into a lifeless lump of deformity and putrefaction, the finest decorations exchanged for a winding-sheet, and the largest estate for fix feet of earth-fhe is aftonished, that fuch could ever after be feduced by flattery, or intoxicated with ambition.

"What man," cries the Pfalmift, "is

he that liveth, and shall not fee death? "Shall he deliver his foul," that is, according to the Hebrew idiom, his life, "from the Hand of the Grave?" An image most awfully picturesque, by which that infpired poet feems to represent the Grave, as a ghaftly Form of irresistible ftrength, and relentless cruelty, who, while mortals are paffing along unconcerned, unfufpecting, and filled with hope, raises himself on a fudden, and putting forth his iron hand, drags them down to his dark. and dreary abode! Nor does the infatiable monfter ever fay, "It is enough." A deftroyer he is, whom no human power can controul, nor valour withstand, nor

greatnefs awe, nor riches bribe, nor beauty charm, nor genius delight, nor eloquence perfuade. Look at yonder venerable fabric, which contains the tombs of fo many nobles and princes, of fo many kings and conquerors, of fo many ftatesmen, philofophers, orators, poets; with numbers from among the young and the gay, who formerly danced the giddy round of pleasure, heedlefs of impending disease; and perhaps with a few who fought wifdom early, but, by what was termed an Untimely fate, fell with all their virtues blooming about them-look, I fay, at that celebrated repofitory of the dead, and contemplate the impotence, the nothingness, of all that Pride is apt to boast. See the univerfal leveller Death, with ftern afpect and hideous demeanour, stalking from monument to monument, confcious of his victories, and exulting in the fplendid fpoils of fucceffive generations. Survey at leisure this heart-chilling scene, -and be proud if you can.

But, fuppofing the most confpicuous external diftinctions were as durable as they are known to be tranfient, Humility would ftill think they could never deferve praise, unless properly improved, fince they are often bestowed on fools and profligates, to whom God would certainly not have given them, were they of any real value in themselves.

With regard to intellectual abilities and attainments, he is of opinion, that they are only valuable as they minifter to the purposes of virtue and benevolence; and that, at any rate, they are ftill fo imperfect in themselves, and attended with fo many defects in the characters where they are found, the original faculties are fo entirely the donation of Heaven, and the means and opportunities of their culture so much the effect of Providence, as should for ever "hide Pride from man," on their fubject. Indeed, without wisdom and goodness, Man appears to Humility a very

poor creature, let him poffefs whatever elfe he may. As fhe pities and condemns him alike, when he is difpofed to worship that little contemptible idol called Self, fo it is her unalterable perfuafion, that wisdom and good nefs are always accompanied, in those who fincerely feek them, with a fenfe of deficiency and dependence, which leads them forth from themfelves to God; and that perfons are amiable and great, only or chiefly in proportion to the facrifices they make to their duty, and their improvement.

From the incenfe of adulation which Pride receives with rapture, and employs every method to fecure, Humility turns away with difguft or indifference. Pride is fo fhameless a vice, as often to court, by ways as fhamelefs, applaufe from the very people whom fhe defpifes; while Humility can be fatisfied with nothing: lefs than the approbation of that Sovereign Power whom the adores. This

heroic virtue will perfuade you, that you have done nothing very wonderful, when you have performed actions, and cultivated fentiments, to which the fons of Pride could never rife. Under fuch influence you will ftill conceive, and still aspire to, fomething higher.

On the whole, I fubmit it to you, Gentlemen, which is the most exalted character, he that difregards trifles, or he that fets a value on them; he that is not transported even with uncommon acquifitions, or he that is dazzled with, the fmalleft; the man that, having gained very confiderable heights in the steep afcent to glory, keeps his eye fixed on the summit, instead of looking back on his progrefs with elation, and down on those below him with difdain, or the man who, ftill groveling at the bottom, or at moft advanced but a few steps, yet affects the reputation of having reached the top, and thinks with fcorn of many that are actu