him with the most favourable distinction beyond his equals?

Let us farther confider, that not only gratitude for the past, but a cheering fenfe of Divine favour at the prefent, enters into the pious emotion. They are only the virtuous, who in their profperous days hear this voice addrefsed to them, "Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a cheerful heart; for God now accepteth thy works." He who is the Author of their profperity, gives them a title to enjoy, with complacency, his own gift. While bad men snatch the pleasures of the world as by stealth, without countenance from the Great Proprietor of the world; the righteous fit openly down to the feast of life, under the fmile of approving Heaven. No guilty fears damp their joys. The blessing of God refts upon all that they pofsefs; his protection furrounds them; and hence," in the habitations of the righteous, is found the voice of rejoicing and salvation." A luftre unknown to others, invefts, in their fight, the whole face of nature. Their piety reflects a funshine from heaven upon the profperity of the world; unites in one point of view, the fmiling afpect, both of the powers above, and of the objects below. Not only have they as full a relifh as others, of the innocent pleasures of life, but, moreover, in these they hold communion with their Divine Benefactor. In all that is good or fair, they trace his hand. From the beauties of nature, from the improvements of art, from the enjoyments of focial life, they raife their affection to the fource of all the happiness which furrounds them; and thus widen the fphere of their pleasures, by adding intellectual, and fpiritual, to earthly joys.

For illustration of what I have faid on this head, remark that cheerful enjoyment of a profperous ftate, which King David had when he wrote the twentythird pfalm; and compare the highest pleasures of the riotous finner, with the happy and fatisfied spirit which breathes throughout that pfalm.-In the midst of the fplendour of royalty, with what amiable fimplicity of gratitude does he look up to the Lord as "his Shepherd;" happier in afcribing all his fuccefs to Divine favour, than to the policy of his councils, or to the force of his arms? How many inftances of Divine goodness arose before him in pleafing remembrance, when with fuch relish he speaks of the

green paftures and ftill waters, befide which God had led him; of his cup which he had made to overflow; and of the table which he had prepared for him in the presence of his enemies!" With what perfect tranquillity does he look forward to the time of his passing through "the valley of the fhadow of death;" unappalled by that spectre, whose most distant appearance blafts the profperity of finners! He fears no evil, as long as "the rod and the staff" of his Divine Shepherd are with him; and, through all the unknown periods of this and of future existence, commits himself to his guidance with secure and triumphant hope: "Surely goodnefs and mercy will follow me all the days of my life; and I fhall dwell in the houfe of the Lord for ever."-What a purified, fentimental enjoyment of profperity is here exhibited! How different from that grofs relifh of worldly pleasures, which belongs to those who behold only the terrestrial fide of things; who raise their views to no higher objects than the fuccefsion of human con→

tingencies, and the weak efforts of human ability; who have no protector or patron in the heavens, to enliven their profperity, or to warm their hearts with gratitude and truft!

BLAIR.

SECTION XXIII.

Virtue, when deeply rooted, is not fubject to the Influence of Fortune.

THE city of Sidon having furrendered to Alexander, he ordered Hepheftion to beftow the crown on him whom the Sidonians fhould think most worthy of that honour. Hepheftion being at that time refident with two young men of diftinction, offered them the kingdom; but they refufed it, telling him that it was contrary to the laws of their country, to admit any one to that honour, who was not of the royal family. He then, having exprefsed his admiration of their difinterested spirit, defired them to name one of the royal race, who might remember that he received the crown through their hands. Overlooking many, who would have been ambitious of this high honour, they made choice of Abdolonymus, whofe fingular merit had rendered him confpicuous, even in the vale of obfcurity. Though remotely related to the royal family, a feries of misfortunes had reduced him to the necessity of cultivating a garden, for a fmall ftipend, in the fuburbs of the city.

While Abdolonymus was bufily employed in weeding his garden, the two friends of Hephestion, bear

ing in their hands the enfigns of royalty, approached him, and saluted him king. They informed him that Alexander had appointed him to that office; and required him immediately to exchange his ruftic garb, and utenfils of husbandry, for the regal robe and fceptre. At the fame time, they admonished him, when he fhould be feated on the throne, and have a nation in his power, not to forget the humble condition from which he had been raised.

All this, at the firft, appeared to Abdolonymus as an illufion of the fancy, or an infult offered to his poverty. He requested them not to trouble him farther with their impertinent jefts; and to find fome other way of amufing themfelves, which might leave him in the peaceable enjoyment of his obfcure habitation. At length, however, they convinced him, that they were ferious in their propofal; and prevailed upon him to accept the regal office, and accompany them to the palace.

No fooner was he in possession of the government, than pride and envy created him enemies; who whifpered their murmurs in every place, till at last they reached the ear of Alexander. He commanded the new-elected prince to be fent for; and required of him, with what temper of mind he had borne his poverty. "Would to Heaven," replied Abdolonymus, "that I may be able to bear my crown with equal moderation: for when I pofsefsed little, I wanted nothing: thefe hands fupplied me with whatever I defired." From this answer, Alexander formed fo high an idea of his wifdom, that he confirmed the choice which had been made; and annexed a neighbouring province to the government of Sidon.

QUINTUS CURTIUS.

SECTION XXIV.

The Speech of FABRICIUS, a Roman Ambassadour, to King PYRRHUS, who attempted to bribe him to his Interefts, by the offer of a great Sum of Money.

WITH regard to my poverty, the king has, indeed, been juftly informed. My whole eftate confifts in a houfe of but mean appearance, and a little fpot of ground; from which, by my own labour, I draw my fupport. But if, by any means, thou haft been perfuaded to think that this poverty renders me of lefs confequence in my own country, or in any degree unhappy, thou art greatly deceived. I have no reafon to complain of fortune: fhe fupplies me with all that nature requires; and if I am without fuperfluities,

am also free from the defire of them. With thefe, I confefs I fhould be more able to fuccour the neceffitous, the only advantage for which the wealthy are to be envied; but fmall as my pofsefsions are, I can ftill contribute fomething to the support of the state, and the afsiftance of my friends. With refpect to honours, my country places me, poor as I am, upon a level with the richeft: for Rome knows no qualifications for great employments, but virtue and ability. She appoints me to officiate in the moft auguft ceremonies of religion; she intrufts me with the command of her armies; the confides to my care the most important negociations. My poverty does not lefsen the weight and influence of my counfels in the fenate. The Roman people honour me for that very poverty