ADDRESS IV.

ON

HONOUR AS A REWARD.

HE Love of Fame has been ftyled

The Univerfal Paffion. It is certain

that even the meaneft of mankind, and the most obfcure, are ambitious of having their admirers; as the greateft characters, and the moft illuftrious, have been fupposed to derive much of their luftre and greatness from the fame fource. It appears that the very philofophers, who have written against it, hoped to be admired for writing well: elfe why did they prefix their names to their works? And as there is no rank of men, fo there is no time of life, wherein this paffion is not observed to operate. In which of the fexes it is

most predominant, I pretend not to say: an eminent author places its favorite feat of empire in the female breast. Be that as it may, it were vain to deny that its dominion is often felt very fenfibly by men, and efpecially by Young Men.

Among the many pleasures which you, my friends, promise yourselves in the journey of life, are you not delighted with the idea of being efteemed,honoured, applauded, by your fellow travellers? Would not the thought of incurring their contempt or reproach be fufficient to damp your fpirits, high as they now are; to chill your ardent imaginations, to blast the whole transporting landscape before you ?

God forbid that I fhould attempt to extinguish your fenfibility, on this subject! It were unwife, unnatural, impracticable. But give me leave to say, that, like all other paffions, the Love of Fame may want to be moderated, and will want to

be directed nor do I doubt of your liftening with candour, while I fhow you by what means you may, confiftently with the pureft intentions, infure, under Providence, a valuable and permanent reputation.

You have heard in what fenfe Honour may be faid to act as a Principle; and you have feen fome of the good effects produced by it in that view. To them let us now add the estimation and praise which naturally accompany its perfevering influence. In other words, let us enquire on what grounds Honour may be expected and enjoyed as a Reward.

66 Happy is the man that findeth Wif"dom. Length of days is in her right "hand, and in her left hand Riches and "Honour." It was the obfervation of Solomon, who poffeffed fuch infight into the hearts of men, as to know, that however auguft a perfonage Wisdom might be herself, or of however beautiful a form in

the eye of a few select spirits, distinguished by the elevation of their fentiments and the fanctity of their manners, fhe would yet not be very often courted for her own fake, without regard to her dowry; and therefore was careful to reprefent her as nobly portioned.

Ac

Though, of the advantages fhe brings, Honour is mentioned laft, it was not leaft in the opinion of that great man. cording to the ftricteft rules of juft writing, it ought, upon the fuppofition of its being higheft in value, to hold that place in the fentence, which would make the ideas rife to the end. And we are certain that he gave it the preference to Wealth: "A good name," he says elsewhere," is "rather to be chofen than great riches, and loving favours than filver and

gold." And again, "A good name is "better than precious ointment;" one of the articles which are purchafed by afAuence. A character well tried and well

approved, a reputation extracted, if we may use the term, from the fairest conduct, and the most agreeable qualities, carries with it a fragrance at once regaling, permanent, and widely diffused, beyond all that is most sweetly odoriferous in the productions of nature, or the preparations of art.

The fagacity of Solomon indeed was not necessary to discover, that, as Honour is frequently enjoyed without Riches, fo it has always greater fplendor in the view of difcerning fpectators; and that, when it is the result of virtues, or of talents, tranfcendently brilliant, or extenfively useful, it fails not to frike all mankind. I confefs, that in a state of fociety deeply corrupted by the luxury which opulence fupplies, this laft often attracts the gaze of admiration, and raises the figh of envy: but evenin such a state it is not feldom an object of contempt, when compared with the intrinfic dignity of an exalted fame.