detailing their moral and religious duties ; enforcing these as much by the fanctions of temporal as eternal rewards and punishments; dwelling on practical morality previous to religious inftruction, because it is neceffary for the mind to be in a certain ftate of moral regularity and tranquillity. before it can receive fuch inftruction with effect finally introducing fuch temporal admonitions as may tend to make them contented and happy in their fituation.

Even in confidering different parts of one metropolis, attention is to be paid to this circumftance of local fitnefs. While at what is called the polite end of the town, a polished manner and cultivated style is requifite to gain on the hearers; a plain, mercantile congregation will be much more pleased and, indeed, edified by a fimple, unadorned, practical harangue.Let not the preacher difdain thus to vary his manner with the taste of his hearers. 'Tis but cloathing truth in that garb most likely to gain her univerfal admiration ;

and

and St. Paul, by a well-known precept, has fanctioned the practice.

Before I conclude this fubject, I wish to make an obfervation of confiderable national, as well as religious importance.

It has lately been much the fashion to introduce political differtations into fermons. At a late crifis in Ireland, when one common earthquake threatened to overturn at once both the altar and the throne, I am fure it was not only commendable, but highly neceffary, for the clergy to take one of the most public and impreffive ways of attempting to remove from the eyes of their hearers, the mists which deluded them. They were called on as Chriftians, as paftors, as magistrates, to do fo; and we have to lament that their endeavours, in many inftances, were fo little fuccefsful. Butto argue from particular cafes to general, is neither logical nor juft. 1 think it very unbecoming clergymen, in the ufual occurrences of political life, to inter

mix differtations on thofe occurrences, with religious admonitions; yet the practice has, I believe, not been uncommon. It forces an infinuation on our minds which fhould never attach to the motives of a minifter of the Gospel; and reminds me of a paffage in Dr. Young's Night Thoughts, where, amid matters of the highest and most eternal importance, he introduces his regret at the hopeless attempt made by him on court favour.

ON THE

ON THE

EFFECTS OF LUXURY,

AND MORE PARTICULARLY

THE CULTIVATION OF THE FINE ARTS, ON THE STABILITY OF A PEOPLE.

PLACED by his Creator in a world

where he feels his wants numerous as his ideas, few beings are fo naturally deftitute as man. Scorched by the prefence, or chilled by the absence of the folar influ. ence, his body is equally the fport of external violence and internal hunger; whilst he feels his mind harraffed with all that inftinctive longing, which teaches him that he was created for enjoyment. Impelled by

this active principle, he calls reason to his aid; and, by degrees, rifes to his proper pofition in the fcale of existence. He compels the beafts of the field to fupply covering to his body; to affift, with the fruits of the earth, in furnishing food for his table; and, with the trees which he has felled to clear the ground for his garden, erects for himself a defence against the inclemencies of the weather. Thus we find, that many of the useful arts, whofe particular origins the researches of the antiquarian, or the conjectures of the etymologift have, in vain, endeavoured accurately to afcertain, muft, of neceffity, be coeval with the fall of man. Not fo the fine arts. He must be free from actual want, before he endeavours at enjoyment; and learn to procure a plentiful meal, before he feeks for music to heighten its relish.

Ruftic fports, and the gaiety of uncorrupted fimplicity, early introduced poetry, in her most captivating form, to the world.