him with the most favourable diftinction beyond his

equals?

Let us farther confider, that not only gratitude for the past, but a cheering fenfe of Divine favour at the present, enters into the pious emotion. They are only the virtuous, who in their profperous days hear this voice addressed to them, "Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a cheerful heart; for God now accepteth thy works." He who is the Author of their profperity, gives them a title to enjoy, with complacency, his own gift. While bad men snatch the pleasures of the world as by stealth, without countenance from the Great Proprietor of the world; the righteous fit openly down to the feast of life, under the smile of approving Heaven. No guilty fears damp their joys. The blessing of God rests upon all that they possess; his protection fur- rounds them; and hence, "in the habitations of the righteous, is found the voice of rejoicing and salvation." A luftre unknown to others, invests, in their fight, the whole face of nature. Their piety reflects a funshine from heaven upon the profperity of the world; unites in one point of view, the smiling aspect, both of the powers above, and of the objects below. Not only have they as full a relish as others, of the innocent pleasures of life, but, moreover, in these they hold communion with their Divine Benefactor. In all that is good or fair, they trace his hand. From the beauties of nature, from the improvements of art, from the enjoyments of focial life, they raise their affection to the fource of all the happiness which furrounds them; and thus widen the sphere of their pleasures, by adding intellectual, and spiritual, to - earthly joys.

For illustration of what I have faid on this head, remark that cheerful enjoyment of a profperous state, which King David had when he wrote the twentythird pfalm; and compare the highest pleasures of the riotous sinner, with the happy and fatisfied spirit which breathes throughout that pfalm. In the midst of the splendour of royalty, with what amiable fimplicity of gratitude does he look up to the Lord as "his Shepherd;" happier in afcribing all his fuccess to Divine favour, than to the policy of his councils, or to the force of his arms? How many instances of Divine goodness arose before him in pleasing remembrance, when with fuch relish he speaks of the "green pastures and still waters, beside which God had led him; of his cup which he had made to overflow; and of the table which he had prepared for him in the prefence of his enemies!" With what perfect tranquillity does he look forward to the time of his passing through "the valley of the shadow of death;" unappalled by that fpectre, whose most distant appearance blasts the profperity of finners! He fears no evil, as long as "the rod and the staff" of his Divine Shepherd are with him; and, through all the unknown periods of this and of future existence, commits himself to his guidance with fecure and triumphant hope: "Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever." -What a purified, fentimental enjoyment of profperity is here exhibited! How different from that grofs relish of worldly pleasures, which belongs to those who behold only the terrestrial fide of things; who raise their views to no higher objects than the succession of human con

tingencies, and the weak efforts of human ability; who have no protector or patron in the heavens, to enliven their profperity, or to warm their hearts with gratitude and trust!

BLAIR.

SECTION XXIII.

Virtue, when deeply rooted, is not fubject to the Influence of

Fortune.

THE city of Sidon having furrendered to Alexander, he ordered Hephestion to bestow the crown on him whom the Sidonians should think most worthy of that honour. Hephestion being at that time refident with two young men of distinction, offered them the kingdom; but they refused it, telling him that it was contrary to the laws of their country, to admit any one to that honour, who was not of the royal family. He then, having expressed his admiration of their disinterested spirit, defired them to name one of the royal race, who might remember that he received the crown through their hands. Overlooking many, who would have been ambitious of this high honour, they made choice of Abdolonymus, whose singular merit had rendered him confpicuous, even in the vale of obscurity. Though remotely related to the royal family, a feries of misfortunes had reduced him to the necessity of cultivating a garden, for a small stipend, in the fuburbs of the city.

While Abdolonymus was busily employed in weeding his garden, the two friends of Hephestion, bearing in their hands the ensigns of royalty, approached him, and faluted him king. They informed him that Alexander had appointed him to that office; and required him immediately to exchange his ruftic garb, and utenfils of husbandry, for the regal robe and fceptre. At the fame time, they admonished him, when he should be feated on the throne, and have a nation in his power, not to forget the humble condition from which he had been raifed.

All this, at the first, appeared to Abdolonymus as an illufion of the fancy, or an infult offered to his poverty. He requested them not to trouble him farther with their impertinent jests; and to find fome other way of amusing themselves, which might leave him in the peaceable enjoyment of his obfcure habitation. At length, however, they convinced him, that they were ferious in their proposal; and prevailed upon him to accept the regal office, and accompany them to the palace.

No fooner was he in possession of the government, than pride and envy created him enemies; who whifpered their murmurs in every place, till at last they reached the ear of Alexander. He commanded the new-elected prince to be fent for; and required of him, with what temper of mind he had borne his poverty. "Would to Heaven," replied Abdolonymus, "that I may be able to bear my crown with equal moderation: for when I possessed little, I wanted nothing: these hands fupplied me with whatever I defired." From this answer, Alexander formed so high an idea of his wisdom, that he confirmed the choice which had been made; and annexed a neighbouring province to the government of Sidon.

QUINTUS CURTIUS.

SECTION XXIV.

The Speech of FABRICIUS, a Roman Ambassadour, to King PYRRHUS, who attempted to bribe him to his Interests, by the offer of a great Sum of Money.

WITH regard to my poverty, the king has, indeed, been justly informed. My whole eftate consists in a house of but mean appearance, and a little spot of ground; from which, by my own labour, I draw my support. But if, by any means, thou hast been persuaded to think that this poverty renders me of less consequence in my own country, or in any degree unhappy, thou art greatly deceived. I have no reafon to complain of fortune: she supplies me with all that nature requires; and if I am without fuperfluities, I am also free from the defire of them. With these, I confefs I should be more able to fuccour the neceffitous, the only advantage for which the wealthy are to be envied; but small as my possessions are, I can still contribute something to the fupport of the state, and the assistance of my friends. With respect to honours, my country places me, poor as I am, upon a level with the richest: for Rome knows no qualifications for great employments, but virtue and ability. She appoints me to officiate in the most august ceremonies of religion; she intrusts me with the command of her armies; the confides to my care the most important negociations. My poverty does not lessen the weight and influence of my counsels in the fenate. The Roman people honour me for that very poverty