PAUL ANP VIRGXNIA. J33 



'' to ferve God and the human race, we have oc- 

 " cafion to exercife virtue only. 



" But why do you wifh to be diftinguifhed from 



" the reft of Mankind ? It is an unnatural fenti- 



*' ment, for, if it were univerfal, every man would 



" be at war with his neighbour. Satisfy yourfelt 



" with fulfilling the duties of that ftation,in which 



" Providence has placed you : rejoice in your def- 



" tiny, which allows you to maintain your inte- 



*' grity pure, and does not oblige you, in imitation 



** of the Great, to place your happinefs in the opi- 



" nion of the lower ranks; nor, in imitation of the 



" lower, to cringe to their fuperiors, in order to 



" procure the means of fubfiftence. You are in 



" a country, and in a fituation, where you can 



** find a living, without any occafion either to de- 



" ceive, to flatter, or to debafe yourfelf, as the ge- 



" nerahiy of thofe are obliged ta do, who purfue 



" fortune in Europe; in a fituation, where your 



*' condition does not prohibit your exercifing any 



" virtue : where you can, with impunity, be good, 



" faithful, fincere, intelligent, patient, temperate, 



*' chafte, indulgent, pious : and where no malig- 



*' nant fneer will interpofe t-o blaft your wifdom, 



" which is ftill only in the bud. Heaven has be- 



" ftowed on you, liberty, health, a good con- 



*' fcience, and friends ; Kings, whofe favour you 



K 3 *' are 



