I.

rily requires; and what every good mem- SERMON ber of it will cheerfully yield. But how often has it happened that such persons, when externally respected, are, nevertheless, despised by men in their hearts; nay, sometimes execrated by the public? Their elevation, if they have been unworthy of it, is so far from procuring them true honour, that it only renders their insignificance, perhaps their infamy, more conspicuous. By drawing attention to their conduct, it discovers in the most glaring light how little they deserved the station which they possess.

I MUST next observe, that the proper honour of man arises not from some of those spiendid actions and abilities which excite hig admiration. Courage and prowess, military renown, signal victories and conquests, may render the name of a man famous, without rendering his character truly honourable. To many brave men, to many heroes renowned in story, we look up with wonder. Their exploits are recorded. Their praises are sung. They stand, as on an eminence, above the rest of man

SERMON kind.

I.

Their eminence, nevertheless, may not be of that sort before which we bow with inward esteem and respect. Something more is wanted for that purpose, than the conquering arm and the intrepid mind. The laurels of the warrior must at all times be dyed in blood, and bedewed with the tears of the widow and the orphan. But if they have been stained by rapine and inhumanity; if sordid avarice has marked his character; or low and gross sensuality has degraded his life; the great hero sinks into a little man. What at a distance, or on a superficial view, we admire, becomes mean, perhaps odious, when we examine it more closely. It is like the colossal statue, whose immense size struck the spectator afar off with astonishment; but when nearly viewed, it appears disproportioned, unshapely, and

rude.

Observations of the same kind may be applied to all the reputation derived from civil accomplishments; from the refined politics of the Statesman; or the literary efforts of genius and erudition. These bestow, and within certain bounds, ought to bestow, eminence and distinction on

men.

I.

men. They discover talents which in them- SERMON
selves are shining; and which become high-
ly valuable, when employed in advancing
the good of mankind. Hence, they fre-
quently give rise to fame. But a distinc-
tion is to be made between fame and true
honour. The former is a loud and noisy
applause, the latter, a more silent and in-
ternal homage. Fame floats on the breath
of the multitude; Honour rests on the

judgement of the thinking. Fame may
give praise while it withholds esteem:
True honour implies esteem mingled with
respect. The one regards particular distin-
guished talents; the other looks up to the
whole character. Hence the statesman, the
orator, or the poet, may be famous; while
yet the man himself is far from being ho-
noured. We
We envy his abilities. We wish
to rival them. But we would not choose to
be classed with him who possessed them.
Instances of this sort are too often found in
every record of ancient or modern history.

FROM all this it follows, that, in order to discern where man's true honour lies, we must look; not to any adventitious circum

stance

SERMON stance of fortune; not to any single sparkling

I.

~ quality; but to the whole of what forms

a man; what entitles him, as such, to rank high among that class of beings to which he belongs; in a word, we must look to the mind and the soul.-A mind superior to fear, to selfish interest and corruption; a mind governed by the principles of uniform rectitude and integrity; the same in prosperity and adversity; which no bribe can seduce, nor terror overawe; neither by pleasure melted into effeminacy, nor by distress sunk into dejection; such is the mind which forms the distinction and eminence of men. One, who in no situation of life is either ashamed or afraid of discharging his duty, and acting his proper part with firmness and constancy; true to the God whom he worships, and true to the faith in which he professes to believe; full of affection to his brethren of mankind; faithful to his friends, generous to his enemies, warm with compassion to the unfortunate; self-denying to little private interests and pleasures, but zealous for public interest and happiness; magnanimous, without being proud; humble, without be

I.

ing mean; just, without being harsh: sim- SERMON ple in his manners, but manly in his feelings; on whose word you can entirely rely; whose countenance never deceives you; whose professions of kindness are the effusions of his heart; one, in fine, whom, independent of any views of advantage, you would choose for a superior, could trust in as a friend, and could love as a brother:

-This is the man, whom in your heart above all others, you do, you must, honour.

SUCH a character, imperfectly as it has now been drawn, all must acknowledge to be formed solely by the influence of steady religion and virtue. It is the effect of principles which, operating on conscience, determine it uniformly to pursue whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise *. By those means, wisdom, as the text asserts, bringeth us to honour,

Philip. iv. 8.

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