NEGLECT OF RELIGION.

WHERE Religion is neglected there can be

no regular or steady practice of the duties of morality. The character will be often inconfiftent; and virtue, placed on a basis too narrow to support it, will be always loose and tottering. For fuch is the propenfity of our nature to vice, so numerous are the temptations to a relaxed and immoral conduct, that ftronger restraints than thofe of mere reafon are neceflary to be impofed

on man.

The sense of right and wrong, the principle of honour, or the instinct of benevolence, are barriers too feeble to withstand the ftrength of pasfion. For the heart wounded by fore diftrefs, or agitated by violent emotions, foon difcovers, that virtue without religion is inadequate to the government of life. It is deftitute of its proper guard

of its firmeft fupport-of its chief encouragement. It will fink under the weight of misfortune-or will yield to the folicitations of guilt.

Humanity, feconded by piety, renders the fpring from whence it flows of course more reguiar and conftant. In fhort, withdraw religion and you shake all the pillars of morality. In every

3

every heart you weaken the influence of virtue; and among the multitude, the bulk of mankind, you overthrow its power.

OLD AGE.

LD Age is a ftage of the human course,

OLD

which every one hopes to reach; it is a period justly entitled to general refpect. Even its failings ought to be touched with a gentle hand. For though in every part of life vexations occur; yet, in former years, either bufinefs, or pleasure, ferved to obliterate their impreffion, by supplying occupation to the mind.

Old age begins its advances by difqualifying men either from relishing the one, or for taking an active part in the other; while it withdraws their accustomed fupports, it impofes, at the fame time, the additional burden of growing infirmities.

In the former ftages of their journey, hope continued to flatter them with many a fair and enticing profpect; but as old age increases these illufions vanish. Life is contracted within a narrow and barren circle. Year after year steals

fome

fomewhat away from their fore of comfort-deprives them of fome of their ancient friendsblunts fome of their powers of fenfation—and incapacitates them for fome function of life.

The querulous temper, to them imputed, is to be confidered as a natural infirmity, rather than a vice: the fame apology cannot be made for that peevish disgust at the manners, and that malignant cenfure of the enjoyment, of the young, which is fometimes found to accompany declining years.

It is too common to find the aged at declared enmity with the whole system of present customs and manners; perpetually complaining of the growing depravity of the world, and of the aftonishing vices and follies of the rifing generation. All things, according to them, are rushing faft into ruin. Decency and good order have become extinct; ever fince that happy difcipline, under which they spent their youth, has paffed away.

Former follies vanish, and are forgotten.Those which are prefent, ftrike obfervation and fharpen cenfure. Had the depravation of the world continued to increase in proportion to thofe gloomy calculations, which, fo many centuries paft, have estimated each race as worfe than the G

preced

preceding; by this time, not one ray of good fenfe, nor one spark of piety and and virtue, muft have remained unextinguifhed among mankind.

APPEARANCES OF PIETY.

HESE are often fubftituted in the place of the great duties of humanity and mercy.Too many flatter themselves with the hope of obtaining the friendship of their Creator, though they neglect to do justice to their fellow-crea

tures.

But fuppofed piety is an invention of their own, unknown to reafon-unknown in the word of God. For piety is a principle which regenerates the heart, and forms it to goodness. If, therefore, while piety seems ardent, morality fhall decline; or if ever the regard to it should totally fail-if, whilft making prayers, no alms are given-if, whilst we appear zealous for God, we are falfe or unjust to men-if we are hard or contracted in heart, fevere in our cenfures, and oppreffive in our conduct, then conclude what we have termed piety, was no more than an empty name, refolving itself either into an hypocritical form of godlinefs-a tranfient impreffion of

feriouf

ferioufnefs-an accidental melting of the heart-or the deliberate refuge of a deluded and fuperftitious, but, at the fame time, a corrupted mind. For all men, even the moft depraved, are fubject, more or lefs, to compunctions of confci

ence.

THE

MEN OF TRUE PLEASURE.

HE feat of enjoyment is the foul. None' but the temperate, the regular, and the virtuous know how to enjoy prosperity. They bring to its comforts the manly relish of a found uncorrupted mind. They ftop at the proper point before enjoyment degenerates into disgust, and pleasure is converted into pain. They are trangers to those complaints which flow from fpleen, caprice, and all the fantastical distresses of a vitiated mind. Purity and virtue heighten all the powers of human fruition. Moderate and fimple pleasures relish high with the temperate.

Innocence confers ease and freedom on the mind; leaves it open to every pleasing sensation; give a lightness to the fpirits, fimilar to the native gaiety of youth and health ;- for profperity is redoubled to a good man by his generous use of it;