follow nature, when thou art contemning the laws of the God of nature?-when thou art ftifling his voice within thee, which remonstrates against thy crimes? when thou art violating the best part of thy nature, by counteracting the dictates of justice and humanity? Doft thou follow nature, when thou rendereft thyfelf an ufelefs animal on the earth; and not useless only, but noxious to the fociety to which thou belongest?Look with horror at the precipice, on the brink of which thou ftandeft; and if yet a moment be left for retreat, think how thou mayeft escape, and be faved.

CHOICE OF FRIENDS.

NOTHING is of more

of more importance for the young, than to be careful in the choice of their friends and companions. This choice is too frequently made without much thought, or is determined by fome cafual connection; and yet, very often, the whole fate of

their future life depends upon it. The circumstances which chiefly attract the liking and the friendship of youth, are vivacity, good humour, engaging manners, and a cheerful or eafy temper; qualities, I confefs, amiable in themselves, and useful and valuable in their place. But I intreat you to remember, that these are not all the qualities requifite to form an intimate companion or friend. Something more is ftill to be looked for; a found understanding, a steady mind, a firm attachment to principle, to virtue, and honour. As only folid bodies polish well, it is only on the substantial ground of these manly endowments, that the other amiable qualities can receive their proper luftre.

IN

SETTLED PRINCIPLES.

N order to prevent the influence of evil communications, it is needful that you fix to yourfelves certain principles of conduct, and be refolved and determined on no occafion to fwerve from them. Setting the confideration of religion and virtue afide, and attending merely to interest and reputation, it will be found, that he who enters on active life without having afcertained fame regular plan, according to which he is to

guide himself, will be unprofperous in the whole of his fubfequent progrefs. But when conduct is viewed in a moral and religious light, the effect of having fixed no principles of action, of having formed no laudable standard of character, becomes more obviously fatal. For hence it is, that the young and thoughtlefs imbibe fo readily the poifon of evil communications, and fall a prey to every seducer. They have no internal guide whom they are accustomed to follow and obey; nothing within themselves that can give firmness to their conduct. They are of course the victims of momentary inclination or caprice; religious and good by ftarts, when, during the absence of temptation and tempters, the virtuous principleftirs within, them; but never long the fame; changing and fluctuating according to the paffion that chances to rife, or the inftigation of those with whom they have connected themselves. They are failing on a dangerous fea, which abounds with rocks; without compass, by which to direct their courfe; or helm, by which to guide the vessel. Whereas, if they acted on a system, if their behaviour made it appear that they were determined to conduct themselves by certain rules and principles, not only would they escape innumerable dangers, but they would command refpect from the licentious themfelves. Evil doers would ceafe to lay their fnares for one whom they

faw

faw moving above them, in a higher sphere, and with a more steady course.

FORTITUDE.

ORTITUDE was juftly claffed by the ancient philofophers, among the cardinal virtues. It is indeed effential to the fupport of them all; and it is moft neceflary to be acquired by every one who wishes to difcharge with fidelity the duties of his ftation. It is the armour of the mind, which will fit him for encountering the trials, and furmounting the dangers, that are likely to occur in the course of his life. It may be thought, perhaps, to be a quality, in fome measure, conftitutional; dependent on firmness of nerves and ftrength of fpirits. Though, partly it is fo, yet experience shews that it may alfo be acquired by principle, and be fortified by reason; and it is only when thus acquired, and thus fortified, that it can be accounted to carry the character of virtue. Fortitude is opposed, as all know, to timidity, irresolution, a feeble and a wavering fpirit. It is placed, like other virtues, in the middle, between two extremes; standing at an equal distance from rashness on the one hand, and from pufillanimity on the other.

CHRISTIAN FORTITUDE.

WITHOUT

ITHOUT Fortitude, no man can be a thorough Chriftian. For his profeffion, as fuch, requires him to be fuperior to that fear of man which bringeth a fare; enjoins him, for the fake of a good conscience, to encounter every danger; and to be prepared, if called, even to lay down his life in the caufe of religion and truth. All who have been diftinguifhed as fervants of God, or benefactors of men; all who, in peril-\ ous fituations, have acted their part with fuch honour as to render their names illuftrious through fucceeding ages, have been eminent for fortitude of mind.

A

FALSE COURAGE,

CORRUPTED and guilty man can poffefs no true firmness of heart. He who, by crooked paths, purfues dishonourable ends, has many things to difmay him. He not only dreads the disappointment of his designs, by fome of those accidents to which all are exposed; but he has also to dread the treachery of his confede