makes it hard; and the most dangerous pits and snares for human virtue are those, which are so covered over with the flowers of prosperous fortune, that it requires a cautious foot, and a viligant eye, to escape them.

Ananias and Saphira were, perhaps, well esteemed in society; for it was enough to establish a very considerable reputation to sell even part of their possessions for religious purposes: but what an alarm does it sound to hypocrisy, that, instead of being rewarded for what they brought, they were punished for what they kept back! And it is to be feared, that this deceitful pair are not the only one, upon whom a good action, without a pure intention, has drawn down a righteous retribution.

A man

Outward actions are the surest, and indeed, to human eyes the only evidences of sincerity, but Christianity is a religion of motives and principles. The Gospel is continually referring to the heart, as the source of good; it is to the poor in spirit, to the pure in heart, that the divine blessing is annexed. may correct many improper practices, and refrain from many immoral actions, from merely human motives; but, though this partial amendment is not without its uses, yet this is only attacking symptoms, and neglecting the mortal disease. But to subdue a worldly temper, to control irregular desires, and to have "a clean heart," is to attack sin in its strong holds. Totally to accomplish this, is, perhaps, beyond the narrow limits of human perfection, the best men being constantly humbled to find, that when they "would do good evil is present with them ;" but to attempt it, with an humble reliance on superior aid, is so far from being an extravagant or romantic flight of virtue, that it is but the common duty of every ordinary Christian. And this perfection is not the less real, because it is a point which seems constantly to recede from our approaches, just as the

sensible

sensible horizon recedes from our natural eye. Our highest attainments, instead of bringing us, " to the "mark," only teach us that the mark is at a greater distance, by giving us more humbling views of ourselves, and more exalted conceptions of the state after which we are labouring. Though the progress towards perfection may be perpetual in this world, the actual attainment is reserved for a better. And this restless desire of a happiness which we cannot reach, and this lively idea of a perfection which we cannot attain, are among the many arguments for a future. state, which seem to come little short of demonstration. The humble christian takes refuge under the deep sense of his disappointments and defects, in this consoling hope, "When I awake up after thy likeness I shall be satisfied."

I

But one

Charity

Let me not here be misunderstood as undervaluing the virtues which even worldly men may possess. am charmed with humanity, generosity, and integrity, in whomsoever they may be found. virtue must not intrench upon another. must not supplant faith. If a man be generous, good-natured, and humane, it is impossible not to feel for him the tenderness of a brother; but if, at the same time, he be irreligious, intemperate, or profane, who shall dare to say he is in a safe state? Good humour, and generous sentiments will always make a man a pleasant acquaintance, but who shall lower the doctrines of the Gospel, to accommodate them to the conduct of men? Who shall bend a strait rule, to favour a crooked practice? Who shall controvert that authority which has said, that without holiness no man shall see the Lord?

May I venture to be a little paradoxical; and while so many grave persons are descanting on the mischiefs of vice, may I be permitted to say a word on the mischiefs of virtue, or, rather, of that shin

ing counterfeit, which, while it wants the specific gra vity, has much of the brightness of sterling worth? Never, perhaps, did any age produce more beautiful declamations in praise of virtue than the present; never were more polished periods rounded in honour of humanity. An antient Pagan would imagine that Astrea had returned to take up her abode in our metropolis; a primitive Christian would conclude, that " righteousness and peace had there met together." But how would they be surprised to find that the obligation to these duties was not always thought binding, not only on the reader but on their eloquent encomiasts themselves. How would they be surprised to find that universal benevolence may subsist with partial injustice, and boundless liberality with sordid selfishness that a man may seem eager in redressing the injuries of half the globe, without descending to the petty detail of private virtues; and burn with zeal for the good of millions he never saw, while he is spreading vice and ruin through the little circle of his own personal influence!

When the general texture of an irregular life is spangled over with some constitutional pleasing qualities; when gaiety, good humour, and a thoughtless profusion of expence, throw a lustre round the faultiest characters, it is no wonder that common observers are blinded into admiration; a profuse generosity dazzles them more than all the duties of the decalogue. But though it may be a very good electioneering virtue, yet there are many qualities which may obtain popularity among men, which do not tend to secure the favour of God. It is somewhat strange that the extravagance of the great should be the criterion of their goodness with those very people who are themselves the victims to this idol; for the prodigal pays no debts if he can help it and it is a notorious instance of the danger of these popular virtues, and of

the

the false judgments of men, that in one of the wittiest and most popular comedies* which this country has ever produced, those very passages which exalt liberality and turn justice into ridicule, were nightly applauded with enthusiastic rapture by those deluded tradesmen, whom, perhaps, that very sentiment helped to keep out of their money.

There is another sort of fashionable character,whose false brightness is still more pernicious, by casting a splendour over the most destructive vices. Corrupt manners, ruinous extravagance, and the most fatal passion for play, are sometimes gilded over with many engaging acts of charity, and a general attention and respect to the ceremonials of Religion. But this is degrading the venerable image and superscription of Christianity, by stamping them on a baser metal than they were ever intended to impress. The young and gay shelter themselves under such examples, and scruple the less to adopt the bad parts of such mixed characters, when they see that a loose and negligent, not to say immortal conduct, is so compatible with a religious profession.

But I degress from my intention; for it is not the purpose of this address to take notice of any actions which the common consent of mankind has determined to be wrong but of such chiefly as are practised by the sober, the decent, and the regular; and to drop a few hints on such less obvious offences as are, in general,

Safe from the bar, the pulpit, and the throne.

Nor will the bounds which I have prescribed myself allow of my wandering into a wide and general field of observation.

* The School for Scandal.

VOL. III.

T

The

The idea of the present slight performance was suggested by reading the King's late excellent proclamation against irreligion and immorality *. Under the shelter of so high a sanction, it may not be unseasonable to press on the hearts of the better disposed, such observances as seem to be generally overlooked, and to remark such offences as commonly elude censure, because they are not commonly thought censurable.

It is obvious to all pious persons, that that branch of the divine law, against which the better kind of people trespass with the least scruple, is the fourth commandment. Many who would shudder at the violation of the other nine, seem without ceremony to expunge this from the divine code; but by what authority they do this, has never been explained. The christian legislator does not seem to have abridged the commandments; and there is no subsequent authority so much as pretended to by Pro

testants.

It is not here intended to take notice of such flagrant offences as lie open to the cognizance of higher tribunals; or to pollute this paper with descanting on the holders of card assemblies on Sundays; the frequenters of taverns and gaming houses; the printers of Sunday newspapers; the proprietors of Sunday stage coaches; and others who openly insult the laws of the land; laws which will always be held sacred by good subjects, even were not the law of God antecedent to them.

Many of the order whom I here address are persons of the tenderest humanity, and not only wish well to the interests of virtue, but are favourably

* This tract was written soon after the institution of the society for enforcing the King's proclamation against vice and irreligion.

disposed