higher motive than immediate interest: thou canst rot produce the principle, but may' enforce the practice. The re"lief of the poor is equal, whether they "receive it from oftentation, or charity; * and the effect of example is the fame, "whether it be intended to obtain the fa"vour of God or man. Let thy virtue be thus diffufed; and if thou believest "with reverence, thou shalt be accepted "above. Farewell. May the fmile of Him who refides in the Heaven of Heavans be upon thee! and against thy "nme, in the volume of His will, may Happiness be written!"

M

The make of every kind of animal is different from that of every other kind; and yet there is not the leaft turn in the mcles or twist in the fibres of any one, which does not render them more proper for that particular animal's way of life, than any other caft or texture of them would have been.

The moft violent appetites in all creatures are luft and hunger: the first is a perpetual call upon them to propagate their kind; the latter to preferve themfelves.

It is afonithing to confider the different degrees of care that defcend from the pareat of the young, fo far as is abfolutely neceflary for the leaving a pofterity. Some creatures caft their eggs as chance directs them, and think of them no farther, as infects, and several kind of fish; others, of a ficer frame, find out proper beds to depofit

them in, and there leave them, as the ferpent, the crocodile, and oftrich; others hatch their eggs and tend the birth, until it is able to fhift for itself.

What can we call the principle which directs every different kind of bird to obferve a particular plan in the ftructure of its neft, and directs all of the fame species to work after the fame model? It cannot be imitation; for though you hatch a crow under a hen, and never let it fee any of the works of its own kind, the neft it makes fhall be the fame, to the laying of a flick, with all the nests of the fame ipecies. It cannot be reafon; for were animals endued with it to as great a degree as man, their buildings would be as different as ours, according to the different conveniencies that they would propofe to themfelves.

Is it not remarkable that the fame temper of weather which raifes this general warmth in animals, fhould cover the trees with leaves, and the fields with grafs, for their fecurity and concealment, and produce fuch infinite fwarms of infects for the fupport and futenance of their respective broods?

Is it not wonderful, that the love of the parent fhould be fo violent while it lafts, and that it should last no longer than is neceffary for the prefervation of the young?

The violence of this natural love is exemplified by a very barbarcus experiment; which I fhall quote at length, as I find it in an excellent author, and hope my readers will pardon the mentioning fuch an inflance of cruelty, because there is nothing can fo effectually fhew the ftrength of that principle in animals of which I am here fpeaking. "A perfon, who was well skilled in "diffections, opened a bitch, and as the lay "in the most exquifite torture, offered her "one of her young puppies, which the im"mediately fell a licking; and for the "time feemed infenfible of her pain: on "the removal, fhe kept her eye fixed on it, "and began a wailing fort of cry, which "feemed rather to proceed from the lofs "of her young one, than the fense of her "own torments."

But notwithstanding this natural love in brutes is much more violent and intense than in rational creatures, Providence has taken care that it should be no longer troublesome to the parent than it is ufeful to the young; for fo foon as the wants of the latter ceafe, the mother withdraws her fondness, and leaves them to provide for themselves: and what is a very remarkable

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circumftance in this part of instinct, we find that the love of the parent may be lengthened out beyond its ufual time, if the prefervation of the fpecies requires it; as we may fee in birds that drive away their young as foon as they are able to get their livelihood, but continue to feed them if they are tied to the neft, or confined within a cage, or by any other means appear to be out of a condition of fupplying their own neceffities.

This natural love is not observed in animals to afcend from the young to the parent, with is not at all neceffary for the continuance of the fpecies: nor indeed in reafenable creatures does it rife in any proportion, as it fpreads itfelf downwards; for in all family affection, we find protection grapted, and favours beftowed, are greater no ives to love and tenderness, than fafety, b. efts, or life received.

Ge would wonder to hear fceptical ma disputing for the reafon of animals, and telling us it is only our pride and prejudices that will not allow them the use of that ficulty.

Ivalon fhews itself in all occurrences of life; whereas the brute makes no difcovery of fuch a talent, but what immediately regards his own prefervation, or the continuance of his fpecies. Animals in their generation are wifer than the fons of men; Lut their wisdom is confined to a few particulars, and lies in a very narrow compafs. Take a brute out of his inftinct, and you find him wholly deprived of undertanding. To ufe an inftance that comes often under obfervation:

With what caution does the hen provide herfelf a neft in places unfrequented, and free from noife and disturbance! When the has laid her eggs in fuch a manner that the can cover them, what care does the take in turning them frequently, that all parts may partake of the vital warmth! When the leaves them, to provide for her neceffary fuftenance, how punctually does fhe return before they have time to cool, and become incapable of producing an animal! In the fummer you lee her giving herself greater freedoms, and quitting her care for above two hours together; but in winter, when the rigour of the feafon would chill the principles of life, and deftroy the young one, fhe grows more affiduous in her attendance, and stays away but half the time. When the birth approaches, with how much nicety and attention does the help the chick to break its prifon! Not to take notice of

her covering it from the injuries of the weather, providing it proper nourishment, and teaching it to help itself; nor to mention her forfaking the neft, if after the usual time of reckoning, the young one does not make its appearance. A chymical operation could not be followed with greater art or diligence, than is feen in the hatching of a chick; though there are many other birds that thew an infinitely greater fagacity in all the forementioned particulars.

But at the fame time the hen, that has all this feeming ingenuity (which is indeed abfolutely neceffary for the propagation of the fpecies) confidered in other refpects, is without the leaft glimmerings of thought or common fenfe. She makes a piece of chalk for an egg, and fits upon it in the fame manner: The is infenfible of any increafe or diminution in the number of thofe the lays: fhe does not diftinguish between her own and thofe of another species; and when the birth appears of never fo different a bird, will cherith it for her own. In all these circumftances, which do not carry an immediate regard to the fubfiftence of herfelf or her fpecies, the is a very idiot.

There is not, in my opinion, any thing more myfterious in nature, than this inftinct in animals, which thus rifes above reafon, and falls infinitely fhort of it. It cannot be accounted for by any properties in matter, and at the fame time works after fo odd a manner, that one cannot think it the faculty of an intellectual being. For my own part, I look upon it as upon the principle of gravitation in bodies, which is not to be explained by any known qualities inherent in the bodies themselves, nor from any laws of mechanifm, but, according to the best notions of the greatest philofophers, is an immediate impreffion from the first Mover, and the divine energy acting in the creatures. Spectator.

26. The Neceffity of forming religious Principles at an early Age.

As foon as you are capable of reflec tion, you must perceive that there is a right and wrong in human actions, You fee tha those who are born with the fame advantages of fortune, are not all equally profperous in the courfe of life. While fome of

them, by wife and fleady conduct, attain diftinction in the world, and pass their days with comfort and honour; others of the fame rank, by mean and vicious behaviour, forfeit the advantages of their birth, involve themselves in much mifery, and end in be

ing a difgrace to their friends, and a burden on fociety. Early, then, you may learn that it is not on the external condition in which you find yourselves placed, but on the part which you are to act, that your welfare or unhappiness, your honour or infamy, depend. Now, when beginning to act that part, what can be of greater moment, than to regulate your plan of conduct with the most ferious attention, before you have yet committed any fatal or irretrievable errors? If, inftead of exerting reflection for this valuable purpofe, you deliver yourselves up, at fo critical a time, to Loth and pleafure; if you refufe to listen to any counfellor but humour, or to attend to any purfuit except that of amufement; if you allow yourfelves to float loofe and careless on the tide of life, ready to receive any direction which the current of fashion may chance to give you; what can you expect to follow from fuch beginnings? While fo many around you are undergoing the fad confequences of a like indifcretion, for what reafon fhall not these confequences extend to you? Shall you only attain fuccefs without that preparation, and efcape dangers without that precaution, which is required of others? Shall happinefs grow up to you of its own accord, and folicit your acceptance, when, to the reft of mankind,it is the fruit of long cultivation, zad the acquifition of labour and care? Deceive not yourselves with fuch arrogant hopes. Whatever be your rank, Providence will not, for your fake, reverfe its etablished order. By liftening to wife admonitions, and tempering the vivacity of youth with a proper mixture of ferious thought, you may enfure chearfulness for the reft of your life; but by delivering yourfelves up at prefent to giddinefs and levity, you lay the foundation of lafting heavinefs of heart.

Blair.

ter, and every ftation in life. Bad as the world is, refpect is always paid to virtue. In the usual course of human affairs it will be found, that a plain understanding, joined with acknowledged worth, contributes more to prosperity, than the brightest parts without probity or honour. Whether fcience, or business, or public life, be your aim, virtue ftill enters, for a principal share, into all thofe great departments of fociety. It is connected with eminence, in every liberal art; with reputation, in every branch of fair and ufeful bufinefs; with diftinction, in every public station. The vigour which it gives the mind, and the weight which it adds to character; the generous fentiments which it breathes; the undaunted spirit which it inspires, the ardour of diligence which it quickens, the freedom which it procures from pernicious and difhonourable avocations, are the foundations of all that is high in fame or great in fuccefs among men. Whatever ornamental or engaging endowments you now poffefs, virtue is a neceffary requifite, in order to their fhining with proper luftre. Feeble are the attractions of the fairest form, if it be fufpected that nothing within correfponds to the pleafing appearance without. Short are the triumphs of wit, when it is fuppofed to be the vehicle of malice. By whatever arts you may at first attract the attention, you can hold the esteem and fecure the hearts of others only by amiable difpofitions and the accomplishments of the mind. These are the qualities whofe influence will laft, when the luftre of all that once sparkled and dazzled has paffed away. Ibid.

§ 28. The Happiness and Dignity of Manbood depend upon the Conduct of the youthful Age.

Let not the season of youth be barren of improvements, fo effential to your felicity and honour. Your character is now of your own forming; your fate is in fome measure put into your own hands. Your nature is as yet pliant and foft. Habits have not established their dominion. Prejudices have not pre-occupied your underftanding. The world has not had time to contract and debafe your affections. All your powers are more vigorous, difembarraffed and free, than they will be at any future period. Whatever impulfe you now give to your defires and pallions, the direction is likely to continue. It will form the channel in which your life is to

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run; nay, it may determine an everlasting iffue. Confider then the employment of this important period as the higheft truft which fhall ever be committed to you; as, in a great measure, decifive of your happinefs, in time and in eternity. As in the fucceffion of the feafons, each, by the invariable laws of nature, affects the productions of what is next in courfe; fo, in human life, every period of our age, according as it is well or ill fpent, influences the happiness of that which is to follow. Virtuous youth gradually brings forward accomplished and flourishing manhood; and fuch manhood paffes of itfelf, without uneafinefs, into refpectable and tranquil old age. But when nature is turned out of its regular courfe, diforder takes place in the moral, juft as in the vegetable world. If the fpring put forth no bloffoms, in fummer there will be no beauty, and in autumn no fruit: So, if youth be trifled away without improvement, manhood will be contemptible, and old age miferable.

Blair.

What I fhall first recommend is piety to God. With this I begin, both as the foundation of good morals, and as a difpofition particularly graceful and becoming in youth. To be void of it, argues a cold heart, deftitute of fome of the belt affections which belong to that age. Youth is the feafon of warm and generous emotions. The heart fhould then fpontaneously rife into the admiration of what is great; glow with the love of what is fair and excellent; and melt at the difcovery of tendernefs and goodness. Where can any object be found, fo proper to kindle thofe affections, as the Father of the univerfe, and the Author of all felicity! Unmoved by veneration, can you contemplate that grandeur and majefty which his works every where difplay? Untouched by gratitude, can you view that profufion of good, which, in this pleafing feafon of life, his beneficent hand pours around you? Happy in the love and affection of thofe with whom you are connected, look up to the Supreme Being, as the infpirer of all the friendship which has ever been fhewn you by others; himfelf your best and your firft friend; formerly, the fupporter of your infancy, and the guide of your childhood: now, the guardian of your youth, and the hope of your coming years. View religious homage as a natural exprefsion of gratitude to him for all

his goodness. Confider it as the fervice of the God of your fathers; of him to whom your parents devoted you; of him whom in former ages your ancestors honoured; and by whom they are now rewarded and bleffed in heaven. Connected with fo many tender fenfibilities of foul, let religion be with you, not the cold and barren offspring of fpeculation, but the warm and vigorous dictate of the heart. Ibid.

30. Religion never to be treated with Levity.

Imprefs your minds with reverence for all that is facred. Let no wantonnefs of youthful fpirits, no compliance with the intemperate mirth of others, ever betray you into profane fallies. Befides the guilt which is thereby incurred, nothing gives a more odious appearance of petulance and prefumption to youth, than the affectation of treating religion with levity. Inftead of being an evidence of fuperior understanding, it difcovers a pert and fhallow mind; which, vain of the first finatterings of knowledge, prefumes to make light of what the

rest of mankind revere. At the fame time, you are not to imagine, that when exhorted to be religious, you are called upon to become more formal and folemn in your manners than others of the fame years; or to erect yourselves into fupercilicus reprovers of thofe around you. The spirit of true religion breathes gentleness and affability. It gives a native unaffected cafe to the behaviour. It is focial, kind, and chearful; far removed from that gloomy and illiberal fuperftition which clouds the brow, fharpens the temper, dejects the fpirit, and teaches men to fit themfelves for another world, by neglecting the concerns of this. Let your religion, on the contrary, connect preparation for heaven with an honourable difcharge of the duties of active life. Of fuch religion difcover, on every proper occafion, that you are not afhamed; but avoid making any unneceffary oftentation of it before the world. Ibid.

§31. Modefty and Docility to be joined to Piety.

De

To piety join modefty and docility, reverence of your parents, and fubmiffion to thofe who are your fuperiors in knowledge, in ftation, and in years. pendence and obedience belong to youth. Modefty is one of its chief ornaments; and has ever been efteemed a prefage of rifing merit. When entering on the career of