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to atchievements of this kind-but that a feafon of affliction is in fome fort a season of piety --not only because our fufferings are apt to put us in mind of our fins, but that by the check and interruption which they give to our pursuits, they allow us what the hurry and buftle of the world too often deny us,-and that is, a little time for reflection, which is all that most of us want to make us wifer and better men ;-that at certain times it is fo neceffary a man's mind fhould be turned towards itself, that rather than want occafions, he had better purchase them at the expence of his prefent happiness. He had better, as the text expreffes it, go to the boufe of mourning, where he will meet with something to fubdue his paffions, than to the house of feafting, where the joy and gaiety of the place is likely to excite them:That whereas the entertainments and careffes of the one place, expofe his heart, and lay it open to temptations-the forrows of the other defend it, and as naturally shut them from it. So ftrange and unaccountable a creature is man! he is fo framed, that he cannot but purfue happiness-and yet, unless he is made fometimes miferable, how apt is he to mistake the way which can

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only lead him to the accomplishment of his own wishes!

This is the full force of the wife man's de

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claration. But to do farther justice to his words, I will endeavour to bring the fubject ftill nearer. For which purpose, it will be ne ceffary to ftop here, and take a tranfient view of the two places here referred to,-the house of Mourning, and the houfe of Feafting. Give me leave therefore, I befeech you, to recall both of them for a moment to your imaginations, that from thence I may appeal to your hearts, how faithfully, and upon what grounds, the effects and natural operations of each upon our minds are intimated in the

text.

And firft, let us look into the house of Feafting.

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And here, to be as fair and candid as poffible in the defcription of this, we will not take it from the worst originals, fuch as are opened merely for the fale of virtue, and fo calculated for the end, that the disguise each is under not only gives power fafely to drive

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on the bargain, but fafely to carry it into execution too.

This we will not fuppofe to be the cafenor let us even imagine, the house of feasting, to be such a scene of intemperance and excess, as the house of feasting does often exhibit;but let us take it from one, as little exceptionable as we can-where there is, or at leaft appears nothing really criminal-but where every thing seems to be kept within the vifible bounds of moderation and fobriety.

Imagine then fuch a house of feafting, where, either by confent or invitation, a number of each sex is drawn together, for no other purpofe but the enjoyment and mutual entertainment of each other, which we will suppose shall arife from no other pleasures but what custom authorises, and religion does not abfolutely forbid.

Before we enter let us examine, what must be the fentiments of each individual previous to his arrival, and we fhall find, that however they may differ from one another in tempers and opinions, that every one seems to

agree

agree in this—that as he is going to a house dedicated to joy and mirth, it was fit he should diveft himself of whatever was likely to contradict that intention, or be inconsistent with it-That, for this purpose, he had left his cares-his serious thoughts- and his moral

reflections behind him, and was come forth from home with only fuch difpofitions and gaiety of heart as suited the occafion, and promoted the intended mirth and jollity of the place. With this preparation of mind, which is as little as can be fuppofed, fince it will amount to no more than a defire in each to render himself an acceptable gueft,let us conceive them entering into the house of Feasting, with hearts fet loose from grave restraints, and open to the expectations of receiving pleasure. It is not neceffary, as I premifed, to bring intemperance into this scene or to fuppofe fuch an excefs in the gratification of the appetites as fhall ferment the blood and set the defires in a flame :-Let us admit no more of it, therefore, than will gently ftir them, and fit them for the impreffions which so benevolent a commerce will naturally excite. In this difpofition, thus wrought upon beforehand and already improved to this purpofe,-take notice,

how

how mechanically the thoughts and spirits rife -how foon, and infenfibly, they are got above the pitch and firft bounds which cooler hours would have marked.

When the gay and fmiling aspect of things has begun to leave the paffages to a man's heart thus thoughtlessly unguarded-when kind and careffing looks of every object without, that can flatter his fenfes, have confpired with the enemy within, to betray him, and put him off his defence-when mufic, likewise, has lent her aid, and tried her power upon his paffions,-when the voice of finging men, and the voice of finging women, with the found of the viol and the lute have broke in upon his foul, and in fome tender notes have touched the fecret fprings of rapture-that moment let us diffect and look into his heart fee how vain! how weak! how empty a thing it is! Look through its feveral receffes,-thofe pure manfions formed for the reception of innocence and virtue-fad fpectacle! Behold thofe fair inhabitants now difpoffeffed-turned out of their facred dwellings, to make room for what?at the best for levity and indifcretion-perhaps for folly-it may be for more

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