In truth, I conceive that your conduct, my young auditors, will, through the whole of your future progrefs, be very much regulated by the light in which you view yourselves at setting out. If you eftablish it now, for a facred and invariable principle, to follow, as nearly as your nature and fituation will permit, that elevated ftandard of rectitude which your Creator has raised within you, and never to fink greatly beneath your original rank, and glorious deftination, as intelligent, focial, and immortal beings; is there not reafon to hope, you will in that cafe perform your parts worthily? If, on the contrary, forgetting what you are, and for what end fo diftinguished, you fail to cherish or regard your innate perceptions of probity and greatness; if even ftriving to suppress them, when repugnant to the lower propenfities of your make, you labour to perfuade yourselves, that you were formed chiefly for the gratification of these last, and chufe accordingly the path to which

they point; what is then to be expected ? I would rather you fhould answer the queftion than myfelf. That about which I am moft follicitous on this occafion, is to trace the Foundation, and fhow the Neceffity, of that Reverence with which you ought habitually to obferve and obey the higheft dictates and the pureft Feelings of your own minds.

There is not perhaps any term more familiar in the mouths of youth, especially amongst thofe of better condition, than Honour. But have they well confidered its meaning? Do they carefully difcriminate between that honour which refers to public opinion, and that which refults from self-esteem? Say, my brothers, do you never forget, that the first is fufpended on prepoffeffions and fancies more variable than the winds, more restlefs than the waves; and that the last, when rightly understood, is built on truths and conclufions immutable as God

himself, and unshaken as his throne? In the latter, which is the proper fignification of the word, Honour includes Virtue, and beftows its fanction upon that only. In the former, which is the common acceptation of this term, it does not neceffarily include Virtue, and its fuffrage is frequently given to Vice. But can you be at any lofs, which to prefer? Can you doubt for an inftant, whether you shall depend on your own approbation, or the applaufe of others; whether you shall be enflaved to the prejudices and caprices of the multitude, often changing and ever uncertain, or appear refpectable to yourselves by a behaviour which fomething within you will always pronounce worthy, excellent, noble?

I faid, Something within you. For, pray obferve, we would not now send you back to academies and colleges, for a system of morality founded on deep fpeculation, wrought out by flow deduction, or

hored up by laborious argument. A system more obvious and fimple, perhaps too not lefs fatisfactory and persuasive, you will find nearer home, God has established in your breast, Sir, a school · of far fuperior authority to any mercly human; committing you to the care of Confcience, his awful reprefentative. If you will liften with docility to this divine teacher, you shall seldom err in any fundamental point of virtuous practice.

I speak not now of religious obligations ftrictly fo called, which must be the subject of future confideration, and which the fchool of Chrift alone can teach in perfection. I would only remark in the mean time, that, as this latter fchool corroborates and enforces the leffons taught in the former, fo no fooner is unbiaffed reafon made acquainted with the new relations, and mighty objects, discovered in the other, than Confcience perceives and acknowledges the duties VOL. I. D

thence arifing: his fphere of action is only enlarged; his power and importance are increased; he difcerns with more quickness, feels with greater purity, and dictates in a tone of majesty unknown before in fhort, this home tutor becomes much more enlightened, and venerable, in the exercise of an authority originally derived from the Parent of all.

To vary the allufion, the Sovereign Ruler has erected in every mind a tribunal, where the fame delegated power prefides in his name, judging and determining on the great queftions of right and wrong, honourable and base, with a precifion that cannot eafily be mistaken, an expedition that admits of no delay, and a folemnity that none can flight but at their peril.

To this high court we appeal from the decifions of Vice and Folly.

We will abide by the fentence, which Confcience