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MEMOIR OF REV. W. S. POWELL.

matters of more abstruse speculation. "Yet this taste,” says Mr. Mason, in his Life of Whitehead, "always appeared native and his own: he did not seem to have brought it with him from a great school, nor to have been taught it by a celebrated master. He never dealt in the indiscriminate exclamations of excellent' and ' sublime :' but if he felt a beauty in an author, was ready with a reason why he felt it to be such;-a circumstance, which those persons, who, with myself, attended his lectures on the Poetics of Aristotle, will both acknowlege and reflect on with pleasure."

The works which he left fit for the press were edited by Dr. Balguy, who prefixed to them a very meagre account of his friend's life, containing little more than the dates of its principal events. He declares, that he published them chiefly for the benefit of younger students in divinity but the eulogy passed on them by the late Professor Mainwaring, in a dissertation prefixed to his own sermons, bears much higher testimony to their merit:-" It would be impossible," says he, "to produce a more eminent instance of this happy alliance of taste and genius with learning and good sense, than in the sermons of Dr. Powell; of whom indeed, on every account, the whole society, over which he presided, might justly join with me in saying,

Semper honos, nomenque tuum, laudesque manebunt."

DISCOURSES.

SUMMARY OF DISCOURSE I.

HEBREWS, CHAP. XII.-VERSE 1.

EXHORTATION to every person, that he should observe with care the complexion or temper of his soul, and apply the proper remedies: difficulty of doing this, and necessity of his having assistance. A man will more easily discover his own personal character, if he is made acquainted with that of the rank or order to which he belongs. Little pains have been employed by moral writers to this purpose, more by satirists. Intent of the following discourse; to show the chief difficulties and dangers to which men of studious and retired lives are exposed.

The first fault most immediately connected with such a situation, and the source of many others, is indolence. Labor is usually attended with some portion of present uneasiness: yet it is so necessary to the welfare of mankind, that a particular provision has been made, for its exercise, in the constitution of things. The greater part of mankind must labor or perish: the ease and satisfaction of many depend on it: even the votaries of pleasure themselves must attend it at fixed places and seasons, &c.

The passions are another excellent contrivance to keep all the faculties of our souls active and vigorous: this enlarged on. A station, which removes the common motives to industry,

POW.

which impairs the vigor of the passions, its chief supports, and which at the same time renders it more than usually burthensome, is likely to make men indolent. Indolence comes not without a train of attendant faults: mischievous effects of it, and of the retirement which produces it, on the understanding and the affections, considered.

Any serious employment of the understanding is inconsistent with habitual indolence; for discussion and inquiry are always laborious: this dilated on.

We might expect, that they, who entertain every wandering opinion without examination, should dismiss it without regret, on the arrival of a new guest; but the fact is otherwise this kind of levity is attended with obstinacy: for the same disposition, which leads men into error, makes them unwilling to correct it, &c. but if this disposition be the parent of obstinacy, retirement is its nurse: this fully shown.

The faults above mentioned lead to another, which is selfconceit; for the sluggard is wiser in his own conceit, than seven men that can render a reason: this enlarged on. Self-conceit, in return, promotes indolence and obstinacy: this shown. Such a temper, when brought to bear on high points, as religion and government, shows itself in violent bigotry: this dilated on.

There are no subjects, about which men are less apt to be diffident, than those where diffidence most becomes them; subjects of the greatest importance and difficulty. From understandings so perverted, what great improvements in science can be expected? But indolence affects not the understanding only; it checks and blunts the benevolent affections: this also may be done by retirement itself, if indolence could be removed. But this danger arises not wholly from the nature of a secluded life the circumstances of it are often such as have a still greater tendency to weaken the benevolent affections: this fully shown.

That a man of this character can have nothing of the true

spirit of religion, we are told by unerring authority: he that loves not his brother, how can he love God? But, farther, religious sentiments can only be impressed on the mind by repeated acts of devotion: in retirement occasions and accidents are wanted to excite the warmth of adoration: this shown. Little do they know of human nature, who imagine a strict union betwixt piety and learning. If the love of God be an affection which requires ardor, constant study, especially that of abstruse sciences, is not likely to improve it. When solitude and indolence have driven away pious and benevolent affections, the mind will be left exposed to the dull and phlegmatic passions. This hideous troop is led by melancholy: the man, who is thus affected, will suffer from the apprehension of future or imaginary evils; he will be dejected without calamities, and angry without injuries, &c.: the man who is frequently offended, and continually afraid, will certainly, as far as his power extends, be cruel. Bigotry also often promotes this temper, concealing, under the appearance of zeal for religion, or for the public good, a vice the most opposite to both. The character of an idle monk recapitulated. The question asked,-whether we ought therefore to fly from a station, where our virtue and happiness are exposed to so many dangers. Answer given. Conclusion.

DISCOURSE I.

OF THE VICES INCIDENTAL TO AN ACADEMICAL LIFE.

HEBREWS, CHAP. XII.-VERSE 1.

The sin that doth so easily beset us.

THERE are writers of some reputation in physic, who have undertaken to explain, to what particular diseases men are exposed by each profession and employment. Whatever their success has been, the design was certainly good; and, if the attempt is not too difficult, it will be useful to pursue the same plan in our moral inquiries. We frequently exhort every man to observe with care the complexion and temper of his soul; and to apply all such remedies, as may either prevent or palliate those disorders, to which his natural constitution makes him subject but every man is not able to judge of his own dispositions; and what we call nature is more often habit. It would be well therefore if we could assist the diligent searcher of his heart, by showing him what vices usually accompany his situation and circumstances. He will more easily discover his own personal character, if he is acquainted with that of the rank or order to which he belongs.

Very little pains have been employed by any moral writers to this purpose. They have told us perhaps, what are the faults of youth and of age; what the dangers of riches and of poverty; but if any thing has been said concerning the characters of particular professions, it has been by the satirists, not the serious moralists. It will not, I hope, be thought, that I wander into their province, if I enter on that part of this sub