The time has been in this country when a fmattering of knowledge aided by fome fprightlinels of natural parts would frequent ly fecure to a man in the liberal profeffions both diftinction and fortune. That time is nearly past. And, by reafon of the more general diffufion of learning, and the ing mulitude of rivals in every art, and competitors for every office, more folid acquirements, and higher qualifications will every day become more necellary for succefs.

grow

Befides, a mere theologian, or a mere lawyer is an inferior character, and not of difficult acquifition. But to be able to illuftrate the facred writings by all the aids of philology, of antiquities, of criticifm, of eloquence, and philofophy-to be the interpreters of juftice by a familiar recurrence to the pandects and codes of the most enlightened nations-to draw political wisdom from the hiftory of ages, from an extensive knowlege of human nature and human fociety, and from fo many fages who have written profoundly on that fcience, this is an arduous labour-this is a character venerable by its powers, its virtues, and its

ufefulness; and it is the only one worthy of a generous ambition, or the noble defire of doing good.

Every view you can take of the profpect that lies before you, impofes upon you high and indifpenfible obligations to induftry in thofe great purfuits to which you have hitherto been only opening a paffage. Induftry is the law of your nature-it is the command of God--it is neceflary in order to cultivate the vaft and various field of knowledge that fpreads itfclf out before your view. You are invited to it by the expectations of your country, and by the honors and rewards the has to beflow on ufeful and confpicuous merit-And you are invited to it by the certainty you may have of success if you are not wanting to yourfelves. For a well directed diligence and perfeverance will eventually infure fuccefs even to moderate talents. And without thefe qualities the greatest talents will be fruitlefs. Indeed the principal differences among mankind in point of knowlege and abilities, commonly depend more upon industry, than upon the natural diftinctions of genius. A miftaken fentiment often prevails among young

perfons, which you will do well to correct, that great induftry is the mark of inferior talents, and that idlenefs and diffipation are characteristics of native genius.*_-_There is indeed one kind of genius, I mean that which confifts chiefly in the livelines of the imagination, that has not infrequently been connected with diffipated manners. However genius of this kind may fometimes ferve to enliven fociety, or to amuse our hours of leifure, it is little fitted for business and affairs, and is utterly incompetent to philofophic investigation. But that genius that confifts in profound and penetrating judgment, that is capable to invent, and improve fcience, and is really ufeful to the world, is almost always united with activity in bufinefs, and perfevering application to study.† By thefe qualities have the greatest men in every age been highly diftinguifhed. Not to mention the Boyles, the Newtons, and the Lockes of modern times, nor the Pla

*It is falfe, and is refuted by the example of the most elevated characters in our own country, as well as in foreign nations.

This must neceffarily be the cafe. For if truth and fcience poffefs charms, muft not the understanding that is capable to perceive them delight continually to contemplate them?

tos and Antonines of antiquity, let me recall to your mind only Marcus Tullius Cicero, a name that flands for genius itself, the greatest orator, the greatest flatesman, and the greatest philofopher that Rome ever produced. A celebrated and accurate writer of his life fays "his induftry was incredible, beyond the example, or even conception of our days. This was the fecret by which he performed such wonders, and reconciled perpetual ftudy with perpetual affairs. He fuffered no part of his leifure to be idle, or the leaft interval of it to be unimproved; but what other people gave to the public fhews, to pleafures, to feafts, nay, even to fleep and the ordinary refrethments of nature, he generally gave to his books, and the enlargement of his knowledge."* Here is an example on which you fhould be proud to form yourfelves-an example that refutes the dull maxims of idleness and profligacy, and points out the real road to greatness and honor.

Along with industry and a laudable emulation to excell, let it be your care to culti

Dr. Middleton's life of Cicero.

vate all those virtues that ufually accompany diligence and ufeful employment--order in your ftudies and in all your duties, by which you may avoid an unprofitable wafte of time-frugality in living, and economy in expenditures, qualities which alone are worthy either of religion or philofophy, and becoming the citizens of a free republic-regularity and punctuality in bufiness, so neceffary for the convenience and comfort of society-honefty and uprightness in your conduct towards men, which is the bafis of our focial connexions-piety towards God, which is the foundation of our eternal hopes-Let me add, particularly, fobriety, and temperance in pleasure, which youth have fo many temptations to tranfgrefs, but which are fo neceffary in order to preferve and invigorate the powers both of body and of mind. The intem

perate indulgence of appetite waftes and enfeebles nature, it empoverishes genius, it weakens the fentiments of probity and honor, it is ready to facrifice the most elevated profpects of virtue to a low and brutal love of fenfual pleasure--and hurries a man almoft beyond the power of refiftance to the precipice of fhame and ruin.-Cultivate an