9. They went into the country yesterday morning very early, and before night they will return. They rode together as far as the eighth mile-stone, and then they separated. They esteemed and loved each other, and lived together in peace, quietness, and tranquillity. They set off late from town, and long before they arrived at the end of their journey they were benighted. The night being very dark, she was greatly alarmed. The prodigal robs his heir, the miser robs himself. To mourn without measure is folly; not to mourn at all, insensibility. The heart of fools is in their mouth, but the tongue of the wise is in their heart. When our vices leave us, we flatter ourselves that we leave them. 11. The best and most likely way to succeed in any business is to be active, &c. The sure way to obtain the favour of our Maker is to obey, &c. The most probable mode of gaining the esteem of those around us is, &c. The best means to secure peace of mind, is to be, &c. 12. When you go hence, do not forget those whom you have left behind. Formerly they were frugal, hardy, and industrious; but now, on the contrary, they are idle, luxurious, and dissipated. Lastly, above all, strive to preserve a conscience void of offence towards, &c. Finally, whatsoever things, &c. 125 Nay, think not so. Once more, I declare that, &c. In short, I shall say no more, than that this, his last act, has filled up his cup of iniquity, and completed, &c. He will never do so again if, once more, you will pardon and receive him to favour. Secondly, I will state the terms of agreement, and trust to their sense, &c. Semicolon. Among other arguments for the immortality of the soul, there is one, drawn from the perpetual progress of of the soul towards its perfection, without a possibility of ever ariving at it; which is a hint not much enlarged upon by those who have written on the subject, though it appears to carry with it very great weight. To look upon the soul as going on from strength to strength; to consider that she is to shine for ever with new accessions of glory, and brighten to all eternity; that she will be still adding virtue to virtue, and knowledge to knowledge, carries with it something wonderfully agreeable to that ambition which is natural to the mind of man. Nay, it must be a sight pleasing to God himself, to see his creatures beautifying in his eyes, for ever, and drawing nearer to him with greater degrees of resemblance. Colon. How could it enter into the thoughts of man, that the soul which is capable of immense perfection, and of receiving, continually, new improvements, will fall away to nothing, almost as soon as it is created? Are such abilities made for no purpose? A brute arrives at a point of perfection which he can never pass: in a few years, he has all the endowments of which he is capable: and were he to live ten thousand more, he would be the same thing he is at present. A most useful admonition is given in that precept of wisdom, which ancient poets asserted to have descended from heaven : Know thyself.” Period. Love all. Trust a few. Do wrong to none. Be able for thy enemy, rather in power, than use. Keep thy friend under thy own life's key. Be checked for silence, but never tasked for speech. well, what character we probably bear enemies. Let us consider among our Our friends, very often, flatter us as much as our own hearts: they either do not see our faults; or they conceal them from us; or they soften them by representing them in such a manner, that we think them tco trivial to be noticed. On the contrary, an adversary makes a stricter search into us; discovers every flaw and imperfection in our tempers: and though malice may set them in too strong a light, yet it has, generally, some ground for what it advances. A friend exaggerates a man's virtues; an enemy inflames his crimes. CHAP. II. The Dash. Retire-The world shut out-Thy thoughts call home- Lock up thy senses -Let no passion stir— Something eternal Had there e'er been nought, -That art Such various forms, and gave it wings to fly? Interrogation. When will you come and see us? Shall we, for fear of dying, shrink from asserting our liberty? Why will ye die, O house of Israel? Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked? saith Jehovah.` When, oh when, wilt thou quit thy wicked courses? When wilt thou, &c.? Since he is not conscious of having committed the crime, why should he fear the punishment? Exclamation. Oh how rejoiced will he be when he shall hear these glad tidings! Oh that the Lord would guide my ways To keep his statutes still! Oh that my God would grant me grace, How sad, how dejected, how mournful is he! |