1c MEMOIRS OF DR. WATTS; thesanguine politician : Butif charactersand events in themselves little (if it all) adapted to thegreat purposesof intellectual and moral improvement, can create such an interest in theworldly mind,with what superior delight and ad- vantage may the subjects of thewisdom that is from above review the lives of those who (whatever inauspicious circumstances may have attached to their origin, or to their condition in life) have exemplified the beauties of unaffected devotion,and shewn the way to true, to substantial happiness, and immortal honour ! " Such a man, althoirgh the meanest mechanic, who employs his best affections upon the. Author of his life and salvation, who loves the good, compassionates the distressed, and breathes peace and good-will to all ; who abhors vice, and pities the vicious, who subdues and triumphs ovèr the unruly passions of his fallen nature ; such a man(however lowhis outward condition). is the best patriot, and has more just pretensions to heroism, than he who makes the most glaring figure in the eye of an injudicious world. He is like one of the fixed stars, which through theremoteness of its situation, may be thought very inconsiderable and obscure by unskilful beholders, yet is as truly great and glorious in itself; as those luminaries which, by being placed more commodiously for our view, shine Withmore distinguished lustree." The christian will here see the excellence of genuine religion, in its influ- ence upon the mind and conduct through every department of life. In the most afflicted state of the Saviour's empire, he will find some bright examples of decision, unshaken confidence, and undaunted zeal. His faith in the doc- trines of thegospel will be confirmed byobservingthe god-like tempers, and the varions lineaments of the divine character produced by the sovereign vir- tues of those doctrines. In such memoirs, he will learn moreperfectly to dis- tinguish between the realities and the shadows of devotion; and todecide more satisfactorilyon thestate of religion in his own mind; and while tracing themysterious operationsof providence, in advancing the servants of God to prosperity and happiness, by trivial and improbable means, new sources of admiration and pleasurewill continuallyopen to his view. Here in thetimeof difficulty, he may obtain well adapted directions for his conduct; he may meet with salutary cautionamidst the allurements of worldly enjoyment ; and in the prospect of suffering or dying, he may so far enter into the spirit of the characters he contemplates, as more effectually to secure the dignity of his own. From the memorials of distinguished men, the student, who is seriously engaged in the pursuit of knowledge; willrenew his strength, to surmount the hinderances incident to his labours, while he follows them, whose admired natural abilities have been cultivated to the highest attainable state of perfec- tion, or whose persevering application to the means of improvement has brought to light hidden powers of genius ; who were insensible to the baits of pleasure, the contagious example of indolence and vice, and the mostdiscou- raging difficulties ; who were superior to the obstinate prejudices which often persecute a low origin, the disadvantages of indigence, asickly constitution, natural impediments,and whatever a supine and grovelling mind would pro- nounce insuperable. While hekeeps sucha characterin sight, he will assume fresh courage in struggling to useful eminence ; and every day his success willbe less dubious. Theplans they adopted, the various helps ofwhich they availed themselves in their progress, their uniform perseverance, their acqui- a Seed.
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