affections cheers and gladdens him. Every appearance, every descriptions of innocent happiness, is enjoyed by him. Every native expression of kindness and affection among others, is felt by him, even though he be not the object of it. Among a circle of friends enjoying one another, he is as happy as the happiest.

8 Description, s the act of describing, repre sentation.

terest to excess.

9. In a word, he lives in a different sort of world from what the selfish man inhabits. He possesses a new sense, that enables him to be- 9 Selfish, orez hold objects which the selfishy can- garding self in. not see. At the same time his enjoyments are not of that kind which remains merely on the surTace of the mind. They penetrates the heart. They enlarge and elevate, they refine and ennoble it.

Enjoyments, fruition, hap. Piness. to pierce, to en

2 Penetrate, v

ter.

3 Emotion,

disturbance of

८

nesses perception of what: passes in the mind.

10. To all the pleasing emotionss of affection, they add the dignified mind. consciousness4 of virtue. Children 4 Consciousof men! mea, formed by nature to live and to feel as brethren! how long will ye continue to estrange yourselves from one another by competitions5 and jealousies, when in cordial union ye might be so much more blest ?

11. How long will ye seek your happiness in selfish gratifications6 alone, neglecting those purer and

5 Competition, s contest, double claim.

6 Gratification, Grath s pleasure; reward

better sources of joy, which flow from the affections and the heart?

On the True Honor of Man.

1. The proper honour of man arises not from some of those splendid actions and abilities, which excite high admiration.7 Courage and prowess of military renown, signal victories and conquest, may render the name of a man famous, without rendering his character truly honourable. To many brave men, to many heroes renowned in story, we look up with wonder.

2. Their exploits are recorded. Their praises are sung. They stand as on an eminence above the rest of mankind. Their eminence, nevertheless, may not be of that sort before which we bow with inward esteem and respect. Something more is wanted for that pur pose than the conquering arm, and the intrepid miud. The laurels2 of the warrior most at all times be dyed in blood, and bedewed with the tears of the widow and the orphan..

3. But if they have been stained with rapines and inhumanity, if sordid avarice has marked his character, or low and gross sensuality has degraded his life, the great he

7 Admiration, s wonder 8. Victory

conquest, suc. cess, triumph.

9 Exploit. san action, attempt achievement. + Eminence, s height, top; a cardinal's title

2 Laurel, s an ever-greentree:

3. Ripine, s force, violence? act of plundere ingy

4 Odious, a hateful detesta

ro sinks into, a little man. Whatat
a distance, or on a superfic. view
we admired, becomes mean, per-
haps becomes odious4 when we ex-
amine it more closely. It is like bic.
the collossal statue, whose immense
size struck the spectators afar off
with astonishment; but when near-
ly viewed, it appears disproportion-
ed, unshapely and rude.

4. Observations of the same kind may be applied to all the reputation6 derived from evil accomplishments; from the refined politics7 of the statesman, or the literary ef forts of geniuss and erudition. These bestow, and within certain bounds ought to bestow, eminence and distinction on men. They discover talents which in themselves are shining; and which become highly valuable, when employed in advancing the good of mankind.

5. Hence, they frequently give rise to fame. But a distinction is to be made between tame and true bonor. The statesman, the oratort or the poet, may be famous; while yet the man himself is far from being honoured. We envy his abilities. We wish to rival2 them. But we would not choose to be classed with him who possesses them. Instances of this sort are

5 Spectator s a locker on, a

beholder.

6 Reputation, good opinion, character. 7 Politics,s the seience of govt. 8 Genius, 8 disposition, mental power.

9 Advancing, part bringing forward.

Orator,a

public speaker. too often found in every record of ancients or modern4 history.

From all this it follows that in order to discern where man's true honour lies, we must look, not to any adventitions circumstance of fortune, nor to any single sparkling quality; but to the whole of what forms a man; what entitles him, as such, to rank high among the class of beings to which he belongs; in a word, we must look to the mind and the soul;

7. A mind superior to fear, to selfish interest and corruption ;5 a mind governed by principles of uniform rectitude and integrity 36 the same in prosperity and adversity; which no bribe can seduce, nor terror overawe; neither by pleasure melted into effeminacy, nor by distress sunk into dejection; such is the mind which forms the distinction and caminence of man.

8. One, who in no situation of life is either ashamed or afraid of discharging his duty, and acting his proper part with some firmuess8 and constancy; true to the God whom he worships, and true to the faith in which he professes to believe; full of affection 9 for mankind; faithful to his friends, generous to his enemies, warm with compassion to the unfortunate; self-denying to

little private interests and pleasures but zealous for public interest and happiness, magnanimous without being proud; humble without being mean; just without being barsh; simple in his manners, but manly in his feelings;

9. On whose word we can entirely rely; whose countenance never deceives us; whose professions2 of kindness are the effusions of his heart; one, in fine, whom, independent of any views of advantage, we would choose for a superior ;3 could trust in as a friend, and love as a brother. This is the man whom in our hearts, above all. others, we do, we must honor.

& Magnanimous, a brave, great in mind.

Story of Palemon and Lavinia.

The lovely young Lavinia once had friends
And fortune smil'd deceitful on her birth.
For in her helpless years, depriv'd of all,
Of every stay, save innocence and Heaven,
She with her widowed mother, fecble, old
And poor, liv'd in a cottage, far retired
Among the windings of a woody vale.

• Together, thus they shunn'd the cruel scorn,
Which virtue, sunk to poverty, would meet.
From giddy passion and low-minded pride;
Almost on nature's common bounty,fed;
Content, and careless of to-morrow's fare.
Her form was fresher than the morning rose,