of cultivation; that it is merely conftitutional; and that we are no more accountable for it, than for the particular formation and proportion of our bodies. But this is one of the vain fubterfuges of felflove; and every one that ufes it knows it to be falfe, whenever he examines his own heart. Were not the temper, the paffions and propenfities of the mind proper objects of discipline and improvement, there would be an end of all merit and virtue; nor could we be, in the eye of reafon, or of nature, accountable creatures any longer.

BUT afk the most violent and irritable man, one who has taken no care to govern his mind from motives of DUTY, whether he has not often checked the emotions of anger and refentment, from a regard to time, place and circumftances? Let him tell you, whether he has not had " refpect "of PERSONS;" and whether he has not often governed his tongue, from motives of intereft and fear, or from the counteraction of fome other paffion. If fuch unworthy

worthy motives have been known to regulate his conduct, and check the violent impulfes of nature, furely that man becomes highly guilty, if he fuffers not causes of a more exalted nature to produce the fame effects; fuch are a regard to our own happiness, and the peace of those with whom we live, the love of man, and the favor of God,

NATURE, it is true, has caft us in different moulds. Some minds require a greater fhare of cultivation than others; but God knows the nature and value of the talent which he has entrusted to our care, and the opportunities we have had of improving it. He will prove a kind and merciful Judge, nor will he require of us more than we are able to perform. In fighting the good fight of faith, and preffing on towards the glorious prize of immortality, only let us exert all our powers: and that neither our understandings may be blinded by the mifreprefentations of felf-love, nor our confciences "hardened through

Y 4

through the deceitfulness of fin," let us always remember that we live and act under the eye of omniscience. The frailties of human nature muft fometimes prevail; and there may be unguarded moments in which our hearts will be overpowered by the violent affaults of paffion: but these are infirmities on which, it is hoped, our

mighty Father will look with mercy, fince only habit and indulgence can make them finful. Yet we must remember, it is only on great and uncommon occafions, that we have reason to entertain this pleasing expectation. The holy Apoftle, Peter, in a moment of generous indignation, at the cruel treatment of his bleffed Lord, forgot. the dignity of his profeffion, and smote the fervant of the High-Prieft with the fword. On fuch an occafion, and under fuch circumstances, the action was paffed over with a gentle, but pofitive reproof; and the precept, "Be ye angry, and fin "not," makes due allowance for the weaknefs of human nature, and at the fame time applies to the conscience as the law of

God.

God. After every arduous endeavour, we are fully affured, that we must rest far short of perfection, and ought to confider ourselves as "unprofitable fervants;" but yet we may derive fome comfort from the abundant fource of our Redeemer's love, and the bleffed truth, that HE who made us, "knoweth our frame, and remember"eth that we are dust.”

SER