their righteoufnefs will endure for ever! It is our happiness to have fuch a king on the throne of thefe realms. May heaven grant him increase of public and private happiness, and the utmost length of days!

The admonition which the Royal Pfalmift has given you and all subjects, is this: He demands, as the first and greatest object that regards the life of man, "Wherewithal fhall a young man cleanse his way?" The answer is, "Even by ruling himself after the word of God." And is there any other means for any man to cleanse his ways? Certainly none. Endevor then to say with him, "With my whole heart have I fought thee: O let me not go wrong. out of thy commandments! My delight fhall be in thy ftatutes, and I will not forget thy word."

Alas! what can he remember who forgets the hand that made him? Or what will it avail, if you remember your victories, or renown, if you forget, your deliverance by the glorious conqueft and redemption wrought by the fufferings of the Son of God! Without this, the confcioufnefs of every evil thought, or evil action, tells you, that you must be wretched-wretched for ever! Were every fubje& a monarch, what would it avail? What can a man accept in exchange for his foul? - Your glory then, after triumphing over your earthly enemies,

is

is to maintain your ground against all wickedness, and not become yourselves flaves to your own hearts

Bravery and compaffion walk hand in hand; as fear and cruelty are for the most part infeparable companions. Thank heaven, there is no prefent occafion to fhed human blood. Happily for me, Peace, with her balmy wings, now fmiles on all the fons of men: but how long it will be fo, God only knows!

Valor, activity, and discipline, are the supports of fuccessful wars: industry, skill, and integrity, in your several callings, promote the arts of peace, and conftitute the blessings of it. These virtues are generally rewarded with comfort, fecurity, and plenty.

At the fame time, learn that life is a fcene of labor, not of rest: the most wealthy feldom enjoy health or contentment by fitting fill. God has made you active Beings; and to be active in doing well, will always be your glory.

You have alfo great reason to be convinced that the ftate of life, is a state of warfare; and you had need be very vigilant, where-ever your poft may be. There is a lurking enemy, who meditates your ruin, and who will get the better of you, if you are not watchful to refift him.

God has given you strength and power to guard and defend your fouls against your own propen

fities to wickedness, as your bodies against the arm of flesh that is, if you exert your ftrength with cou rage and refolution, in whatever degree you are deficient, and deficient you furely will be, fo furely you will be affifted with his grace and heavenly aid.

You cannot tell what will happen to you from hour to hour, but you know that you often fall, and therefore ought continually to pray for his affistance to rise again, and maintain the combat till death.

Worship God with fincerity and truth every morning and every night; and give all men, and all my children their due, by acts of justice, mercy, and kindness. Remember your duty to your God, as your maker, your father, and your friend. Here repofe your truft; here let your hearts be fortified. To this point direct your aim, and march on with a chearful and intrepid mind, free from the madnefs of the wicked, or the folly of fools, the terrors of the fuperfitious, or the presumption of enthufiafts.

You may be fatisfied that the birds will fing, and the grafs will grow, for your pleafure: the fun will fhine, and the rain will fall, for your ufe, as well as for that of the first of mankind. Every object will wear a pleafing afpect. The honeft bread

you

you gain by the fweat of your brows will be fweet, and no guilt or fear will disturb your reft.

Every man muft die; but to die well is the privilege only of the good and virtuous.-If you make virtue your guide, you may be fure of a fafe conductor, whatever difficulties you encounter; and as there is nothing fo uncertain as the exact time of your death, though it cannot long delay with any man, to live fo, as that if it comes to-night you may refign yourselves with joy into the hands of a merciful Creator, is the highest wisdom, and confequently the greatest happiness of mortal man, let his ambition be what it may.

If you obey God, you will trust in him: if you trust in him, you will not fear death; and not to fear death is the most heroic act of the mind, and the most comfortable thought to the heart of man; for he who feareth not death can hardly fear any other thing that can befall him: he can be afraid of nothing but offending God, and this kind of fear gives courage, and fubdues all other fears.

May heaven grant you all a comfortable, if not a happy life; and, when it comes, a happy death! Do your duty to God, to the King, and to me, and al will be well.".

то

то

JOHN SHAKESPEAR, Esq;

DEAR SIR,

You

OUR well-known difpofition to do good leads me to believe you will accept the office of diftributing, in such manner and time as may be thought moft proper, the several copies of this little book, which I have the pleasure to prefent to you and the Stepney Society.

The connection which I had for feven

years with the objects of

your charity, induces me to throw in this mite towards their welfare, and your fuccefs in your new plan of conducting the Stepney charity.

The