as speedily as you can. To do so completely, you must have Mr. Wesley's order, his industry, his habitual composure of mind, and his decision of character. He who allows himself in lounging and laziness at one time, must necessarily be in a hurry at another. And he who has not the strictest order in his affairs, must either be half his time distracted with hurry, or leave one half of his duty undone.

10. Never permit yourself TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT POPULARITY. Never inquire, nor be anxious to hear what is said of you. Popularity seldom fails to fly from him who inordinately seeks it; and is never so likely to be attained as by him who gives himself no concern about it. You have reason to be thankful that your lot is cast in a country in which we have no religious establishment, for the support of ministers independently, or in spite, of publick opinion. But while this is a great blessing, it becomes, indirectly, a source of frequent and strong temptation. The temptation is that of deferring more to publick sentiment, to popular praise and censure, than we ought. Be habitually on your guard against this temptation. Your business is to guide publick opinion not to let it guide you. Never let your course be prescribed by a previous calculation whom you shall please, and whom displease. Manifest no desire to hear either the praise or the blame

which may be expressed concerning you. On the one hand, if the language of praise be addressed or reported to you, be not elated by it; for, in nine cases out of ten, there is much insincerity, or much injudiciousness and folly mingled with it. On the other hand, if you be

come the object of censure, let it neither depress nor irritate you. If it be just, thankfully profit by it, and if it be unmerited, still carry it to the throne of grace, and inquire whether some good use cannot be made of it. Remember that he who does his duty faithfully, affectionately, and perseveringly, will seldom fail of obtaining as much popularity as he ought to have; and that all that popularity which rests upon any other basis, is unworthy of being either sought or prized.

11. When you become the object of ill-natured attacks, BE NOT READY TO TAKE ANY PUBLICK NOTICE OF THEM. That extreme sensibility to censure, which prompts publick men, and especially ministers, to repel, by a publick reply, the smallest. assault which is made upon them, ought by no means to be cherished. Such replies in a great majority of cases, rather give importance to the assailant, than real protection or honour to the assaulted. Slander, in a multitude of cases, cannot be killed; but, according to the old proverb, when let alone, it will soon die of itself. Seldom under

take, therefore, to defend yourself against rude or malignant attacks. Never do it in haste, or without consultation. In most cases such attacks will be harmless, unless you make them otherwise. Very rarely has any man been "written down" but by himself.

Be cautious and sparing IN ASSIGNING PUBLICK REASONS FOR YOUR CONDUCT. Try to ascertain, in every case, what your duty is, and endeavour to perform it; but having done so, leave it, for the most part, to speak for itself. Undertaking to satisfy the publick by assigning reasons for what we do is often only presenting a broader front for ill-nature or malignity to strike at. As long as people only guess at your motives, or reasons, their censure may be somewhat restrained. But that which you offer by way of explanation, or of justification, may give them a handle against you, as lit le thought of by yourself, as it is gratifying to them. The action itself might have passed very well; some one or more out of half "dozen reasons for it, may possibly give mortal offence. This remark applies, perhaps, to no class of men more strongly than to ministers of the gospel, who are usually connected with large bodies of people, all taking an interest, and feeling as if they had a right to express opinions, concerning every thing they say and do. In such circumstances, the shortest and safest

course is to act rightly; offering but little by way of explanation; accustoming those around you to confide in your wisdom, and committing the whole to "Him who judgeth righteously."

13. It is a good rule of prudence for a publick man то BE AS MUCH ON HIS GUARD AGAINST HIS FRIENDS AS AGAINST HIS ENE

MIES. If I were asked whether publick men were more frequently injured by their enemies or their friends; I should certainly, and with confidence, reply, by the latter. Be thankful for friends; love them; be grateful to them; and be always ready with fidelity to serve them. But recollect that you ought to guard quite as vigilantly against their indiscretion, their folly, and their selfishness, as against the malice of your enemies. That general who wishes to succeed in his great military movements, must often conceal his purposes quite as carefully from his own army, as from that of the enemy. So it is, to a great extent, with every publick man. Never commit delicate matters to many in number, even of your best friends; and never forget, that you are quite as much in danger from the tongues of those who love you most, as from the hostility of your bitterest opposers.

14. In travelling among strangers GUARD

AGAINST EVERY THING THAT MAY SAVOur of A FORWARD OR OBTRUSIVE SPIRIT. There are

two extremes in relation to this point, into one or the other of which public men are prone to fall. Some retreat to the most private recess of the vehicle in which they travel, or the hotel in which they lodge, and wrap themselves up in the silence and impenetrable reserve of one who wishes to escape from all intercourse with his species. Others are forward, talkative, and apparently desirous of making themselves known to every individual with whom they travel, and engaging with prominence in every conversation that occurs. The former is a monkish plan of proceeding, by which an intelligent man loses many pleasures and advantages, and withholds from others many a social benefit, which he might confer. But the latter plan of deportment is no less faulty. It is weak, undignified, obtrusive, and, to all delicate minds, extremely revolting. Be invariably polite, and ready to accommodate every fellow traveller; but never obtrude your acquaintance or conversation on strangers. Rather wait to be drawn out, than run the risk of being repelled as unduly forward. Those who, in travelling, thrust themselves into every circle, and meddle in every conversation, seldom, I believe, get through a long journey without placing themselves in circumstances, which, if they were persons of delicate sensibility, (happily for their