they are undecided, irrefolute, cowardly. To cowardice, my auditors, to Cowardice in daily life, we may impute many, if not most of its failings and infelicities. Hence that trange Auctuation between good and ill apparent in fuch numbers: hence their want of energy, clearness, efficiency, in what is right: hence their mean fubjection, their fhameful flavery, to what is wrong. To Cowardice we may generally impute their not thinking for themfelves, their not living to their confciences, their not venturing to oppose the tyranny of the mode, their indulging cuftoms of which they are ashamed, their frequenting company which they do not approve, their making compliances which their judgdements condemn; their often fuppreffing or diffembling the better feelings of their own hearts, left they should forfeit the applaufe of fuch as have none; their sometimes treating with neglect or unkindness those whom they cannot but efteem, for fear of not pleafing an oppofite

party, for whom perhaps after all they feel not half the real refpect. In a word, they dare not truft their fuccefs, or their reputation, to Truth, to Virtue, and to Heaven: they are in bondage to petty interefts and difpiriting apprehenfions. A few generous, determined, manly efforts, might, with God's affiftance, fet them free but they are enfeebled and debased by pufillanimity; a pufillanimity which, on other fubjects, many of them would difdain. I verily believe, there are many who could mount a breach, or face a cannon, with more firmness than they could. stand the laugh of a titled profligate, or of a rich fool, where religion or morals were concerned; nay, who could charge like a thunder-bolt through the ranks of war, and yet, like a reed fhaken by the wind," tremble at the breath of reproach, or derifion, from a common acquaintance, on the score of doing well. Nor have I much doubt but there are others who could harangue with boldnefs before the greatest.

affembly on earth, and yet be terrified at the idea of being feen, by one worthless companion, to bow with veneration before the Lord of the univerfe. I even fufpect, that among those who pique themselves moft on their bravery, there are some fo very bashful, that to be caught in the act of converfing like chriftians, and immortals, would overwhelm them with confufion.

To any one indeed who has not lived where Virtue is unmodifh, this may appear incredible: he will not be able to conceive how few in comparifon have the courage to affert her rights, or openly to reverence her laws; "to confefs their "Saviour before men," and follow ftedfaftly his exalted standard, independent of temporal regards and reigning maxims. A youth not yet acquainted with thefe would be furprifed, were I to tell him that the language I now hold will be pitied by many, and laughed at by more.

But what then? Let not this or aught elfe difcourage you, my dear Sir, from cultivating a Manly Spirit in its highest defcription. Be affured, that Vice in every fhape is weak at bottom, let her boast what hardiness the will. Be affured, that bad men are seldom long without their fecret terrors, however artfully thefe may be diffembled. Soon or late, "Confcience "makes cowards of them all." The only genuine, comprehenfive, and invincible courage is infeparably connected with univerfal rectitude and religious hope. Study univerfal rectitude, and cherish religious hope. Wherever indeed the first is found, nothing but mistake or melancholy can exclude the laft. Under their joint aufpices you will have nothing to apprehend animated by a sense of that` Divine Prefence which guards the righteous, you will even "mock at fear," like the war-horse in the book of Job.— But why do I fpeak of fo noble a crea-. ture? It is wonderful what refolution-the VOL. II. R

meaneft animals derive from believing themselves protected by beings of a higher order. How then fhould he be terrified at the profpect of danger, or the feeling of diftrefs, whofe heart tells him that Omnipotence is on his fide, who has no unrepented guilt to dafh his confidence in his Creator, and no unworthy paffion to darken his views of that futurity, the faith of which has in every age emboldened the weakeft fpirits, as well as elevated the ftrongeft?Truft not, Gentlemen, trust not fingly to the ardour of an ambitious, or to the force of à mafculine mind. In the days of youth, and of expectation, they can perform wonders: but there are feafons and circumftances, when without fuperior aid they will prove miferable auxiliaries. A train of misfortunes will generally difarm them; ill health will spoil them of their trophies; decrepitude will "put them to open fhame;" and Death, grim Death, will lay their honour in "the duft."

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