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profperity and adverfity; which no bribe SERM. can feduce, nor terror overawe; neither by pleafure melted into effeminacy, nor by diftrefs funk into dejection; fuch is the mind which forms the diftinction and eminence of man.-One, who in no fituation of life is either afhamed or afraid of discharging his duty, and acting his proper part with firmness and conftancy; true to the God whom he worships, and true to the faith in which he profeffes to believe; full of affection to his brethren of mankind; faithful to his friends, generous to his enemies, warm with compaffion to the unfortunate; felf-denying to little private interefts and pleasures, but zealous for public intereft and happinefs; magnanimous, without being proud; humble, without being mean; juft, without being harth; fimple in his manners, but manly in his feelings; on whose word you can entirely rely; whofe countenance never deceives you; whofe profeffions of kindness are the effufions of his heart: one, in fine, whom independent of any views of advantage, you would

SERM. would chufe for a fuperior, could truft in

I..

as a friend, and could love as a brother: This is the man, whom in your heart, above all others, you do, you must, ho

nour.c

1.

SUCH a character, imperfectly as it has now been drawn, all must acknowledge to be formed folely by the influence of steady religion and virtue. It is the effect of principles which, operating on confcience, determine it uniformly to pursue whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are boneft, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatfoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise*. By thefe means, wisdom, as the text afferts, bringeth us to honour.

IN confirmation of this doctrine it is to be obferved, that the honour which man acquires by religion and virtue is more independent, and more complete, than what

* Philip, iv. 8.

can

can be acquired by any other means. It is independent of any thing foreign or exterhal. It is not partial, but entire respect, which it procures. Wherever fortune is concerned, it is the ftation or rank which commands our deference. Where fome fhining quality attracts admiration, it is only to a part of the character that we pay homage. But when a person is distinguished for eminent worth and goodness, it is the man, the whole man, whom we respect. The honour which he poffeffes is intrinfic. Place him in any fituation of life, even an obfcure one; let room only be given for his virtues to come forth and fhow themfelves, and you will revere him; as a private citizen; or as the father of a family. If in higher life he appear more illustrious, this is not owing merely to the respect created by rank. It is, because there a nobler fpere of action is opened to him; because his virtues are brought forth into more extended exertion; and placed in fuch confpicuous view, that he appears to grace and adorn the station which he fills. Even

in

SERM.

I.

SERM in the filence of retirement, or in the retreat of old age, fuch a man finks not into forgotten obfcurity. His remembered virtues continue to be honoured, when their active exertions are over; and to the laft ftage of life he is followed by public esteem and refpect. Whereas, if genuine worth be wanting, the applause which may have attended a man for a while, by degrees dies away. Though, for a part of his life, he had dazzled the world, this was owing to his deficiency in the effential qualities having not been fufpected. As foon as the imposture is discovered, the falling ftar finks in darkness.There is therefore a standard of independent, intrinfix worth, to which we must bring in the end what ever claims to be honourable among men. By this we muft measure it; and it will als ways be found, that nothing but what is effential to man has power to command the respect of man's heart.

It is to be farther observed, that the univerfal confent of mankind in honouring

real

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real virtue, is fufficient to fhow what the SERM. genuine fenfe of human nature is on this subject. All other claims of honour are ambulatory and changeable. The degrees of refpect paid to external stations vary with forms of government, and fashions of the times. Qualities which in one country are highly honoured, in another are lightly efteemed. Nay, what in fome regions of the earth diftinguishes a man above others, might elfewhere expofe him to contempt or ridicule. But where was ever the nation on the face of the globe, who did not ho nour unblemished worth, unaffected piety, ftedfast, humane, and regular virtue ? To whom were altars erected in the Heathen world but to thofe who by their merits and heroic labours, by their invention of useful arts, or by some signal acts of beneficence to their country, or to mankind, were found worthy, in their opinion, to be tranfferred from among men, and added to the number of the gods Even the counterfeited appearances of virtue, which are fo often found in the world, are teftimo

nies