it is reflected back upon him from every one whom he makes happy. In the intercourse of domestic affection—in the attachment of friends-the gratitude of dependents-the efteem and good will of all who know him-he fees bleffings multiplied around him on every fide; like a tree in the midst of an inhabited country, affording to fome friendly shelter; to others fruit, which is not only admired by all for its beauty, but bleffed by the traveller for the fhade, and by the hungry for the fuftenance it has given. T MAN OF PLEASURE. a man of pleasure every moment appears to be loft, which partakes not of the vivacity of amusement. To connect one plan of gaiety with another is his fole ftudy, till in a very short time nothing remains but to tread the. fame beaten round-to enjoy what they have already enjoyed-and to fee what they have often feen. Pleasures thus drawn to the dregs become vapid and tasteless. What might have pleased long, long, if enjoyed with temperance and mingled with retirement, being devoured with fuch eager hafte, fpeedily furfeits and difgufts. Hence, having run through a rapid course of pleasure, after having glittered for a few years in the foremoft line of public amufements, fuch men are the moft apt to fly at laft to a melancholy retreat; not led by religion or reafon, but driven by dif appointed hopes and exhausted spirits to the penfive conclufion, that all is vanity. PLEASURE, SENSUAL AND SPIRITUAL. THE HE refined pleafures of a pious mind are, in many respects, fuperior to the coarse gratifications of fenfe ;-they are pleafures which belong to the highest powers and beft affections of the foul; whereas the gratifications of sense refide in the lowest region of our nature. To the one the foul stoops below its native dignity; the other raises it above itself. The one leaves always a comfortless, often a mortifying remembrance behind it; the other is reviewed with applaufe and delight. The pleafures of fome refemble a foaming torrent; which, after a diforderly course, speedily runs out, and leaves an empty and offenfive channel: but the pleasures of devo G3 devotion resemble the equable current of a pure river, which enlivens the fields through which it paffes, and diffuses verdure and fertility along its banks. THO PLEASURES OF OLD AGE. HOUGH, in old age, the circle of pleasure is contracted, yet within its limits, many of thofe enjoyments remain which are moft grateful to human nature. Temperate mirth is not extinguished by advanced years; the mild pleasures of domestic life ftill cheer the heart. The entertainments of converfation and focial intercourfe continue unimpaired. The defire of knowledge is not abated by the frailty of the body, and the leifure of old age affords many opportunities for gratifying that defire. The fphere of observation and reflection is not fo much enlarged by long acquaintance with the world, as to fupply, within itself, a wide range of improving thought: whilft the aged are engaged in such employments as best suit the infirmities of their nature, they are furrounded, perhaps, with families, who treat them with attention and respect; they are honoured by their friends; friends; their characters are established, and are placed beyond the reach of clamour and the strife of tongues; and, free from distracting cares, can calmly attend to their eternal interefts. No age is doomed to total infelicity, provided that we attempt not to do violence to nature, by seeking to extort from one age the pleafures of another, and to gather in the winter of life thofe flowers which were deftined to bloffem only in its fummer or its spring. PRESUMPTION. HE conftant concomitant of Prefumption is self-conceit and obstinacy; and of all the follies incident to youth particularly, there are none which either deform its prefent appearance, or blast the prospect of its future profperity more than these. By checking its natural progress in improvement, they fix it in long immaturity, and frequently produce mischiefs, which can never be repaired. These are the vices too commonly found among the young-Big with enterprize, and elated by hope, they resolve to trust for fuccefs to to none but themselves.-Full of their own abilities, they deride the admonitions which are given them by their friends, as the timorous fuggeftions of age.-Too wife to learn,-too impatient to deliberate,-too forward to be restrained, they plunge with precipitate indifcretion into the midst of all the dangers with which life abounds.-Pofitive in opinion, and confident in their affertions, as they are at this period, the time will arrive when both men and things will appear in a different light. Many characters now admired will fink, by and by, in efteem;and many opinions, of which they are at present moft tenacious, will alter as they advance in years. The glare of youthful Prefumption which dazzles our eyes fhould always be diftrufted; we fhould not abound in our own fenfe, nor put ourfelves forward with too much eagerness; nor imagine that by the impetuofity of juvenile ardour, fyftems can be overturned which have been long established, or that the face of the world can be changed; but by patient and gradual progreffion in improvement, we may in due time command lafting esteem. But by affuming, at present, a tone of fuperiority to which we have no title, we shall disgust those whofe approbation it is most important to gain. Forward vivacity may fit us to |