It is indeed true, that numbers have borne up to the last, against continued difappointments from the world, by mere dint of ftupidity, of fturdiness, or of vainglory, or from fome other caufe no way connected with their moral difpofitions; when not a few, of indubitable worth, but of a feeble frame and timid temper, have appeared to much difadvantage in the fame cafes. The vivacity of animal fpirits alone fhall in a furprifing manner fupport one perfon under disease and decay, when another, his fuperior in every valuable refpect, fhall be fadly dejected, or even wholly overfet by them, from the ftate of his nerves, without any fault of his own. And as to the all-deciding event, we doubt not but particular perfons may be fo infenfible from ignorance, or hardened through the deceitfulness "of fin," or blinded by the pride of fcepticism, as to set it at defiance, at least seem to do fo, while a tender folicitude for its infinite and endlefs confequences, or per haps the state of their bodies at the time, fhall clothe it with double terror to fome of the best men. But, as has been often faid, exceptions do not difprove a general rule; and give me leave to add, he who now addreffes you, and who has by his profeffion had many opportunities of comparing, in the fituations juft mentioned, the behaviour of thofe who joined religious principle to natural refolution, with that of those who did not, can boldly affert his having found the balance of compofure and dignity great on the fide of the former. This, Gentlemen, taken in connexion with the reafon of the thing, and with all he has heard from other quarters on the fame fubject, is fully fatisfying to himfelf. Forgive him if he paufes for a moment to pray, that he too may be an inftance of the pleafing truth: nor can you be much offended, if he intercedes with Heaven for you, his hearers, that you may be enabled to fuffer the evils under confideration with real fortitude; and efpe cially that, instead of meeting Death with horror, or cowardice, or brutal indifference, or fictitious bravery, or false hope either , of happiness, or (dreadful alternative!) of annihilation, you may encounter this unavoidable enemy of man like those virtuous believers, who, after fuftaining with firmness and piety the preceding conflicts of life, have engaged in its finishing ftruggle with a facred magnanimity. How different from that temper with which the laft terror is braved by the Duellift and the Suicide! We mentioned both fome time ago, but have not left ourfelves room to confider them now. They, with another defperate and unhappy character, that of the Gamefter, who like them miftakes madnefs for refolution, will furnish ample matter of useful and affecting fpeculation in fome future Addrefs. To wind up the prefent. Are you, my young men, poffeffed of inftinctive courage? Value not yourfelves on that account: the fame may be found in an affaffin, in a drayman, in a brute. Are you capable of artificial valour? It shows as little intrinfic merit as the other, fince it may be equally acquired by thofe of the moft vicious difpofitions. Do you perceive in yourselves the love of renown, and the foul of enterprife, congenial to the bestborn youth? Prove them by your spirited and honourable exertions in the different employments you embrace, especially by your ardour to deferve well of mankind. It is true, they have been often perverted to the vileft and moft pernicious purposes: but certainly they may be made the groundwork of a worthy and useful character. Fail not, I befeech you, to build upon them an active benevolence, an unwearied perfeverance, the "contumacious probity" of the Athenian Sage admired by Cicero, the pious intrepidity of the Son of Jeffe recorded in Scripture, the fingular up rightness of the Man of Uz" applauded by God himself. "Be this your brazen bulwark of defence, And do not forget to join the generofity of felf-denial, and the vigour of temperance, two qualities that wonderfully fortify and ennoble the mind. Be fure alfo to add the fuperiority that springs from a contempt of little paffions, paltry confpiracies, and pitiful concealments; the holy boldness inspired by a decifive and invariable preference of a future life to the prefent; and, in fine, the animated exercise of rational devotion daily afcending to its native fkies, and gradually carrying you up thither. What will be the iffue of all?. -Mark it well: we proclaim it aloud: it is the chief ambition of the braveft fpirits: it is the fairest hope and the firmeft ftay of virtue, in youth, in manhood, and in age-Immortality, immortality-When the deferters from reason, and the heroes of a day,-when |