the great, the reproach of the multitude, or even the ridicule and fneer of the fcorner.

Nothing can be more amiable than a conftant defire to pleafe; and an unwillingness to offend or hurt. Yet in characters where this is a predominant feature, defects are often found. Fond always to oblige, and afraid to utter any disagreeable truth, such persons are sometimes led to disfemble. Their love of truth is facrificed to their love of pleafing. Their speech, and their manners, affume a ftudied courtefy. You cannot always depend on their smile; nor, when they promife, be fure of their performance. They mean and intend well; but the good intention is temporary. Like wax, they yield easily to every impreffion; and the tranfient friendship contracted with one perfon, is effaced by the next.

PIETY.

IETY muft form the bafis of firm and esta

PIETY

blished virtue. If this be wanting, the character cannot be found and entire. Moral virtue will always be endangered, often be overthrown, when it is separated from its surest support. Confidence in God, ftrengthened by faith in the great

3

great Redeemer of mankind, not only amidst the feverer trials of virtue, gives conftancy to the mind, but, by nourishing the hope of immortality, adds warmth and elevation to the affections. They, whose conduct is not animated by religious principle, are deprived of the most powerful incentive to worthy and honourable deeds.

CONTE

DEATH OF CHRIST.

ONTEMPLATE the manner in which our bleffed Lord died. You behold him, amidst the extremity of pain, calm and collected within himself; poffeffing his spirit with all the ferenity which fublime devotion, and exalted benevolence infpire. You hear him, firft, lamenting the fate of his unhappy country; next, when he was faftened to the crofs, addreffing words of confolation to his afflicted parent; and, laftly, fending up prayers mixed with compaffionate apologies for those who were fhedding his blood. After all thofe exercifes of charity, you behold him in an act of devout adoration and truft, refigning his breath: Father, into thy hands, I commend my fpirit. - Can any death be pronounced

nounced unhappy, how diftrefsful foever its circumstances may be, which is thus fupported, and dignified? What could we wish for, more in our laft moments, than with this peaceful frame of mind, this calm of all the affections, this exaltation of heart towards God, this diffufion of benevolence towards men, to bid adieu to the world?

If in such a spirit as this, we would all wish to die, let us think that now is the time to prepare for it, by seasonably cultivating this fpirit while we live; by imbibing those difpofitions and affections which we would wish to poffefs at our latest period.

A

PLEASURE..

MONG the crowd of amufements, the voluptuary may endeavour to ftifle his uneafinefs; but through all his defences it will penetrate. A confcious fenfe of his own infignificance, when he fees others diftinguished for acting a manly and worthy part; reflection on the time he has wafted, and the contempt he has incurred; the galling remembrance of his earlier and better days, when he gave the fair promife

of

of accomplishments,, which now are blafted, have frequently been found to fadden the feftive hour. The noife of merriment may be heard; but heaviness lies at the heart. While the tabret and the viol play, a melancholy voice founds in his ears. The wafted eftate, the neglected halls, and ruined manfions of his father, rife to view. The angry countenances of his friends feem to ftare him in the face. A hand appears to come forth on the wall, and to write his doom.

Retreat, then, from your dishonourable courses, ye who by licentioufnefs, extravagance, and vice, are abusers of the world! You are degradingyou are ruining yourselves. You are grossly mifemploying the gifts of God; and the Giver will not fail to punish. Awake to the purfuits of men of virtue and honour. Break loofe from that magic circle, within which you are at prefent held. Reject the poifoned cup which the enchantress Pleasure holds up to your lips. Draw afide the veil which fhe throws over your eyes. You will then fee other objects than you now behold. You will fee a dark abyfs opening below your feet. You will fee virtue and temperance marking out the road, which conducts to true. felicity. You will be enabled to difcern, that the world is enjoyed to advantage, by none but fuch as follow thofe divine guides; and who con

fider pleasure as the seasoning, but not as the bu finefs, of life.

VANITY OF THE WORLD.

HE fafhion of the world paffeth away. Its THE

pomp and its pleasures, its riches, magnificence, and glory, are no more than a tranfient fhew. Every thing that we here enjoy, changes, decays, and comes to an end. All floats on the furface of a river, which, with fwift current, is running towards a boundlefs ocean. Beyond this prefent scene of things, above thofe fublunary regions, we are to look for what is permanent and ftable. The world paffes away; but God, and heaven, and virtue, continue unchangeably the fame. We are foon to enter into eternal habitations; and into thefe, our works fhall follow us.

JUSTICE AND MERCY.

WE muft undoubtedly begin with being juft,

At

before we attempt to be generous. the fame time, he who goes no farther than bare

juftice,