good man has been recommended as a convenient guard to private conduct. How would this appear to Socrates or Plato or Ariftides? The parochial minifter may with equal advantage fuppofe himself under the ocular infpection of his omniscient Overseer, and anticipate with greater feeling his cenfure or his disapprobation.-Ibid.

Clerical Writings.

HE Clergy are both ready and able to maintain the cause of Chriftianity, as their many excellent writings in defence of it fufficiently demonftrate. But as the generality of mankind is more governed by prejudice than by reason, their writings are not fo univerfally read or candidly received as they deferve; because they are fuppofed to proceed, not from confcience and conviction, but from interested views, and the common cause of their profeffion. A fuppofition evidently as partial and injurious as that would be, which fhould impute the gallant behaviour of our

foldiers to the mean confideration of their pay and their hopes of preferment; exclufive of all the nobler motives of gentlemen, namely, the fense of honour, and love of country.-GILBERT WEST.

Commerce.

N obferving the advances of Commerce, we fhall find that in its firft ftages, it fupplies mutual neceffities, prevents mutual wants, extends mutual knowledge, eradicates mutual prejudice, and spreads mutual humanity. In its middle and more advanced period, it provides conveniences, increases numbers, gives birth to arts and sciences, creates equal laws, diffuses general plenty and general happinefs. If we view it in its third and highest stage, we shall fee it change its nature and effects. It brings in fuperfluity, and vaft wealth, begets avarice, grofs luxury or effeminate refinement among the higher ranks, together with general lofs of principle.-DR. JOHN BROWN.

2. THE fea-coaft of Britain, from the figure, in fome measure, of the Island, but chiefly from the inlets of the sea and the very irregular indented line which forms its fhore, comprehends, allowing for these finuofities, at least eight hundred marine leagues. In this respect, fo beneficial to commerce, it is fuperior to France, and equal to Spain and Portugal, though Britain is not half the fize of that noble Peninsula which forms the latter two kingdoms.-DR. CAMPBELL.

3. HE that firft discovered the use of the Compass, did more for the fupplying and increase of useful commodities, than those who built workhouses.-LOCKE.

4. COMMERCE supplies the wants of one country by importing the riches of another, and gives a value to fuperfluities which they could not otherwise obtain. It increases the revenue of a State, and preserves the independence of a people.-HENRY Kett.

Confcience.

HERE is no word more frequently in the mouths of men, than that of Confcience; and the meaning of it is in fome measure generally understood. However, because it is a word extremely abused by many people, who apply other meanings to it, which God Almighty never intended, I fhall explain it in the cleareft manner I am able. The word ConScience properly fignifies that knowledge which a man hath within himself of his own thoughts and actions, by comparing them with the law of God, his mind will either approve or condemn him according as he hath done good or evil; therefore this knowledge or confcience may properly be called both an accufer and a judge. So that whenever our confcience accufeth us, we are certainly guilty but we are not always innocent when it doth not accufe us; for very often through the hardness of our hearts, or the fondness and favour we bear ourselves, or through ignorance or neglect, we do not suffer our

conscience to take any cognizance of several fins we commit.-SWIFT.

2. THE teftimony of a good confcience will make the comforts of Heaven defcend upon man's weary head, like a refreshing dew or fhower upon a parched land. It will give him lively earnests and secret anticipations of approaching joy; it will bid his foul go out of the body undauntedly, and lift up his head with confidence before faints and angels. The comfort which it conveys, is greater than the capacities of mortality can appreciate, mighty and unfpeakable, and not to be understood till it is felt.-DR. SOUTH.

3. A GOOD CONSCIENCE is to the foul, what health is to the body; it preferves a constant ease and serenity within us, and more than countervails all the calamities and afflictions which can poffibly befall us.-AD

DISON.