and of truth; and by them you shall never be deceived, nor have cause of repentance." It was by such society as this noble father recommends, that the families of the Nevilles, the Percies, the Talbots, the Sidneys, &c. continued so long to be the boast of England. In those days the most odious marks of disgrace would have been affixed to the son of a peer, or even of a commoner, who had been seen herding with pugilists, stable-boys, public jockeys, and women against whom the doors of modesty are closed. But these are the favourite (and often approved) associates of too many of our British lords and commons: and, notwithstanding the rank, riches, or situation, that places them above the lowest classes of the populace, their vulgarity, brutality, and indecencies every hour proclaim, what are their vile occupations and loathsome companions. The conduct of these libertines, is more treasonable than a thousand incendiary writings. The higher their rank, the more imminent the danger : like a beacon on a hill, they are seen from afar all their actions are scanned, and when the evil preponderate the good, the conse

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quence is to be dreaded. They teach the hard-working mechanic to despise the great ; whom, from one bad specimen, they believe to be all alike indolent and wicked. Contempt is followed by disobedience; and disobedience, if persisted in, must be defended by rebellion.

3.

Long exercised virtue maketh a falling off to vice fuller of deformity.

Remark.

The poets tell that the temple of virtue is on a height: we cannot gain it but by climbing; and as the path is slippery, if we attempt to stand still, we slide backwards. St. Paul says the same thing, when he writes to the Corinthians-" Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”

4.

Unlawful desires are punished after the effect of enjoying; but impossible desires are punished in the desire itself.

Remark.

The fruition of what is unlawful must be followed by remorse. The core sticks in the throat after the apple is eaten, and the sated appetite loaths the interdicted pleasure for which innocence was bartered. Desire of an impossible good dies with the pang that convinces of its impossibility. But an intemperate gratification of the most blameless passions mixes bitters with their sweets: a painful consciousness pursues all immoderation, and unhappiness is the consequence. do not require the commission of positive crime, to stand self-accused and self-condemned. In some cases, we sooner obtain the world's forgiveness than our own.

We

True

virtue, when she errs, needs not the eyes of men to excite her blushes: she is confounded at her own presence, and covered with confusion of face.

5.

Sin is the mother, and shame the daughter of lewdness

6.

Wickedness may well be compared to a bottomless pit, into which it is easier to keep one's self from falling, than, being fallen, to give one's self any stay from falling infinitely.

Remark.

Guilt is a spiritual Rubicon. The tide of passion having once forced us from the shore, its waves impel us forward, and we emerge not, till we have incurred a penalty we cannot pay, and contracted a pollution we cannot wash out. It has been wisely said, "that well may thy guardian angel suffer thee to lose thy locks, when thou darest wilfully to lay thy head in the lap of temptation!" Was it not easier for the hero of Judea to avoid the touch of the fair Philistine, than to elude her power when held in her arms?

7.

Vice is but a nurse of agonies.

8.

In extremity, vice is forward to seek the sanctuary of virtue.

9.

In shame, there is no comfort but to be beyond all bounds of shame.

10.

To those persons who have vomitted out of their souls all remnants of goodness, there rests a certain pride in evil; and having else no shadow of glory left them, they glory to be constant in iniquity.

Remark.

The cruelties of the Roman emperors, in ancient history, and the enormities of the French revolutionists, in modern annals, yield abundant examples to authorise this remark.