Bur further, exertion of thought is no fmall labour; and however easy a life devoted to study and meditation may appear to the unexperienced at a distance, it has been confeffed by all who have followed it

to any extent, that, though flight inducements may engage men to begin, strong ánd powerful motives are neceffary to encourage them to perfevere in it. From hence it happens, that among the many who enter with fincerity and order upon a ftudious courfe of life, fo few, in comparison, appear to make a confiderable proficiency. Obstacles arise which were not thought of; where they expected to run, they find themfelves fcarce able to move-their ardour declines-indolence gains ground-and whilst fome barely preferve the appearance, others turn afide to any objects that will attract their attention, and keep it without any labour of their own. What then is fufficient

to counteract fuch difficulties?

A defire of

fame

fame and preferment has, it must be confeffed, produced wonderful effects; and, when confined within due bounds and in perfect fubjection to higher motives, it is not apprehended to be forbidden by our religion as inconfiftent with them: nay, as no one is at all times equally influenced by the best motives, and as worldly objects affect us more strongly, in our prefent condition, than those which are absent and fpiritual, it may, perhaps, when thus duly restrained, be willingly admitted, as what will add occafionally a spur to the most induftrious, and diffipate the languor of the most indolent. The piety which is founded on good fenfe rejects no affiftance; her endeavour is to turn what is most unconnected in its nature with the purpose she has in view to the attainment of it; and whilft fhe does this, the only makes the noblest use of thofe affections which worldly men abuse; yet, whatever fruits have in some instances arifen

D

arifen from merely fecular views, these, befides that, they cannot be relied on in any instance as an uniform and steady principle of application, on many perfons cannot probably be expected to have any influence at all. There are men of ability and opportunity fufficient to afford hope of being ufeful in our profeffion, who have not the leaft profpect of rendering themselves famous, or of attaining, by fuch means, a station which can fatisfy the most bounded defire of wealth.. *Now, tho' the perfuafion, that even a fincere defire to be useful, uniformly exerted, is not likely to procure notice and a due degree of reward, according to the common courfe of things, is to be discountenanced as unfriendly to the cause of learning and virtue in general: yet, to propose to fuch men honours and wealth as motives for unremitted application, would be

to

* See Archdeacon Powell's 2d charge to the Clergy of the Archdeaconry of Colchester, in 1772, Page 4th.

The

to infult common fenfe, and to contradict the experience of the world. Some motive muft therefore be found which will act conftantly and uniformly, and affect us all, as well as thofe of fuperior abilities. love of truth indeed, arising from a sense of its importance and our obligations to pursue it, is undoubtedly a steadier principle of conduct, and in some measure level to the feelings and capacities of all men; and accordingly we fhould endeavour to render the fenfe of it, which we naturally have, ftronger and more effectual: but, in the prefent condition of human nature, who, that speaks from his confcience, will fay, that he hath at all times found this fufficient to withstand the allurements to pleasure and diffipation, which the common occurrences of life produce? What hope then is there, that it would be able, when once the defire of novelty is fatiated, to fupport men's minds in general, under D 2 the

the fatigues of continued thought, and the perplexities of attentive disquisition? The differénce of right and wrong, with a due fense of the obligation of the former and of our own imperfection, will lead the mind a step yet higher, and teach it to refer this, as every thing else, ultimately to his will who implanted this sense in us, and is ever attentive to the regard we pay it. And as we cannot but fee, that it is confiftent with justice, that he should expect returns according to what he hath conferred upon us; we must know, that according to the abilities and opportunities which we have, he requires of us application and labour. To this a constant sense of every moment of our time being obferved by him will powerfully and uniformly excite us. Since, when once his prefence is duly impreffed upon our minds, we fhall no more think it allowable to pass our retired hours in the futility of diffipated thought, than to spend