and you have a pleasant example of this in the story of Pulsio and Varenus, two of Cæsar's centurions in Gaul, who had always been quarrelling, and yet never dreamed of drawing their swords upon one another. They leaped from the ramparts, to shew which was the best man in a dispute with a croud of enemies; and so it happened, that they both retreated with equal honour; each having had the opportunity of saving the other's life. The practice of aiming at the life of a fellow-soldier for an insignificant affront, arose from the savage custom of trial by battle, which the law anci ently allowed, though wise and good men always detested and remonstrated against it as a disgrace to a Christian country. Till the authority of government shall effectually interpose, it is as vain to think of writing against duels, as it would be to throw an ink-bottle at a water-spout, which can be dispersed only by the shock of a cannon. To you in particular I shall observe, that though your father might be ready to resign you in the way of your duty, and for the good of your country; it would probably break his heart if you were ta fall in a private dispute: and if you should ever be the unhappy instrument of sending some thoughtless companion out of life, it might break your own heart.

Upon

Upon the whole, there is certainly nothing like a proper mixture of religion in a military character, to keep a man within the lines of prudence and safety. And soldiers may have religion as well as other men ; why else did the providence of God select Cornelius the centurion as the first gentile convert to the gospel? Devotion never appears with more dignity, than in a person whose profession places him above the imputation of a superstitious fear. I was never more pleased with any spectacle that occurred to me abroad, than when I saw many venerable grey-headed soldiers, the relics of battles and sieges, in the great hospital of the invalids at Paris, dispersed about different. quarters of their chapel, and all engaged in their own private devotions at a common hour of the day. If it were required to add the greatest possible dignity to a soldier already qualified in other respects, I would put this motto upon him, "Je crains Dieu, et je n'ai point d'autre crainte," I fear God, and I have no other fear.

LETTER

LETTER XXI.

ON THE PRACTICE OF DEVOTION,

THOUGH I take this serious subject, I shall write neither a sermon nor a lectureto you. Your own experience will bear witness to the truth of a fact which has often surprised and confounded me. Nothing demonstrates an inborn depravity in human nature so much as that dread which most young people are under lest they should be thought to say their prayers, or, what would be worst of all, discovered in the act; though prayer to God is a duty as honourable in itself as it is necessary to man. Gratitude demands that we should daily return something to the Power from whom we receive all things, as life, health, strength, reason, and the capacity of enjoyment; and gratitude is a virtue which all men honour. Prudence requires that we should keep up an interest with Him from whom we expect every thing in the time that is to come; and prudence is commendable in all. It is an honour to man that he is permitted, much more that he is invited, to

address

of our

address himself to his Maker. We are all desirous of being seen in the company betters, and speaking to them; and as God is the source of all perfection, infinite in goodness as well as greatness, where can be the harm in having it known that we are sometimes alone in his company? Every passion of the heart, and every power of the understanding, hope, fear, love, gratitude, admiration, reason, memory, judgment, all call upon us to keep up this intercourse; and yet we are ashamed of it!

I would dissect this shame if I could, and discover the causes of the distemper; but it is easier to say what it is not, than what it is. It cannot proceed from ignorance; for there is scarcely one boy in a hundred, of fifteen years of age, who does not already know nearly as much as I have here been telling him. It cannot proceed from modesty or bashfulness; because the same boy who is ashamed to say his prayers before one companion, will have the boldness to swear and talk nonsense before twenty. If it should be pleaded, that the appearance of hypocrisy is avoided, then it is to be feared the duty would be practised in hypocrisy and what an opinion must he have of his own character, who has reason to

:

think that the act of prayer in him must be taken for an act of dissimulation? If he thinks he is not good enough to pray to God to make him better, he must then suppose himself to be past grace, and given over to a reprobate mind, which is a dreadful prospect.

Whatever the general reason of it may be, the fact is as I say. When the eye of one boy is upon another, it has a fascinating power, like that of a rattle-snake, to deter him from the practice of devotion: and few indeed have resolution enough to assert their right of approaching their Maker, and shewing that they were born of Christian parents. And what is this fiery trial that is so terrifying? What is it but the sneer of an idle companion, of no more force nor authority than the squalling of an infant? Yet such is the servility of the human mind, on some occasions, that the apprehension of this has more weight than all the terrors our religion has suggested to us; that is, than all the threatenings of provoked Omnipotence. If nature in youth were as it should be, it would be actuated on all occasions, especially on this the greatest of all, by a principle of generosity; and then one boy would encourage another to the practice of that duty, without which he can never expect