mankind! And how many other fources of plea fure are not opened to us by the reciprocal confidence, the greater freedom, the natural endeavour to please, and to prefent ourselves on the most advantageous fide, the various exertions and proofs of the benevolence of our brethren, the gaiety of converfation, the charms of mirth, the many agreeable occupations and amufements of our fenfes and minds, which are the property of focial life and give it all its worth! And how the prudent, confcious, and fentimental enjoyment of thefe pleasures refrefhes and revives our hearts! It recruits our fpirits after finishing fome laborious work; it rewards us for our induftry and fidelity in the profecution of an arduous calling and the duties of life; it furnishes relaxation to our affiduous intellect, by giving a freer and easier fcope to its activity. It is repofe, and yet not an inactive, not an irkfome reft; it is employment, and yet not violent, not toilfome bufinefs. We there enjoy our existence in common, our diftinctions, our goods, our profpects and connections; we there enjoy in common and with gladness of heart, the various gifts and recreations which providence has granted us to enjoy; we there feel the value of the mutual esteem and affection and friendship, that connects us together; we there find ourfelves encouraged and recompenfed by the applaufe that is given to our projects, our fentiments and our actions; we there calm and delight ourselves in the idea of the manifold affiftances

and

and fervices we may expect from each other, and the number of things we may accomplish by united efforts; we there find a variety of food for our tafte, for our mind; we there walk a fmooth and pleasant path, beftrewed with flowers, and thus acquire fresh chearfulness and vigour for purfuing the rougher and thorny parts of our progrefs. And must not this be an agreeable mode of existence, a defirable enjoyment of a diverfified and fubftantial pleasure? Muft not the focial life be of great value which procures all these advantages?

Judge then for yourselves, my dear brethren, what focial life might be and procure to us, what a school of wisdom and virtue, what a fource of happiness it is capable of being rendered, if we conftantly turned it to the best account; and thence you will conclude, that it is commonly our own fault, when it is comparatively of fmall advantage to us. In the mean time, you are not to require of it all these benefits, all thefe pleasures, in an uninterrupted fucceffion, and always in an equally high degree. In that cafe your expectations would feldom be fully fatisfied, and focial life would become ungrateful to you. It is fufficient, that it is adapted to procure us these advantages and pleasures, and actually does, in a greater or less proportion. Nothing more is requifite for demonftrating its excellent worth.

Feel and confefs then this value of focial life. Rejoice in the natural faculties and difpofitions the

Creator has granted you for it. Beware of flighting or rejecting what is fo deeply implanted in the nature of man, and is fo well calculated to promote his perfection and happiness.

this impulfe of your nature.

Much rather follow. Give into the enjoy

ment of focial life; but use and enjoy it fo as becomes the wife man, the chriftian. Never let either the affairs of your vocation, or your domestic duties, or your christian profeffion, or the prudent practice of filent contemplation and rational devotion be injured by it. Call yourself frequently to account concerning the temper of mind you carry with you into focial life and in which you partake of it, upon the advantages and pleasures you procure from it. Be not negligently and coldly contented with every little advantage, with every trifling pleasure you may there obtain by chance. Endeavour to extract from it all the benefit, all the pleasures it is able to yield. Provide therein not only for your fenfes, but likewife for your heart, for your understanding, for your reflections and feelings; and reap from focial life fuch fruits as. may be serviceable to you in your business, and solace you in retirement.

Beware of confidering focial life as a matter to the ufe and enjoyment whereof neither attention nor confideration, neither wisdom nor virtue are required, to which every one is equally adapted and prepared, and from which every one may promise himself a like advantage. No, only the attentive

and

and thoughtful, only the good, the fenfible, the virtuous man, can enjoy all the benefits and pleafures of focial life which we have been confidering, or even in a fuperior degree. The benefits and pleasures which the thoughtless, the giddy, the wicked man enjoys therein, are commonly very deceitful, or are of no great value. Connections that are founded on felf-intereft, on humour, or dishonest projects, are of no long duration; they are as fuddenly impaired or diffolved as they arofe. Pleasures that proceed not from a good, humane and tender heart, which depend merely on chance, tend folely to pastime, and to foothing the fenfes; pleafures wherein virtue and friendship are unconcerned, may poffibly be innocent, but can never be defirable in any important degree, never wholly employ the foul in any worthy and honourable

manner.

No, ufe focial life to the end to which it is adapted and ordained. Strive by it to increase and to rectify your knowledge of mankind; to enlarge the circle of your obfervation, to enrich your stock of ufeful notions, and to confirm you in every worthy fentiment, to discipline yourself in every virtue. There learn to enjoy the intercourfe with your fellow-creatures; learn to love them, fhew them your affection by numberless services and various gratifications; communicate freely and abundantly and generously to others of what you poffefs, if you would partake in what they have to bestow. There

VOL. II.

enjoy

enjoy the pleasure of inftructive, entertaining dif course, the pleasure of friendship and confidence, the pleasure of focial gladness in the bounties of God; exalt and fanctify these pleasures, by the chearful recollection of God, the donor of them; and then let the benefits and pleafures you obtain from mutual converfe with your brethren, give you fresh incitement and vigour to the discharge of every duty of bufy, of domeftic, of folitary life. So will your turn for fociety be not only harmless, but every way profitable to you. So will it fit you for entering hereafter, in a higher state, into a closer and more blifsful connection with the wifeft and best of men, and from your intercourse with them draw still more copious portions of perfection and happiness.