conduct, ftill greater benefit might be expected from their efforts in the cause of virtue. But taking the matter as it actually ftands; whilft, in their ftrictures upon others, people evidently dwell with more pleasure upon their faults than their merits, and are more likely to irritate by the keenness of fatire, than to reform by the gentleness of reproof; whilft, in cafes where no injuftice is intended, unneceffary and cruel feverity is often exercised; and whilft, from various causes, there remains fo much danger, that in evil-fpeaking men will pafs over from truth to falfehood; it would perhaps be more advantageous than injurious to the interefts of virtue, if it were adopted as a general rule, never to speak of other men's faults but on fome juft occafion, and for fome good reafon. This is a fpecies of charity which we may exercise, as constantly as we please, without expence.

"To speak well of others, as far

as

as far as they deserve it, is an easy obligation, but not to speak ill requires only our filence, which costs nothing."

To conclude, if you wish to refrain from every culpable kind of evil-speaking, obferve the following maxims:

When you are inclined to fpeak ill of any one, allow yourself time to reflect, whether you are certain of the truth of what you are difpofed to fay against him. This rule, ftrictly obferved, would cut off "nine parts in ten of all the evil-fpeaking that is in the world." Afk yourself again, whether the perfon you are inclined to cenfure has not, on fome occafion or other, done you a kindness for which you at least owe him the return of filence upon the fubject of his failings. Confider further, whether you yourself are not liable to cenfure for the fame fault, or fome other of equal magnitude; and remember the doctrine of our Saviour, "He that is without fin let him caft the

first stone."

Attend properly to your own characters and your own duty, and

you will find little leisure for talking of other men's lives. To leffen To leffen your temptation to evil-speaking, cultivate your understandings, and by reading and reflection furnish yourselves with agreeable and useful topics of conversation. Perhaps many people fpeak ill of their neighbours for no other reason, than that they have nothing else to say. Keep your heart with all diligence, to prevent the rife of thofe evil paffions, fuch as pride, envy, refentment, avarice, ill-nature, and idle curiofity, which commonly lead to evil-speaking. Laftly, fet a constant guard over your lips, that ye may not speak unadvisedly, rafhly, uncharitably. Deliberately form, and firmly adhere to David's refolution, " I faid I will take heed to my ways, that I fin not with my tongue."

On

On Industry.

ROM. xii. II.

Not flothful in business.

THE whole ftructure of our nature, and the whole condition of our being, proves, that our Maker intended us not for a life of indolence, but of active exertion. All the organs of the body and all the faculties of the mind are inftruments of action, and are to be employed in the vigorous pursuit of happiness. It is only by conftant exercise that these powers can be preserved in a found and healthful state. If the body be fuffered to remain long inactive, it will lofe its ftrength,

ftrength, and become a prey to disease; at the fame time the mental faculties will be gradually enfeebled, and the whole fabric of human happiness be undermined by fretfulness and fpleen. It is, on the contrary, a matter of conftant experience, that a regular course of bodily exercise is conducive to health, exhilarates the fpirits, and contributes to the eafy and fuccessful employment of the intellectual powers. The frequent application of the mind to study establishes a habit of thinking, which renders it easy and pleasant to engage in any kind of scientific or Hterary pursuit: whereas a mind which remains long unemployed lofes its delicacy and vigour, and finks into languor and ftupidity. As the earth, if it be induftriously cultivated, will produce fruits in rich abundance, but if it be fuffered to lie long untilled it will be overrun with weeds, which will be rank in proportion to the richness of the foil; fo the human