ed of quieting the foul under them, befides this fingle one, of our being confcious to ourfelves that we do not deferve them.

I have always been mightily pleased with that paffage in Don Quixote, where the fantaftical knight is reprefented as loading a gentleman of good fenfe with praifes and eulogiums. Upon which the gentleman makes this reflection to himself: How grateful is praife to human nature! I cannot forbear being fecretly pleafed with the commendations I receive, though I am fenfible it is a madman that beftows them upon me. In the fame manner, though we are often fure that the cenfures which are paffed upon us, are uttered by thofe who know nothing of us, and have neither means nor abilities to form a right judgment of us, we cannot forbear being grieved at what they fay.

In order to heal this infirmity, which is so natural to the wifeft and beft of men, I have taken a particular pleasure in obferving the conduct of the old philofophers, how they bore themselves up against the malice and detraction of their enemies.

The way to filence calumny, fays Bias, is to be always exercifed in fuch things as are praife worthy. Socrates after having received fentence, told his friends that he had always accustomed himself to regard truth, and not cenfure; and that he was not troubled at his condemnation, because he knew himself free from guilt. It was in the fame spirit that he heard the accufation of his two great adverfaries, who had uttered against him the mont virulent reproaches. "Anytus and Melitus, (fays he) may procure fentence against me, but they cannot hurt me." This divine philofopher was fo well fortified in his own innocence,that he neglected all the impotence of evil tongues which were engaged in his deftruction. This was properly the fupport of a good conseience, that contradicted the reports which had been raised against him, and cleared him to himfelf.

Others of the philofophers rather chose to retort the injury by a fmart reply, than thus to difarm it with refpect to themselves. They fhow that it ftung them,

though at the fame time they had the addrefs to make their aggreflors fuffer with them. Of this kind was Ariftotle's reply to one who purfued him with long and bitter invectives. "You," fays he, "who are used to fuffer reproaches, utter them with delight: I, who have not been used to utter them, take no pleasure in hearing them." Diogenes was ftill more fevere on one who spoke ill of him: "Nobody will believe you when you fpeak ill of me, any more than they would believe me fhould I fpeak well of you."

In thefe, and many other inftances I could produce, the bitterness of the anfwer fufficiently teftifies the uneafinefs of mind the perfon was under who made it. I would rather advife my reader, if he has not in this cafe the fecret confolation that he deferves no fuch reproaches as are caft upon him, to follow the advice of Epictetus" If any one fpeaks ill of thee, confider whether he has truth on his fide; and if fo, reform thyfelf, that his cenfures may not affect thee." When Anaximander was told that the very boys laughed at his finging," Aye," fays he, " then I must learn to fing better." But of all the fayings of philofophers which I have gathered together for my own ufe upon this occafion, there are none which carry in them more candour and good fenfe than the two following ones of Plato Being told that he had many enemies, who fpoke ill of him ; "It is no matter," faid he, "I will live fo that none fhall believe them." Hearing at another time that an intimate friend of his had fpoken detractingly of him, "I am fure he would not do it," fays he, if he had not some reason for it.” This is the fureft as well as the nobleft way of drawing the fting out of a reproach, and a true method of preparing a man for that great and only relief against the pains of calumny, a good confcience.

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I defigned in this effay to fhow that there is no happinefs wanting to him who is poffeffed of this excellent frame of mind, and that no perfon can be miferable who is in the enjoyment of it. But I find this fubject fo well treated in one of Dr. South's fermons, that I fhall fill this paper with a paffage of it, which cannot

but make the man's heart burn within him, who reads it with due attention.

That admirable author having fhown the virtue of a good confcience in fupporting a man under the greateft of trials and difficulties of life, concludes with reprefenting its force and efficacy in the hour of death.

"The third and last inftance, in which above all others this confidence towards God does moft eminently fhow and exert itself, is at the time of death, which furely gives the grand opportunity of trying both the ftrength and worth of every principle. When a man fhall be juft about to quit the ftage of this world, to put off his mortality, and to deliver up his laft accounts to God, at which fad time his memory fhall ferve him for little elfe but to terrify him with a frightful review of his past life, and his former extravagances stript of all their pleasure, but retaining their guilt; what is it then that can promise him a fair paffage into the other world, or a comfortable appearance before his dreadful Judge when he is there? Not all the friends and interefts, all the riches and honours under Heaven, can speak fo much as a word for him, or one word of comfort to him in that condition; they may poffibly reproach, but they cannot relieve him.

"No, at this difconfolate time, when the bufy tempter fhall be more than ufually apt to vex and trouble -him, and the pains of a dying body to hinder and difcompofe him, and the fettlement of worldly affairs to disturb and confound him; and, in a word, all things confpire to make his fick bed grievous and uneafy; nothing can then stand up against all these ruins, and fpeak life in the midst of death, but a clear confcience. And the teftimony of that shall make the comforts of Heaven defcend upon his weary head like a refreshing dew, or fhower upon a parched ground; it fhall give him fome lively earnests and fecret anticipations of his approaching joy: it shall bid his foul go out of the body undauntedly, and lift up its head with confidence before faints and angels. Surely the comfort which it conveys at this feason is something bigger than the capacities of

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mortality, mighty and unspeakable, and not to be understood till it comes to be felt.

"And now, who would not quit all the pleasures, and trash and trifles, which are apt to captivate the heart of man, and pursue the greatest rigours of piety and aufterities of a good life, to purchase to him fuch a confcience as at the hour of death, when all the friendship in the world fhall bid him adieu, and the whole creation turns its back upon him, fhall difmifs the foul, and clofe his eyes with that bleffed fentence, Well done, thou good and faithful fervant; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

GUARDIAN, Vol. II. No. 135.

The following Piece is Extracted from the EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE.

Parlour Religion exemplified in the Practice of HONORIO, his Family and Friends.

THOSE to whom the Lord has given a plenty of

the good things of this world, have it in their power to anticipate fomething of the employments and enjoyments of Heaven, fo far as the imperfection of the present state will permit; for they have all things richly to enjoy, they may choofe their company, their time, and entertainments, and in all things follow the pious difpofition of their hearts. It is an happiness for a religious man to vifit, or to be in a house that has a good man at its head. Such a house is that of Honorio.

In the morning the parlour is decently prepared, and warmed for the reception of the pious heads of the family, who come from their chamber fmiling with gratitude to God, and good-humoured with their diligent fervants. The little family during their infancy are in the nursery, and every thing that might interrupt, is prohibited from entering the parlour, which is at this hour a chapel for devotion. The clock having ftruck the well-known hour, Honorio and his beloved wife are feated, with the book of God before them; the fervants enter with looks expreffive of the happi

nefs they feel in having the privilege of being God's free men, and joining their master and miftrefs in his fervice. Under the direction of Honorio, a fon of praise to God for his mercies is offered up by this primitive church; and a portion of fcripture is read, that their minds may become more familiarly acquainted with the facred oracles. This being done, they all bow their knees to Him by whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named; and the good Honorio calls upon his Lord and Mafter in heaven, with expreffions of profound homage and humility; bleffing him for the favours of the past night, and the pleasure of feeing the light of the returning day. Like the great HighPrieft he bears on his heart all his family before God, and intreats for particular mercies according to the known ftate of his household; and puts himself and all. his affairs, both temporal and spiritual, into the hands of his heavenly father. He then gives them his benediction, and they all arife. The happy fervants cheered and warmed with the aids of devotion, return to their duty, each according to his place, and the heads of the family, with their guests (if fuch are prefent )fit down to breakfast on the overflowing bounty of God's providence. Bufinefs, or works of piety, perhaps, call the mafter away, and the miftrefs, having given directions in her family, takes her ufual feat and employment in her parlour. The Bible is laid near her, to be referred to as her best friend and director, her richeft cordial in trouble, and moft faithful monitor in doubtful cafes. Nor is the fearful that any vifitor fhould find her with this companion, for the defires no company but thofe who love the fcriptures. She is rather of the fentiments of a well known female, who brought her family Bible into her parlour, and laying it on the table, faid, “ Lie there, thou beft of books, and keep thou thy place whoever comes in.” A pious vifitor or two, or a minifter of Chrift perhaps, drops in, in the forenoon. If fo, the time is not wafted in unprofitable talk, but the parlour is honoured by being changed into the fimilitude of the holy mount. The heavenly woman and her guests enter into difcourfe, as Mofes

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