ADVICE ADDRESSED

PARTICULARLY

TO PERSONS LIVING AT A COURT.

1. ALTHOUGH you live in the splendour and luxury of a voluptuous court, yet you are far from being free; your chain of gold is often as heavy to you as a chain of iron, and you are often galled by your fetters; for, at a court, you are exposed to envy, detraction, and malignity; and your captivity is scarcely preferable to that of a person unjustly detained in a prison. The only reflection, which can give any satisfaction to a virtuous mind is, that God has placed you there; and it is this same consideration which affords the best support under unjust imprisonment. Thus there is but little difference in the situations, except the empty show

of vanity and splendour which, far from being of any real advantage, only exposes you to flattery and deceit. The foregoing reflection will afford you inexhaustible comfort in both these situations, and, indeed, in every other in which you may be placed; and if you are weary of the hurry and dissipation of a life at court, because you have not sufficient time to devote to God, and to cherish the thought of him in your heart; recollect, that, in the discharge of your duty, wherever he has placed you, you are as sure of his favour and acceptance, as if you passed every hour of your life in meditation and prayer.

ON

TEMPTATIONS

AND TRIALS, IN

A LIFE OF GRANDEUR AND PROS

PERITY.

1. GOD has appointed to every situation in life, some unhappiness, and some trial; nor are those whom he has placed in the lowest paths of mortality to suppose, that the high and splendid ranks in life are exempt from sufferings; on the contrary, in many cases, they even exceed their own. A poor man, who wants bread to eat, and a house to shelter him, may (in his extreme poverty) envy those, whose exalted station and worldly comforts appear to him secure happiness; but could he view these objects of his envy, divested of that vain parade which dazzles his eyes, he would cease to repine. Thus

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we must confess, that Providence is more impartial in its earthly distributions, than our impatience and discontent, under its various trials, are willing to allow. It holds the cup of calamity to all human beings, at some period of their lives; the very dregs of that cup are often appointed to royalty; for neither the splen dour, nor the magnificence of a throne, is a shield against misfortune. God thus declares his sovereignty over all mortal power, and asserts his own right over the creatures whom he has made.Happy are they who look upon this sublunary scene with the eyes of a pure heart (as St. Paul says) and who are ready to acknowledge, that favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain ;" and to remember, that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."

2. Afflictions are not all the trials of this life; God's grace is often more necessary to us in prosperity than in adver

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sity. Without it we are ever prone to evil; and are led away by every folly and temptation. We have too much reason to apply to ourselves the words of our bles sed Saviour to his disciples," The spirit truly is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Hear me, O my God, when I call unto Thee!Grant to us, thy poor sinful crea tures, Grace, that we enter not into temptation; or, being entered into it, save us from sin, and recal us to thyself, through Jesus Christ our Lord.