good will to all, it extends its influence particularly to those with whom we stand in nearest connection, and who are directly within the sphere of our good offices. From the country or community to which we belong, it descends to the smaller associations of neighborhood, relations and friends; and spreads itself over the whole circle of social and domestic life. I mean not that it imports a promiscuous undistinguishing affection, which gives every man an equal title to our love.. Charity, if we should endeavor to carry it so far, would be rendered an impracticable virtue; and would resolve itself into mere words, without affecting the heart. True charity attempts not to shut our eyes to the distinction between good and bad men; nor to warm our hearts equally to those who befriend, and those who injure us, It reserves our esteem for good men, and our complacency for our friends. Towards our enemies it inspires forgiveness, humanity, and a solicitude for their welfare. It breathes universal candor, and liberality of sentiment. It forms gentleness of temper, and dictates affability of manners It prompts corresponding sympathies with them who rejoice, and them who weep. It teaches us to slight and despise no Charity is the comforter of the afflicted, the protector of the oppressed, the reconciler of differences, the intercessor for offenders. It is faithfulness in the friend, public spirit in the magistrate, equity and patience in the judge, moderation in the sovereign, and loyalty in the subject. In parents, it is care and attention; in children, it is reverence and submission. In a word. it is the soul of social life. It is the sun that enlivens and cheers the abodes of men. It is "like the dew of Hermou," says the Psalmist, " and the dew that descendeth on the mountains of Zion, where the Lord commandeth the blessing, even life for evermore."

man.

SECTION VIII.

BLAIR.

PROSPERITY IS REDOUBLED TO A GOOD MAN.

NONE but the temperate, the regular, and the virtuous, know how to enjoy prosperity. They bring to its comforts the manly relish of a sound uncorrupted mind. They stop at the proper point, before enjoyment degenerates into dis gust, and pleasure is converted into pain. They are stran

gers to those complaints which flow from spleen, caprice, and all the fantastical distresses of a vitiated mind. While riotous indulgence enervates both the body and the mind, purity and virtue heighten all the powers of human fruition.

Feeble are all pleasures in which the heart has no share. The selfish gratifications of the bad, are hoth narrow in their circie, and short in their duration. But prosperity is redoubled to a good man, by his generous use of it. It is reflected back upon him from every one wham he makes happy, In the intercourse of domestic affection, in the attachment of friends, the gratitude of dependants, the esteem and good will of all who know him, he sees blessings multiplied round him, on every side. “When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me; because I delivered the poor that cried, the fatherless and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing with joy. I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the Fame: I was a father to the poor; and the cause which I knew not, I searched out." Thus, while the righteous man flourishes like a tree planted by the rivers of water, he brings forth also his fruit in its season: and that fruit he brings forth, not for himself alone. He flourishes, not like a tree in some solitary desert, which scatters its blossoms to the wind, and communicates neither fruit nor shade to any living thing; but like a tree in the midst of an inhabited country, which to some affords friendly shelter, to others, fruit; which is not only admired by all for its beauty, but blessed by the traveller for the shade, and by the hungry, for the sustenance it hath given.

SECTION IX.

?

ON THE BEAUTIES OF THE PSALMS.

BLAIR.

GREATNESS confers no exemption from the cares and sorrows of life its share of them frequently bears a melancholy proportion to its exaltation. This the monarch

of Israel experienced. He sought in piety, that peace which he could not find in empire; and alleviated the disquietudes of state, with the exercises of devotion.

His

invaluable Psalms convey those comforts to others which they afforded to himself Composed upon particular occasions, yet designed for general use: delivered out as services for Israelites under the Law, yet no less, adapted to the circumstances of Christians under the Gospel; they present religion to us in the most engaging dress; communicating truths which philosophy could never investigate, in a style which poetry can never equal; while history is made the vehicle of prophecy, and creation lends all its charms to paint the glories of redemption. Calculated alike to profit and to please, they inform the understanding, elevate the af fections, and entertain the imagination. Indited under the influence of HIM, to whom all hearts are known, and all events foreknown, they suit mankind in all situations; grateful as the mauna which descended from above, and conformed itself to every palate.

The fairest productions of human wit, after a few perusals, like gathered flowers wither in our hands,and lose their fragrancy but these unfading plants of paradise become, as we are accustomed to them, still more and more beautiful; their bloom appears to be daily heightened; fresh odors are emitted, and new sweets extracted from them. He who has once tasted their excellencies, will desire to taste them again; and he who tastes them oftenest, will relish them best.$

And now could the author flatter himself, that any one would take half the pleasures in reading his work, which he has taken in writing it, he would not fear the loss of his labor. The employment detached him from the hustle and hurry of life, the din of politics, and the noise of folly.Vanity and vexation flew away for a season; care and disquietude came not near his dwelling. He arose, fresh as the morning, to his task; the silence of the night invited him to pursue it; and he can truly say, that food and rest were not preferred before it. Every psalm improved infinitely upon his acquaintance with it, and no one give him uneasiness but the last: for then he grieved that his work was done. Happier hours than those which have been spent in these meditations on the songs of Sion, he never expects to see in this world. Very pleasantly did they pass; they moved smoothly and swiftly along: for when thus engaged, he counted no time. They are gone, but they have left a relish and a fragrance upon the mind; and the remembrance of them is sweet.

HORNE.

SECTION X.

CHARACTER OF ALFREd, king of England.

THE merit of this prince, both in private and public life, may with advantage, be set in opposition to that of any monarch or citizen, which the annals of any age, or any nation, can present to us. He seems, indeed, to be the complete model of that perfect character, which, under the denomin ation of a sage or wise man, the philosophers have been fond of delineating, rather as a fiction of their imagination, than in hopes of ever seeing it reduced to practice; so happily were all his virtues tempered together; so justly were they blendid; and so power ully did each prevent the other from exceeding its proper bounds.

He knew how to conciliate the most enterprising spirit with the coolest moderation; the most obstinate perseverance, with the easiest flexibility; the most severe justice, with the greatest lenity; the greatest rigour in command, with the greatest affability of deportment; the highest capacity and inclination for science, with the most shining talents for action. »

Nature also, as if desirous that so bright a production of her skill should be set in the fairest light, had bestowed on him all bodily accomplishments; vigor of limbs, dignity of shape and air, and a pleasant, engaging, and open countenance. By living in that barbarous age he was deprived of historians worthy to transmit his fame to posterity; and we wish to see him delineated in more lively colors, and with more particular strokes, that we might at least perceive some of those small specks and blemishes, from which, as a man, it is impossible he could be entirely exempted.

HUME.

SECTION XI.

CHARACTER OF QUEEN ELIZABETH.

THERE are few personages in history, who have been. more exposed to the calumny of enemies, and the adulation of friends, than Queen Elizabeth; and yet there scarcely is any, whose reputation bas been more certainly

determined by the unanimous consent of posterity. The unusual length of her administration, and the strong features of her character, were able to overcome all prejudices; aud, obliging her detractors to abate much of their invec tives, and her admirers somewhat of their panegyrics, have, at last, in spite of political factions, and what is more, of religious animosities, produced a uniform judgment with regard to her conduct. Her vigor, her constancy, her maguanimity, her penetration, vigilance, and address, are allowed to merit the highest praises; aud appear not to have been surpassed by any person who ever filled a throne; a conduct less rigorous, less imperious, more sincere, more indulgent to her people, would have been requisite to form a perfect character. By the force of her mind she con trolled all her more active, and stronger qualities; and prevented them from running into excess. Her heroism was exempted from all temerity; her frugality from avarice her friendship from partiality; her enterprise from turbu lency and a vain ambition. She guarded not herself, with equal care or equal success, from less infirmities; the rival ship of beauty, the desire of admiration, the jealousy of love, and the sallies of anger.

Her singular talents for government were founded equally on her temper and on her capacity. Endowed with a great command over herself, she soon obtained an uncontrolled as cendancy over the people. Few sovereigns of England suo ceeded to the throne in more difficult circumstances; and none ever conducted the government with such uniform suecess and felicity. Though unacquainted with the practice of toleration, the true secret for managing religious factions, she preserved her people by her superior prudence, from those confusions in which theological controversy had involved all the neighboring nations; and though her eneming were the most powerful princes in Europe, the most active, the most enterprising, the least scrupulous, she was able, by her vigor, to make deep impressions on their state; her own greatness meanwhile remained untouched and unimpaired.

The wise ministers and brave men who flourished during her reign, share the praise of her success; but instead of lessening the applause due to her, they make great addition to it. They owed, all of them, their advancement. to her choice; they were supported by her constancy; and,

K