perhaps, not to be wholly blamed; although, even then, they are in a greater or less degree, indications of vanity, and spread a snare for the honesty of our friends, and had better be omitted. But when addressed, as I have known them to be, to strangers as well as friends, there is a littleness about them truly contemptible. The same general remark may be applied to those cases in which, though there be not a direct solicitation to praise a discourse; there is evidently a door opened for that purpose. I once knew a clergyman, who, so far as I had an opportunity of observing, never failed of saying, to every hearer whom he fell in with, for half an hour or an hour after the close of his own sermon, sabbath after sabbath- "We've had a very solemn subject to day." This I have heard him repeat and repeat, until it became perfectly nauseating; and have observed him to bow and smile with much complacency, when his own indirect compliment to his sermon, drew from one good-natured auditor after another, a dose of flattery.

37. Do not SPEAK OF YOUR OWN PERFORM ANCES AT ALL, after they are brought to a close, if you can, consistently with duty avoid it. If you appear satisfied with them, it will be thought vanity. If you profess yourself dis satisfied, it will be considered as an indirect me thod of inviting praise. If you merely make

the general subject on which you have been discoursing, the subject of conversat on in company, afterwards, even with the purest motives, it will be apt to be misconstrued as an ingenious device to extort commendation for what you have done. Never boast, on the one hand, of the length of time, or the care which you have bestowed on your discourses; or, on the other, of the expedition and ease with which you prepare them. Never allow yourself to talk at all on such subjects, unless you are compelled to do it. A thousand other subjects, more likely, in those circumstances, to be useful, lie before you. If a discourse which you have delivered be commended in your presence, do not appear either to be too much gratified with the commendation, or to despise it. Receive the compliment either with respectful silence,, with

slight bow, or with the shortest possible expression of thanks; and, as soon as is consistent with courtesy, change the subject.

38. Some persons, under the notion of avoiding formality and flattery, give way to a RUDE FAMILIAKITY, which they call, indeed, by some favourable name; but which deserves to be severely reprobated. I have often known young preachers, when they had become a little familiar with their companions, in the habit, when addressing them, of calling them by their christian names only, or by their surnames only;

and indulging habitually, not merely in the freedom, but also in all the coarseness of unbridled raillery. Rely upon it, this is, in general, not wise. Mutual dignity, and mutual respect, are indispensable to the continued existence of christian friendship, in its most pure, delicate, and profitable form. If you wish to maintain such friendship, be free and unconstrained; but never indulge in rude and coarse familiarity. Those who are worthy of your love, will certainly be repelled rather than attracted by it.

89. When I remind you of the importance of maintaining ▲ CONSTANT REGARD TO TRUTH in conversation, you will consider me as enforcing a plain point in ethicks, which no one can dispute. But I wish to go further than this language will be popularly considered as importing. I mean much more than that a minister of the gospel ought to avoid downright lying, in company, whether the object of the lie be to flatter, or to i jure. It ought to be his object, in n.aking every s'aten ent, in repeating the most trivial narrative, to guard as carefully against n isrepresenting, or exaggerating any fact, as if he were on oath to give no false colouring, no over colouring, and not, even in jest, to misstate the smallest circumstance. I have had the happiness to be acquainted with a few men whose habits were of

this kind; and it was delightful to observe what weight it imparted to their word; and how completely they were delivered from all those troublesome explanations and retractions, to which the less scrupulous were constantly exposed.

40. Be strictly attentive to the circumstances of TIME, PLACE, AND COMPANY in conversation Look round the room, before you introduce a particular new topick, and ask yourself, whether it is a suitable one for that company? Or, whether there be any individuals present to whom it may be peculiarly unwelcome or embarrassing? There is an old French proverb, the import of which is "Be careful never to mention a rope in the family of a man who has been hanged." It is a proverb full of good sense, and social delicacy. Yet nothing is more common than to see persons of absent or coarse minds, violating this rule. They introduce subjects, or indulge remarks, calculated to wound the feelings of some of the most estimable individuals present; and this, not for the laudable purpose of benefiting the individuals in question, or of bearing an honest testimony against vice; but from mere inadvertence or want of feeling. Think, therefore, before you speak, not only what you are about to say, but also to whom you are about to address it. It is said, that Bishop Burnet was so apt to wound

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the feelings of those with whom he was conversing, by an infraction of this rule, from mere absence of mind, that some of his best friends were afraid of introducing him to distinguished strangers, lest he should embarrass them as well as himself by an infirmity, which, if its effects had not been sometimes so painful, would have been often infinitely ludicrous. Direct particular attention to this object; and it will soon become as much a fixed habit of your mind to advert to the persons addressed in every conversation, as to any other circumstance attending the communication.

41. When any persons impart to you knowledge of facts in confidence, make a point of being DELICATELY FAI HFUL ΤΟ THE TRUST COMMITTED TO YOU. It not unfrequently happens that the sick and the dying; persous in difficulty and distress; and persons under anxiety of mind respecting their et rnal state, n ake communications in confidence to ministers of the gospel; under the impression that they, of all men, may be most safely trusted. In every such case, preserve the most inviolable seeresy. But there are many other cases, in which, though no formal injunction of secresy is expressed, still it ought by all means to be understood, by every delicately prudent mind. We all know how frequently, and with what strict honour, professional secrets are kept by