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expenses of that time which is to depend wholly upon the fund already acquired✓

SECTION V.

WHAT avails the show of external liberty, to one who has lost the government of himself?

He that cannot live well to-day, (says Martial,) will be less qualified to live well to-morrow.

Can we esteem that man prosperous, who is raised to a situation which flatters his passions, but which corrupts his principles, disorders his temper, and, finally, oversets his

virtue ?

What misery does the vicious man secretly endure!-Adversity! how blunt are all the arrows of thy quiver, in com-. parison with those of guilt!

When we have no pleasure in goodness, we may with eertainty conclude the reason to be, that our pleasure is all derived from an opposite quarter.

How strangely are the opinions of men altered, by a change in their condition!

How many have had reason to be thankful, for being disappointed in designs which they earnestly pursued, but which, if successfully accomplished, they have afterwards seen, would have occasioned their ruin!

What are the actions which afford in the remembrance a rational satisfaction? Are they the pursuits of sensual pleasure, the riots of jollity, or the displays of show and vanity? No: I appeal to your hearts, my friends, if what you recollect with most pleasure, are not the innocent, the virtuous. the honourable parts of your past life.

The present employment of time should frequently be an object of thought. About what are we now busied? What is the ultimate scope of our present pursuits and cares? Can we justify them to ourselves? Are they likely to produce any thing that will survive the moment, and bring forth som fruit for futurity ?

Is it not strange, (says an ingenious writer,) that som persons should be so delicate as not to bear a disagreeabl picture in the house, and yet by their behaviour, force ever face they see about them, to wear the gloom of uneasines and discontent ?

If we are now in health, peace, and safety; without an particular or uncommon evils to afflict our condition; wha more can we reasonably look for in this vain and uncerta world? How little can the greatest prosperity add to such

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state? Will any future situation ever make us happy, if now, with so few causes of grief, we imagine ourselves miserable? The evil lies in the state of our mind, not in our condition of fortune; and by no alteration of circumstances is likely to be remedied.

When the love of unwarrantable pleasures, and of vicious companions, is allowed to amuse young persons, to engross their time, and to stir up their passions; the day of ruin,let them take heed and beware! the day of irrecoverable ruin begins to draw nigh. Fortune is squandered; health is broken; friends are offended, affronted, estranged; aged parents, perhaps, sent afflicted and mourning to the dust.

On whom does time hang so heavily as on the slothful and lazy? to whom are the hours so lingering? Who are so often devoured with spleen, and obliged to fly to every expedient, which can help them to get rid of themselves? Instead of producing tranquility, indolence produces a fret. ful restlessness of mind; gives rise to cravings which are never satisfied; nourishes a sickly effeminate delicacy, which sours and corrupts every pleasure.

SECTION VI.

We have seen the husbandman scattering his seed upon the furrowed ground! it springs up, is gathered into his barns, and crowns his labours with joy and plenty. Thus the man, who distributes his fortune with generosity and prudence, is amply repaid by the gratitude of those whom he obliges; by the approbation of his own mind, and by the favour of Heaven. Temperance, by fortifying the mind and body, leads to happiness: intemperance, by enervating them, ends generally in misery.

Title and ancestry render a good man more illustrious; bat an ill one, more contemptible. Vice is infamous, though in prince; and virtue honourable though in a peasant. An elevated genius, employed in little things, appears (to ise the simile of Longinus) like the sun in his evening delination, he remits his splendour, but retains his magnitude: And pleases more, though he dazzles less.

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If envious people were to ask themselves, whether they would exchange their entire situation with the persons envid, (I mean their minds, passions, notions, as well as their Prsons, fortunes, and dignities,) - I presume the self-love, ommon to human nature, would generally make them pre'r their own condition.

We have obliged some persons: very well! what would

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we have more? Is not the consciousness of doing good, a sufficient reward?

Do not hurt yourselves or others, by the pursuit of pleas ure. Consult your whole nature. Consider yourselves not only as sensitive, but as rational beings; not only as rational, but social; not only as social, but immortal.

Art thou poor? Show thyself active and industrious, peaceable and contented. Art thou wealthy? Show thyself beneficent and charitable, condescending and humane.

Though religion removes not all the evils of life, though it promises no continuance of undisturbed prosperity, (which indeed it were not salutary for man always to enjoy,) yet, if it mitigates the evils which necessarily belong to our state, it may justly be said to give "rest to them who labour, and are heavy laden."

What a smiling aspect does the love of parents and children, of brothers and sisters, of friends and relations, give to every surrounding object, and every returning day! With what a lustre does it gild even the small habitation, where such placid intercourse dwells! where such scenes of heartfelt satisfaction succeed uninterruptedly to one another!

How many clear marks of benevolent intention appear every where around us! What a profusion of beauty and ornament is poured forth on the face of nature! What a magnificent spectacle presented to the view of Man! What supply contrived for his wants! What a variety of objects set before him to gratify his senses, to employ his understanding, to entertain his imagination, to cheer and gladden his heart!

The hope of future happiness is a perpetual source of consolation to good men. Under trouble, it soothes their minds; amidst temptation, it supports their virtue; and in their dying moments enables them to say, "O death! where is thy sting? O grave! where is thy victory!"

SECTION VII.

AGESILAUS, king of Sparta, being asked, "What things he thought most proper for boys to learn," answered; "Those which they ought to practise when they come to be men.",. A wiser than Agesilaus has inculcated the same sentiment: Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."

An Italian philosopher expressed in his motto, that " time ras his estate." An estate indeed, which will produce noth-s ng without caltivation; but which will always abundantly epay the labours of industry, and satisfy the most exte

esires, if no part of it be suffered to lie waste by negligence; be overrun with noxious plants; or laid out for show rathr. than use.

When Aristotle was asked "What a man could gain by elling a falsehood," he replied, "Not to be credited when e speaks the truth."

L'Estrange in his fables tells us, that a number of frolicome boys were one day watching frogs, at the side of a bond; and that, as any of them put their heads above the water, they pelted them down again with stones. One of The frogs, appealing to the humanity of the hoys, made this Striking observation; "Children, you do not consider, that though this may be sport to you, it is death to us."

Sully, the great statesman of France, always retained at his table, in his most prosperous days, the same frugality to which he had been accustomed in early life. He was frequently reproached, by the courtiers for this simplicity; but he used to reply to them, in the words of an ancient philosopher; "If the guests are men of sense, there is sufficient for them: if they are not, I can very well dispense with their company." Socrates, though primarily attentive to the culture of his wind, was not negligent of his external appearance. His leanliness resulted from those ideas of order and decency, which governed all his actions; and the care which he took of his health, from his desire to preserve his mind free and tranquil.

Eminently pleasing and honourable was the friendship beween David and Jonathan. "I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan," said the plaintive and surviving David; "very pleasant hast thou been to me: thy love for me was wonderful; passing the love of women."

Sir Philip Sydney, at the battle near Zutphen, was wounded by a musket ball, which broke the bone of his thigh. He was carried about a mile and a half, to the camp; and being faint with the loss of blood, and probably parched with thirst hrough the heat of the weather, he called for drink. It is immediately brought to him: but as he was putting the ssel to his mouth, a poor wounded soldier, who happened that instant to be carried by him, looked up to it with rishful eyes. The gallant and generous Sydney took the bottle from his mouth, and delivered it to the soldier, saying. Thy necessity is yet greater than mine." Alexander the Great demanded of a pirate, whom he had rtaken, by what right he infested the seas? "By the same ht," replied he, "that Alexander enslaves the world

CHAP. I.

Select Sentences, &c.

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But I am called a robber, because I have only one small vessel; and he is styled a conqueror, because he commands great flects and armies." We too often judge of men by the splendour, and not by the merit of their actions.

Antoninus Pius, the Roman Emperor, was an amiable and good man. When any of his courtiers attempted to inflame him with a passion for military glory, he used to answer: "That he more desired the preservation of one subject, than the destruction of a thousand enemies.""

Men are too often ingenious in making themselves miserable, by aggravating to their own fancy, beyond bounds, all the evils which they endure. They compare themselves with none but those whom they imagine to be more happy; and complain, that upon them alone has fallen the whole load of human sorrows. Would they look with a more impartial eye on the world, they would see themselves surrounded with sufferers; and find that they are only drinking out of that mixed cup, which Providence has prepared for all." I will restore thy daughter again to life," said the eastern sage, to a prince who grieved immoderately for the loss of a beloved child, " provided thou art able to engrave on her tomb, the names of three persons who have never mourned." The prince made inquiry after such persons; but found the inquiry vain, and was silent.

SECTION VIII.

He that hath no rule over his own spirit, is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

A soft answer turneth away wrath; but grievous words stir up anger.

Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.

Pride goeth before destruction; and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be truly wise.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. Open rebuke is better than secret love. Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him.

He that is slow to anger, is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city. He that hath pity on the poor, lendeth to the Lord Thich he hath given, will he pay him again.

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