SERMON XI. ROMANS i. 22. Profeffing themselves to be wife, they became T fools. HERE is no one project to which the whole race of mankind is fo univerfally a bubble, as to that of being thought Wife; and the affectation of it is fo visible, in men of all complexions, that you every day see some one or other fo very folicitous to establish the character, as not to allow himself leifure to do the things which fairly win it;-expending more art and ftratagem to appear fo in the eyes of the world, than what would fuffice to make him fo in truth. It is owing to the force of this defire, that you see in general, there is no injury touches a man fo fenfibly, as an infult upon his parts and capacity: tell a man of other defects, that he wants learning, industry, or application,-he will hear your reproof with patience.-Nay - you may go farther: take him in a proper fea fon, you may tax his morals, you may tell him he is irregular in his conduct,-paffionate or revengeful in his nature,-loofe in his prin. ciples; deliver it with the gentleness of a friend,-poffibly he will not only bear with you, -but, if ingenuous, he will thank you for your lecture and promise a reformation; - but hint, --hint but at a defect in his intellectuals,— touch but that fore place,—from that moment you are looked up as an enemy fent to torment him before his time, and in return may reckon upon his resentment and ill-will for ever; so that in general you will find it safer to tell a man, he is a knave than a fool, and ftand a better chance of being forgiven, for proving he has been wanting in a point of common ho. nefty, than a point of common sense. Strange fouls that we are! as if to live well was not the greateft argument of Wisdom;and, as if what reflected upon our morals, did not most of all reflect upon our understandings! This, however, is a reflection we make a fhift to overlook in the heat of this pursuit; and though we all covet this great character of |