280 The Path of the 7uf1, SE R m. which is no where elfe to be feen. Every XII. thing under the fun, when fet againfl it, is "'`°'' but low in comparifon ; the moil finifhed beauties of cu :p,,ral nature are empty fha- dows ; for it is in reality reafon itfelf in its higheft exaltation. But we muff make a difference between the abfiraäed idea of virtue or wifdom, and the pradlice of it in human life. The one is truly a divine form for moral redlitude and goodnefs is the glory of God himfelf, and in him it is a tran- fcendent excellence, which is the objet of our higheft admiration and love, though we cannot form adequate conceptions of it. The other virtue, as exemplified in human charadlers, is a faint image, fhaded not only with intelledtual imperfections, as it is in all finite beings, whereby they come infi- nitely fhort of abfolute wifdom and origi- nal holinefs, but with moral defeds in our prefent slate ; for there is not a juf man that liveth upon the earth and finneth not, who has not forne remaining weaknefs, whereby he is in danger of being drawn away into evil and folly. And yet imperfedl: as it is, virtue makes an importarrt difference among men, a difference between their charaders, and a difference between their conditions. The
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