XVIII. romantic character, and vifionary notions, SERM unacquainted with the world, and unfit to live in it. veneration. Such perfons are fo far from being liable to any just ridicule, that they are intitled to a degree of respect, which approaches to For they are in truth, the great fupporters and guardians of public order. The authority of their character overawes the giddy multitude. The weight of their example retards the progress of corruption; checks that relaxation of morals, which is always too apt to gain ground infenfibly, and to make incroachments on every departmeut of fociety. Accordingly, it is this high generosity of spirit, this inflexible virtue, this regard to principle, fuperior to all opinion, which has ever marked the characters of those who have eminently diftinguished themselves in public life; who have patronifed the cause of juftice against powerful oppreffors; who, in critical times, have fupported the falling rights and liberties of men; and have reflected honour on their nation and country. Such SERM. Such perfons may have been fcoffed at by XVIII. fome among whom they lived; but pofterity has done them ample juftice; and they are the perfons, whofe names are recorded to future ages, and who are thought and fpoken of with admiration. The mere temporizer, the man of accommodating principles, and inferior virtue, may support a plaufible character for a while among his friends and followers ; but as foon as the hollowness of his principles is detected, he finks into contempt. They who are prone to deride men of inflexible integrity, only betray the littleness of their minds. They fhew that they underftand at the fublime of virtue; that they have no difcernment of the true excellence of man. By affecting to throw any difcouragement on purity and ftrictnefs of morals, they not only expose themfelves to juft contempt, but propagate fentiments very dangerous to fociety. For, if we loofen the regard due to virtue in any of its parts, we begin to fap the whole of it. No man, as it has been often faid, be comes He de- SER M. comes entirely profligate at once. THE laft clafs of virtues I am to mention, are those which are of a perfonal nature, and which refpect the government to be exercised over our pleasures and paffions. Here, the fcoffer has always confidered himself as having an ample field. Often, and often, have fuch virtues as fobriety, temperance, modefty, and chastity, been made the subject of ridicule, as monkish habits, which exclude men from the company of the fashionable and the gay; habits, which are the effect of low education, or of mean fpirits, or of mere feebleness of constitution; while fcoffers, walking, as it is too truly faid of them by the Apostle, after VOL. III. C c their XVIII. SERM. their lufts, boast of their own manners as XVIII. liberal and free, as manly and fpirited. They fancy themselves raised thereby much above the crowd; and hold all those in contempt, who confine them felves within the vulgar bounds of regular and orderly life. Infatuated men! who fee not that the virtues of which they make fport, not only derive their authority from the laws of God, but are moreover effentially requisite both to public, and to private happiness. By the indulgence of their licentious pleafures for a while, as long as youth and vigour remain, a few paffing gratifications may be obtained. But what are the confequences? Suppose any individual to perfevere unreftrained in this course, it is certainly to be followed by difrepute in his character, and diforder in his affairs; by a wafted and broken conftitution; and a fpeedy and miferable old age. Suppose a fociety to be wholly formed of fuch perfons as the fcoffers applaud; fuppofe it to be filled with none but those whom they call the fons of pleasure; that is, with the intemperate, temperate, the riotous, and diffolute, among whom all regard to fobriety, decency, and private virtue, was abolished; what an odious fcene would such a society exhibit? How unlike any civilifed or well-ordered ftate, in which mankind have chofen to dwell? What turbulence and uproar, what contests and quarrels, would perpetually reign in it? What man of common understanding would not rather chufe to dwell in a defert, than to be affociated for life with fuch companions? Shall, then, the fcoffer prefume to make light of thofe virtues, without which there could be neither peace, nor comfort, nor good order, among mankind? Let him be defired to think, of his domeftic fituation and connections. Is he a father, a husband, or a brother? Has he any friend or relation, male or female, in whofe happiness he is interested ?-Let us put the question to him, whether he be willing that intemperance, unchastity, or diffipation of any kind, fhould mark their character? Would he recommend to them |