and exquifite enjoyment even of fenfual pleasure. They prolong life to the utmoft term of nature, and contribute to a peaceful and easy death.

3. An addictedness to fenfual pleasure blunts the faculties of the mind, being injurious to mental apprehenfion, and all the finer feelings of the foul, and conse-, quently deprives a man of a great many fources of pleasures which he might otherwife enjoy, and particularly of that most valuable complacency which he might have in his own difpofitions and conduct; from a proper and temperate ufe of the good things of life.

4. Senfual indulgences, though, to a certain degree, and in certain circumftances, they seem to promote benevolence, are evidently unfriendly to it when carried beyond that degree; for though moderate eating and drinking in company promotes chearfulness, and good humour, excefs frequently gives occafion to quar

relling

relling and contention, and fometimes even to murder. Alfo, when a man makes the indulgence of his appetities his primary purfuit, befides incapacitating himself for the fervice of mankind in any important refpect, he will fcruple no means, however base, cruel, or unjust, to procure himself his favourite pleasures, which he conceives to be in a manner neceffary to his being.

5. With refpect to the bulk of mankind, whofe circumftances in life are low, the fole pursuit of fenfual pleasure is exceedingly injurious to that industry which is neceffary to their fupport. Indeed, it is often fufficient to diffipate the most ample fortune, and reduce men from affluence to poverty, which, in fuch circumstances, they are least able to ftruggle with.

It is impoffible that we should not condemn a difpofition and pursuit fo circumftanced as this. An addictedness to fenfual pleasures is manifeftly incompatible with

Our

The

our own true intereft, it is injurious to others, and, on both these accounts, muft be contrary to the will of God. vices of gluttony, drunkennefs, and lewdnefs are alfo, clearly contrary to the natural dictates of our minds; and every man who is guilty of them, feels himfelf to be despicable and criminal, both in his own eyes, and thofe of others.

The only rule with refpect to our diet, is to prefer those kinds, and that quantity of food, which moft conduces to the health and vigour of our bodies, Whatever in eating or drinking is inconsistent with, and obstructs this end, is wrong, and fhould carefully be avoided; and every man's own experience, affifted with a little information from others, will be fufficent to inform him what is nearly the beft for himself in both thofe refpects; fo that no perfon is likely to injure himself much through mere mistake..

With

With refpect to thofe appetites that are fubfervient to the propagation of the species, I would obferve, that the experience of ages teftifies, that marriage, at a proper time of life, whereby one man is confined to one woman, is most favourable to health and the true enjoyment of life. It is a means of raifing the greatest number of healthy children, and makes the beft provifion for their inftruction and fettlement in life; and nothing more need be faid to fhew that this ftate of life has every character of what is right, and what ought to be adopted, in preference to every other mode of indulging our natural paffions.

Marriage is, moreover, of excellent use as a means of transferring our affections from ourselves to others. We see, not in extraordinary cafes, but generally, in common life, that a man even prefers the happiness of his wife and children to his own; and his regard for them is frequent ly a motive to fuch induftry, and fuch an

exertion

exertion of his powers, as would make him exceedingly unhappy, if it were not for the confideration of the benefit that accrues to them from it. Nay, in many cafes, we fee men rifking their lives, and even rushing on certain death, in their defence. The fame, alfo, is generally the attachment of wives to their husbands, and fometimes, but not fo generally, the attachment of children to their parents.

We may add, that when once a man's affections have been transferred from himfelf to others, even his wife and children, they are more eafily extended to other perfons, ftill more remote from him, and that, by this means, he is in the way of acquiring a principle of general benevolence, patriotifm, and public fpirit, which perfons who live to be old without ever marrying are not fo generally remarkable for. The attention of these persons having been long confined to themfelves, they often grow more and more selfish and narrow spirited, so as to be actuated in all

their