ftudy, and requires conftant attention and indefatigable industry. No wonder, then, that a mind immerfed in pleafures, is reluctant to this arduous tafk; fuch averfion is the natural confequence of voluptuoufnefs and effeminacy. It may, with the ftricteft propriety, be faid of pleasure, "that her poison is like the poison of a serpent. and that the votaries of pleasure are like the deaf adder, that stoppeth her ear, which refuseth to hear the voice of the charmer, charm he never fo wifely."

What has been faid upon the fubje&t of Pleasure will hold good with respect to Wealth and Ambition. The leading paffion, whatever it be, is always imperious and clamorous in its demands, and never can brook a competitor. Talk to him, that is greedy of gain, or to the ambitious perfon, about felf-acquaintance; urge the dignity of the fcience, and expatiate upon its extenfive advantages, and you fhall be fure to find yourself a moft unwelcome preceptor. Solicit the attentive regards of that man, whofe heated imagination exhibits fplendours and titles to his view; atte.npt converfation with the man of bufinefs, who rifes early, and fits up late, and eats the bread of care. fulness, in order to accumulate riches; and what reception will you meet with from either of thefe characters? Like Felix, although converts to the

truth

truth of your doctrine, they will difmifs you in hafte, and say, "Go thy way for this time, when I have a convenient feafon I will call for thee." And indeed, if they proceed fo far, it is the utmoft you are to expect from them: for, as the promife is conditional, and that convenient feafon will never arrive, fo the performance of their promife will never be fulfilled.

But it is not always levity or lazinefs; it is not only the love of pleasure, honour, or riches, which keeps men off from an acquaintance with their own hearts; it is fometimes a ftrong fufpicion that their breafts will not bear an inspection. They have reafon to fear that things go wrong there, and therefore they decline all inquiries; as they who run behind-hand in the world do not care to look into their books. Sad indeed is the cafe of that man, whofe guilt deters him from all researches into his own bofom; but nevertheless, he will do well to confider, that, however painful fuch examinations may be, they are abfolutely neceffary to prevent further acceffions of guilt, and by a fincere repentance to cancel his former fcore.

AN

AN HYMN

COMPOSED FOR THE USE OF

SUNDAY SCHOOLS.

'ATHER of Mercies! God of Grace!

FA

Each perfect gift is thine;

Through various channels flow the ftreams,

The fource is still divine.

Thy kindness call'd us into life;

And all the good we know,
Each present comfort, future hope,
Thy liberal hands bestow.

The friends whofe charity provides
This refuge where to flee,
From want, from ignorance, and vice,
Were raised up by thee.

To Thee we owe the full fupply,
Which by their hands is given;

To make us ufeful here below,

And train our fouls for heaven.

May health and peace attend them here,
And every joy above;

While we improve with grateful hearts,
The labour of their love,

ΤΗ

OF THE

BATTLE OF MARATHON.

HE Hiftory of Perfia, after the reign of Cyrus, who died in the year before Chrift 529, offers little, confidered in itself, that merits our regard. But when combined with that of Greece, it becomes particularly interefting.

The Monarchs, who fuccceded Cyrus, gave an opportunity to the Greeks to exercife thofe virtues, which the freedom of their government had created and confirmed. Sparta remained under the influence of Lycurgus's inftitutions. Athens had just recovered from the tyranny of the Pififtratidæ, a family who had trampled on the laws of Solon, and ufurped the fupreme power.

Such was their fituation, when the luft of univerfal empire, which feldom fails to torment the breafls of tyrants, led Darius to fend forth his numerous armies into Greece.

But the Perfians were no longer thofe invincible foldiers, who, under Cyrus, had conquered Afia. Their minds were enervated by luxury and fervitude.

Athens,

Athens, on the contrary, teemed with great men, whofe minds were nobly animated by the late recovery of their freedom. Miltiades, in the plains of Marathon, with ten thousand Athenians, overcame the Perfian army of an hundred thoufand foot and ten thoufand cavalry, in the year before Chrift 490.

This memorable day reflected the highest glory on Miltiades. To prevent his little army from being furrounded by the enemy, he drew it up with a mountain in the rear, extended his front as much as poffible, placed his chief ftrength in the wings, and caufed a great number of trees to be cut down, to keep off the enemy's cavalry from charging them in flank.

The Athenians rufhed forwards on the Perfians like fo many furious lions. This is remarked to have been the first time that they advanced to the attack running. By their impetuofity, they opened a lane through the enemy, and fupported with the greatest firmness the charge of the Perfians.

The battle, at firft, was fought by both parties with great valour and obftinacy. But the wings of the Athenian army, where, as we have juft faid, Miltiades had placed his chief ftrength, atG

tacking