life in devotion to a cause bearing a stronger likeness to this than any recorded in history.  It is the elder Sidney—­a deliverer and defender, whose name I have before uttered with reverence; who, treating of the war in the Netherlands against Philip the Second, thus writes:  ‘If her Majesty,’ says he, ’were the fountain; I wold fear, considering what I daily find, that we shold wax dry.  But she is but a means whom God useth.  And I know not whether I am deceaved; but I am fully persuaded, that, if she shold withdraw herself, other springs wold rise to help this action.  For, methinks, I see the great work indeed in hand against the abuses of the world; wherein it is no greater fault to have confidence in man’s power, than it is too hastily to despair of God’s work.’

The pen, which I am guiding, has stopped in my hand; and I have scarcely power to proceed.—­I will lay down one principle; and then shall contentedly withdraw from the sanctuary.

When wickedness acknowledges no limit but the extent of her power, and advances with aggravated impatience like a devouring fire; the only worthy or adequate opposition is—­that of virtue submitting to no circumscription of her endeavours save that of her rights, and aspiring from the impulse of her own ethereal zeal.  The Christian exhortation for the individual is here the precept for nations—­’Be ye therefore perfect; even as your Father, which is in Heaven, is perfect.’

Upon a future occasion (if what has been now said meets with attention) I shall point out the steps by which the practice of life may be lifted up towards these high precepts.  I shall have to speak of the child as well as the man; for with the child, or the youth, may we begin with more hope:  but I am not in despair even for the man; and chiefly from the inordinate evils of our time.  There are (as I shall attempt to shew) tender and subtile ties by which these principles, that love to soar in the pure region, are connected with the ground-nest in which they were fostered and from which they take their flight.

The outermost and all-embracing circle of benevolence has inward concentric circles which, like those of the spider’s web, are bound together by links, and rest upon each other; making one frame, and capable of one tremor; circles narrower and narrower, closer and closer, as they lie more near to the centre of self from which they proceeded, and which sustains the whole.  The order of life does not require that the sublime and disinterested feelings should have to trust long to their own unassisted power.  Nor would the attempt consist either with their dignity or their humility.  They condescend, and they adopt:  they know the time of their repose; and the qualities which are worthy of being admitted into their service—­of being their inmates, their companions, or their substitutes.  I shall strive to shew that these principles and movements of wisdom—­so far from towering above the