course with one another affifts their delufion, to which, of themselves, they are prone.

For the ordinary commerce of the world, is a commerce of flattery and falfehood; where reciprocally they deceive and are deceived, where every one appears under an affumed form, profeffes efteem which he does not feel, and bestows praise in order to receive it.

There are three characters which every man fuftains; and these often extremely different from one another. One which he poffeffes is his own opinion; another, which he carries in eftimation of the world;-and a third, which he bears in the judgment of God:-it is only the laft which af certains what he really is. Whether the character which the world forms of him be above or below truth, it imports not much to know. But it is of eternal confequence, that the character which a man poffeffes in his own eyes be formed upon that which he bears in the fight of God.

He fhould enquire, after laying afide all partiality for himself, and exploring the heart with fuch accurate fcrutiny, as may bring all hidden defects to light, whether he be not confcious, that the fair opinion which the world entertains of him, is founded on their partial knowledge,

both of his abilities and virtues. He fhould be willing that all his actions should be publicly canvaffed. He fhould bear to have his thoughts laid

open.

When he has kept from vice, it fhould be known whether his innocence proceeded from purity of principle, or from worldly motives ;--whether any malignity or envy rifes within him, when he compares his own condition with that of others. He fhould enquire whether he has been as folicitous to regulate his heart, as to preferve his manners from reproach;-profeffing himself a Chriftian, whether the spirit of Christ has appeared in his conduct;-declaring that he hopes for immortality, whether that hope furmounted undue attachment to the present life.

Such investigation, feriously pursued, may produce to every man many discoveries of himfelf; difcoveries, not pleafing, perhaps, to vanity, but falutary and ufeful. For he can only be a flatterer, but no true friend to himself, who aims not at knowing his own defects, as well as virtues.

CHEER

CHEERFULNESS OF OLD AGE, AND LEVITY OF YOUTH, CONTRASTED.

HEERFULNESS, in old age, is graceful.

CH

It is the natural concomitant of virtue. But this is widely different from the levity of youth. Many things are allowable in that early period, which in maturer years, would deferve cenfure; but which, in old age, become both ridiculous and criminal.-By awkwardly affecting to imitate the manners, and to mingle in the vanities of the young; as the aged depart from the dignity, fo they forfeit the privileges of grey hairs. But if by follies of this kind they are degraded, they are exposed to much deeper blame, by defcending to vicious pleasure, and continuing to hover round thofe finful gratifications to which they were once addicted.

Amusement and relaxation the aged require, and may enjoy; but they fhould confider well, by every intemperate indulgence they accelerate decay; inftead of enlivening, they opprefs and precipitate their declining ftate.

PUBLIC LIFE-ITS INCONVENIENCIES.

E who lives always in public cannot live to his own foul. Converfation and intercourse with the world is, in feveral refpects, an education for vice. From earliest youth we are accuftomed to hear riches and honour extolled as the chief poffeffions of man, and proposed to us as the principle aim of our future pursuits. We are trained up to look with admiration on the flattering marks of diftinction which they beftow. In queft of those fancied bleffings, we fee the multitude around us eager and fervent. Principles of duty we may, perhaps, hear sometimes inculcated; but we feldom behold them brought in competition with worldly profit.

The foft names and plaufible colours under which deceit, fenfuality, and revenge, are prefented to us in common difcourfe, weaken, by degrees, our natural fenfe of the distinction between good and evil. We often meet with crimes authorized by high examples, and rewarded with the careffes and smiles of the world. We difcover, perhaps, at laft, that thofe whom we are taught to reverence and to regard as our patterns of conduct, act upon principles no purer than thofe of others.

MAN

MAN OF THE WORLD.

HE pretends that virtue is, at least, a respectable and honoured name, while picty founds meanly in his ears—and claims to be a man of honour. He rests upon humanity-public spirit— probity—and truth. He arrogates to himself all the manly and active virtues :—but devout affections and religious duties he treats with contempt, as founded on fhadowy fpeculation, and fit to employ the attention only of weak and fuperfti tious minds. Hence this neglect of piety argues depravity of foul-infers an irregular discharge of the cuties of morality, and difcovers a cold and hard heart.

He who acts from worldly wisdom lays principle afide, and trufts his defence to his art and ability. He avails himfelf of every advantage which his knowledge of the world fuggefts-he attends to nothing but what he confiders as his intereft; and unconfined by confcience, pursues it by every course which promifes him fuccefs.

Perfons of this character condemn themfelves to live a moft unquiet life;-they pafs their days in perpetual anxiety-liftening to every motion -ftartled by every alarm-changing their meafures

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