business, he shall stand before kings, he shall not stand before mean men.

The wise man's rule however is not to be taken without proper limitations. No labour can be profitable which is not innocent. There are those who toil and drudge in the service of vice and folly; and verily they have their reward: and that reward is disappointment, disgrace, and misery.

Industry is not always successful. For, in the first place, it is sometimes inadequate to the end in view. The exertion is not sufficiently vigorous, or sufficiently persevering; there is a deficiency either of energy or of constancy. Sometimes labour is intense and persevering, and yet fails of its end because it is unskilful, and misapplied. Knowledge is power. This is the well-known aphorism of Lord Bacon. Brute force is of little value if it be unskilfully managed. The superior sagacity of man subjects to his dominion the superior strength of the animal creation, and wields it to the accomplishment of his own designs. And a man's

own personal strength, without skill in the application of it, is of little value.

Opportunity also is essential to success, even where industry is combined with skill and perseverance. Unforeseen obstructions may frustrate the wisest plans, and baffle the best directed exertions. "Time and chance happeneth to all." And as some rise to great prosperity without any effort of their own; so there are others who seem born to disappointment in every undertaking. If, however, the case is narrowly examined, there will always appear an adequate cause. At any rate it is not the general rule. Wisdom, activity, perseverance, and opportunity cannot fail to insure suc

cess.

Industry and skill, if they do not succeed in one direction, will often make their way in another; if they do not rise to affluence, they may nevertheless insure health, competence, content, cheerfulness, and other blessings which opulence cannot purchase. It may then be assumed as a general principle, warranted by observation and

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experience, that in all labour there is profit. Labour is of three kinds, corporeal, intellectual, and moral and each of these is profitable in its measure.

First, there is a profit which attends bodily labour.

This is conducive to health, competence, cheerfulness, reputation, and virtue.

Bodily exercise is conducive to health. Indolence is the exuberant source of many real or imaginary diseases; and none enjoy better health than they who are constantly engaged in moderate labour. There is indeed a pliableness in the constitution of the body as well as in that of the mind, which adapts itself surprisingly to the circumstances to which it is accustomed. So that the same degree of exercise is not so essential to the health of those who have been early habituated to a sedentary life as it is to others. But to a certain extent active exertion is useful, and even necessary to all. It braces the cords of life; it stimulates the circulation of the fluids; it gives tone and elasticity to the muscles;

and it invigorates the various movements of the animal œconomy.

The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing, but the soul of the diligent shall be made rich. Labour is the foundation of property; and every one is justly entitled to the fruit of his own virtuous industry. Many employments require manual labour; and they who are most industrious will acquire the greatest skill, facility, and success. Agriculture and manufactures demand the labour of the hands as well as the contrivance of the head: and many who in this country have risen to the summit of opulence and consideration, have exercised their industry in the outset of life in humble manual occupations, and by industry and ingenuity they have risen, and honourably risen, to a commanding eminence, in which they have not only found employment for thousands, and have rapidly acquired immense riches, but have added greatly to the wealth, the commerce, the credit, and the prosperity of their country. Corporeal labour also contributes to

cheerfulness of mind. Good spirits are the usual concomitants of good health; and good health is not to be insured without necessary exercise.

It is indeed true, that a good conscience is a continual feast; and that a truly good man ought never to be dejected. But though good principles, and a good conscience, are essential to permanent peace and cheerfulness of mind, it is plain, that these alone will not always secure it. Men are to a great degree mechanical beings; and the human machine must be occasionally wound up and kept in proper repair, otherwise it will never go on smoothly and pleasantly. Many labour under great uneasiness and dejection, for which they know not how to account; when the truth is, that such depressions arise from bodily indisposition, from indolence, and the want of exercise. If such persons would but rouse themselves to exertion, as in fact they ought, all the gloomy thoughts and fears which now harass and distress their minds would vanish like a dream, and they