hall pafs, in every momentous cafe where moral obligation is concerned; which he fhall pafs, not in confequence of a minute examination or long trial, but on the leaft attentive recollection at very first moment of coolness.

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Now, for example, that you are not difturbed by the tumult of the world, or deluded by the fophiftry of the paffions, tell me at once, In what light justice, generosity, friendfhip, fidelity, fortitude, modefty, self-command, virtuous love, public fpirit, univerfal kindness-in what light these qualities appear to you, as foon as they are named, and without regard to particular fituations, or remote effects? Which of you will ftand forth, and fay, in the face of this affembly, in the face of the internal judge, in the face of allinspecting Heaven, that thefe qualities imply any thing reproachful or mean, sany thing of which a man of sentiment and honour fhould ever be afhamed; or

that their contraries can ever deferve esteem?

I have already hinted, that, to decide fairly on this fubject, there is no need of nice diftinctions, fubtle difquifitions, or metaphyfical refinements. Were these indeed wanted, what would become of human beings engaged in action, involved in uncertainty, and environed with snares? But as they are not wanted, fo men never fly to them, in the practice of life, when they wish to follow, with honefty and fimplicity, the spontaneous uncorrupted dictates of the heart.

The law which God has written there, appears in characters fo legible, and fo large, that, to use the language of a prophet, "he who runs may read." He who does not, has most probably turned away his eye on purpose, left he fhould fee fomething that might check him in his carcer; and he who does, but endeavours

to wreft the fenfe, or render the intention dubious, has reason to look upon himself as no better than a hireling counsellor, or hackneyed pleader, who speaks not the language of truth and juftice, but ftudies to ferve his client at the expence of both. The client, in this cafe, is Appetite or Intereft. If either of thefe fhould retain you, Sir, to puzzle fo plain a cause, I will refer it to the first boy we meet.

I will draw, in his hearing, an upright and honourable character, contraft it with its oppofite, make use of no art or colouring in either, and, without delivering any judgement of my own to biass him, I will ask his opinion of both, and rest the whole on that iffue. He will not fail to declare inftantaneously for the former; and, if poffeffed of a foul more than commonly well born, he will declare with a noble warmth, from the generous unstudied impulfe of his own affections. Even while I am drawing the two characters, you

fhall perceive his eyes fparkling with delight, and glowing with indignation, by turns. But who can describe the raptures and emotions that fucceffively fwell and fire the breast of fuch a youth, at reprefentations of this kind, thus pursued and diverfified, through a feries of interesting events, whether real or imaginary ?

To mention but one example of each fort, amongst innumerable that might be produced what think you of the history of Jofeph? What have you not felt in following that extraordinary young man through all the wonderful windings of his lot, and contemplating the gentle and heroic virtues which he alternately difplayed, in the depth of perfecution, and the height of advancement? Witness, again, what some of you have doubtless experienced in perufing that well known, but never fufficiently celebrated work of the incomparable Fenelon, The Adven tures of Telemachus, in which is com

bined every thing that can captivate the fancy, or ravish the heart, with the love of Goodness.

But the truth is, that neither the graces of a fublime imagination, nor any fingular excellence of temper, are neceffary to difcover the beauty of this illuftrious form. Say in fo many words, that a man is fincere and compaffionate, generous and brave, difinterefted and magnanimous ; where is the wretch fo hardened in vice, that his confcience fhall not, in spite of himself, revere the exalted image? What numbers, alas! pine and languish inwardly for that worth which they have not the refolution to court, fighing, if we may fo fpeak, in the bofom of infamy, for thofe attractions of excellence and honour, which they are confcious they shall never poffefs!

Such are always their own accufers. They live at variance with themselves;