ΟΝ ΤΗ Ε DESIRE OF PRAISE. T is well known, that the better fort fer the most formidable death, rather than to live in difgrace: and I could tell you, Gentlemen, of a Christian hero, who expreffed nearly the fame fentiment, when he faid, "It were better for me to die, "than that any man fhould make my "glorying void." In profecuting his plan of pious zeal, and difinterefted benevolence, he found fuch a charm, that nothing in this world could induce him to renounce it. The very idea filled him with difdain. Obferve by the way, that St. Paul fcrupled not to affert himself in the firmeft manner, and the strongest language, VOL. I. I whenever the honour of his profeffion, as connected with his perfon, feemed to demand it. Nor are we in the least offended at this kind of glorying on the contrary, we are delighted with it in perfons of approved worth, when they are roused, and as it were challenged, by the importance of the occafion. The truth is, that, as in every respectable station men are permitted to pique themselves on maintaining its dignity, fo every honeft man may frankly and boldly claim the reputation of honefty, without being deemed on that account vain; probably, because the obligations to integrity, are fo clear, indifpenfible and facred, that the practice of it cannot, ftrictly speaking, be fuppofed to deserve any particular applause, or to imply any uncommon excellence. But the conduct of the Apoftle was in much nobler ftyle: it was a continued |