The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-05-14
THE LAY-PREACHER.

To perfon Of reflection and Genibility there cam
not be fubef of more painful thought than that
which the morals of oar youth prefent. In many OF
them obferve the brighteh colours of the human
thara Ser ar,on totally eclipfed by the fouea i'm.
niorates. We fee them trinmphing in vice as a
proof Of dihinguked pir. and refinement and per-
ntting their paIons to ihoot wild in all the dread
fal luxurauce of folly and guilt Amid this wide ex
tended ravage OF talents and virtue, it becomes not
t'ie Of benevolenoe to fit idle. Silence would be
treafon againf fociety. Let US unite then in the
arduous, yet delightful tak of guiding the Reps Of
inexperienced youth. Let point their paIions to
heaven and teach them TO burn with holy love-
Let us teach them that the happinefs even of this
sath corts not in brutal enjoyments and in the de-
bafcn,ent OF their faculties; but thar to be really
happy II is neceTlry that their affections he pure
their objects innocent, their minds clear ferene and
fteady and that the feebleR pue of confcicus v;r
tue distributes more genuine blfs through the fyfsem
than all th fpalms and eonvufons of libertine pur-
fuits
FULLY remarked Of virtue and vice that inorder
20 render the latter delightfully."- repuive, the former
rretifiby attractive nothing more would be neceia-
~ than to perfony them; make them the objects
Of human fTht TO ofpay them naked to the eye in
fead Of defrrbing them 10 the mind of man. know
rot what efea fuch an exhibition might have on the
frigd hearts and inveterate habits of advanced age
bu' on youthful mind am periuaded that the i'm
Trellicn would be deep and ftrong. I'm vain would
vice beckOn them to her embrace while her frenzi-
ed face, her gorgon locks, her diaempered gehure
would drive hack the current Of blood upon their
hearts and chill it all with horror. Virtue on the o.
Their hand, with placid mien and fweeteA fniile,
would wake into life each generous affection, touch
their fouls with rapture and Rrctching forth her
arm OF fnow would only have 70 bid them come, to
be obeyed.-Thus would the pencil delineate them
Ours is difficult talk. We fpeak not to the
eye, through which the vivid communication Is 70 d
rect, 70 rapid, 70 refalefs. We addreis flower Or
gan and NUT folicit patience
The words Of orr text prefeat an inmenfe frhietf
They might lead decant on the luh Of pride the
ln't of dominion, the luh Of fame and renovn and all
the great as well as little pafions of mGguided youth
Let us limit remarks within narrower fpbere
and elec from the clutter Of youthful tufts one which
ismore isifonable, and perhaps more detrimental to
them IN every point of view than any other with
which the prefent age IS fcourged mean the Illicit
indulgence Of that psIIon which was viven TO us for
the preteryaton of the human lpeces. Confdered
merely with reference to this life know not more
ofa1y artdotc ~ hlf than this lawIefs tyrant over
man Flow often does It dig the crave for genius and
character! How are all the energies Of the mind I'M
ffu1E BY rs excefs; all the aFelions Of the heart
seaiened or e1,pai!oned every vrtuous propenfty
pm 90 1ght and AL the charms Of thaite fociety Ion
and forgotten. Mark that youth to day See bis
cheeks orih1ioned with the Dream Of health his eyes
hea'nng intelligence his fmilng LIP pourtraying the
peace which preides over his breal and his Rep
how firm elailic and fprightly. Attend TO his CON
verlation. Hear the depth of remark the nice DIFF.
srm'nation The fiah Of fancy, the affecting ren,r.
ment Of virtue, and the tone Of eloquenee. Every
OBJECT lends ipring his feelings or his reflections
re looks abroad upon the fcenery of nature and his
heart beats with the fweete agitation He furvevs
the eourfe Of the planets
Wheeling, unaakeu through tho void inmenCe."
S'd h's foul knd'cs with Religions fervcr He traces
On the page ofh9ofy the revolutions of the earth &
evocricuecs every change Of emotion and Gentinen,
Re- applies the incidents Of other nations TO his own r.
By the fate Of one fossteis that Of the other-oIvv
m 70 the puTfui, Of knowe1ye lie watches the opera
items Of his own mind and feelings; he ferutinizes