perance alfo in eating and drinking, and in all other corporeal pleasures, the powers of the body itself are weakened, and a foundation is laid for diforders the most loathsome to behold, the most painful to endure, and the most fatal in their tendencies and iffues. The ingenuity of man cannot contrive any torture fo exquifite, and at the fame time of fo long continuance, as thofe which are occafioned by the irregular indulgence of the fenses; whereas temperance, and occafional abstinence, is a means of keeping all the bodily organs and fenfes in their proper tone, difpofed to relish their proper gratifications; fo that they fhall give a man the moft true and exquifite enjoyment even of fenfual pleasure. They prolong life to the utmoft term of nature, and contribute to a peaceful and eafy death.

3. An addictednefs to fenfual pleasure blunts the faculties of the mind, being injurious to mental apprehenfion, and all the finer feelings of the foul, and confequently deprives a man of a great many fources of pleafures which he might otherwise enjoy,

and

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 feem 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 quarrelling and contention, and fometimes even to murder. Alfo, when a man makes the indulgence of his appetites 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 circumstances in life are low, the fole purfuit of fenfual pleafure is exceedingly inG 2 jurious

jurious 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 leaft able to ftruggle with.

It is impoffible that we fhould not condemn a difpeition and purfuit fo circumftanced as this. An addictedness to fenfual pleature is manifeftly incompatible with our own true intereft, it is injurious to others, and on both thefe accounts, must be contrary to the will of God. The vices of gluttony, drunkennefs, and lewdness are alfo, clearly contrary to the natural dictates of our minds; and every man who is guilty of them, 'feels himself to be defpicable and criminal, both in his own eyes, and those 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 inconfiftent with, and

obftructs

obftructs this end, is wrong, and fhould carefully be avoided; and every man's own experience, aflifted with a little information from others, will be fufficient to inform him what is nearly the beft for himself in both thefe refpects; fo that no perfon is likely to injure himself much through mere mistake.

With refpet to thofe appetites that are fubfervient to the propagation of the fpecies, 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 moft 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 inftruation and fettlement in life; and nothing more need be faid to fhew that this ftate of life has every chara3er 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 ufe as a means of transferring our affections from ourfelves to others. We fee, 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 frequently a motive to such industry, and fuch an 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 see 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 himself to others, even his wife and children, they are more easily extended to other perfons, ftill more remote from him, and that, by this means, he is in the way of acquiring a principle