Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1824-10-13


by religious considerations TO occupy his tint
and talents; and the good man will be mos
likely to manage his affairs with discretion
and accumulate wealth, as well as acquire
and-preserve a spotless reputation, Who i:
he that is happy in himself and communicate:
felicity to all his domestic circle, and make:
wife and children sparkle with joy, when he
returns from his professional avocations tc
the mansion of his endearments? Is it the de-
bauchee, or gambler, or miser, or drunkard
or misanthrope, or the despiser and neglect
er of religion? No ; none of these characters
possess or impart happiness. Look back, for
moment, and take a retrospective view oil
the lives and families of those, now slumber-
ing IN the dust, who were characterized by
either Of the above mentioned gnominious
appelations. Would you, for all their Illicit
pleasures and dishonest gains, their dssipa-
ton, malevolence and infdelty, wish to fol-
low them for your olcn sake, or for the sake OF
your households 2 We all can remember some
Of this description, and they are to be remem-
bered not for inhalation, but for deteStation and
arolddnce. There is one class of men within
the legal fraternity, quite unexceptionable in
their morals, whose ruling passion is acorldly
ambition. They climb from round to round
on promotions ladder, counting all, even the
most ignoble, 10 help them to rise and when
they have reached the "utmost round, turn
their backs, and scorn the base degrees by
which they did ascend.'' Cold, treacherous,
and deceitful, in all their elevations and pros
perity, they have no heart for their friends or
Tore for their God; and though they obtain
their request, leanness is sent into their souls.
Though they reach the highest point of
greatness, and bask in meridian glory, yet, at
last, they will fall as an exhalation in the
evening, and be forgotten, or followed with
execration. Would you be this aspiring
phlegmatic, insidous, hollow-hearted man
for all his power and aggrandzement No !;
wretchedness, is inscribed on all his grandeur,
and death will soon show their vanity and
emptiness. Let me rather be in obscurity, I'M
known to wealth or honour; clad with tat
tered garments, not having where to lay my
head, If may be but the mcanest disciple Of
Jesus CT Nazareth, than this signal favourite
Of worldly ambition. "And seekest thou
great things for myself? seek them not.' TO
be a Christian is high title enough, land TO pos
sess the pure and holy religion of the gospel
OF Christ is better, even in this life, than all
the glitter of riches and the splendours of roy
atty. In the midst of powerful excitements
TO duty, and continually receiving lessons OF
instruction from our books and our practice,
why should these well adapted means of NOR
al improvement become like the touch Of the
torpedo, and palsy all the tender affections and
senslbilities of the SOUL Shall we in our eX-
celient school learn all other things. and yet
never open our hearts to learn divine science,
and with all our gettings never get heavenly
wisdom? five would have our rising hours
sweetly advance and peacefully decline, and
our sun at last make golden set, we shall
lightly esteem the glare of wealth and the
honours which come from men only, and
" count all things but loss for the eTcelLeHcy Of
me knolCtedge Of Christ JeSus our Lord"
While we study and practice the law pecu-
liar to our profession, we shall love and obey
That more perfect taaO, which converteth the
soul, and is as g tSchoolmaster to bring us to
Chrast." Emulous to excel in the discharge OF
legal duties, and becomingly solcitous for
honorable distinction and literary fame, let
us most of all be concerned, that our names
be enrolled in that 6 book Of Lfe'' out Of which
we and all the world shall be Judged ac-
cordang TO car a1OrkS.n If it be true, that
not many wise men after the flesh, not many
RI mighty, not many noble, are called,'' let
us see to it, that the extraordinary means and
advantages we enjoy, the supcriour researches
and acquisitions we make, and the numerous
moral and religious excitements continually
exhibited to our view, do not prove evcntu-
ally hindrance of salvation and an exclusion
} from Heaven. Our principles, our precepts,
our examples, and influence, should all be on
the side of Christianity. Neutrality and slOLt
: and 10 " core for none of these things,'' are
positively criminal, and will no more escape
: with impunity, than open hostility and the
. most gross profigacy. Addressing myself to
all professional men, shall close my observa-
tons in the pertinent and sensible remarks Of
DIR. Paley; hoping that each of us may make
an individual. application of them 10 ourselves
: and that this very appropriate, and highly
important advice and cXhortation may be uni
versally followed.
&c 1t remains only to remind them Of a con.
sideration which ought to counteract these ad.
vantages, by producing care and solicitude
sufficient to meet every danger, and every diff.
Guilty to remind them, | say, for they cannot
need TO be informed Of our Lords solemn decla.
ration, that contumacious knowledge and
neglected talents, knowledge which doth not
lead 10 obedience, and talents which rest in
useless speculations, will be found in the day
, OF hnal account, amongst the objects Of hi:
severest displeasure. Would to God that
men of learning always understood how deep.
ly they are concerned in this warning! 1t i:
impossible TO add another reason which can
be equal or second to our Lords admoniton
but We may suggest motive of very distant in.
deed but ofno mean Importance, and to which
they certainly willnot refuse its due regard, Tie
honour and estimation Of learning ITSELF Irreg-
r = ular morals in men of distinguished attain
ments, render them not despiscd (for talents
and learning never can be despicable, } but
subjects of malicious remark, perhaps of affect
ed pity, to the enemies of intellectual liberty,
Of science and literature; and, at the same
time, of sincere though silent regret to those,
who are DESTROYS of supporting the esteem
which ought to await the successful pursuit
of ingenious studies. We entreat such
men TO reflect, that their conduct viii be
made the reply of idlenesS to industry, the
revenge of dulneSS and ignorance upon