Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1813-09-13

=
odated know, indeed, that, to some
sayoured individuals Heaven has been
pleased 10 impair; intellectual powers SO
rich and va,ious, as to enable them %
become wei. yersed in The science OF
different professions, and to fsonlre, IN
addition 10 this, an extensive acquain-
lance with most oil those subjects, which
arc open to human invest CATION. 10
them may be applied the praise, es'ow
ed on late British statesman, 2" here
| is not subject presented 10 him even
casually, in which his ability is hot con.
| spicuous."
But persona of,his description are SO
| uncommon, and when they do appear,
are 81 marked cut Tor their high dis
tinc.ion, That men OF usual, or even
very respectable talents, ere wholly
without excuse for mistaking them.
selves to be Of this number, i he rays
OF ordinar, genius, falling intensely on
one point, will make all impression
whereas, if dlfused over large surface,
they will scarcely be felt II, therefore,
you determine OH profe ssion, delei-
mine at the same time To make The
most OF your talents IN that profession.
do not advise you thus, because IN
the course, here prescribed, ambilioa Is
mott sure to be grAtified, tho such un.
questionable Is the fact !: but because, |
am persuaded, hat generally speaking,
the interests fsooiely are bess pi omc.
led, WHEN Individual stten,ion Is much
directed to individual objects IIiorex
ample the happiness oil those around you
will be advanced b. our cellvalluS lie
healing arr, il will still .nole be advanced,
j., in tina, art, you become profoundly
skllliul II duty requires You 10 become
a counsellor OF advocate, II fequli Is you
10 qualify yourself Tor giving good coun
sci, ard Tor making all able defence.
i Ii duty directs you to be solder, /.
likewise direct. you to cultivate no, on.
, ly personal courage, but a 5, stemaIlc
acquaintance witt. the science OF var.
And, If you have reason 10 believe that
the Divine Author o! our most holy re-
, ligion requires you 10 unfold lis doc
iIines and enforce IFS pc epts, ean you
doubt the obligation lying on you, 10
DO this IN tile most interesting, Judi
aions, and powerful manneI! is in
deed almost conlradlet non 10 allow
that any profession contributes 10 the
,irue and happiness oil men, unless We,
at the same time, allow, that eminenee
: in such professions would, IN has her
degree, accomplish this obJec..
| IL is, wi.hoit question your duty to
cultivate eli the powers oil the human
mind, and not only to retain, but aug
meut those general requirements,
which you have already made, what
wish 10 inculcate h, The impof ancc
Of bringing all these 10 bear upon that
institution of life, WI eh OH taxing an
heightened view oil your own powers,
aud the wants OF society, you snail dc.
iiberaiely and eon,sSixnG!iously choose
foetrec, this, / 10 reuder your
! present md iutule acquisition tributary
TO one leading ohIeci, Will be easy, just
! in proportion to the interest aud ardour,
{ which that object excites. by ardent
} aud intense application 10 d subject,
You obtain d knowledge not only OF its
more obvious. bu, oil liz more remote
. relations and, when any thing Is rep
resented either 10 the eye, the ear, or
understanding. which may have even a
slight bearing on such subject, the
, mind viii sieze upon il, with Incredible
, facility and readiness.
But il may sill be asked, whether
E ,he great design Of oui existence, Winch
is 10 secure our OWL happiness, and
promote that of others, Can be as well
answered by degoling the mind 10 one
object, as by dividing il among many.
As 10 the first, viz. fleroondt en1oy.
menf, so far as i, depend. Oh the KIND
oil pursuit, appeal to you, whether
those who are strongly attached 10 their
profession, or to any particular DEPART
nenis IN science, do not appear 10 ne
more happy on thai very account.
As 10 the second, lie. the hohLiness u
others, the case is still more clear -
t.minenoe in prof. ssion is important,
we have seen, for the same reason,
which renders the profession important,
1t the interests OF society require the
one, thly likewise require the other.
And that eminence is 10 be attained on
ly by concentrating the mind, cases OF
Extraordinary genius being expected, Is
! L.. a A..