My affection was not given away to the great, who might have had any interest in deceiving me. It was not directed by caprice, or rafhly fixed without deliberation and experience. Here was the appearance of every thing wórthy and amiable. Could I with-hold my friendfhip? I had reafon upon trial, to be pleased with my choice. Hence I derived the pureft pleafures of my life. In return, could I do lefs than give all my confidence and affection? Contrary to expectation, you have found coldnefs and referve, perhaps treachery and contempt. Whither fhall I now betake me for confolation? I have no friend. Sad experience has inftilled a jealoufy and distrust of mankind, and cut off my wonted resource in the day of calamity. My bitterness fhall be known only to my own heart.

5. Akin to what I have now defcribed are domeftic fources of uneafinefs, which, as they are unavoidable, and continually prefent, are the more fevere, and, for reafons I fhall immediately mention, concealed with the greateft induftry from the knowledge and fympathy of the world.

Happiness muft begin at home. It is natural for every man first to seek it there. How pitiable our fituation, if folly, peevishnefs, and contradiction of humours, in the perfons with whom we are infeparably affociated, has banished our peace, and poisoned the fountain from which we expected to draw the fweeteft ingredients of our life! To tell our bitterness were

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to publish our own difhonour. As if our mifery were not enough, we muft increase it, by fubmitting to the painful violence of conftraint and diffimulation. We must hypocritically put on the countenance of chearfülnefs, in order to conceal the gloom of our mind, and ward off the reproach in which we ourselves muft fo largely partake.

6. Again, in a fimilar fituation are thofe who have gone out of the ftation and employment to which they were by nature beft fitted, and are of confequence appointed to act and go forward in life with a fet of men. whofe tafte and difpofitions run contrary to their own. The fentiments and conduct at variance, certainly occafion the most violent commotions in a man's own breaft, and make an irreparable breach upon his peace of heart. In fuch a cafe, that natural liberty which is the first quality in happiness, is deftroyed. All is force, and unnatural compulfion; and the man dare not complain, or tell his mifery, without incurring the diflike and refentment of those upon whom his happiness moft immediately depends..

7. Allied to thefe, but far more worthy of " approbation, is the man who carries grief in his bofom, upon account of confcious imperfection, and inconfiftency of character. He. has approved the better part; he has refolved and profeffed to purfue it; he is deeply convinced he can never else be happy; and yet fome ftrong predominating paffion ftill holds him faft in the fetters of vice.

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He has often refolved. upon reformation, tried many expedients, made head against many temptations: he has as often failed, and relapfed under the dominion of fin. This has occafioned miferable agitation and perplexity of foul.

The world again who fee the outfide of things, fpeak fair of his virtue, and wonder only that the due effects of peace and joy are not more confpicuous and acknowledged. This confounds and perplexes him the more. He mourns in fecret, that he is not fuch as his own refolutions, and the world around him, would have him to be.

8. It must affect every one of reflection with deep concern, to find, that a great proportion of fecret forrow falls to the fhare of those who are moft ufeful, and deferve beft from fociety.

When I tell you, that it is an old obfervation, that no calamity bears harder upon the mind than ingratitude, you will understand who they are that now claim your attention. Were I to dwell only upon higher examples, what a large group of heroes, patriots, and martyrs, have gone off the ftage of this world, bewailing, that the brave and difinterested fchemes to which they dedicated the attention and labour of their whole lives, have been fruftrated by the malice and ingratitude of the men whom they were intended to ferve? If we confult history, what nation has not, in its turn, come hort in paternal affection, and deferved to

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be branded with the charge of ingratitude, whilft it has fuffered the glories of human nature, and its own best benefactors, to languish in poverty, exile, and contempt ? · Pofterity have blushed at the prejudices of their fathers. Praise and encomiums have been lavished upon their memories; but what avail praise and encomiums upon those who are filent in the duft?

But it may be of more ufe to my hearers to fpeak of more humble and domeftic beneficence: Who has had the happiness to deal ever fo little in the commerce of good offices, without experiencing at the fame time the misfortune of ingratitude and ill returns from men? Here was a man who lived but to do good. Many have been advanced to prosperity, and the notice of the world, who must have lain hid in meanness and obscurity, had it not been for the unwearied protection and friendship with which he cherished them. They have forgot the rock from which they were hewn. The remembrance of a benefactor lives not in their hearts.

Some have exhibited more active and enormous ingratitude. Their hand has been lifted against the man who armed it with power. Their reputation and influence have been impiously exerted to fhake the very foundations upon which they were originally erected. A generous mind abhors the meannefs of complaint and upbraiding. The very principle which would moft fuccessfully befpeak the fympathy

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pathy and confolation of mankind, with furpaffing greatnefs hides it from their view.

Befides, it is the misfortune, or, fhall I rather fay, the glory of fuch a mind, to have but too delicate fentiments of his connection with mankind. His affliction is augmented upon account of the vices of thofe to whom he confiders himself fo nearly related; and he conceals their crimes, and the caufe of his own bitternefs, with all the tenderness and anxiety with which he would any mifcarriage or deformity that must reflect fhame upon his own family.

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To the common feelings of humanity, add the more endearing ties of blood, and you have the idea of the most aggravated forrow that human nature can poffibly fuftain. Suppofe à tender and indulgent parent disappointed of the child of his love; fuppofe that the best and moft prudent admonitions have been thwarted, the most affectionate indulgencies caft away; and he meets with nothing but impiety, treachery, indolence, and ingratitude, where he fondly anticipated virtue, usefulness to mankind, honour to his family, the sweetest returns of gratitude and love to himself. There are inftances where language falls infinitely fhort of the feelings of men, and where the ideas and fympathy of others, must be confined to what is expreffed, or to what they themfelves have experienced. In the example I have now put, it may be faid, in a peculiar fenfe, that the heart knoweth its own forrows;" becaufe, though it were not difpofed to keep VOL. II.

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them