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ever be improved into the nobleness, the deliciousness, the permanency of Friendship? I fay, No. For in the first place, it depends on a correfpondence of fuch difpofitions, and such proceedings, as neither of the two perfons fuppofed to entertain it can heartily approve in the other, or in himself. Let licentious men do

their utmoft, they never will be able to procure for vice, the calm, the settled fanction of the foul: and be affured, you will find it difficult to love in good earnest, and with much perfeverance, any one whom you cannot efteem, or to continue your admiration of that in another, which you are forced upon reflection to condemn in yourselves. Nor will the greatest natural advantages, acquired talents, or external accomplishments, no, nor yet the most important fervices by which it is poffible for a companion to recommend himself, be able in your better judgement, and at a cooler hour, to compenfate the want of those moral qualifications, that

clear integrity, that genuine worth, which can alone beget a rational, tender, lafting refpect and reliance.

To flatter your vanity, to indulge your caprice, to promote your merriment, your pleasure, or your schemes of whatever fort, is one thing to command the applause of your reafon, and charm the feelings of your heart, is quite another. People of little delicacy can be gratified with favours from the fouleft hands; and people of no fincerity can fmile moft graciously on those whom they defpife or deteft: but a man of virtue, though he may often fee it neceffary to make use of those who have none, and though he will always do juftice to their abilities and actions fo far as they merit praise, will never, never think of ranking them among his Friends, or profefs to treat them as fuch. True Friendship has that purity of motive, that majefty of fentiment, as to fhun and fcorn the prophane herd, those unhallowed

and ignoble creatures who would offer to intrude upon its intimacy. "Can two "walk together, except they be agreed? "What fellowship hath righteousness "with unrighteousness? and what com-. "munion hath light with darkness ?”. Men who have loft, in the spirit of the world, the powers of juft difcrimination, and sweet fenfibility, may fay what they will but benevolence and felfifhnefs, truth, and falfehood, humility and pride, can never happily coalefce or mingle.

This leads me to add, that there can be no cordial communication, where there is not a consent of minds, in those points which are exempted from the uncertainty of change, and the contention of rivalfhip; a privilege, which the objects purfued by the men of the world must never claim, and which is only enjoyed by those whofe wifhes fpring forward into eternity. It has been well remarked, that good fouls are kindred fouls, becaufe goodness is the

fame in every one, influencing the mind by the fame principles, and pointing it tothe fame defigns, in all the highest concerns of life. In reality, the ultimate aim of the beft characters is alike directed to one great, unalterable, and undivided. portion, which they wish and hope to enjoy together, in the regions of perfect Friendship; while the bad are feverally following fome favourite intereft here, in a thousand tracks which perpetually cross and interfere with each other. As their confederating principle is the gratification of their paffions, it must unavoidably happen, that whenever thofe paffions vary into oppofite lines, as is for ever the case, fufpicions and jealoufies, heats and animofities, will of courfe arife; and the fame perfons, who feemed yesterday inseparable Friends, fhall to-morrow become inveterate foes, from the mutability of their apprehenfions, and the contrariety of their ends. The defires of bad men are like the unclean fpirits defcribed by our Saviour, as "walking through dry

places, feeking reft and finding none." Believe me, Gentlemen, it is only in the peaceful paths of Wisdom and Piety that human beings can find a happiness,. which, while it fatisfies each individual,, unites them in the bonds of divine and everlasting love.

The votaries of Vice, and the fools of Fashion, may vaunt if they please of their reciprocal regards, of that jovial fociety in which they try to relieve the weariness of appetite, and thofe polite vifits which they pay one another to escape from themfelves: but, as they meet without cordiality, fo they converse without confidence, and part with coldness, if not disguft. Such at least is the general run of those that have out-lived the fondness of youth,, to which indeed fcarcely any thing comes amifs, but which, when it ceases afterwards to ferment the mind, leaves all there vapid and dead, if not excited by fuperior principles.

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