The middling, and the poor class, seeing no encouragement, or even possibility, of rising so as to associate with those, who move in the higher circles of life, by any virtuous conduct they may pursue, and sensible that wealth alone possesses the charm to give them virtue and notice in the world, they are thus driven to various, dishonorable means to obtain it.  Multitudes are driven to the crimes of counterfeiting, theft, and even robbery and piracy.  They commence their wretched course, with the intention to abandon it, as soon as a competent fortune is obtained.  Other thousands are driven to gambling; and even those, who are called respectable, take every possible advantage in trade and bargaining.  Their pursuits are various, but their object is one and the same—­viz:  to gain wealth, so that they may obtain a high standing and influence in society.  Thousands thus driven into crime, are detected, lose their reputation, and abandon themselves to intemperance.  Their evil example has a pernicious influence on the morals of those children and youth, who may, by various circumstances, be placed in their society, and thus the pestilence, in all its frightful horrors, gathers force and spreads.

There are thousands of virtuous persons, whom poverty excludes from the higher ranks of life, who are doomed to seek the converse of those, who are in a measure corrupted, and, by associating with them on public occasions, often in taverns and alehouses, are soon involved in habits of dissipation and obscenity.  Man is a social being, loves society, and, rather than spend his life in solitude, will seek the converse of the vicious.

If we would obey the injunction of the text—­“Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate,” these evils would be in a great measure removed.  If we, as a community, would strip away the fancied reputation, which wealth attaches to the human character, and, independent of property, place every man on an equal footing, according to their moral and mental worth, and let their power and influence in society, be according to their conduct, it would give a noble tone to public feeling and moral grandeur.

By the “high things,” mentioned in our text, we are to understand that vain popularity which one man wishes to enjoy above another, in a religious or political sense.  It is one of the ruling passions of the day, in which we live, to be considered of high standing among our fellow creatures, and to possess a larger share of influence over the minds and opinions of men, than those whom we consider our rivals.  Those, who possess this desire, and at the same time feel a haughty spirit towards those, whom they consider in the humble walks of life, are certainly not the men, who are entitled to our esteem, nor are they to be looked up to, as examples of magnanimity.  So far from possessing true greatness of soul, or being entitled to veneration, they are certainly below those whom they affect to despise.  A truly great