man, and is faid to flower but once in a hundred years.

The spirit of Party is another principal, and almost universal caufe, of these offences of the tongue.

Befides the greater contests in Church and State; there are perpetually springing up petty competitions, from intereft commonly, fometimes by accident, or almost without occafion, which divide people into little armies; in one or other of which, we are most of us too forward to engage: we are easily involved in the prejudices of thofe around us; and being fwept away by the torrent of diffenfion, we increase it.

Hence it is, that most men, and especially the most active and bufy, have two characters given them, widely different from each other. The wife and wary give none haftily, and credit neither with

out abatements. The worth, and the demerit of the greatest number is always moderate: whatever is represented as extraordinary, is probably exaggerated.

Nor are the profligate and the weak alone, drawn afide by these prejudices; discreet and worthy perfons, find it dif ficult to refift them. The appearance of friendship, gratitude, honour, and other good qualities infenfibly mislead us: and in pursuit of the image of these glittering virtues, we lose the fubftance of Truth and Charity.

Laftly, we are but too apt, all of us, to be influenced in what we speak, by a latent partiality for ourselves. How oft are we found to fail in representing the clearest transaction? not from any formed defign of doing wrong, or speaking falfly; but through that mist and darkness, which felf-interest raises, and the paffions fpread before the understanding: Imperceptibly

almost

almost to ourselves, the biafs of partiality, as we pass along in our narration, is working upon every point and circumftance a little; till in the end, we have wandered widely from the line of Truth, or even move in oppofition to it.

To relate the fact, to reprefent our own words and actions, and those of others in which we are interested, as they are, is no flight attainment; but demonftrates a fuperiority of mind, which is the peculiar quality of the highest characters.

How great, how truly noble, in whatever station, were that perfon, whose veracity should be found untainted by selfish considerations! who might be left to ftate the cause of his adverfary, and trusted with the rights of every party!

Lord, who shall dwell in thy tabernacle, Pfal. xv. or who fhall rest upon thy holy hill? Even he

.

that leadeth an uncorrupt life, and doth the thing which is right, and speaketh the truth from his heart; He that hath used no deceit in his tongue, nor done evil to his neighbour; and hath not flandered his neighbour.

SER

SERMON XXII.

TENTH COMMANDMENT. PART I.

EXOD. xx. 17.

THOU SHALT NOT COVET.

AVING before forbidden all ac

Htual encroachment upon the pro

perty of another, the divine Lawgiver proceeds to impofe his restraints upon the mind; and prohibits in the same tone of authority, not only the violent invafion, but the very inward defire of that which cannot justly become our own.

He