or even
possibility, of rising so as to associate with those, who move in the
higher circles of life, by any virtuous conduct they may pursue, and
sensible that wealth alone possesses the charm to give them virtue and
notice in the world, they are thus driven to various, dishonorable
means to obtain it. Multitudes are driven to the crimes of
counterfeiting, theft, and even robbery and piracy. They commence
their wretched course, with the intention to abandon it, as soon as a
competent fortune is obtained. Other thousands are driven to gambling;
and even those, who are called respectable, take every possible
advantage in trade and bargaining. Their pursuits are various, but
their object is one and the same--viz: to gain wealth, so that they
may obtain a high standing and influence in society. Thousands thus
driven into crime, are detected, lose their reputation, and abandon
themselves to intemperance. Their evil example has a pernicious
influence on the morals of those children and youth, who may, by
various circumstances, be placed in their society, and thus the
pestilence, in all its frightful horrors, gathers force and spreads.

There are thousands of virtuous persons, whom poverty excludes from
the higher ranks of life, who are doomed to seek the converse of
those, who are in a measure corrupted, and, by associating with them
on public occasions, often in taverns and alehouses, are soon involved
in habits of dissipation and obscenity. Man is a social being, loves
society, and, rather than spend his life in solitude, will seek the
converse of the vicious.

If we would obey the injunction of the text--"Mind not high things,
but condescend to men of low estate," these evils would be in a great
measure removed. If we, as a community, would strip away the fancied
reputation, which wealth attaches to the human character, and,
independent of property, place every man on an equal footing,
according to their moral and mental worth, and let their power and
influence in society, be according to their conduct, it would give a
noble tone to public feeling and moral grandeur.

By the "_high things_," mentioned in our text, we are to understand
that vain popularity which one man wishes to enjoy above another, in a
religious or political sense. It is one of the ruling passions of the
day, in which we live, to be considered of high standing among our
fellow creatures, and to possess a larger share of influence over the
minds and