and prudent, are at once the medicine and the nourishment of the mind. If ftill after these we want farther instruction, every true friend we have, every good man we confult, will gladly give it us. And with fuch helps, why fhould we not affert our fhare in

the dignity of human nature?

But poffibly we afpire to appear advantageously both in weightier matters, and lighter, And by due application, moft people may, as far as they need. But then the chief regard must ever be paid to the principal point. For even elegant and liberal and learned accomplishments have, by excluding ftill better things, greatly diminished the value of many characters. And when fuch attainments, as barely, if at all, rise above indifferent, or perhaps fink below it, divide our esteem with laudable ones, the mixture will do great harm, both to ourfelves, and, by its example, to others. But when they are the main objects of our ambition: the applaufe of the unthinking, should we procure it, will be bought much too dear; the foul will lofe its vigour and grow frivolous; matters of confequence become diftafteful; by degrees the very notion, which are fo, will be effaced: and a group of the reigning follies of the time being, engross the heart. But particularly felf-government will be forgotten in the midst of felf-indulgences, that will pretend to he harmless, till they prove undeniably criminal. In thefe circumftances, the bufinefs of our stations, the examination of our affairs, the care of thofe who are moft intimately connected with us, and, much more, the inspection of our hearts, of our fate towards God, of our title to a happy eternity, will be continually poftponed, or fuperficially hurried over, to comply with every trifling engagement, every fudden fancy, or even mere indolence. And perhaps, rather than take the pains of knowing and doing what we ought, we fhall make it our refuge to profefs a contempt of it: in which abfurd declaration, a natural or acquired fluency of lively talk will bear people out fo well to thofe, with whom fimilarity of manners prompts them to affociate, that before it is long, they will feem quite fatisfied in neglecting every thing they fhould mind.

Yet all the while, what they call a life of pleasure is very often only an affectation of being pleased. They put on airs of great gaiety, and in truth their pleasures are flat and infipid: they relieve one taftelefs fcene by another a little different; are miferable in the intervals of their amusements,

Ga

and

and far from happy during the continuance of them. Nay indeed, under colour of relaxations, they are, to those who engage thoroughly in them, fore fatigues; from which, whether they will confefs it or not, relaxation is much wanted and fome undergo a speedy, and many a lingering, martyrdom to them. If religion enjoined men to mortify and macerate themselves at this rate, what dreadful names would it be called! In all likelihood, were the truth known, numbers would chuse a quieter way of living, if one part of them could be fure, that the other would keep them in countenance. It is great pity, therefore, but they should mutually explain themfelves on this tyranny of fashion: and not go on together in wild chases of imaginary pleasure, when they had all rather fit ftill. But farther, feveral, that would be sorry to quit their diverfions, follow them only to banish reflection on fome bad or imprudent thing that they have done, or courfe that they are in. Now as this can be no better than a palliative cure, and will usually exasperate the disease, they ought to seek a more effectual remedy. And we should all confider, that probably the fame entertainments will not for ever afford us the fame delight and yet by long use it may grow or feem hardlý poffibly to do without them, though they not only misbecome, but even tire us. Nay fome, when they have once fixed it in their minds, that happiness confifts in gaiety, and find the innocent forts of gay enjoyments are become tasteless, venture, for the sake of a higher relish, on such as are pernicious even in this world.

Another confideration, both of prudence and duty, is, that the many expences of this public fort of life are exceffive; and to fupply them, creditors are frequently left unpaid, except the leaft deferving; due provifion for children is omitted, and ignominious arts of raifing money practifed. Or if the votaries of pleafure do obferve juftice, let them ask their confciences, what proportion of their income goes in works of piety, mercy, encouragement of ufeful undertakings, and what in luxurious trifles? It will be said, that these last do good by fetting the poor to labour. But is our intention to do good by them, or only 'to gratify our vanity and voluptuoufnefs? Befides, much more good is done by procuring health to the fick, right education to the young, inftruction to the ignorant. and vicious, or by durable works of general utility and na

tional honour. And employing the lower part of the people in miniftering to the luxury of the higher, can no more enrich or support a kingdom, than employing the servants of a private family in the fame manner, can enrich or support

that.

But one fashionable expence mnft be particularly mentioned that which bears the name, often very falfely, of play. Be it for ever fo little, confuming much time in it, is the most unimproving and irrational employment that can be. But falfe fhame and emulation frequently raise it to a very incommodious and diftrefling height, even amongst those who profess to be moderate. And the lengths that others go, are the most speedily and abfolutely ruinous of all things. The more calmly men bear their loffes, the warfe; if they are the less likely to leave off for it. But ufually they feel most tormenting agitations: yet rush on to lofe more, from a groundless hope of gain; and perhaps at length call in difhonefty to the aid of imprudence. I am unwilling to name the worst act of defperation, to which extravagant and vicious indulgences too frequently lead. But furely it cannot fail to be visible, that deliberately and prefumptuously ending an immoral and mifchievous life, by the impious and falfe bravery of a voluntary death, instead of an humble and exemplary penitence, is the completeft rebellion against God, of which the heart of man is capable.

Another confiderable ingredient in the favourite amusements of the world, are public fpectacles. And provided regard be had to time and coft, they might be allowably and beneficially frequented, if they were preferved from tendencies dangerous to virtue. But failings in that article totally alter the nature of them; and grofs failings reflect not only on our morals, but our tafte. Indeed it is lamentable that, fond as we are of adopting the fashions and qualities of our neighbours, often much for the worse, we should not import what is praiseworthy in them, but fuffer the most diffolute of them to excel us in the chastity of their dramatical reprefentations: yet after all, were they ever fo innocent, in proportion as they are trif ling and infignificant, they are contemptible and unworthy of regard.

But the effects of lefs general amusements, even of those at our own houses, may be extremely hurtful, if they are the

means

means of admitting perfons of profligate conduct and principles into familiar converfation and acquaintance with others. For hence they will have the encouragement of finding, that they need not either amend or conceal their faults to be well received. The inconfiderate, that is, most people, feeing little or no difference made between good and bad characters, will perfuade themselves on occafion, that there can be no great difference between good and bad actions. But the young, above all, will be likely to admire those, whom it extremely concerns them to abhor. For, in fpite of the most prudent cautions, which however are not always given them, they are eafily imposed on by a shewy appearance, joined with plausible talk. And the common talk of fuch affemblies, though it were never openly to affault virtue, which yet may be especially feared in such of them where people converse in disguises, and are or may feem unknown to each other, hath notwithftanding many things to undermine good principles, and weaken right sentiments, particularly the continual fuppofition on which this whole way of living is built, that entertainment is the bufiness of our being. They whofe only fchool is the world, will think fo of course: and in fuch places cannot be fafely contradicted. Poffibly, with all this, there may be no immediate strong fymptoms of much harm suffered in them, But ftill, as a courfe of fober intemperance may damage the health more, than great exceffes now and then; fo may a life, feemingly but a little too gay, corrupt the heart more, than a few acts of confeffed immorality.

And befides the direct danger to morals, what influence will it have on piety? About that perhaps we are not folicitous. And yet the firm belief of a future recompence must be the beft fecurity of right behaviour in all circumstances. And the king of the whole earth cannot but require to have the due respect and homage he hath appointed paid him by his subjects, as neceffary to preserve that obedience to his laws, without which it is impoffible they fhould be happy. Yet the public worship of God, even on that day which he hath appropriated to it, is almoft intirely neglected by the greatest part of those who live to amufements; and by many of them profeffedly and contemptuously; though poffibly attending it might afford them fome inftruction, as well as exprefs proper duty. Much lefs do they regard any other feasons, appointed for the

peculiar

peculiar exercise of seriousness: but, it may be, affect to crowd diverfions into the most facred week of it; either in wanton defiance of public authority and common decency, or in oftentation of their imagined fuperiority to vulgar ways of thinking. But furely others know as well as they, that outward obfervances in themselves are nothing. But ftill, by their effects, both in civil and religious matters, they are very important things: and may be useful to the wifeft persons. Though, indeed, when there is a little weakness mixed with piety and virtue, they have no title to ridicule it, who are guilty of the numberless absurdities of diffolutenefs or profanenefs. And though the most innocent fuperftition should be separated from religion if it can, yet not with the hazard of rooting up both together.

But fuppofing we pay fufficient regard to these external proprieties, what disposition doth our attachment to pleasure leave us towards inward devotion? Do we pray to God in private? Is it with attention and reverence? And doth that regulate the reft of the day, or the reft of the day wear out the impreffion of that? Do we statedly think of our intereft in the divine favour, and our approaching ftate after death, as our main concerns? And do we not only fear the Judge of all, but love the Father of Mercy, fuch as he hath exhibited himself to man, by giving his Son to die for us, and his Holy Spirit to move us to all good? Or hath not our manner of living deadened our feeling of these things, if ever we had any and are we not proceeding to efface the small remnants of them? This is not the behaviour of a rational creature, of a penitent for fin, of a candidate for eternal felicity: there can arise from it no meetnefs for the inheritance of the faints of light*, no fufceptibility of spiritual happiness, no hope of efcaping the damnation of bellt. Not only a few of our detached hours, but our whole being is God's, and to be employed as he approves. Our lawful daily bufinefs, nay 'our needful relaxations from it, we may humbly prefent to him, as part of what he defigned us for. But can we offer up a series of nothing but idle diffipations, or worfe, and beg him to accept of that? Our baptifmal vow promised other things for us: the holy fcripture hath prescribed us a very different fort of conduct: hath told us, that we

Col. i. 12,

Matth. xxii. 33.

cannot