It has often been objected to these seats of learning, that the maxims they instil, the arts they cultivate, the manners they form, are unfavourable to social life. That, instead of furnishing men with a large store of sound and useful knowledge, and enabling them to apply it to great and valuable purposes, they have trained up their disciples in all the idle pedantry of an empty and unprofitable erudition of a vain and contentious Theology. That, instead of inspiring them with the brightest flames of piety to God and charity to man, they have too often kindled in their hearts the blind rage of religious controversy, taught them to aspire at ecclesiastical fame by breaking through the ties of civil society, and qualified them to be leaders of sedition and faction, rather than ministers of peace and love. Yet let not true Knowledge lose her praise, from the indiscretion and folly of false pretenders; let not pure and undefiled religion partake in the censure which they incur, who unjustly assume the name and garb of religion. It is not knowledge, but ignorance, which makes men vain, and insolent, and impatient of contradiction. It is not religion, but impiety, which makes them dare to expect the

favour of God, while they are subverting the respose and happiness of mankind. "The "wisdom which is from above is peaceable,

gentle, easy to be intreated, full of mercy " and good fruits, without partiality, without "hypocrisy." This is the wisdom which we profess, this is the science we ought to study; and, among all the various objects of our pursuit, there is none more great, perhaps none more difficult, surely, none more important, either to ourselves or the world.

The

fruits of our other occupations are confined within a narrow compass. This only extends to every part of life, to every scene of things which can be offered to our view, → to every private or public station to which we can possibly be called.

We should make it then our first and chief care to secure the possession of this heavenly wisdom; but let us not stop here. The science of the heart deserves the highest place in our regard: but no science will deserve our neglect which is subservient to the same great end, the happiness of mankind.

* James iii. 17.

And as we ought to consult the interests of society in the choice we make of our studies, so also should we use our utmost caution to prevent the general ill effects of a studious and contemplative life; that it may neither render us unfit for the intercourse of the world, nor obnoxious to the dislike or contempt of those who are engaged in different functions.

Let us strive then to adorn the dignity of our profession with all the graces of refined and cultivated humanity;- let us temper the severity of a philosophic retirement with the innocent cheerfulness of an active and social life; let us smooth and soften the rigours of virtue by a prudent accommodation to the indifferent manners and customs of the age and country in which we live; - let us remember that we are citizens as well as scholars; and leave to monks and hermits the fond persuasion,That they shall merit Heaven by tormenting themselves and persecuting their brethren! Be it our task to extend the bounds of science, to vindicate the honour of our holy religion, to form the minds of the rising generation to every private and every

social virtue. While these employments are discharged with fidelity and prudence, they can never expose us to disgrace and censure; nay, they will justly entitle us to protection. and favour; and happy it is for us that, living as we do, under the influence of a wise and just government, we have no surer method of obtaining protection than by deserving it!

DISCOURSE II*.

OF THE VANITY AND VEXATION OF OUR
PURSUITS AFTER KNOWLEDGE.

ECCLES. I. 18.

For in much wisdom is much grief; and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth

sorrow.

THE subject of this book is the supreme happiness of man; -the writer, a person possessed of every advantage which either nature, or fortune, or grace itself, could give ;

the result of his enquiries, That all the various objects of human wishes, when considered independently of religion, are but " vanity and vexation of spirit."

Among the experiments he made to satisfy himself on this important point, one of the

* Preached before the University.