nt to himself, that he left us in such a
disposition, as shewed he was quite happy. I am very glad of it; for it
would rejoice me to be an humble means of making all mankind so: And oh!
what returns ought I not to make to the divine goodness! and how ought
I to strive to diffuse the blessings I experience, to all in my
knowledge!--For else, what is it for such a worm as I to be exalted!
What is my single happiness, if I suffer it, niggard-like, to extend no
farther than to myself?--But then, indeed, do God Almighty's creatures
act worthy of the blessings they receive, when they make, or endeavour
to make, the whole creation, so far as is in the circle of their power,
happy!

Great and good God! as thou hast enlarged my opportunities, enlarge also
my will, and make me delight in dispensing to others a portion of that
happiness, which I have myself so plentifully received at the hand
of thy gracious Providence! Then shall I not be useless in my
generation!--Then shall I not stand a single mark of thy goodness to a
poor worthless creature, that in herself is of so small account in the
scale of beings, a mere cipher on the wrong side of a figure; but shall
be placed on the right side; and, though nothing worth in myself, shall
give signification by my place, and multiply the blessings I owe to thy
goodness, which has distinguished me by so fair a lot!

This, as I conceive, is the indispensable duty of a high condition; and
how great must be the condemnation of poor creatures, at the great day
of account, when they shall be asked, What uses they have made of the
opportunities put into their hands? and are able only to say, We have
lived but to ourselves: We have circumscribed all the power thou hast
given us into one narrow, selfish, compass: We have heaped up treasures
for those who came after us, though we knew not whether they would not
make a still worse use of them than we ourselves did! And how can such
poor selfish pleaders expect any other sentence, than the dreadful,
Depart, ye cursed!

But sure, my dear father and mother, such persons can have no notion
of the exalted pleasures that flow from doing good, were there to be no
after-account at all!

There is something so satisfactory and pleasing to reflect on the being
able to administer comfort and relief to those who stand in need of it,
as infinitely, of itself, rewards the beneficent mind. And how
often have I experienced this in my good lady's time, though b