The charms of virtue, indeed, it is scarcely possible, for him who has felt them, wholly to forget. There may be eyes that can look unmoved on the external beauty which once delighted them. But who is there that has ever been alive to its better influence, who can think of moral loveliness without a feeling of more than admiration,--without a conscious enjoyment, in the possession of what is so truly admirable, or a sigh at having lost the privilege of dwelling on it with delight, and at being obliged to shrink from the very thought of what it once appeared? “For what can strive With virtue? which of nature's regions vast Can in so many forms produce to sight Such powerful beauty?--Beauty, which the eye Of hatred cannot look upon secure; Which Envy's self contemplates, and is turn'd Ere long to tenderness, to infant smiles, Or tears of humblest love. Is ought so fair, In all the dewy landscapes of the Spring, The Summer's noontide groves, the purple eve At harvest-home, or in the frosty moon Glittering on some smooth sea, is aught so fair As virtuous friendship? As the honour'd roof, Whither, from highest heaven, immortal love, His torch etherial, and his golden bow, Propitious brings, and there a temple holds, To whose unspotted service gladly vow'd, The social bond of parent, brother, child, With smiles, and sweet discourse, and gentle deeds, Adore his power? What gift of richest clime E'er drew such eager eyes, or prompted such Deep wishes, as the zeal, that snatcheth back From Slander's poisonous tooth a _foe's_ renown, Or crosseth Danger in his lion-walk, A rival's life to rescue?” The study of moral science, then, we have seen, has a direct tendency to strengthen our attachment to the virtues which we habitually contemplate. _Another_ most important advantage derived from it, relates to us in our higher character of beings _capable of religion_, increasing our devotion and gratitude to the Divinity, by the clearest manifestation which it gives us of his provident goodness in the constitution and government of the moral world.