XI. SERM. of the Text are directly addreffed to young men, yet as the fame admonition is given in a preceding verfe to the other fex, the inftructions which arife from the Text are to be confidered as common to both. I intend first, to show them the importance of beginning early to give ferious attention to their conduct; and next, to point out those virtues which they ought chiefly to cultivate. As foon as you are capable of reflection, you must perceive that there is a right and a wrong, in human actions. You fee, that thofe who are born with the fame advantages of fortune, are not all equally profperous in the course of life. While fome of them, by wife and steady 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 being a dif grace to their friends, and a burden on fociety. XI. fociety. Early, then, you may learn, that SERM. 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 unhappinefs, 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 moft ferious attention, before you have yet committed any fátal or irretrievable errors? If, inftead of exerting reflection for this valuable purpöfe, you deliver yourselves up, at so critical a time, to floth and pleafure; if you refuse to listen to any counsellor but humour, or to attend to any purfuit except that of amufement; if you allow yourfelves to float loose 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 indiscretion, for what reafon fhall not thofe confe quences SERM. XI. quences extend to you? Shall you only attain fuccefs without that preparation, and efcape dangers without that precaution, which is required of others? Shall happiness grow up to you, of its own accord, and folicit your acceptance, when, to the rest of mankind, it is the fruit of long cultivation, and the acquifition of labour and care?-Deceive not yourfelves with fuch arrogant hopes. Whatever be your rank, Providence will not for your fake, reverse its established order. The author of your being hath enjoined you to take heed to your ways; to ponder the paths of your feet; to remember your Creator in the days of your youth. He hath decreed, that they only who seek after wisdom fhall find it, that fools fhall be afflicted, because of their tranfgreffions; and that whofe refufeth inftruction, shall defroy his own foul. By liftening to these admonitions, and tempering the vivacity of youth with a proper mixture of serious thought, you may enfure cheerfulness for the reft of life; but by delivering your elves up at present to giddiness and levity, you lay the foundation of lasting heavinefs of heart. When you look forward to thofe plans of life, which either your circumstances have fuggefted or your friends have propofed, you will not hesitate to acknowledge, that in order to pursue them with advantage, some previous difcipline is requifite. Be affured, that whatever is to be your profeffion, no education is more neceffary to your fuccefs, than the acquirement of virtuous difpofitions and habits. This is the univerfal preparation for every character, and every station in life. Bad as the world is, refpect is always paid to virtue. In the ufual courfe 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 science, or business, or public life, be your aim, virtue ftill enters, for a principal fhare, into all those great departments of fociety. It SERM. It is connected with eminence, in every li XIS beral arts with reputation, in every branch of fair and useful bufinefs, with diftinction, in every public ftation. The vigour which it gives the mind, and the weight which it adds to character; the generous fentiments which it breathes, the undaunted fpirit which it infpires, 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. F Whatever ornamental or engaging endowments you now poffefs, virtue is a neceffary requifite, in order to their shining with proper luftre. Feeble are the attractions of the fairest form, if it be fufpected that nothing within, corref ponds to the pleasing 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 efteem, and Secure the hearts of others, only by ami , able |
