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deftruction, whenever he fhall be ordered to affift in the quarrels of kings, or of their minifters. Let me not be mistaken: I point to no particular conjuncture. Are the laws, the liberties, the constitution, the fafety, or the real welfare of your country at stake in your opinion; it well becomes you to step forth for her protection, "to play the men for your people, "and for the cities of your God,” as we mentioned on a former occafion: and he were a poltron, who fhould at fuch a crifis. refuse his aid, if it became neceffary. But, alas! the general fyftem of life is so per verted by ambition and avarice, that, to gratify thefe, multitudes of human beings, aye, and in chriftian nations too, are ready, at a moment's warning, to plunge the world in blood and mifery, without concern, fenfibility, or hefitation. All this, we fhall probably be told, is unavoidable. If it is, how deeply to be lamented! But we will pursue the argument no further: it is too painful. Read Telemachus, and ftudy the New Testament.

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In the mean time, let me caution against that false fpecies of courage, into which youthful fire is easily transported, unless where it happens to be of the gentleft kind. There indeed it appears but feldom, that is, when kindled by occafions of importance; and then it mounts into a flame, which fubfides as foon as the purpofe is ferved, without leaving behind it any mark of heat, or of boaftfulness. This may be termed the Heroifm of Nature, and when exalted by principle, as well as guided by judgement, produces a ftrain of the trueft magnanimity. The other is fool-hardiness at beft, is often accompanied with a boisterous and braggart manner, and not rarely degenerates into favagenefs and brutality; forming the character of the mad hero, who, to borrow the very emphatical language of Solomon, "cafteth firebrands, arrows, and death, faying, Am not I in sport ?"

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Are any of you, my Auditors, naturally rash and impetuous? Claim not on that

account the praise of a Manly Spirit. Such vehemence is often obferved in the weakest and most womanish natures: it is mere noise and confufion. The helm of prudence is loft; the voice of confcience is not heard in the ftorm, a form of your own raifing: you drive before it without reflection, and dafh on whatever lock lies in your way, without perceiving the mifchief till you are wrecked: or, if you make some efforts to gain the haven, you are spent by their violence, and miss it in your rage. Those wild impatient fallies, which your felf-love would willingly pafs for courage," betray the fuccours of "Reason," not less than fear itself. You often rush on lafting misfortune, for the pleasure of following a blind impulse, which inflames you in an inftant, but for which you will feverely condemn yourselves foon after. Thus you make life an alternate fcene of perturbation and remorse. Who can tell but you may even be precipitated in an inftant to do

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fomething, of which the remembrance will poifon all your fucceeding days, and add double bitterness to your last hour? You may flatter yourselves indeed, or be flattered by your companions, into an opinion, that you are wondrous brave: but, in good truth, you are at the utmost bold without difcretion, and daring to no purpofe. You confider not, that the hurricane of paffion is a very different thing from the firm but calm proceeding of a well-directed and well-determined foul that the laft belongs to real dignity and ftrength of mind; that the first is frequent among the vicious and the vulgar; that, if the former could ceafe to be hurtful, it could yet never be beneficial, either to fociety or a man's felf, whereas the latter is the regular path to happiness and ho

nour.

I know it is common to fay, that fuch a perfon is very paffionate, but very goodnatured. It appears however an odd way

of speaking.

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That in the intervals of his choler he may fhow much kindness, and the more for being defirous to make reparation, I do not queftion; neither is it unusual for ardent spirits, that are easily kindled, to be capable of the highest generofity but he feems to me fadly deficient in good-nature, who is not restrained by it from faying or doing the rudeft, perhaps the most injurious things. That he did not deliberately intend them, is but a poor excufe for offences which are frequently repeated; and as for any generofity, or kindness, he may be willing to display when he is cool, I must needs think them a forry compensation to those who fuffer from the ftarts of his paffion. Learn, Sir, oh learn betimes, to command your temper. Without this you never can be uniformly amiable; and, let the Hectors of the world pretend what they will, without this you can never be truly gallant; your courage will be temerity, and your honour, pride. To fwell, to redden,

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