PERFECTION.

MAN has a certain compafs, as well as an in

ftrument; and the focial and other calls have occafion by turns for every key in him; fo that if you begin a note too high or too low, there must be a want either in the upper or under part, to fill up the system of harmony. A polished nation makes every one its debtor B and befides, urbanity itself, like the fair fex, has fo many charms, it goes against the heart to fay it can do ill; and yet, I believe, there is but a certain line of perfection, that man, take him altogether, is empowered to arrive at if he gets beyond, he rather exchanges qualities, than gets them. I must not prefume to fay, how far this has affected the French-But fhould it ever be the cafe of the English, in the progrefs of their refentments, to arrive at the fame polish which distinguishes the French, if we did not lofe the politeffe de cœur, which inclines men more to humane actions, than courteous ones— we should at least lose that distinct variety and originality of character, which distinguishes

them,

them, not only from each other, but from all

the world befides.

SEN, JOUR. P. 171.

FORGIVENESS.

HE brave only know how to forgive ;—it is

THE

the most refined and generous pitch of virtue human nature can arrive at.-Cowards have done good and kind actions *,-cowards have even fought-nay fometimes even conquered; but a coward never forgave.—It is not in his nature; the power of doing it flows only from a ftrength and greatness of foul, confcious of its own force and fecurity, and above the little temptations of resenting every fruitless attempt to interrupt its happiness.

SERM. XII. P. 244.

Christian Hero.

A

FAVOUR

FAVOUR S.

IN returning favours, we act differently from what we do in conferring them in the one cafe we fimply confider what is beft,-in the other what is moft acceptable. The reafon is, that we have a right to act according to our own ideas of what will do the party moft good, in the cafe where we bestow a favour ;-but where we return one, we lose this right, and act according to his conceptions, who has obliged us, and endeavour to repay in fuch a manner as we think it most likely to be ed in discharge of the obligation.

accept

SERM. XIII. P. 260.

RUSTIC FELICITY.

MANY are the filent pleasures of the honest peasant; who rifes cheerfully to his labour-look into his dwelling,-where the scene of every man's happiness chiefly lies ;-

he has the fame domeftic endearments,-as

much joy and comfort in his children,—and as flattering hopes of their doing well,-to enliven his hours and glad his heart, as you could conceive in the most affluent station.-And I make no doubt, in general, but if the true account of his joys and fufferings were to be ballanced with those of his betters, that the upfhot would prove to be little more than this,— that the rich man had the more meat, but the poor man the better ftomach ;-the one had more luxury,-more able physicians to attend and fet him to rights;-the other, more health and foundness in his bones, and lefs occafion for their help ;-that, after these two articles betwixt them were balanced,-in all other things they stood upon a level :-that the fun shines as warm,—the air blows as fresh, and the earth breathes as fragrant upon the one as the other; and that they have an equal fhare in all the beauties and real benefits of nature.

SERM. XLIV. P. 260.

DIFFERENCE

DIFFERENCE IN MEN.

POVERTY, exile, lofs of fame or friends, the death of children, the dearest of all pledges of a man's happiness, make not equal impreffions upon everytemper.--You will fee one man undergo, with scarce the expence of a figh,-what another, in the bitterness of his foul, would go mourning for all his life long:-nay, a hafty word, or an unkind look, to a soft and tender nature, will strike deeper than a fword to the hardened and fenfelefs.-If thefe reflections hold true with regard to misfortunes, they are the fame with regard to enjoyments:-we are formed differently, have different taftes and perceptions of things;-by the force of habit, education, or a particular caft of mind,--it happens that neither the use or poffeffion of the fame enjoyments and advantages, produce the fame happinefs and contentment ;-but that it differs in every man almoft according to his temper and complexion: fo that the felf-fame happy accidents in life, which fhall give raptures to the choleric or fanguine man, fhall be received with indifference