himself he sees what no one else sees, some secret and flattering circumstances in his favour, which no doubt make a wide difference betwixt his case, and the parties which he condemns.

What other man speaks so often and so vehe mently against the vice of pride, sets the weakness of it in a more odious light, or is more hurt with it in another, than the proud man himself? It is the same with the passionate, the designing, the ambitious, and some other common characters in life; and being a consequence of the nature of such vices, and almost inseparable from them, the effects of it are generally so gross and absurd, that where pity does not forbid, it is pleasant to observe and trace the cheat through the several turnings and windings of the heart, and detect it through all the shapes and appearances which it puts on.

SERMON IV.

How frequently is the honesty and integrity of a man disposed of by a smile or shrug!-how many good and generous actions have been sunk into oblivion, by a distrustful look, or stampt with the imputation of proceeding from bad motives, by a mysterious and seasonable whisper !

Look into companies of those whose gentle natures should disarm them, we shall find no better account.-How large a portion of chastity is sent cut of the world by distant hints,-nodded away and cruelly winked into suspicion, by the envy of those who are past all temptation of it themselves! How often does the reputation of a helpless crea

ture bleed by a report—which the party, who is at the pains to propagate it, beholds with much pity and fellow-feeling- -that she is heartily sorry for it,

hopes in God it is not true: however, as Archbishop Tillotson wittily observes upon it, is resolved, in the meantime, to give the report her pass, that at least it may have fair play to take its fortune in the world;-to be believed or not, according to the charity of those into whose hands it shall happen to fall!

So fruitful is this vice in variety of expedients, to satiate as well as disguise itself. But if these smoother weapons cut so sore, what shall we say of open and unblushing scandal-subjected to no caution, tied down to no restraints! If the one, like an arrow shot in the dark, does nevertheless so much secret mischief, this, like the pestilence, which rageth at noon-day, sweeps all before it, levelling without distinction the good and the bad; a thousand fall beside it, and ten thousand on its right hand ;-they fall-so rent and torn in this tender part of them, so unmercifully butchered, as sometimes never to recover either the wounds or the anguish of heart which they have occasioned.

But there is nothing so bad which will not admit of something to be said in its defence.

And here it may be ask'd-whether the inconveniences and ill effects which the world feels from the licentiousness of this practice-are not sufficiently counterbalanced by the real influence it has upon men's lives and conduct?-that if here was no evil-speaking in the world, thousands would be encouraged to do ill,——and would

R

rush into many indecorums, like a horse into the battle, were they sure to escape the tongues of

men.

That if we take a general view of the world,we shall find that a great deal of virtue,—at least of the outward appearance of it,-is not so much from any fixed principle, as the terror of what the world will say, and the liberty it will take upon the occasions we shall give.

That if we descend to particulars, numbers are every day taking more pains to be well spoken of, than what would actually enable them to live so as to deserve it.

That there are many of both sexes who can support life well enough without honour or chastity, -who without reputation (which is but the opinion which the world has of the matter), would hide their heads in shame, and sink down in utter despair of happiness. No doubt the tongue is a weapon which does chastise many indecorums which the laws of men will not reach,-and keeps many in awe-whom conscience will not;

and where the case is indisputably flagrant,— the speaking of it in such words as it deservesscarce comes within the prohibition.In many

cases it is hard to express ourselves so as to fix a distinction betwixt opposite characters;-and sometimes it may be as much a debt we owe to virtue, and as great a piece of justice to expose a vicious character, and paint it in its proper colours, as it is to speak well of the deserving, and describe his particular virtues.—And, indeed, when we inflict this punishment upon the bad, merely out of principle, and without indul

gences to any private passion of our own, it is a case which happens so seldom, that one might venture to except it.

SERMON.

SLAVERY.

CONSIDER slavery,-what it is,-how bitter a draught, and how many millions have been made to drink it ;- -which, if it can poison all earthly happiness when exercised barely upon our bodies, what must it be, when it comprehends both the slavery of body and mind? To conceive this, look into the history of the Romish church and her tyrants (or rather executioners), who seem to have taken pleasure in the pangs and convulsions of their fellow-creatures.Examine the Inquisition, hear the melancholy notes sounded in every cell. Consider the anguish of mock-trials, and the exquisite tortures consequent thereupon, mercilessly inflicted upon the unfortunate, where the racked and weary soul has so often wished to take its leave, but cruelly not suffered to depart.

Consider how many of these helpless wretches have been hauled from thence, in all periods of this tyrannic usurpation, to undergo the massacres and flames to which a false and bloody religion has condemned them.

-Let us behold him in another light

If we consider man as a creature full of wants and necessities (whether real or imaginary), which he is not able to supply of himself, what a train of disappointments, vexations, and dependences are

to be seen issuing from thence to perplex and make his way uneasy!How many jostlings and hard struggles do we undergo in making our way in the world!-How barbarously held back!— How often and basely overthrown, in aiming only at getting bread!-How many of us never attain it at least not comfortably,-but from various unknown causes-eat it all our lives long in bitterness!

SERMON.

SOCIETY.

NOTWITHSTANDING all we meet with in books, in many of which, no doubt, there are a good many handsome things said upon the sweets of retirement, &c.-yet still "it is not good for man to be alone:" nor can all which the cold-hearted pedant stuns our ears with upon the subject, ever give one answer of satisfaction to the mind; in the midst of the loudest vauntings of philosophy, Nature will have her yearnings for society and friendship; a good heart wants some object to be kind to and the best parts of our blood, and the purest of our spirits, suffer most under the destitution.

Let the torpid Monk seek heaven comfortless and alone- -God speed him! For my own part, I fear, I should never so find the way: let me be wise and religious-but let me be man: whereever thy Providence places me, or whatever be the road I take to get to thee-give me some companion in my journey, be it only to remark