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through with and away from, as soon as possible. This view is the consequence, in part, no doubt of the present disordered state of society, which often causes persons to be thrown, or to put themselves, into offices for which they are unfit, and for the duties of which, consequently, they can have no relish. But a more general cause is the interior disorder of man's own heart—from which indeed all the disorders of outward society proceed—his selfishness, his love of ease and self-indulgence, his disregard of the happiness of others. Acting from these selfish ends, it is only the emoluments of an office that he cares for, not the office itself, nor the benefits it is intended to confer upon society. The selfish man—and men are too generally such at this day, and thence comes all the misery in the world—sees in all that he has or does only himself and his own interest. If engaged in common private business, his end is merely to "make money;" and so that this end be accomplished, he cares not how his work is done, whether well or ill; and he takes no delight in it, because his end is not in the work itself, but only in the gain which the work may bring. This makes it a task and drudgery, which he is glad to get through with as soon, and with as little pains, as possible. So, also, in public life, the selfish man, in discharging the duties of his office, has an eye not so much to the general good as to his own reputation and distinction; and though he may labor, and labor hard, and fulfil thoroughly his duties, it is with the secret end that this well-doing may give him credit in the eyes of the world, and so secure his promotion to places still higher, and to honor and emoluments still greater. Acting with this view, neither can he enjoy the duties of the office