1 ment; and will be present with him in their full weight and measure, as much as those pains and pleasures which he feels at this very instant. For this reason, he is careful to secure to himself that which is the proper happiness of his nature, and the ultimate design of his being. 18. He caries his thoughts to the end of every action; and considers the most distant as well as the most immediate effects of it. He supersedes" every little prospect of fiain and advantage which offers itself here, if he does not gnd it consistent with his views of an hereafter. In a word his hopes are full of immortality; his schemes are large and glorious; and his conduct suitable to one who knows his true interest, and how to pursue it by proper methods. SECTION V. ADDISON. Ac-coun-ta-ble, ak-koun-ta-bl, re-j Ex-pulsion, eks-půl-shin, the act of sponsible, of whom an account may • Vol-un-tu-ry, vol-un-ta-re, acting by! expelling k Re-miss, re-mis', slack, slothful, idle Un-re-strain-ed, on-re-stran'd', looss, not limited O-rig-i-nal-ly, d-rid-je-nal-le, prima-m Su-pine, så-pine', lying with the face In-ces-sant, in-ses'-sånt, continual Per-ma-nent, për'-må nênt, durable, lasting o-De-vise, de-vize', to contrive, to grant p q by will Per-pe-trate, pêr'-pê-trate, to commit Mis-ap-pli-ca-tion, mis-ap-ple-ka' s I-de-al, i-de-al, mental, intellectual On the government of our thoughts. 1. A MULTITUDE of cases occur, in which we are no less accountable for what we think, than for what we do. As, first, when the introduction of any train of thought depends upon ourselves, and is our voluntary act, by turning our attention towards such objects, awakening such passions, or engaging in such employments, as we know must give a peculiar determination to our thoughts. Next, when thoughts, by whatever accident they may have been originally suggested, are indulged with deliberation and complacency. 2. Though the mind has been passive in their reception, and, therefore, free from blame; yet, if it be active in their continuance, the guilt becomes its own. They 1 may have intruded at first, like unbidden guests; but if when entered, they are made welcome, and kindly entertained, the case is the same as if they had been invited from the beginning. 3. If we are thus accountable to God for thoughts ei ther voluntarily introduced, or deliberately indulged, we are no less so, in the last place, for those which find admittance into our hearts from supine negligence, from total relaxations of attention, from allowing our imagination to rove,s with entire licence, "like the eyes of the fool, towards the end of the earth." 4. Our minds are, in this case, thrown open te folly and vanity. They are prostituted to every evil thing which pleases to take possession. The consequences must all be charged to our account; and in vain we plead excuse from human infirmity. Hens it appears, that the great object at which we are to aid in governing our thoughts, is, to take the most effectual measures for preventing the introduction of such as are sinful; and for hastening their expulsion, if they shall have introduced themselves without consent of the will. 5. But when we descend into our breasts, and examine how far we have studied to keep this object in view, who can tell, "how oft he hath offended?" In no article of religion or morals are men more culpably remiss, than in the unrestrained indulgence they give to fancy; and that too, for the most part, without remorse. Since the time that reason began to exert her powers, thought, during our waking hours, has been active in every breast, without & moment's suspension or pause. 6. The current of ideas has been always flowing. The wheels of the spiritual engine have circulated with perpetual motion. Let me ask, what has been the fruit of this incessant activity, with the greater part of mankind? Of the innumerable hours that have been employed in thought, how few are marked with any permanent or useful effect? How many have either passed away in idle dreams; or have been abandoned to anxious discon tented musings, to unsocial and malignant passions, or to irregular and criminal desires ? 7. Ilad 1 power to lay open that storehouse of iniquity which the hearts of too many conceal; could I draw out and read to them a list of all the imaginations they have devised, and all the passions they have indulged in se eret; what a picture of men should I present to them 1. : selves! What crimes would they appear to have perpetrated in secrecy which to their most intimate companions they durst not reveal! 8. Even when men imagine their thoughts to be innocently employed, they too commonly suffer them to run out into extravagant imaginations and chimerical plans of what they would wish to attain, or choose to be, if they could frame the course of things according to their desire. Though such employments of fancy come not under the same description with those which are plainly criminal, yet wholly unblamable they seldom are. 9. Besides the waste of time which they occasion, and the misapplications which they indicate of those intellectual powers that were given to us for much nobler purposes, such romantic speculation leads us always into the neighbourhood of forbidden regions. They place us on dangerous gro nd. They are, for the most part, connected with some one bad passion; and they always nourish a giddy and frivolous turn of thought. 10. They unfit the mind for applying with vigour to rational pursuits, or for acquiescing in sober plans of conduct. From that ideal world in which it allows itself to dwell, it returns to the commerce of men, unbent and relaxed, sickly and tainted, averse to discharging the duties, and sometimes disqualified even for relishing the pleasures of ordinary life. SECTION VI. & Re-volt, rè-volt', to fall off, desert Im-pet-u-os-i-ty, im-petsh-b-os-é-te, & Pur-suit, pår-sate', the act of pursu ing, chase • Dis-com-pose, dis-kom-poze', to dis order, offend i m Dis-qual-i-fy, dis-kwol-e-fi, to makel unfit, to disable by some natural orn legal impediment tion of reason BLAIR. Se-duce, sè-dose', to tempt, mislead As-sas-sin, as-sas-sin, a Trag-i-cal, tråd-je-kål, mournful, Bane-ful, bane'-fül, poisonous, de- In-fat-u-a-tion, in-fatsh-u-à-shon, the o Li-cen-tious, i-sen'-shås, unrestrained 1 On the evils which flow from unrestrained passions. 1. WHEN man revolted from his maker, his passions rebelled against himself; and, from being originally the ministers of reason, have become the tyrants of the soul. Hence, in treating of this subject, two things may be as sumed as principles; first, that through the present weakness of the understanding, our passions are often directed towards improper objects; and next, that even when their direction is just, and their objects are innocent, they perpetually tend to run into excess; they always hurry us towards their gratification, with a blind and dangerous impetuosity.c 2. On these two points then turns the whole government of our passions: first, to ascertain the proper objects of their pursuit ; d and next, to restrain them in that pursuit, when they would carry us beyond the bounds of reason. If there is any passion which intrudes itself unseasonably into our mind, which darkens and troubles our judgment, or habitually discomposes our temper; which unfits us for properly discharging the duties, or disqualifies us for cheerfully enjoying the comforts of life, we may certainly conclude it to have gained a dangerous as cendant. 3. The great object which we ought to propose to ourselves is, to acquire a firm and steadfast mind, which the infatuations of passion shall not seduce, nor its violence shake; which, resting on fixed principles, shall, in the midst of contending emotions, remain free, and master of itself; able to listen calmly to the voice of conscience, and prepared to obey its dictates without hesitation. 4. To obtain, if possible, such command of passion, is one of the highest attainments of the rational nature.Arguments to show its importance crowd upon us from every quarter. If there be any fertile source of mischief to human life, it is, beyond doubt, the misrule of passion. It is this which poisons the enjoyment of individuals, overturns the order of society, and strews the path of life with so many miseries, as to render it indeed the vale of tears. 5. All those great scenes of public calamity, which we behold with astonishment and horror, have originated from the source of violent passions. These have overspread the earth with bioodshed. These have pointed the assassin's dagger, and filled the poisoned bowl.These, in every age, have furnished too copious' materials for the orator's pathetic declamation, and for the poet's tragicalTM song. 6. When from public life we descend to private conduct, though passion operates not there in so wide and destructive a sphere, we shall find its influence to be ne less baneful. I need not mention the black and fierce passions, such as envy, jealousy, and revenge, whose effects are obviously noxious, and whose agitations are immediate misery. 7. But take any of the licentious and sensual kind. Suppose it to have unlimit 1 scope; trace it throughout its course; and we shall find that gradually, as it rises, it faints the soundness, and troubles the peace of his mind, over whom it reigns; that, in its progress, it engages him in pursuits which are marked either with danger or with shame; that, in the end, it wastes his fortune, destroys his health, or debases his character; and aggravates all the miseries in which it has involved him, with the concluding pangs of bitter remorse. Through all the stages of this fatal course, how many have heretofore run? What multitudes do we daily behold pursuing it, with blind and headlong steps? SECTION VII. terest, business BLAIR. a Un-a-void-a-ble, in-a-void-a-bl, in-e Con-cern, kôn-sêrn', to relate to, inevitable • Sus-pic-ious, sås-pish'-as, inclined to f Vi-o-lent, vi-d-lent, forcible, vehe suspect ment • Aid, ade, help, support, to help, tog Disg-uise, dizg-yize', to conceal, dis support grace, deform d Ce-mont, sè mênt', to unite by meansh In-junc-tion, in-junk'-shon, command, of something interposed order On the proper state of our temper, with respect to one another. 1. Ir is evident, in the general, that if we consult either public welfare or private happiness, Christian charity ought to regulate our disposition in mutual intercourse. But as this great principle admits of several diversified appearances, let us consider some of the chien forms under which it ought to show itself in the usual. tenor of life. 2. What, first, presents itself to be recommended, is a peaceable temper; a disposition averse to give offence, and desirous of cultivating harmony, and amicable intercourse in society. This supposes yielding and condescending manners, unwillingness to contend with others about trifles, and, in contests that are unavoidable, proper moderation of spirit. Such a temper is the first principle of self-enjoyment. It is the basis of all order and happiness among mankind. 3. The positive and contentious, the rude and quarrel |