An inquisitive and meddling spirit often interrupts the good order and breaks the peace of society, RULE XIV. Grammar, p. 238. Key, p. 91. Vice is not of such nature that we can say to it One of the noblest of the Christian virtues is "to love our enemies." "My Many too confidently say to themselves " mountain stands strong and it shall never be removed.' We are strictly enjoined "not to follow a multitude to do evil." RULE XV. The gentle mind is like the smooth stream which reflects every object in its just proportion and in its fairest colours. Beware of those rash and dangerous connexions which may afterwards load you with dishonour. Blind must that man be who discerns not the most striking marks of a Divine government exercised over the world. It is labour only which gives the relish to pleasure. In that unaffected civility which springs from a gen-, tle mind there is an incomparable charm. They who raise envy will easily incur censure. Many of the evils which occasion our complaints of the world are wholly imaginary. He who is good before invisible witnesses is eminently so before the visible. His conduct so disinterested and generous was uniyersally approved. RULE XVI. Grammar, p. 239. Key, p: 92. The fumes which arise from a heart boiling with violent passions never fail to darken and trouble the understanding. If we delay till to-morrow what ought to be done to 1 day we overcharge the morrow with a burden which belongs not to it. By whatever means we may at first attract the attention we can hold the esteem and secure the hearts of others only by amiable dispositions and the accomplishments of the mind. If the mind sow not corn it will plant thistles. One day is sufficient to scatter our prosperity and bring it to nought. Graceful in youth are the tears of sympathy and the heart that melts at the tale of wo. The ever active and restless power of thought if not employed about what is good will naturally and unavoidably engender evil. He who formed the heart certainly knows what passes within it. To be humble and modest in opinion to be vigilant and attentive, in conduct to distrust fair appearances and to restrain rash desires are instructions which the darkness of our present state should strongly incul cate. RULE XVII. Grammar, p. 239. Key, p. 93. The greatest misery is to be condemned by our owa hearts. The greatest misery that we can endure is to be condemned by our own hearts. Charles's highest enjoyment was to relieve the distressed and to do good. The highest enjoyment that Charles ever experienced was to relieve the distressed and to do good. RULE XVIIN If opulence increases our gratifications it increases in the same proportion our desires and demands. He whose wishes respecting the possessions of this world are the most reasonable and bounded is likely to lead the safest and for that reason the most desirable life. By apprising too high we frequently miss the happiness which by a less ambitious aim we might have gained. By proper management we prolong our time; we live more in a few years than others do in many. In your most secret actions suppose that you have all the world for witnesses. In youth the habits of industry are most easily acquired. What is the right path few take the trouble of inquiring. RULE XIX. Providence never intended that any state here should be either completely happy or entirely miserable. As a companion he was severe and satirical; as a friend captious and dangerous; in his domestic sphere harsh jealous and irascible. If the Spring put forth no blossoms in Summer there will be no beauty and in Autumn no fruit. So if youth be trifled away without improvement manhood will be contemptible and old age miserable. RULE XX. Grammar, p. 240. Key, p. 94. Be assured that order frugality and economy are the necessary supports of every personal and private virtue. I proceed secondly to point out the proper state of our temper with respect to one another. Here every thing is in stir and fluctuation; there all is serene steady and orderly, I shall make some observations first on the external and next on the internal condition of man. Sometimes timidity and false shame prevent our opposing vicious customs; frequently expectation and interest impel us strongly to comply. CHAP. II. Sentences requiring the inscrtion of the Semicolon and Comma Grammar, p. 240. Key, p. 94. THAT darkness of character where we can see no heart those foldings of art through which no native affection is allowed to penetrate present an object unamiable in every season of life but particularly odious in youth. To give an early preference to honour above gain when they stand in competition to despise every advantage which cannot be attained without dishonest arts to brook no meanness and to stoop to no dissimulation are the indications of a great mind the presages of future eminence and usefulness in life. As there is a worldly happiness which God perceives to be no other than disguised misery as there are worldly honours which in his estimation are reproach so there is a worldly wisdom which in his sight is foolishness. The passions are the chief destroyers of our peace the storms and tempests of the moral world. Heaven is the region of gentleness and friendship hell of fierceness and animosity. The path of truth is a plain and a safe path that of falsehood is a perplexing maze. Modesty is one of the chief ornaments of youth and it has ever been esteemed a presage of rising merit. Life with a swift though insensible course glides away and like a river which undermines its banks gradually impairs our state. The violent spirit like the troubled waters renders back the images of things distorted and broken and communicates to them all that disordered motion which arises solely from its own agitation. Levity is frequently the forced production of folly or vice cheerfulness is the natural offspring of wisdom and virtue only. Persons who live according to order may be com pared to the celestial bodies which move in regular courses and by stated laws whose influence is benefi cient whose operations are quiet and tranquil. CHAP. III. Sentences requiring the application of the Colon, &c. Grammar, p. 241. Key, p. 96. THE three great enemies to tranquility are vice superstition and idleness vice which poisons and disturbs the mind with bad passions superstition which fills it with imaginary terrors idleness which loads it with tediousness and disguist. To sail on the tranquil service of an unruffled lake and steer a safe course through a troubled and story ocean require different talents and alas! Lu nan life oftener rese ubles the stormy ocean than the unruffled lake. When we look forward to the year which is beginning what do we behold there? All my brethren is a blank to our view a dark unknown presents i'self. Happy would the poor man think himself if he could enter on all the treasures of the rich and happy for a short time he might be but before he had long contemplated and admired his state his possessions would seem to lessen and his cares would grow. By doing or at least endeavouring to do our duty to God and man by acquiring an bumble trust in the mercy and favour of God through Jesus Christ by culti vating our minds and properly employing our time and thoughts by governing our passions and our temper by correcting all unreasonable expectations from the world and from men in the midst of worldly business habituating ourselves to calm retreat and serious recollection by such means as these it may be hoped that through the Divine blessing our days shall flow in a stream as unruffled as the human state admits. A metaphor is a comparison expressed in an abridged form but without any of the words that denote comparison as "To the upright there ariseth light in darkness." All our conduct towards men should be influenced by this important precept Do unto others as you would that others should do unto you." |