3 enjoy an interval of eafe; but this refource is as treacherous as it is momentary, and plunges the mind into more real distress than that from which it promised to relieve it. Every one feems convinced that the evil fo much complained of does really exist somewhere, though all are inwardly perfuaded that it is not with themselves. All defire a general reformation, but few will liften to proposals of particular amendment. Diffipation not only indisposes its votaries, by relaxing the tone of mind, and rendering it incapable of application, study or virtue, to every thing useful and excellent, but difqualifies them for the enjoyment of pleafure itfelf. It foftens the foul fo much, that the most superficial employment becomes a labour, and the flighteft inconvenience an agony. The rofes of pleasure feldom laft long enough to adorn the brow of him who plucks them; for they are the only rofes which do not retain their sweetness after they have loft their beauty. DUTY DUTY OF OLD AGE. MATERIAL part of the duty of the aged confifts in ftudying to be useful to the race who are to fucceed them. Here opens to them an extenfive field, in which they may fo employ themselves as confiderably to advance the happiness of mankind. To them it belongs to impart to the young the fruit of their long experience; to instruct them in the proper conduct, and to warn them of the various dangers of life; by wife counsel to temper their precipitate ardour, and both by precept and example to form them to piety and virtue. It never appears with greater dignity, than, when tempered with mildness and enlivened with good-humour, it acts as a guide and a patron of youth. Religion, difplayed in such a character, strikes the beholders, as at once amiable and venerable. They revere its power, when they fee it adding fo much grace to the decays of nature, and fhedding so pleasing a luftre over the evening of life. The young wifh to tread in the fame steps, and to arrive at the clofe of their days with equal honour. They They liften with attention to counfels which are mingled with tenderness, and rendered re spectable by grey hairs. Aged wisdom, when joined with acknowledged virtue, exerts an authority over the human mind, greater even than that which arifes from power and ftation. It can check the moft forward; abash the most profligate, and ftrike with awe the most giddy and unthinking. EFFECTS OF RELIGION. ELIGION prepares the mind of man for all him in the nature of true happiness; early weans him from an undue love of the world: afflictions do not attack him by surprise, and therefore do not overwhelm him; he is equipped for the ftorm, as well as the calm, in this dubious navigation of life. He is not overcome by difappointment, when that which is mortal dies ; when that which is mutable begins to change; and when that which he knew to be tranfient paffes away. Religion Religion not only purifies, but also fortifies the heart, fo that the devout man is neither lifted up by fuccefs, nor enervated by fenfuality; he meets the changes in his lot without unmanly dejection. He is inured to temperance and reftraint. He has learned firmnefs, and felf-command. He is accustomed to look up to Supreme Providence, not with reverance only, but with trust and hope. In profperity he cultivates his mind; ftores it with ufeful knowledge, with good principles, and virtuous difpofitions. The refources remain entire when the day of trouble comes. His chief pleasures are always of the calm, innocent and temperate kind, and over those, the changes of the world have the leaft power. His mind is a kingdom to him, and he can ever enjoy it. SUPERSTITION AND ENTHUSIASM. SUP UPERSTITION and enthusiasm are two capital fources of delufion. Superstition, on the one hand, attaching men with immoderate zeal to the ritual and external part of religion. Enthusiasm, on the other, directing their whole attention to internal emotions, and myftical com communications with the fpiritual world; while neither the one, nor the other, has paid fufficient regard to the great moral duties of the Chriftian life. Indeed the horror of fuperftition has fometimes reached fo far, as to produce contempt for all external inftitutions; whilft perfons of a devout turn being carried by warm affections at times into unjustifiable excefles, have thence made many conclude that all devotion was akin to enthusiasm. ANGER AND ENVY CONTRASTED. ANGER is lefs reasonable and more fincere than envy. Anger breaks out abruptly; envy is a great prefacer: anger wishes to be understood at once: envy is fond of remote hints and ambiguities; but obfcure as its oracles are, it never ceases to deliver them till they are perfectly comprehended: anger repeats the fame circumstances over again; envy invents new ones at every fresh recital: anger gives a broken, vehement, and interrupted narrative; envy tells a more confiftent, and more probable, though a falfer tale: anger is exceffively imprudent, for it is impatient to disclose every thing it knows; envy is difcreet, for it has a great deal to hide : 3 anger |