lightning fhould not poffefs the steady Juftre of the fun; or yet, that the fun, when obfcured by clouds, fhould not gild and gladden the creation, as when he breaks forth in all his brightness? But let us now for a moment recollect the benign effulgence with which we have fometimes beheld that higher luminary, True Friendship, irradiating and cheering fuch hearts as were framed to receive and reflect its rays; and, when full of this image, det us contraft it with the illufive and tranfitory glare of that which apes it in the mutual profeffions of men without principle or fenfibility. However specious those profeffions may feem, they cannot, I think, give much delight to any but the conceited or the credulous: for, in the first place, what fecurity can perfons destitute of worth, or of feeling, ever have against perpetual deception from one another? how be ascertained of their regard who want integrity? or what room is left for unfuspecting reliance, where the selfish paffions predominate on both fides? And in the fecond place, what fatisfaction can be derived to the foul from the highest compliments, or the loudeft acclamations, when they are not feconded by her voice? Wherever the refufes to join her sweet fymphony of inward approbation, there the moft laboured ftrains of praise from without are but "as founding brass, or a 66 tinkling cymbal." You have not forgotten the little circle of virtuous and intelligent Young Men, whom we represented as enjoying together the concert of minds. Think of them again, and then figure to yourselves a knot of foolish and diffolute youths, affembled under the notion of Friendship, for their reciprocal gratification. Let us fee what mighty contributions they can bring to the common stock of pleasure. Far be it from me to conceal their talents, or fupprefs thofe atchievements by which they are ambitious of displaying their zeal for their affociates. I readily acknowledge they can feed conceit, foment inclination, remove the embarrassment of blushing, and harangue in honour of debauchery: they can laugh at order, authority, virtue, religion, and their advocates; depreciate the female fex, maintain with the Poet, that " every woman is at heart a rake,” and give much information concerning thofe of the worft fame: they can fill up with ribaldry the vacuities of wit, "make 66 a mock of fin," and call hell a bugbear. The language of obscenity, the cup of intemperance, the fneer of fcepticism, and the blufter of oaths, they can circulate with a freedom which they conceive to be prodigiously brave. By these means they affift one another very notably in the ways of vice, encourage the forward, embolden the fearful, difpel fome troublesome fcruples, and for a while at leaft lull others afleep Ah, ye infatuated boys! could you lull them afleep for ever; could you prevent them from waking in darkness, in diftrefs, or in death; could you fecure your companions from the future vengeance of a guilty mind, you would ther indeed do fomething; and though even then we might not allow you to merit very eminently the title of Friends, we fhould yet own, that you furpaffed many who affume it.But you of this audience, whom we wish to preferve from fuch dreadful Friendship, tell us, what is there in all the impertinence, revelry, and profanenefs, to which we refer, that can challenge the character of real joy, or compenfate the lofs of rational, manly, and refined communication, where chearfulness and amufement are not precluded,. but, on the contrary, heightened by a. judicious mixture of ferioufnefs and reflection; where all the harmless unbendings of merriment are found confiftent with the strictest rules of a liberal piety; |