impreffions, fo as to be capable of changing for the better. When once a man's connections and mode of life have been fettled, which is generally before, or foon after he is arrived at thirty years of age, the bent of his mind is completely formed, and it is a thousand to one but that after this there will be no material change in his difpofition or conduct to the end of his life. If his mind be vitiated then, there is little hope of a change, without a total revolution in his connections and affairs; or unlefs his mind be roused by fome uncommon calamity. In this cafe, entering, as it were, upon life again, with wisdom bought by experience, his old connections being broken, and new ones to be formed, he may chufe a wifer course, and in time may make it familiar and pleafing to him. But ftill there is a great danger of his relapfing into his former habits, the first opportunity. A new set of principles, new views and expectations may be equivalent to fuch an intire intire revolution in a man's affairs as was mentioned above. For many perfons are so difpofed, that if they had more knowledge, they would have more virtue. Thus the doctrines of a refurrection, and of a future ftate of retribution, produced a very great and speedy change in the moral ftate of the heathen world, at the first promulgation of christianity, affecting the old as well as the young. But when nothing new takes place, with respect either to a man's circumstances, or his knowledge, there is but little probability that his conduct will be materially affected by an attention to truths and facts, to the contemplation of which he has been long accustomed. 3. If bad habits have, unhappily, been formed, and a man thinks he has ftrength of mind to break through them, he has no other way but refolutely to avoid every affociated circumftance belonging to them, whatever can fo much as lead him to think of his former vicious pleafures; particularly the company he has formerly kept, and by whofe example, infinuations, and foli citations, he has been feduced. A man who confides in his fortitude, and wilfully runs into temptation, is almoft fure to be overcome. Our only fafety, in thefe cafes, confifts in flying from the danger, through a wife diftruft of ourselves. 4. We must, also, refolutely do whatever we are convinced is right, whether we can immediately take pleafure in it or not. Let a man invariably do his duty, and he will, in time, find a real fatisfaction in it, which will increase, as right conduct grows more habitual; till, in time, notwithstanding the reluctance with which he entered upon a virtuous course, he will have the most fincere pleasure in it, on its own account. He will love virtue for its own fake, and will not change his course of life, even though it fhould not be the most advantageous to him for the prefent. If the most selfish perfon in the world would make a point of doing generous things, and thus get a cuftom of befriending and relieving others, till he fhould look upon it as his indispensable business, and his proper employment, he would, at length, find fatisfaction in it, and would act habitually from the pure principles of benevolence. 5. The contemplation of virtuous characters is a great means of infpiring the mind with a love of virtue. If a man attentively confiders the hiftory of a virtuous perfon, he cannot help entering into, and approving his fentiments, and he will intereft himself in his fate. In short, he will feel himself disposed to at the fame part in the fame circumstances. It is not equally advifable to ftudy the lives, and contemplate the characters of vicious perfons, with a view to be deterred from the practice of vice, by means of the horror with which it would infpire us. Because, when the mind is familiarized to any thing, the horror with which we first viewed it, in a great meafure, ceafes; and let a man have been ever fo wicked, and his schemes ever so detestable, it is hardly poffible (if his character and history have been for a long time the principal object of our attention) not to intereft ourselves in his affairs, fo as to be pleafed K 4 pleafed with the success of his schemes and ftratagems. There will be the more danger of this effect, if such a person have any good qualifications to recommend him; and no man is fo far abandoned to vice, as to be entirely deftitute of all amiable and engaging qualities. Vice joined with wit and humour, or any talent by which a man gives pleasure, or excites admiration, is exceedingly dangerous; more especially if a perfon of a profigate character be poffeffed of any real virtues, particularly fuch as ftrike the mind with an idea of dignity and generafity. Thus courage, and humanity too often cover and recommend the moft fcandalous vices, and even fuch as really tend to make men cowardly, treacherous, and cruel; and which, at length, extinguish every fpark of generofity and goodness in the heart. 6. In order to cultivate the virtues of piety or devotion to the moít advantage, it seems neceffary that we frequently meditate upon the works, the attributes, and the cha raЯter |