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XV.

SER M. cious can lay hold on no clue to guide him through it: He finds himself embarraffed, and at a lofs how to act.-In public and in private life, in managing our own concerns, and in directing those of others, the doubt started by the Wise man frequently occurs; Who knoweth what is good for man in this life?—While thus fatigued with conjecture, we re-. main perplexed and undetermined in our choice; we are at the fame time pulled to different fides, by the various emotions which belong to our nature. On one hand, pleasure allures us to what is agreeable; on the other, interest weighs us down towards what seems gainful. Honour attracts us towards what is fplendid; and indolence inclines us to what is easy. In the confultations which we hold with our own mind, concerning our conduct, how often are we thus divided within ourselves; puzzled by the uncertainty of future events, and distracted by the contest of different inclinations?

XV.

Ir is in fuch fituations as thefe, that SER M. the principle of integrity interpofes to give light and direction. While worldly men fluctuate in the midst of those perplexities which I have defcribed, the virtuous man has one Oracle, to which he resorts in every dubious cafe, and whofe decifions he holds to be infallible: He confults his confcience. He liftens to the voice of God. Were it only on a few occafions that this Oracle could be confulted, its value would be lefs. But it is a mistake to imagine, that its Refponses are seldom given. Hardly is there any material transaction whatever in human life, any important question, that holds us in fufpence as to practice, but the difference between right and wrong will shew itself; and the principle of integrity will, if we liften to it impartially, give a clear decifion. Whenever the mind is divided within itself. confcience is feldom or never neutral. There is always one fide or other to which it leans. There is always one fcale of the balance, into which it

throws

XV.

SER M. throws the weight of fome virtue; or Some praife; of fomething that is juft and true, lovely, honeft, and of good report. These are the forms, which rife to the obfervation of the upright man. By others they may be unfeen, or overlooked; but in his eye, the luftre of virtue outshines all other brightness. Wherever this pole ftar directs him, he fteadily holds his course.-Let the iffue of that course be ever fo uncertain; let his friends differ from him in opinion; let his enemies clamour; he is not moved; his purpose is fixed. He asks but one queftion of his heart, what is the most worthy and honourable part; what is the part moft becoming the ftation which he poffeffes, the character which he wishes to bear, the expectations which good men entertain of him? Being once decided as to this, he hesitates no more. He shuts his ears against every folicitation. He pursues the direct line of integrity, without turning either to the right hand or to the left. "It is the Lord who "calleth. Him I follow. Let him or

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❝ der

XV.

“ der what seemeth good in his fight."S ER M. It is in this manner that the integrity

of the upright acts as their guide.

But as, upon a fuperficial view, it may appear hazardous to place ourselves entirely under fuch a guide, let us now proceed to confider what can be said in defence of this plan of conduct, and what advantages ferve to recommend it.

In the first place, I affirm, that the guidance of integrity is the safest under which we can be placed; that the road in which it leads us is, upon the whole, the freeft from dangers. Perfect immunity from danger is not to be expected in this life. We can chuse no path, in which we may not meet with disappointments and misfortunes. Our life, at the best, is a pilgrimage, and perils furround it. Against these perils, the men of the world imagine that craft and dexterity furnish the best defence; and if, in any inftance, they overreach the upright, they confider it as a manifeft decifion in favour of their

VOL. IV.

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plan.

XV.

SER M. plan. But instead of refting on a few inftances, let us take an extenfive furvey of the course of human affairs.

Let us

enquire who the persons are that, in all the different lines of life, have gone through the world with moft fuccefs; and we shall find, that the men of probity and honour form by far the most confiderable part of the lift; we shall find that men of plain understanding, acting upon fair and direct views, have much oftener profpered, than men of the deepeft policy, who were devoid of principle. How few are the inftances of persons who by fidelity, worth, and stedfast adherence to their duty, have either loft their fortunes, or incurred general displeasure, in times when human affairs were proceeding in their ordinary train? But how numerous and frequent are the examples of those whose prospects have been blasted, whofe circumstances have been ruined, and their names funk into contempt by vice and dishonesty?

The man of the world aims at higher things,

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