MON. i70 RUIN AND RECOVERY, Ste. fellow- creatures with airs of vanity and contempt, and build up a swelling idea of themselves, as though their outward clothing and appearance added real excellency to their cha- racter. Would innocent and rational creatures have made this ' a matter of their boast and pleasure, my coat is gayer than yours, and I have more shining things round about me than you have ? Others, again, in the midst of the common calamities of life, divert themselves with gaming and with childish sports. Whether cards and dice be the utensils of theirchildish play, to divert their troubles and pass away time, or whether these im- plements be the engines of covetousness, to deprive their neigh- bour of what he possesses ; yet under both these aspects they are but a sorry relief for a race of holy and innocent beings, should they fall under some unhappy accidents. How trifling are these sports where mere delight and diversion are sought ? But if the design be lucre, how is the game mingled with covetous hopes and wishes, with uneasy fears, with the work- ing of wretched inward passions, which sometimes break out into wrath and fury, and vexations under losses and disap- pointments ? Again, what multitudes are there that drench themselves in gross sensualities as their chief delight ? They make a god of their belly, they indulge their appetite in every nicer dish, till they have overloaded nature, and make haste to disease and death. They drink and swill till they have lost their reason, and lay themselves lower than the brutes that perish. They drown their cares in wine or in coarser liquors, or they bury them in all manner of sensual impurities. Are these the delights that would have been chosen and sought by mankind, had they continued a race of holy and innocent beings, as their God at first made them ? Others there are that release themselves from the toils and sorrows of life, by gadding abroad and mix- ing with trifling and impertinent company. Some delight in low and wanton jests, and their satisfaction lies in foolish mer- riment, in mean and trifling conversation, a little above the chattering of monkeys in a wood, or the chirping of crickets upon a hearth, but not always so innocent. And there is ano- ther set of the sons and daughters of Adam, who are never so well satisfied as when they are railing at their neighbours, and tossing scandal abroad ; they take every one's character to pieces, and set it in a hateful light. From principles of mingled pride and envy they are hurried on with pleasure to murder the reputation of their fellows: They cast abroad firebrands and arrows tipped with slander and poison ; and say, am I not in sport ? They delight to tear their neighbour'sgood name with- out mercy. This is their mirthand recreation, this their satisfac-
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