Ere long, we say; for on plain scriptural grounds (not to advert to others) we believe that men will pass immediately at death into a state of great activity; though the contrary doctrine might be welcome to those who end the course of their terrestrial actions ill. But think of the comparison suggested. Very many human agents have, within our knowledge, left this scene of action. We can recall them to thought individually; we observed their actions. How have they been employed since? The triflers, how? The active enemies of God, how? The servants of Christ, how? We cannot very formally represent to ourselves how; but it is interesting to look into that solemn obscurity to think of it. Think of all, that have done all "the works under the sun," ever since that luminary began to shine on this world,— -now in action in some other regions! Think of all those whose actions we have beheld and judged, those recently departed, our own personal friends! Have not they a sense of amazing novelty and change; while yet there is a relation, a connecting quality between their actions before and now. If one of them could come and describe, so that we could in any adequate measure apprehend, what a complete suspension there would be for a while of our observation of what mortals are doing. The difference and comparison would dilate our faculties to the intensest wonder. But still the point of supreme emphasis would surely be, the connection between the sublunary train of action, and that which has followed; that the grand predominant thing in the subsequent economy of action (its delight or misery) is because of the quality which prevailed in their action in the previous state.

Lastly, our exercise of attention and judgment on "every work that is done under the sun," should be under the habitual recollection, that soon we shall cease to look on them ; and that, instead, we shall be witnessing their consc

quences; and in a mighty experience also, ourselves, of consequences. This thought will enforce upon us, incessantly, that all our observation should be most diligently turned to the account of true wisdon, and our own highest improvement.

January 8, 1823.

LECTURE XXIV.

PRACTICAL VIEWS OF HUMAN LIFE.

PROVERBS xxiv. 32.

"Then I saw and considered it well; I looked upon it, and received instruction."

THESE sentences will seem the mere echo of the text at our last meeting, when the subject was, How to turn to profitable account our observation of the events, characters, and actions of this busy world. It were best to confess the truth, without waste of words. That discourse did not insist nearly so much as had been intended on the practical view of the subject. It extended more into the general, wide, and contemplative views of it. We hope, that, without being guilty of any material repetition, it may be possible to consider the subject with a more direct reference to some practical exemplifications, and methods for so observing this world of active beings as to gain valuable improvement by it.

And, the consideration should press very forcibly on conscience, that unless we have a profitable manner of doing this, there will be a miserable, a dreadful waste of our thought, our time, and our talking. Think of the incalculable number and series of acts of attention (to men's actions), many of them accompanied or followed by some expression in words. The Universal History, in sixty volumes, is not so ample a series of notices of facts, as that which has been made by almost any man by the time he is

far on in life. These objects of notice, each in its succession, have occupied the attention, that is to say, the whole mind; insomuch, that, in many of the instances, nothing else was, at the time, attended to. And the train is going on, in close succession, and will to the end of life. Now reflect! if the greater part of all this should be nearly useless-as profitless as a Hindoo devotee's repitition of certain phrases for millions of times! But if these acts of attention are useless, they will be worse than useless. For certain dispositions and feelings usually accompany our notices of men's actions; and improper ones will be very ready to be there, if the "observation is exercised with no reference to our improvement.

It would be well sometimes to take somewhat of an account of what we have beneficially acquired from all this. And, it is not enough to say, "We have a great accumulation of facts deposited in the memory," for the most foolish and wicked man may say the same. It is not enough to say, "We have acquired a measure of worldly prudence, caution, and address." Very good this; very important, for very many purposes. And, indeed, this is one of the things that a man should gain. The man so instructed is a safer he has the power to be a more useful man. But he is not necessarily a better man. Nay, in many instances we see that he is actually a worse.

man;

In the account to be taken, the great question is, "How much have we profited in the character of servants of God, by what we have seen of men?" How much more wise in the best sense-conscientious-apt-effectually warned ? The world should be regarded as an extensive outer department of the great school of religion. In it the servant of God is to learn, through a different kind of illustration, the same things which he is taught in the inner school. Or rather say, the things which he is taught in the inner school

he is to observe illustrated, exemplified, proved and enforced, in this wide outer department. And if he do not observe to this effect, it would only show that he is but very imperfectly disciplined in the inner department; that is, in the principles of divine truth, in the religious exercises of his mind. Unless he is thus instructed and disciplined, he will be almost sure (as was noticed in the former discourse) to acquire in this outer school, a different kind of principles from those of the inner; in many points quite opposite and pernicious ones. Proceeding in this right method, it will not be by a forced construction, by a prejudiced interpretation, that he will find the instruction presented in the outer to the same effect as in the inner.

When the learner in God's peculiar school goes out to observe mankind, he will think of the manner, and cautions, and rules, for turning what he sees to the most beneficial account; and of the most instructive points to fix his attention upon. And a few things general and special

may be suggested to this purpose.

An obvious one is,-let not his observing be merely of the nature of speculation; not simply a seeing and judging what men are. This mere knowledge of mankind has seemed to be the whole object of some keen-sighted men; and they have been prodigiously proud of possessing it. But, suppose an observer to look most intelligently on the human world on ever so wide a scale; or to understand most perfectly those within the sphere of his personal acquaintance; or to see, as we say, through and through the individuals immediately about him, and even to know their whole past history in addition. Still, if merely to know that the fact is so, be all-would that purify his heart of conduct? correct a single fault of his own? constitute him a benefactor to others? Or make him a participator of the piety and excellence which he may see in some? Does