Nomancanbecompletely，oreventolerablysatisfied，withhavingavoidedeverythingblame-worthyinhisconduct；unlesshehaslikewiseavoidedtheblameorthereproach。Awisemanmayfrequentlyneglectpraise，evenwhenhehasbestdeservedit；
　　but，inallmattersofseriousconsequence，hewillmostcarefullyendeavoursotoregulatehisconductastoavoid，notonlyblame-worthiness，but，asmuchaspossible，everyprobableimputationofblame。Hewillnever，indeed，avoidblamebydoinganythingwhichhejudgesblame-worthy；byomittinganypartofhisduty，orbyneglectinganyopportunityofdoinganythingwhichhejudgestobereallyandgreatlypraise-worthy。But，withthesemodifications，hewillmostanxiouslyandcarefullyavoidit。Toshowmuchanxietyaboutpraise，evenforpraise-worthyactions，isseldomamarkofgreatwisdom，butgenerallyofsomedegreeofweakness。But，inbeinganxioustoavoidtheshadowofblameorreproach，theremaybenoweakness，butfrequentlythemostpraise-worthyprudence。
　　’Manypeople，’saysCicero，’despiseglory，whoareyetmostseverelymortifiedbyunjustreproach；andthatmostinconsistently。’Thisinconsistency，however，seemstobefoundedintheunalterableprinciplesofhumannature。
　　Theall-wiseAuthorofNaturehas，inthismanner，taughtmantorespectthesentimentsandjudgmentsofhisbrethren；tobemoreorlesspleasedwhentheyapproveofhisconduct，andtobemoreorlesshurtwhentheydisapproveofit。Hehasmademan，ifImaysayso，theimmediatejudgeofmankind；andhas，inthisrespect，asinmanyothers，createdhimafterhisownimage，andappointedhimhisvicegerentuponearth，tosuperintendthebehaviourofhisbrethren。Theyaretaughtbynature，toacknowledgethatpowerandjurisdictionwhichhasthusbeenconferreduponhim，tobemoreorlesshumbledandmortifiedwhentheyhaveincurredhiscensure，andtobemoreorlesselatedwhentheyhaveobtainedhisapplause。
　　Butthoughmanhas，inthismanner，beenrenderedtheimmediatejudgeofmankind，hehasbeenrenderedsoonlyinthefirstinstance；andanappealliesfromhissentencetoamuchhighertribunal，tothetribunaloftheirownconsciences，tothatofthesupposedimpartialandwell-informedspectator，tothatofthemanwithinthebreast，thegreatjudgeandarbiteroftheirconduct。Thejurisdictionsofthosetwotribunalsarefoundeduponprincipleswhich，thoughinsomerespectsresemblingandakin，are，however，inrealitydifferentanddistinct。Thejurisdictionofthemanwithout，isfoundedaltogetherinthedesireofactualpraise，andintheaversiontoactualblame。Thejurisdictionofthemanwithin，isfoundedaltogetherinthedesireofpraise-worthiness，andintheaversiontoblame-worthiness；inthedesireofpossessingthosequalities，andperformingthoseactions，whichweloveandadmireinotherpeople；andinthedreadofpossessingthosequalities，andperformingthoseactions，whichwehateanddespiseinotherpeople。Ifthemanwithoutshouldapplaudus，eitherforactionswhichwehavenotperformed，orformotiveswhichhadnoinfluenceuponus；themanwithincanimmediatelyhumblethatprideandelevationofmindwhichsuchgroundlessacclamationsmightotherwiseoccasion，bytellingus，thatasweknowthatwedonotdeservethem，werenderourselvesdespicablebyacceptingthem。If，onthecontrary，themanwithoutshouldreproachus，eitherforactionswhichweneverperformed，orformotiveswhichhadnoinfluenceuponthosewhichwemayhaveperformed；themanwithinmayimmediatelycorrectthisfalsejudgment，andassureus，thatwearebynomeanstheproperobjectsofthatcensurewhichhassounjustlybeenbestoweduponus。Butinthisandinsomeothercases，themanwithinseemssometimes，asitwere，astonishedandconfoundedbythevehemenceandclamourofthemanwithout。Theviolenceandloudness，withwhichblameissometimespouredoutuponus，seemstostupifyandbenumbournaturalsenseofpraise-worthinessandblame-worthiness；andthejudgmentsofthemanwithin，thoughnot，perhaps，absolutelyalteredorperverted，are，however，somuchshakeninthesteadinessandfirmnessoftheirdecision，thattheirnaturaleffect，insecuringthetranquillityofthemind，isfrequentlyinagreatmeasuredestroyed。Wescarcedaretoabsolveourselves，whenallourbrethrenappearloudlytocondemnus。Thesupposedimpartialspectatorofourconductseemstogivehisopinioninourfavourwithfearandhesitation；whenthatofalltherealspectators，whenthatofallthosewithwhoseeyesandfromwhosestationheendeavourstoconsiderit，isunanimouslyandviolentlyagainstus。Insuchcases，thisdemigodwithinthebreastappears，likethedemigodsofthepoets，thoughpartlyofimmortal，yetpartlytooofmortalextraction。Whenhisjudgmentsaresteadilyandfirmlydirectedbythesenseofpraiseworthinessandblame-worthiness，heseemstoactsuitablytohisdivineextraction:Butwhenhesuffershimselftobeastonishedandconfoundedbythejudgmentsofignorantandweakman，hediscovershisconnexionwithmortality，andappearstoactsuitably，rathertothehuman，thantothedivine，partofhisorigin。
　　Insuchcases，theonlyeffectualconsolationofhumbledandafflictedmanliesinanappealtoastillhighertribunal，tothatoftheall-seeingJudgeoftheworld，whoseeyecanneverbedeceived，andwhosejudgmentscanneverbeperverted。Afirmconfidenceintheunerringrectitudeofthisgreattribunal，beforewhichhisinnocenceisinduetimetobedeclared，andhisvirtuetobefinallyrewarded，canalonesupporthimundertheweaknessanddespondencyofhisownmind，undertheperturbationandastonishmentofthemanwithinthebreast，whomnaturehassetupas，inthislife，thegreatguardian，notonlyofhisinnocence，butofhistranquillity。Ourhappinessinthislifeisthus，uponmanyoccasions，dependentuponthehumblehopeandexpectationofalifetocome:ahopeandexpectationdeeplyrootedinhumannature；whichcanalonesupportitsloftyideasofitsowndignity；canaloneilluminethedrearyprospectofitscontinuallyapproachingmortality，andmaintainitscheerfulnessunderalltheheaviestcalamitiestowhich，fromthedisordersofthislife，itmaysometimesbeexposed。Thatthereisaworldtocome，whereexactjusticewillbedonetoeveryman，whereeverymanwillberankedwiththosewho，inthemoralandintellectualqualities，arereallyhisequals；wheretheownerofthosehumbletalentsandvirtueswhich，frombeingdepressedbyfortune，had，inthislife，noopportunityofdisplayingthemselves；whichwereunknown，notonlytothepublic，butwhichhehimselfcouldscarcebesurethathepossessed，andforwhicheventhemanwithinthebreastcouldscarceventuretoaffordhimanydistinctandcleartestimony；wherethatmodest，silent，andunknownmerit，willbeplaceduponalevel，andsometimesabovethosewho，inthisworld，hadenjoyedthehighestreputation，andwho，fromtheadvantageoftheirsituation，hadbeenenabledtoperformthemostsplendidanddazzlingactions；isadoctrine，ineveryrespectsovenerable，socomfortabletotheweakness，soflatteringtothegrandeurofhumannature，thatthevirtuousmanwhohasthemisfortunetodoubtofit，cannotpossiblyavoidwishingmostearnestlyandanxiouslytobelieveit。Itcouldneverhavebeenexposedtothederisionofthescoffer，hadnotthedistributionsofrewardsandpunishments，whichsomeofitsmostzealousassertorshavetaughtuswastobemadeinthatworldtocome，beentoofrequentlyindirectoppositiontoallourmoralsentiments。
　　Thattheassiduouscourtierisoftenmorefavouredthanthefaithfulandactiveservant；thatattendanceandadulationareoftenshorterandsurerroadstoprefermentthanmeritorservice；andthatacampaignatVersaillesorStJames’sisoftenworthtwoeitherinGermanyorFlanders，isacomplaintwhichwehaveallheardfrommanyavenerable，butdiscontented，oldofficer。Butwhatisconsideredasthegreatestreproacheventotheweaknessofearthlysovereigns，hasbeenascribed，asanactofjustice，todivineperfection；andthedutiesofdevotion，thepublicandprivateworshipoftheDeity，havebeenrepresented，evenbymenofvirtueandabilities，asthesolevirtueswhichcaneitherentitletorewardorexemptfrompunishmentinthelifetocome。Theywerethevirtues，perhaps，mostsuitabletotheirstation，andinwhichtheythemselveschieflyexcelled；andweareallnaturallydisposedtoover-ratetheexcellenciesofourowncharacters。InthediscoursewhichtheeloquentandphilosophicalMassillonpronounced，ongivinghisbenedictiontothestandardsoftheregimentofCatinat，thereisthefollowingaddresstotheofficers:’Whatismostdeplorableinyoursituation，Gentlemen，is，thatinalifehardandpainful，inwhichtheservicesandthedutiessometimesgobeyondtherigourandseverity。ofthemostausterecloisters；yousufferalwaysinvainforthelifetocome，andfrequentlyevenforthislife。
　　Alas！thesolitarymonkinhiscell，obligedtomortifythefleshandtosubjectittothespirit，issupportedbythehopeofanassuredrecompence，andbythesecretunctionofthatgracewhichsoftenstheyokeoftheLord。Butyou，onthebedofdeath，canyoudaretorepresenttoHimyourfatiguesandthedailyhardshipsofyouremployment？canyoudaretosolicitHimforanyrecompence？andinalltheexertionsthatyouhavemade，inalltheviolencesthatyouhavedonetoyourselves，whatistherethatHeoughttoplacetoHisownaccount？Thebestdaysofyourlife，however，havebeensacrificedtoyourprofession，andtenyearsservicehasmorewornoutyourbody，thanwould，perhaps，havedoneawholelifeofrepentanceandmortification。Alas！mybrother，onesingledayofthosesufferings，consecratedtotheLord，would，perhaps，haveobtainedyouaneternalhappiness。Onesingleaction，painfultonature，andoffereduptoHim，would，perhaps，havesecuredtoyoutheinheritanceoftheSaints。Andyouhavedoneallthis，andinvain，forthisworld。’
　　Tocompare，inthismanner，thefutilemortificationsofamonastery，totheennoblinghardshipsandhazardsofwar；tosupposethatoneday，oronehour，employedintheformershould，intheeyeofthegreatJudgeoftheworld，havemoremeritthanawholelifespenthonourablyinthelatter，issurelycontrarytoallourmoralsentiments；toalltheprinciplesbywhichnaturehastaughtustoregulateourcontemptoradmiration。Itisthisspirit，however，which，whileithasreservedthecelestialregionsformonksandfriars，orforthosewhoseconductandconversationresembledthoseofmonksandfriars，hascondemnedtotheinfernalalltheheroes，allthestatesmenandlawgivers，allthepoetsandphilosophersofformerages；allthosewhohaveinvented，improved，orexcelledintheartswhichcontributetothesubsistence，totheconveniency，ortotheornamentofhumanlife；allthegreatprotectors，instructors，andbenefactorsofmankind；allthosetowhomournaturalsenseofpraise-worthinessforcesustoascribethehighestmeritandmostexaltedvirtue。Canwewonderthatsostrangeanapplicationofthismostrespectabledoctrineshouldsometimeshaveexposedittocontemptandderision；withthoseatleastwhohadthemselves，perhaps，nogreattasteorturnforthedevoutandcontemplativevirtues？1*
　　OftheInfluencesandAuthorityofConscienceButthoughtheapprobationofhisownconsciencecanscarce，uponsomeextraordinaryoccasions，contenttheweaknessofman；
　　thoughthetestimonyofthesupposedimpartialspectator，ofthegreatinmateofthebreast，cannotalwaysalonesupporthim；yettheinfluenceandauthorityofthisprincipleis，uponalloccasions，verygreat；anditisonlybyconsultingthisjudgewithin，thatwecaneverseewhatrelatestoourselvesinitspropershapeanddimensions；orthatwecanevermakeanypropercomparisonbetweenourowninterestsandthoseofotherpeople。
　　Astotheeyeofthebody，objectsappeargreatorsmall，notsomuchaccordingtotheirrealdimensions，asaccordingtothenearnessordistanceoftheirsituation；sodotheylikewisetowhatmaybecalledthenaturaleyeofthemind:andweremedythedefectsofboththeseorgansprettymuchinthesamemanner。Inmypresentsituationanimmenselandscapeoflawns，andwoods，anddistantmountains，seemstodonomorethancoverthelittlewindowwhichIwritebyandtobeoutofallproportionlessthanthechamberinwhichIamsitting。Icanformajustcomparisonbetweenthosegreatobjectsandthelittleobjectsaroundme，innootherway，thanbytransportingmyself，atleastinfancy，toadifferentstation，fromwhenceIcansurveybothatnearlyequaldistances，andtherebyformsomejudgmentoftheirrealproportions。Habitandexperiencehavetaughtmetodothissoeasilyandsoreadily，thatIamscarcesensiblethatIdoit；