lance and caution. It is opposed to cunning, not to true wisdom. It is not the fimplicity of the weak and improvident, but the candour of an enlarged and noble mind; of one who fcorns deceit, because he accounts it both bafe and unprofitable; and who feeks no difguife, because he needs none to hide him.

SLOTH.

NOTHING is fo oppofite to the true enjoy

ment of life, as the relaxed and feeble state of an indolent mind. Sloth is fo inconfiftent with both foundness of mind and body, that it is harder to determine whether it be a greater foe to virtue, or to health and happiness. Inactive as it is in itself, its effects are fatally powerful. Though it appear a flowly flowing stream, yet it undermines all that is ftable and flourishing. not only faps the foundation of every virtue, but pours upon us a deluge of crimes and evils.It is like water, which firft putrifies by ftagnation; and then fends up noxious vapours, and fills the atmosphere with death.

It

Idleness is the certain parent both of guilt and ruin, which should be avoided. Under this are included,

included, not mere inaction only, but all that circle of trifling occupations, in which too many faunter away their youth; perpetually engaged in frivolous fociety or public amusements;— in the labour of drefs, or the oftentation of their perfons.

Amusements, youth requires. It were vain— it were cruel, to prohibit them. But though allowable as the relaxation, they are moft culpable as the business of the young. For they then become the gulph of time, and the poison of the mind. They foment bad paffions—they weaken the manly powers--they fink the native vigour of youth into contemptible effeminacy.

SOBRIETY OF MIND-ITS NECESSITY.

OBRIETY of mind is one of thofe virtues,

SOBRI

which the prefent condition of human life. ftrongly inculcates. The uncertainty of its enjoyments checks prefumption; the multiplicity of its dangers demands perpetual caution.

Moderation-vigilance-and felf-government, are duties incumbent on all; but efpecially on fuch as are beginning the journey of life. For the whole ftate of youthful views and paffions is ad

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verfe

verfe to fobriety of mind.--The scenes which prefent themselves at our entering upon the world, are commonly flattering.-Whatever they be in themselves," the lively spirits of the young gild every opening profpect.-The field of hope appears to stretch wide before them. Pleasure feems to put forth its bloffoms on every fide.Impelled by defire, forward they rufh with inconfiderate ardour:-prompt to decide and to chufeaverse to hesitate or to enquire;-credulous, becaufe untaught by experience;-rash, because unacquainted with danger;-headstrong, because unfubdued by disappointment.

In human actions there is a right and wrong. -Those who are born with the fame advantages of fortune, are not all equally profperous in the courfe of life. Some of them, by wife and fteady conduct, attain diftinction in the world, and pass their days with comfort and honour;-others of the fame rank, by mean and vicious behaviour, forfeit the advantages of their birth,-involve themselves in much mifery,-and end in being a difgrace to their friends, and a burden on fociety. Early, then, we may learn, that it is not on the external condition in which we find ourselves placed;-but on that part on which we are to act, that our welfare or unhappiness,-our honour or infamy depend.

When

When beginning to act that part, it is of the greatest moment to regulate our plan of conduc with the most ferious attention, before we have yet committed any fatal or irretrievable errors.— If, inftead of exerting reflection for this valuable purpose, we deliver ourfelves up, at so critical a time, to sloth and pleasure;—if we refuse to liften to any counsellor but humour, or to attend to any purfuit except that of amufement;- if we allow ourselves to float loofe and carelefs on the tide of life, ready to receive any direction which the current of fashion may chance to give us-the fad confequences of fuch indifcretion will extend to us :—we cannot attain fuccefs without preparation, and escape dangers without precaution.-Happiness will not grow up to us of its own accord, and folicit our acceptance, when to the rest of mankind, it is the fruit of long cultivation, and the acquifition of labour and care.-We fhould not deceive ourselves with fuch arrogant hopes.

Whatever be our rank, Providence will not, for our fakes, reverfe its established order. But, by tempering the vivacity of youth with a proper mixture of ferious thought, we may enfure cheerfulness for the rest of life; whilft by delivering ourfelves up at prefent to giddinefs and levity, we lay the foundation of lafting heavinefs of heart.

I

SOLI

SOLIT

SOLITUDE.

OLITUDE is the hallowed ground which religion hath, in every age, chofen for her own. There her inspiration is felt, and her secret myfteries elevate the foul. There falls the tear of contrition ;-- there, rifes towards heaven the figh of the heart;-there, melts the foul with all the tenderness of devotion, and pours itfelf forth before him who made, and redeemed it.

A

The great and worthy, the pious and the vir tuous, have ever been addicted to ferious retirement. Refined and enlarged minds leave the world behind them,-feel a call for higher pleafures, and feek them in retreat.

But a total feclufion from the world, is fo far from being the perfection of religion, that it is no other than the abuse of it. Yet there will be neither confiftency in the conduct, nor dignity in the character, of one who fets apart no share of time for meditation and reflection.

If we wish that reafon fhould exert her native power, we muft ftep afide from the crowd into the cool and filent fhade. It is there that, with fober and fteady eye, the examines what is good

and