DISC. Testament, that we may not now take in VII. a literal fenfe expreffions, which, though

ftrictly applicable under the Jewish dif pensation, are not to be used without a confiderable degree of latitude and spiritual interpretation, under the Christian Covenant. With this precaution we fhall not be in danger of creating to ourselves groundless anxiety, if, in the experience we have of the world, we fhould find that the virtuous and religious are not always rewarded with outward profperity, though they always will be comforted with inward fatisfaction, and a confcioufnefs that God and good men approve of every action proceeding from motives of fanctity and benevolence.

In this enlarged acceptation, and with reference chiefly to fpiritual happiness, though not without fome view to worldly profperity, we may proceed to examine the Pfalmift's affertion, and demonftrate the truth of it.

The actions of men proceed in great measure from their principles, and their principles

1

VII.

principles depend very much upon the com- DISC.
panions with whom they contract familiar
friendship. The effects which are pro-
duced through familiar friendship, arise
from the natural influence of converfation
and example. Converfation, carried on
without restraint or referve, by frequent
repetition, imprints on the mind whatever
opinions are entertained by the persons with
whom we are closely connected. Hence it
has happened, that in process of time a
fatal change of fentiment has been made in
many, who once abhorred the very thought
of what was bad, and who turned away
with difguft from the very conception of
what was improper. A change of sentiment
from good to bad, prepares the way for a
reverfe of conduct in the fame unhappy
extreme. Added to this is the powerful
impulse by which example hurries us on to
imitate the actions of thofe whom we con
fider as our patterns.
*Man is of all crea-

Το τε γας μιμεῖσθαι σύμφυτον τοις άνθρωποις εκ παίδων επι

και τετῳ διαφέρεσι των άλλων ζώων, ότι μιμητικώτατον ετο

VII.

DISC. tures the moft prone to imitation; and it is almost impoffible but that fimilarity of manners and actions must be contracted by those between whom there fubfifts long intimacy. Sometimes imperceptibly, fometimes defignedly, either with a view of gratifying those with whom they affociate, or from a perfuafion that what their companions do, cannot be blameable in themselves; men in general conform themfelves to the principles and practice of their most intimate and confidential friends.

Such then being the effects of converfation and example, we may indeed pronounce that perfon happy, who has never liftened to the inftigations of the corrupt, has never been the companion of the vicious, has never connected himself in close intimacy with those who in their folly "make a mock of fin'," and treat religion with disrespect.

Of all companions, the fcoffers at religion are the most dangerous and peftilential. It is their unreasonable and unnatural pleasure

Prov. xiv. 9.

to

VII.

to fap the very foundation of all virtue; to DISC. destroy the distinction of right and wrong, to fubvert the main ground on which fociety fubfifts, to difturb the peace of good minds, and to take from the world the Providence, the Attributes, the Existence. of God. Of him that is negligent in the duties of religion merely from inattention, there may be hopes that he will at length fee his error, and return to a fenfe of piety towards his Maker and Redeemer: Of him who, though he has deviated from the paths of virtue, has not yet learned to justify his vicious irregularities, there may be hopes that he will at length amend the evil of his ways: but of him who has fo far perverted his judgment, fo far refifted the ftrongest fuggeftions of confcience, fo far opposed the cleareft reafonings of the human mind, of him who has fo far differed from the general confent of mankind, and is fo far loft to all fenfe of decency, and to all love of virtue, as to deride the leading truths of religion; of such a person there can be formed no hopes, that he will defist from

VII.

DISC. from being a monster in the * rational world, and a nuisance to the fociety which he frequents. The pains which he must have taken to deftroy the best instincts and moft favourable prejudices in his nature, preclude all expectation that fuch a perfon can be reclaimed. Sooner fhall the "Ethiopian change his fkin, and the "leopard his spots," than the empty and petulant scoffer at religion and virtue return to a just way of thinking and acting. From him, therefore, in a more particular manner, should we turn away, on any advances of intimacy which he may be difpofed to make. Nothing that can tend to diminish our reverence of Almighty God, nothing that can tend to loofen our principles of morality in thought, word, or deed, should be fo admitted into our daily habits as to become familiar: from "the counsel of "the ungodly, from the way of finners, "from the feat of the fcornful," we

** Quicunque Deum aut numen non agnofcit, non tantum ratione caret, fed etiam fenfu.

AVICENNA, quoted by Mornay de Pleffes.

2 Jerem. xiii. 23.

muft