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to the prospect of royalty itself, and to that which human nature is perhaps leaft able to resist, a perpetual train of parafites.

Of princes in general, and others placed on the heights of life, it is a particular unhappiness, that as they have feldom the generofity to be captivated by merit alone, fo they are feldom approached by those who have the fortitude to rely folely on that merit, and the virtue to disdain preferment or patronage when it is only to be gained by flattery. The greatest monarchs, indeed, have perceived, that not all their power and greatness, with the inceffant foothing and obeifance which thefe procure, could yield them pleasure, without the participation and counfel of fome perfon near them, whom they often wifhed to make a Friend, but whom the infelicity infeparable from thrones would very rarely admit of being more than a Favourite.

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The most perfect Friendship that can fubfift in the cafe of fubordination, or peradventure in any cafe but that of happy wedlock, is what obtains between a wife parent and a dutiful child, where there is much benignity on one fide, and a well-taught mind on the other; where the air and voice of authority are softened into the 'tone and afpect of fuperior gracioufnefs, and the idea of obedience is forgotten in the alacrity of affection; where there is no room for rivalfhip or jealoufy, the parent delighted with the attention, respect, and tenderness of the child, and the latter transported with the venerable fmiles, eafy confidence, and lovely condefcenfion of the former; the former filled with the pureft fatisfaction to find his child rewarding his cares, anfwering his wifhes, realizing his hopes; and the latter contemplating his parent with piety, gratitude, and ambition to fecure his esteem, mitigate his troubles," and fupport his age; while both look for

ward with religious rapture to the days of eternity, when the one fhall triumph in the thought, that he has been the inftrument of adding a new immortal to the number of the bleffed, and the other shall regard and celebrate that inftrument, under God, with endless fentiments of reverence and joy. I queftion, indeed, whether humanity affords a fairer copy of the Friendship which the good maintain with. their Maker, the great Father of fpirits, than the intercourfe now defcribed: it carries with it fuch fanctity, is fo free. from all irregular paffions and finifter motives, and unites fo divinely the mildeft and the nobleft feelings of the foul! I congratulate thofe among you, that comprehend it from their own experience. There is not perhaps, on the part of youth, a stronger proof of beautiful fenfibility, or a furer guard of right conduct. I have known fome young perfons, who, long. after they loft their excellent parents, derived fuch fublime delight and edifica

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tion, from the dear remembrance of those peaceful and improving years which they had spent in that best of societies, as always infpired them with a scorn of worthlefs and low companions, of guilty connexions, and noisy pleasures.

Spirits of fo virtuous a ftrain want but little inftruction upon the prefent fubject. Minds of less elevation we would proceed to admonish against the delufive hope of forming, without very particular encou ragement, a real Friendship with thofe who are much their fuperiors in point of Fortune; what was faid on the laft article applying pretty nearly to this. Here indeed we make exceptions, as we did there but the admonition we offer appears peculiarly neceffary in the fe times, when opulence, the figure it gives, and the fplendor it is more than ever ambitious to exhibit, are continually glittering in the eye of youth, and firing the untutored fancy with extravagant ideas of the hap

pinefs to be reaped from being connected with its poffeffors.

Among the reafons why our Saviour pronounced it fo "hard for a rich man to "enter into the Kingdom of Heaven," may we not prefume this to be one, that affluence feldom leaves the foul open to those benevolent affections, and holy fympathies, which conftitute a principal part of true religion, and a main ingredient of future felicity? And wherefore, divine Mafter, were thy intimacies on earth. almost always confined to persons in humble circumftances, but because there. thy penetrating mind difcovered the best difpofitions, and there thy feeling heart. could unfold itfelf with the greatest freedom?

We allow, indeed, that native liberality, exalted and fortified by principle, will prevent the selfishness and arrogance fo apt to be engendered by riches; and

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