hest
consideration is his own moral condition, and the aspect in which he
stands towards the Deity. In immediate connexion with this first of all
concerns are the great and general principles of justice and veracity,
as referring to our connexion with all mankind, and a class of private
responsibilities which peculiarly regard each individual in his domestic
relations; such as the duties of children to then parents, and parents
to their children;--the latter, particularly, presenting a class of the
most solemn kind, as it embraces the concerns of the present life, and
of that which is to come. Then follow the duties of benevolence,
friendship, and patriotism; after these, the ordinary avocations of
life, as the acquisition of knowledge and the pursuits of business; and
finally, those personal recreations and enjoyments, which, when kept in
their proper place, are legitimate and necessary to every human being.
These are all proper and laudable, provided they are kept in a proper
subserviency to each other. But the important consideration is, that a
man maybe acting unworthily of his moral nature, when he devotes himself
to any one of them in a manner which encroaches upon the harmony of the
whole.

To begin with the lowest of them, it is unnecessary to state how this
remark applies to the man whose life is devoted to pursuits which rank
no higher than recreation or amusement. It must be obvious to every one
of the smallest degree of reflection, that such a man is living only for
the present life. What cannot be denied of mere amusement, must also be
admitted respecting a life of business, however important in themselves
the concerns may be which engross the mind. They still refer only to
present things, and carry not the thoughts beyond the moment which
bounds the period of moral discipline. Even the engagements of
benevolence and public usefulness, estimable as they are, may be allowed
to usurp an improper place; and they do so, if they withdraw the
attention from responsibilities and duties which belong more
particularly to ourselves as individuals,--such as the duties of parents
and of children,--and the other claims which arise out of the relations
of domestic life. Finally, it is ever to be kept in mind, that no
engagements of any description must be allowed to interfere with
obligations, of the highest interest to every man,--those which relate
to his own moral condition, in the sight of Him who is now his witness,