A LIFE-LONG EXERCISE.

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to consent to them; nay, it is necessary for the exercise of our Humility, that we be sometimes wounded in this Spiritual Combat. But we are never to be accounted Conquered, unless we lose either our Life or our Courage. Now Natural Imperfections cannot deprive us of Spiritual Life; for that is not lost but by wilful Sin. remains that they daunt not our courage. condition for us in this War, that we may be always Conquerors, if we will fight. De Sales.

It then only It is a happy

Whosoever will arrive at a new life must pass by the death of the old. Ib.

I would rather feel compunction than give the best possible definition of it. Imitation of Christ.

In counteracting our defects, we should be cautious not to blunder by imitation of others. We should search till we find where our character fails, and then amend it not attempt to become another man. Cecil.

Tenderness of conscience is always to be distinguished from scrupulousness. The conscience can not be kept too sensible and tender; but scrupulousness arises from bodily or mental infirmity, and discovers itself in a multitude of ridiculous and superstitious and painful feelings. Ib.

One forgives every thing to him who forgives himself nothing. Chinese Proverb.

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FIDELITY IN LITTLE THINGS.

As it takes a diamond to cut and shape a diamond, so there are faults so obstinate that they are worn away only by life-long contact with similar faults in those we love.

Great virtues are rare; the occasions for them are very rare; and when they do occur, we are prepared for them, we are excited by the grandeur of the sacrifice, we are supported either by the splendor of the deed in the eyes of the world, or by the self-complacency that we experience from the performance of an uncommon action. Little things are unforeseen; they return every moment; they come in contact with our pride, our indolence, our haughtiness, our readiness to take offence; they contradict our inclinations perpetually. We would much rather make certain great sacrifices to God, however violent and painful they might be, upon condition that we should be rewarded by liberty to follow our own desires and habits in the details of life. It is, however, only by fidelity in little things, that a true and constant love to God can be distinguished from a passing fervor of spirit.

Let us remember that God looks in our actions only for the motive. The world judges us by appearance; God counts for nothing what is most dazzling to men. What he desires is a pure intention, true docility, and a sincere self-renunciation. All this is exercised more frequently, and in a way that tries us more severely, on common than on great occasions. Sometimes we cling more tenaciously to a trifle than to a great interest. It would give us more pain to relinquish an amusement than

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to bestow a great sum in charity. We are more easily led away by little things, because we believe them more innocent, and imagine that we are less attached to them; nevertheless, when God deprives us of them, we soon discover from the pain of privation, how excessive and inexcusable was our attachment to them. The sincerity of our piety is also impeached by the neglect of minor duties. What probability is there, that we should not hesitate to make great sacrifices, when we shrink from slight ones?

But what is most dangerous to the mind, is the habit it acquires of unfaithfulness. True love to God thinks nothing small. All that can please or displease him is great. It does not produce constraint and weak scruples, but it places no limits to its fidelity; it acts with simplicity, and as it is not embarrassed with things that God has not commanded, it never hesitates a moment about what he does command, whether it be great or small.

Those persons who are naturally less exact ought to make an inviolable law with themselves about trifles. They are tempted to despise them; they have a habit of thinking them of no consequence; they are not aware of the insensible growth of the passions; they forget even their own most fatal experience. They trust to a delusive courage, though it has before failed them, for the support of their fidelity.

"It is a trifle," they say, "it is nothing." True; but it is a nothing that will be every thing to you, a trifle that you prefer to the will of God, a trifle that will be your

ruin. There is no real elevation of mind in a contempt of little things; it is, on the contrary, from too narrow views, that we consider those things of little importance, which have in fact such extensive consequences. The more apt we are to neglect small things, the more we ought to fear the effects of this negligence, be watchful over ourselves, and place around us, if possible, some insurmountable barrier to this remissness. Do not let us be troubled at this constant attention to trifles; at first it will require courage to maintain it, but it is a penance that we have need of, and that will at last bring us peace and serenity. God will gradually render this state pleasant and easy to us. Fenelon, translated by Mrs. Follen.

"Not that which is much is well; but that which is well is much." God loveth adverbs, and cares not how good, but how well. The homeliest service, if done in obedience and conscience of God's commandment, is crowned with an ample reward. Bishop Hall.

It is a strange fancy of mine, but I cannot help wishing we could move for returns, as their phrase is in parliament, for the suffering caused in any one day, or other period of time, throughout the world, to be arranged under certain heads; and we should then see what the world has occasion to fear most. What a large amount would come under the heads of unreasonable fear of others, of miserable quarrels among relations upon infinitesimally small subjects, of imaginary slights, of undue cares, of false shames,

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of absolute misunderstandings, of unnecessary pains to maintain credit or reputation, of vexation that we cannot make others of the same mind with ourselves.

Tested by these perfect returns, perhaps our every day shaving, severe shirt-collars, and other ridiculous garments are equivalent to a great European war once in seven years; and women's stays may do about as much harm, i. e. cause as much suffering, as an occasional pestilence. Perhaps the love, said to be inherent in the softer sex, of having the last word, may cause as much mischief as all the tornadoes of the Tropics; and the vexation inflicted by servants on their masters by assuring them that such and such duties do not belong to their place, is equivalent to all the sufferings that have been caused by mad dogs since the world began. Helps.

I felt, while dressing this morning, a fretful querulous influence upon my spirit, for which there was no apparent cause, and I said to myself, "I am in a very cranky sort of humor I must take care what I am about to-day."

These strange attacks of gloom and restlessness are suddenly and wonderfully alleviated by the interposition of any subject of pleasurable excitement; and for a long period of my life, I opposed them after the fashion in which unwise parents quiet a fractious child, by giving it a cake or a new toy; that is to say, I went forth and bought something pretty or pleasant, or wrote a letter to or made a call upon, somebody or other; in short, I made an effort to produce a feeling of agreeable excitement in