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however, that the occupations of the la- SERM. bourer could not be more irksome to the

rich man, than the occupations of many of those called rich would be to him who has been all his life used to labour. The statesman, the lawyer, the clergyman, would make but bad figures at the plough, the spade, or the flail; but the labouring man would make quite as bad a figure, and would be still more out of his way in the senate, at the bar, or at his studies! We are all of us both more useful and more happy in the line to which we have been educated and accustomed. The breaking up of a man's habits of life always makes him miserable. This has frequently been seen when a poor man has been suddenly lifted into great riches: the novelty of it may, perhaps, at first have given him some sort of tumultuous satisfaction; but this is so soon over, that his time grows quite a burthen on his hands: his old compa

IX.

SERM, nions are taken up from morning till night IX. in their several employments, and have

no leisure to keep company with him; and if he seeks acquaintance with those of the same fortune with himself, he can probably neither give nor receive pleasure. The usual issue is, that he falls into sottish customs, lives neither useful to others nor happy within himself, and from indolence and luxury contracts diseases unknown to the laborious, which conduct him prematurely to the grave. No, no; the only change to be desired in our situation (if indeed any be really desirable) is a gradual one. We all wish to better ourselves; the desire is commendable, and if honestly and resolutely pursued, certainly makes us useful, and is commonly attended with

success.

Let us not then, any of us, be our station what it will, murmur and repine at it, or desire it to be abruptly changed; let

us

143

IX.

us not think, however low it may be, that SERM, it excludes either dignity or happiness! Neither of these is at all connected with situation; dignity arises from discharging the duties of our station with industry, honesty, and perseverance, and the peasant who does this is infinitely more dignified than the noble who omits it; while happiness is altogether independent of every thing external, it is seated in the mind, and is as easy (to say the least) to be obtained in a cottage as in a palace. Let us not then look to the right hand or the left with envious or malignant eyes, at the rank or possessions of our neighbour, but let us look straight forward to that point which alone concerns us, the duties and employments of our own station. "Let us not "covet nor desire other men's goods; but "let us learn and labour truly to get our "own living, and to do our duty in that "state of life unto which it has pleased God "to call us."

SERMON

SERMON X.

ON CALUMNY AND DETRACTION.

EXODUS XX. 16.

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy

neighbour.

X.

Ir is scarcely necessary to observe to you, SERM.
that, although the ten commandments are
drawn up in short terms, their meaning is
very extensive. The Ninth, which I have
chosen for our present consideration, ap-
pears perhaps only to forbid a false oath in
a court of justice to the prejudice of a fel-
VOL. I.

L

low

.

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