the exterior and unessential parts of civility, nor refuse their own vanity any gratification, however expensive to the quiet of another."

By a neglect of complaisance, many persons of substantial excellence have deprived their virtues of much of their lustre, and themselves of much kindness; of whom it is very common to have it said "Yes, he is a good man, but I cannot like him." Surely such persons, by an ill economy of reputation, have sold the attachment of the world at too low a price, since they have lost one of the rewards of virtue, without even gaining the profits of wickedness.*

4. On admiration of the characters of others, I think it important to say a few things. To observe, admire, and imitate the excellencies of those around us, is no less our duty than our interest. It is a just tribute to their moral worth, and the means of promoting our own. It is of great consequence, however, that our admiration of character should be well directed; for as we naturally imitate what we admire, we should take care that we are attracted and charmed only by real excellence. Do not be led astray, my children, by a mere speciousness, or showiness of character. Let nothing be regarded by you as worthy your admiration, which is not in connexion with moral worth. Courage, frankness, heroism, politeness, intellect, are all valuable dispositions of mind; but unless they are united with genuine principle, and true integrity they only render their possessor more

* See the Rambler, Nos. 56 and 98. The British Essayists, especially the Spectator, Rambler, and Idler, though not always strictly scriptural in their views of human nature, and moral obligation, contain au inexhaustible fund of entertainment and instruction, conveyed in a most fascinating style of composition. Who need covet a novel that can converse with Addison and Johnson?

You

dangerous, and invest him with greater power to do mischief. Suffer not your imagination to be captivated by the dazzling properties, of a character, of which the substantial parts are not approved by your judgement; nothing is excellent which is not morally so. The polished rake, the generous profligate, the witty and intelligent skeptic, are to be shunned as serpents, whose variegated and beautiful skin should have no power to reconcile us to their venom. may be charged with want of taste, or coldness of heart, for withholding your approbation; but it is a far sublimer attainment, and certainly a more difficult one, to have a taste and ardour only in the cause of holiness. Be cautious to examine every character which is presented to you for admiration, to penetrate the varnish of exterior accomplishments; and if you find nothing of genuine integrity beneath, withhold the tribute of your approbation, regardless of the sneers of those shallow minds, who have neither the power to try the things that differ, nor the virtue to approve only such as are excellent.

It is a very important hint to give to young people, just setting out in life, to analyze character before they admire it; remembering that, to borrow an allusion from chymistry, a deadly poison may be held in solution by the most beautifully-coloured liquid which the eye can be

hold.

5. An extreme dread of singularity, arising out of a morbid sensibility to shame, is a dangerous disposition of mind, to which young people are very liable.

There are some who are so ambitious to be thought originals, that they affect distinction in folly, or even in vice: they can even bear to be

A

laughed at, if it may be admitted that they are without a prototype; and are content to be persecuted, provided it be for the sake of their originality. These martyrs to strangeness are in one extremity of character, of which the other is that great dread of being ridiculed as singular, which tries a man's attachment, even to the cause of virtue. There are some so acutely, so morbidly sensible to the least sneer, that they are put in dreadful peril of forsaking the cause of righteousness and morality, rather than take up the cross and follow it. I have already in part considered this, and stated it to be one of the obstacles to early piety: but it not only obstructs the entrance, but the subsequent path of piety, and should therefore be most vigourously opposed by all who are subject to its influence. A sense of shame, when felt in reference to what is wrong, is one of the guardians of virtue in this meaning of the phrase, it can never be too acute, nor can it be too delicately susceptible of impression. When one has ceased to be ashamed of doing what is wrong, and the last blush with which a tender conscience once suffused the countenance has vanished, the progress of sin is nearly completed, and the sinner may be considered as near the end of his career. But when a person is so morbidly sensible to ridicule, that he shrinks from it, even in the performance of that which is right, he not only lets down his dignity, but endangers his principles.

There is something noble and heroic in that disposition, which can dare to be singular in the cause of religion and morality; which, with a mind conscious of doing right, can fight single handed, the battles of the Lord, against the host

of scorners by which it may be surrounded. It is not a part of virtue to be indifferent to the opinion of others, except that opinion be opposed to the principles of truth and holiness, then it is the very height of virtue to act above it, and against it.

Ridicule is certainly not the test of truth, but it is one of the most fiery ordeals of that courage by which the truth is professed and supported. Many have been vanquished by scorn, who were invulnerable to rage; for men in general would much rather have their hearts reproached than their heads, deeming it less disgraceful to be weak in virtue than deficient in intellect. Strange perversion! the effect of that pride which, being injected into our nature by the venom of the serpent in paradise, still continues to infect and destroy us. Let us oppose this working of evil within us, and crucify this affection and lust of the flesh. Let no ridicule deter us from doing what is right, or avoiding what is wrong. Let us emulate the sublime example of the apostle, who exclaimed, "We are fools for Christ's sake." This is the noblest effort of human courage, the loftiest achievement of virtue, to be "faithful found amongst the faithless," and willing to bear any contumely rather than act in opposition to the convictions of our judgement, and the dictates of our conscience. Infinitely to be preferred is it, to be scorned for doing what is right than applauded for doing what is wrong. From the laughter of the wicked you may find a refuge in the approbation of your conscience, and the smile of your God; but in what a miserable situation is that poor cowardly wretch, whose dread of singularity has led him VOL. II.

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to sacrifice the convictions of his conscience, and who has nothing to comfort him under the frowns of Deity, but the applause of fools.

Neither in little things, nor in great ones, suffer your dread of singularity to turn your feet from the path of integrity. Arm yourselves with this mind, to do what is right, though you can find neither companion nor follower.

CHAPTER XXI.

On Redeeming Time.

Ir was a very important admonition which St. Paul delivered to the Ephesian church,-"Redeeming the time because the days are evil." The context in which it stands is equally striking he had just admonished those to whom he wrote, not to walk as fools; thus implying, that a man can give no greater proof of folly, nor more effectually act the part of a fool, than to waste his time: while, on the other hand, a just appreciation and a right improvement of time, is amongst the brightest displays of true wisdom.

Seneca has somewhere observed, that we are all of us complaining of the shortness of time, and yet have much more than we know what to do with. We are always mourning that our days are few, and yet acting as though there would be no end of them. This plainly proves, that we neither value time correctly, nor improve it diligently. The late Rev. Henry Martyn was known at the University by the designation of "The man who never wasted an