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AND ILLUSTRATED FROM
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Analogy! ~h1tory, amt the Writings of' Velebrated :• _,v,.
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!Ancl~nt. and lllo(lern Anthorl!I,
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Entcted

ficco~d h1g to Act of Cong~ees, in the year 1853,
DY C. S. FRANcrs k Co.,

In 1110 Clerk'• Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District
of New York,

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PREFACE.

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and the publishers sincerely hope that this "Guide" may be the means of
supplying a lack which has been long felt by intelligent teachers, and of raising English composition
· in schools from the puerile repetition of a hackneyed
fable, or the random "commonplaces" of a' moral
essay, into an art which has for its object the
analysis, illustraiion, development, and expression,
of solid thought.

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DIRECTIONS :~·Fo I( USE.
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Tms book may be profitably employed in several ways,._.~c
cording to the capacity of the pupils in ~hose hand it is plac~ .
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··I. WITH THE VERY YOUNG. ' ·. : .

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. If placed in the ha~ds of very young children, 'jtisfiibie~'t
write, the plan of proceeding might be somewhat after the. fo!
lowing suggestions :-Let two or more bf them ·be called up ·b•.F-.- their teacher, and be required to rea? aloud the theme . ~~.~-~
beginning to end. Let the different ·ideas be explained and_ ~
~- amplified viva voce; then let ~em return to their place~ · with' -~
-,- - the book, and be required to write upon a slate every point of ' 1'iii
';;;~·; resemblance they can ' think of between one or more '.of th'
SillnLEs, , and the subject of the Theme. . 'r hus, in Theme,-I.
,· ~!·P°:t·ience 11:1ul Pers~verance · v;ill overcome ~fountains," :'. t~ ,- ~
habits of. ·bees, ants, birds, coral msects, &c,, wil.l suggest nume:~_
._. . rems points of illustration to the youngest child, and .thejotting~
· of..foes~ .- will rapidly develop the mind, exercise. Jngenui~J'.t "',~
'provoke knowledge, and teach both English grammar an(l_: or·
:thography in the most agreeable .and best ,way•.. · Letthe chit·
have the free use of any books-let every help and facility; ~,
given--'-and remember that the art of selecting is itself an ex~~
cise
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··· _.,..\,;.
,, of judgment of no inconsiderable value;
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,. ';~W}~!I ~HOSE BETWEEN TUE AGES OF .ELEVEN ~ND/ill~~~:
_ ~ff tho~e m whose hands the book is placed are advanced b
gp.d the age , of mere childhood, the plan of operation· woul.
_· so~ewhat after th~ following manner :-Let the , class ,b
3.1le(l ,up,· a~d be required to read aloud the th~me from begi.~
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DIIlECTIONS FOR USE.

ning to end. Ld the books be then closed, and let the master
question the pupils upon what has been r ead: thus,
'Yhat is the meaning of the proverb, " Patience and P erse-

-cerance will orercome

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Can any of you tell me a r eason -why patient diligence will
surmount difficulties?
ca·n you suggest any other r eason ?- a third, a fourth, &c.
a simile-nnd so on to the end.
Let all the assembl ed cla ss speak in nn sn-er.
Ha.Ying gone throug h the entire subj ect in this mann er, let
the master himself read aloud to the assembled cln.ss the several
reasons, csmmand the pupils to leave their books behind, go to
their assigned places, and produce, in a given tim ~, a th eme
with at least half the number of reasons, and one simile, historical illustration, and quotation, together with a conclusion, by .
way of moral or application.
N . .B. L et the pupils have the free use of any book s except
the "Guide" it'1elf~ and be allowed to excerp to any length, pro, vided th ey satis(y the condl.tions of the theme, and acknowledge
the source when ce the selection is taken.
Ill.

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PGI'lLS STILL

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PART L :
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Theme.

I. Patience. and Perseverance, will overcome Mounta ins
II Rome was not built in a. Day
III. He who. hunts two Hares leaves one and loses

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the other . .
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. IV. Idleness is the_R u1:1t of the Mind
12
- v;' .Th~ first Stroke is half the Battle
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·vr. A gc;i_q_dly .Apple is often rotten aUhe Core
19
d ! ' VII. Ly,ing is ~ h~d Trade
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;: · ' VIII. .Make Hay while tbe Sun shines
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' IX. Ev il 'E xamples are like pestilential Diseases
.J.
- X . E1~plo_yrnent is the Salt of Life
f!.-. i · XI. .The greatest Events are often drawn by Hairs _
XII. Mental Stimulus is necessary for bodily Exercise XIII. KuowleJgc is rower
' :•..u . XIV. ,It you -w ish to give your Talents fai~· Play, dress
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the same plan mrry be pursned, only let them be required to
give the full number of r easons.

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IY. THE llWHES'l' STAGE.

The most diffi cu1t exercise will be to fin up the outlin es and
incorporate the similes, histori cal illustrati ons, and quotation s,
·j ~l~..: with the aq:~:umcnt itself. In this case the book may r emain in
jff- · the hnnrls of the writer; and it will n ot Le needful for th e nrns.tcr to trouble himself by any iutcrfrrf'JH'(', Lut sim ply to exam in e the proilndion :iftf'r it is romplctc·d.
N . R Certain cn.utfoirn .. have been snggested on page J 84-,
whi ch should be .. diligently regarded.

well
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..., _ .XV. Houesty is t)ie best Policy. (Part I.)
en t _4yI., f.~e who )s honest from Policy is .. n~t an honest

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-'. - ·.~. Man.,_ (!'art. I.J.) - - " c ; h ·w· d bl .
XVII.. ,;\..little SJr~~ r~o~s whi,ch, way t e. .. 1,n
,ows --"-"'-~
"~f;,. XVIII. "M.~ntal Ch~ltiv,atio'! conduces to ~o~~.• H~al;Ji and _ ."·· --= ·
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XIX. ··Order is needful for improvement
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CONTENTS.

Theme.

XX. None are completely happy
XXI. Resist the beginnings of Evil
XXII. Necessity is the Mother of Invention
XXIII. Pride is the Bane of Happiness
XXIV. Habit is second Nature
XXV. A Man is known by his Companions
XXVI. Virtue is its own Reward
XXVII. Vice brings its own Punishment
XX VIII. A wounded Reputation is seldom cured XXIX. A good Cause makes a stout Heart
XXX. Contentment is the true Philosopher's Ston~
XXXI. Take care of the Pence, and the Pounds will
take care of themselves
· XXXII. Idle young Men make needy old ones
XXXIII. A soft Answer turneth awav Wrath
;XXXIV. Every Bird is known by hil'l" Note
XXXV. A slow Fire makt:s sweet Malt
.XXXVI. It is dangerous to play with edged Tools XXXVII. Too much Familiarity breeds Contempt . ~-fXVIII. The Cross of Vice is far heavier than that of
~ Virtue
' XXXIX. EuJeavour _to he what you would seem to be
XL. The Love of Money is the Root of all Evil
XLI. The Middle Station of Life is n10st favourable to
Virtue and Happiness XLIL The Usefulne;;s of 1fathernatical Lcarniug
X LllI. A Classical is far superior to a mere English
Education
XLIV. Works of Taste have a social Benefit on Man
XLV. Why should a whole Class be " turned down"
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wlwn OJJe or Two Boys of it do not know
the appointe<l Lesson? (Part I. "Pro.'')
XL VI. Why 1:1hould not a whole Class be "turned
down," when One or Two Boys of it do not
know the appointed Lesson?
(I'art II.
"Con.")

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The Ideal affords more Pleasure than the Real . .: -,
,.n.:':'X LVIII ' Th; sec~nd Blow makes the Fray ' ~·'
·;/; ·· XLIX.' Cleanliness is a Pearl of the first Water
. ~ (".:'. · L, The Fruits of Labour are sweeter than ~he Gifts ~f.
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· than those which are laid upon us
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,!.-':;;::" LIT. Ye are the Salt of the Earth
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;Poetry and well-conducted Periodicals are not with·~
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ollt their Uses ,
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.1~f~~ LIV. The Study of Chemistry and Natural Philosophy
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204
Luxury destroys both Independence and Liberty / / .r 209 '\~
---~ Learning _conduces to moral and private Virtues . .:"'. f 212 -~)~
215
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oc)ij'Q be good is to ,be happy -. , I
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gathers no Moss
224
.. :~ ~- XI. Little Neglect may breed great Mischief
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230
'§'~ ~Xfil;_ He who makes mention of an old Offence separates

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119

125
129

154
159

C AUTIONS

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103
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OONTENTS,

PART,II. . . 1,-·, : .. ,

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95

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144

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1LX~A:rolling .Stone

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CONTENTS.

Theme.

LXXIV.
L XXV.
L XXVI.
· LXXVII.
LXX VIII.
LXXIX.
LXXX.
LXXXI:
LXXXII.

Pnge.

Susp ect not without good Cause
- 261
Be an xious for nothing- 264
I t is not lawful to do E vil t hat 11ornl mny come 267
Study to mind your own Business. (Part I.)
272
Study to mind your own Business, and not
another's. (Part II.)
The Commandm ents of God nre not grievous
Set not your Affections on Things below
Anger is temporary Madness
- 283
Be merciful
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PAltT III.
' LXXXIII.
LXXXIV.
LXK XV.
LXXXVI.
LXXXVII.
LXXXV III.
LXXXIX.

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Hunger 1s the best Sauce
A blithe Heart makes a blooming Visage
Slander ahvays leaves a Slur
By other's 'Faults wise Men correct their own He that hath Pity on the Poor lendeth to th e Lord
Fools make a mock of Sin
Prosperi Ly •is a stronger Trial of Virtue than
Adversity
XO. Envy is Rottenness of the Bones
XOI. A righteous Man regardeth the Life of his Beast
XCII. He that oppresseth the Poor reproacheth his
Maker
XOIII. A Fault confessed is half redressed
XOIV. Charity hopeth all Things, and is kind
XC V. Necessity has no Law XOVI. A guilty Conscience is the worst Accuser
XOVII. Swear not at all .
XOVIII. . Lea1'ning is better than House and {and
XCIX. Keep the Sabbath holy C. Never contend about Trifles
CI. · Ye are the light of the World
CII. , The Righteous is more excellent than his Neighbour ·-·

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292
294
296
29 7
299

300
303
305
30'1
309
310
312
314
316
319
321
323

325
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CONTENTS.

Theme.

Strength is increased by Concord
Gifts destroy Independence
Great Bargains are great Pickpockets
When Honour ceases, Knowledge decreases
Grasp all lose all
Kindness begets Kindness
,
The Crow thinks her own Bird th~ fairest
New Brooms sweep clean
Wh ere there is a Will there is a Way 'l'he sweetest wine makes the tartest Vinegar We readily believe what. we wish
l'rud ence will thrive where Genius would starve
Flattery is a honeyed Sting
Never entrust to another what you can <lo yourself
The Perfection of Art is to conceal Art
Never be shamed to cat what is set before you
Jt very Grain hath its Bran
Set a Beggar on Horseback and he will ride it to
Death
CLIII. A Bird in the Hand is worth Two in the Bush
CLIV. The Race is not to the Swift
CL V. The Lriziest People take the most Trouble
CL VI. 'l'he Burnt Child dreads Fire
CLVI I. There is a Tide in the Affairs of Men
CL VIII. M:.m y a Slip 'twixt tli e Cup and the Lip
CLIX. He who wants to b eat bis Dog may soon fiud a Stick
CLX. Economy is the Philo.5oph er's Stone
CLXT. Forgiven ess is the noblest Revenge
CLX 1I. The Offender never p:-ir<lons
CLXIII. Practical Jokes are vulgar
CLXIV. Short H.eckouiugs mak e long Friends
CLXV. Good \Viuc ucd~ no Bush
CLX VI. Va riety is charming
CLXVII. ~Honour io whom Hononr i ~ <lnc CLXV H L Time brings all Thing'> to Light .
CLXIX. Never wear a lnvwu Hat ".11 fricE>laml
CLXX. Train up a Child in th e Way be shoulrl go
CLXXL Out of Debt out of Danger

CXXX V.
CXXXVI.
CXXXVII.
CXXXVIII.
CXXXIX.
CXL.
CXLI.
CXLI{.
CXLIII.
CXLIV.
CXLV.
CX LVI.
CXL VII.
OX LVIII.
CXLIX.
CL.
CLI.
CLII.

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Page.

400
ib.
ib.
ib.
ib.
401
ib.
ib.
ib.
402
ib.
ib.
ib.
403
ib:
ib.
ib.

ib.
404

ib.
ib.
405

ib.
ib.
ib.
406

ib.
i b.
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407
ib.

ib.
ib.

ib.
408

ib.
ib.

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408
409

ib.
ib.
410
' ib.
ib.
ib.

411
ib.
ib.
ib.
412
Silence, or

ib.
ib.
ib.
413

ib.
ib.
ib.
; ib.
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PAHT1 I.
· '_l1HKME

I. Patience and P erseverance will overcome
)fountains. ·

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lNTnou ucTION.-As mountains may be traversed ·over or
levelled in the course of time by patient and continued
_labour, so every difficulty may be surmounted by; the
same means.
. ";.. ,. 1' ,
lsr REASON,-A_n impatient man views the obst ade
_before him only in the mass, and wants to remove it at
-. ~:mc_1f. I~~;-w~h~reas, - a:_patient . man _views it in detail, : and
C. ~d~lib~fat~{(de~~t~9~s -~t pie~emeal. " ,_. ~"_ .1 _,,, .: ·:_'.'. 'ri :,. !:
" •. - ;~~- ; 2N1> .REASON . __ ~ ,An impatient man, who sees " .the moun' _~'___ tain":bnlf i11 its 'f ull hulk/ is friglde1ied at the formidable
, _- --~ task -of moving it, - and his powers ·are : impaired · by ' his
; ' -~ : hopelessness: 'Vhereas the patient man looks at it.- only
. i'· 11;s a~ aggregated p ile of fhinute parts; and by attempting
__ ·,:tft o' r~move·: it r piece··.by pi~ce, sees hi~ work prosp_~r,.· an~
has good hope o{ ultimate success.* · - .. · · · · · • u ·:: ~;'.d
~~
·~~ 3RD · R~AsoN.~A"Il impatient man struggles with diffi.-~ , {~c~ltiea b_eyond, hi;s.' st~e~gth,- which; onir serves ~o i:rita!e
,- ; ( "hisi temperi1 exhaust1.: h1s : powet'.s1 aqd waste his .fame :m
· ~':~:- ai.n.Gendeavours_:; . B!!t"a"patieqt man h~s no need ;to fret
... L and struggle, · as . he _ atte~pts nµ '. inPnf than . he . can .aco', :,comliJ;>lish,··jan.d. J.~)i'!WWg·ntQ 1 ~ait;,f9~ ,j~~ ; g~~~ual Pf<?gress .
of. iswork. "·_,c·:·.··:
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Ar~bfm~4e~·~ft.4:~ked; 'trl \rh~~ Ii. co;st~1it°i'n1nd dfft'et~d-l'rom
,,:-.t an h}co!lstiµM
hj. ·.l.
; eP,ll!!Cl,
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THEME I

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before hi'h•
· . - U llllpatient
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L.l..lau wb
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means to accoru ]' oro1~g lzgltt, eru io o views tbe task
wbo fixes b. p ish his desire. lnhp ys also the w .
Whi h
. is attention
. n ereas a
.
1 ong
the ca b~ intends to tak on. that ,Part of 11tat1ent lllan,
Th fi ~p11ances Which ~ m. ha11d, a Vails h ~ tas~ alone
th e o1 ruer would atte re ection and skill unselt of all
e sea by bis h , rnpt to push , , h.
can suggest
~eruove theru grad~~~i8 ~nd .shoulders .1st~nountains" int~
. 5r:rr REASON-A .y y his spade a~d b~/atter would
zng his pl.
.
n impatient
.
iow.
skill Wbic~n op.e~ation, and th ~a;1 is perp~tually Ii
wl
1 epetttion
.
e1 e1ore nev .
. c zang. Jo p~rseveres in b. c?~ impm·t: B t c1 acquires that
W1tb his task. an is or1g1naJ plan ~ u a Patient man
of bis iustrn~e td practice lliuk;s i' ~ oou becomes fa m:1: '
u s.
um perfect . 'L.l..l11Ur
5r:rr or ,~
1n the use
..t.'EG.nrn;
R
'
nn dertakfo EASON
II
Spoiled tbrgu lllb! bare been" ·;;;; ow Trell soerer
constancy it gb impatience, or di~men.ced, Jet if 't abny
'
can Derer be c
:,.continued tb
1
e
S
ompleted.
rough in-

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. Ilm..Es.-The bee
a smg/e llon-er
collects but a
.
·
rerr
litt]P
h
Tb e fable of 11 Th
·
~ 0 ney from
Tb
e Rare and tb
e ant and the b
e Tortoise " ,,
The b' d
:
earer.
· -u-ay.
ll' B build tb .
. Th
e1r nests st
island: fuotrhal insects, to wb {aw by straw.
e South S

ose lab
eas are due. ours almost all the
-

IIrsroRrcAL I
arruy over h LLUSTRATJON
attacks f t e Alps int s.-Jiannibal
h
. an Octo~erthk Gaulish rner~e;t~!Y, amidst' tI;e ol l:d .bis
N
s y, B.c. 218
a11es, and tb .
Jazassmg
1800apoJeon, who did tl .
e zncJezuency of
. .
le sarue in th
Titus, at the .
e lllonth 9f l\foy A
A1
siege of J
·
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erusaJeru A ,_,
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THEME II.

Gutta cavat lapidem, non vised srepe cadendo.-Ovid.
. Nil desperandum.-Horace.
Possli.nt, qui posse videntur.- Virgil.
Omnia diligeutia subjiciuntur.
A.ssiduitas incredibilia prrestat.
Aut nunquam tentes, ant perfice.
CoNCLUSION.-Lct us not be frightened by dift:iculties.

THEME

II.

Ronie was not built 't'.n a day.

.!
.. ....,.,..,
c.•

lNTRODUCTION.- As a vast city was once on 1 v a few
~ mean huts, aud rose Ly slow Llegi·ees to it s fu)l development; so every great achievement is the "·ork of a gradual
and cumulative progreBs.

:-

0

lsT R.F.ASON.-· 'Every great work cn1\sic:ds of a series of
parts, which must be done in successive order : Each
part requires time for its due performance; n.nd, therefore, many a day must intervene, before the whole can be
completed.
• • 1

2:Nn REASON.-Great undertakings demand mature
deliberation, patient perseverance, ar~d frequent revision :
B .u t .an·these things require time.
3RD REASON,_..:_Every'' day has an end, arnl every workman ?te~.ds rest: A.s great undertakings require a vast
amo\lllt of mental or bodily exertion, they must be frequently interrupted by the arrangements or necessities of
nature
.
4TH REASON.-If great works are <lone too precipitately,
they will be disf(qured by numerous d~(ects; which only
lengt~ of time and careful toil can possibly prevent.

5rH REASON'.-If what are now termed " great works"

could1be accomplished readily, without either toil or care,
; I

I

""..1!Z.,.

'.

.

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6

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: I

THEME

II.

him,· and began to rally him on his tardiness, adding that
he himself had written 100 verses in three days, while
Euripides had written only three. 11 Ah! (said Euripides)
but there is this difference, your 300 verses will perish in
three days, while my three will survive 300 years."
· Tradition says, that Foo-tsze, the Chinese philosopher,
was in his youth of so impatient a temper that he could
not endure the drudgery of learning, and determined to
give up literary pursuits for some manual employment.
One day, as he was returning home with a full determination to go to school no longer, he happened to pass by
a half-witted old woman , who was rubbing a small bar of
iron on a whetstone: vVhen the young student asked her
_the reason of this strange employment, she replied, " Why,
sir, I have lost my knitting needle, and just thought I
would rub down this bar to mn.kc me nnoUH~r." Tho
words acted like magic on the young philosopher, who
returned to his books with tenfold diligence ; and, whenever he felt impatient and despondent, would say to himself, 11 If a half-witted old woman has resolution enough
to rub down a bar of iron into a needle, it, ·would be disgraceful in me to have less perseverance, when the highest
honours of the empire are before me."

;t'

I
~ II
1
~1 .

11

l

I

QuoTATIONs.-A pin a day, is a groat a year.
vVord by wo1:d great books are made.
Little strokes fell great oaks.
Line npon line, line upon line, precept upon precept, precept upon precept, here a little and there a littlc.-Isaiah.
First the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.
Pas ii pas on va bien loin.
Goutte ii goutte.
~
N ec virtute foret clarisvc poteutius arm if'\
Quam lingua, Latium, si non offcnderet ·unum
' Quemque poetarum limre labor et rnora. Vos . o
Pompilius sanguis, carmen rcprehendite, quod non
· - Multa dies-et multa litura coercuit, atque
, : Prresectum dccies non castigavit ad unguem:-IIorace.

, °"11 ,-' .."',._.

.µtf~; ~,~~t ·lap~dem, rlon ,vi1'sed .s~pe cadendo.'-:'T:'. Ovidi .,-.

t.

tratu.r•:super
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.·~~iitii:!;nf · He who hunts two 'I£ares; le~ves: one ·~nd
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loses the other. ' · : ' .--~·!·' '~ .: 1

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.~~f.'·1N-!konucr10N-.-.As two hares would run· in t#o differ.e.nt and perhaps opposite directions, it would be. ·impos.:.
s1ble for any sportsman to follow both at the same time.
; Irt a similar way, no person can do two things ·properly at

.J?p9e.. ... .

.. : . . .

. .'

' .,,..... .,,, .,, i

--

lsr R.EASON.-When our attention is directed to t;o or
Jpore . obJects ~t th~ ~ame time, our tliougfits are distracted
. and our energies divided; so that the works upon which
~e ~re employed cannot be so well performed, as if each
..tt~e.ce1ved "separately
our undivided
attention. · . . · ,_:J'
•
'
., , 2Nn REAso~.-When two things are ·taken in--h~nd
;sni;iultaneously, much loss of time must be . incurred in
' gom~. from one t? the other, and in making the changes
~~qms1te for the different occupations. . : .
. · 11
.: 3Rn REASON.-" Dispatch is the soul of business," .says
the proverb; but when two or three things are begun at
_9~ce, all ?f !hem must.su~er injury from want of disp_a_tch 1
. --~~d contmmty of apphcat10n and attention. ..
"'_,.'r· 4TH :itEASON.-In.order tha! ar~y work may be well done:
-. .t-he mind must be .interested m it ; but when constantly .
:. , ;~µterrul?ted and. shifted from one thing to another, there
,, 1.1s no !une ·for mterest to be excited ; or even if there
t · were, it must be broken off, that the collateral pursuit
;. : piay
receive attention.
·
/
i1',·
.'
.
11
, , .J . 5rn RE~SON.-A man who hunts .two hares at onGe,"
~ must be either covetous, or unstable, or indifferent : If
. the · first, he outwits himself ; if either of , the other two
·~e has n~ chance of suceess. . · " . ' . " · · ·· - u · · - · "'~ , '
·£
.
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IDLENESS

8

..

S1MILEs.-N o field can bear two crops at the same time.

.'

" The Ass between two Hay-stacks."-A fable.
The sun and moon cannot both shine at the same time.
No cask can contain two liquors at once.
Between two stools_we fall to the ground.

a

If there are two fires in one room both will smoke.
A ship blown by two winds is obedient to neither.
A ball struck in two opposite directions remains stationary.

I
·-i

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.I
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. . He that wavereth, is like a wave of- the sea, driven
with .t he wind and tossed.-James, i. 6. :., .1-· . -:· ~ ··.,·: 1 ~i
· A man of all trades is master Of none. : '": ii' :: "!I · ' i'
" i • .'VVith many irons in tl~e fire, some must burn.~ ;,;.:
, r ,.
Like a man to double-business bound · ·
;. 1.
I stand in pause where I -shall first begin, · · ·
· · · Ahd both neglect.-King in Hamlet. 1 • 1 .. w ·· "i • •·
Assis entre deux selles le cul terre. . . I.
.-. • r
:,· Perpetua cunctatio . reddit actiones imperfectas.-.Democritus..
•
··
·
·:: Defecit currens, velut equus hinniendo fessus.
. .
.
'
.
n1Duos qui sequitur lepores, neutrum capit.
.
Dum in dubio est animus, paulo momento1 hue illuc im· '· · ·" ·
· ··
• •·
• .'
pelli tu'i· .-·_.. Cicero. ·
:- Rerum diversitas aciertl intentionis abrumpit.· Oicero.
, ;: Qui rpultiplicat scientiam, multiplicat dolorem: .

,.

.,_

'i9

'THE RUST . OF 'l'HE MIND.

THEME III.

HISTORICAL lLLUSTRATIONs.-Issach;:ir.-Gen. xlix. 14.
Reuben, unstable, as water, thou -' shalt not excel.Jacob's prophecy.
. Atalanta and the golden apples.-See Classical Dic-

twnm·y.

When Medea fled from her father's court with Jason
she ma~e her escape secure by tearing to pieces he;
brother Absyrtus, and strewing his mangled limbs along
the road ; for while .£tes stopped to pi ck up the relics
·Of his son, :Medea gained time to embark.
. When :tutony ","~~contending for the empire of Rome,
Ins attention was mnded between lorn and ambition 7· in
c~nsequence
which, b~ lost both bis empire and bis
i:11stress: Whereas Oc~av1an, by steadily pursuing one obJect, overcame every rival and rose to supreme authority.
While the ship Argo lay at anchor on the Asiatic coast,
the young Hylas disembarked to fetch water from a
spring ; but staying to gather wild flowers which adorned ·
his path, he arrived at the well-spring at the dusk of
evening, fell into the river, and was drowned.

or

QuorATIONs.-N o man can serve two masters.-J.lfatt.
vi. 24.
:
A double-minded man is unstable in all his w11ys.Junies, i. 8.

.

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nff.·THEME IV; · Idleness is the RU8t of the Mind. ; . ·
,,,"" •

•' ,'

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· 9'J monucnox.-As iron is corrupted by rust, so ,the
Dlibd
:ii:i corrupted by idleness. . ·· . · . . · ;
1 ii .'-. 11 1;- 1 •
'
~.l.t' f.i?"'
.
~ -:r.il sT ~: REASON.-The idle mind not only acquires 'no --fresh accessions of knowledge; it evenfo_rgets what it once
kn~.w... 1 ~ , ·1;. ,_ : . , , .. · .;
. ,. · ... .. ,1·' 1i ::· ··:
N it~E,ASON.-.The idle, being .weary of doing nothing, ·
s~~~·itO:·" kill time" by foolish or sinful d,i,ve,rsions, ,which
injutious",to the mind and morals.
~ ··. 11
• '
~ allt>iiiREA.sok'.:-1As it· is' easier ·. to do evil; than ~ to ;do . I
"· ~P.dl~the i occupations ·.Of the. idle will intuitively tend to,:
. •ill~
- •• the ~·easi·e ..
-<task.. r·r;r
. .:,,.
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' .•.. • i :
4:t~-~ R~A~oN.-All . sublunary things have a tendency'
eg.,t11ieratl , unless checked in their' downward cortrse 1by
t'i

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10

THEME

IDLENESS THE RUST OF THE MIND. ,

IV.

wholesome restraint and exercise · as idle minds are too
listless for exercise, and too indolent for self-restraint
they must degenerate also.
'
. 5rH REASON.-Satan is always ready to employ the
idle ; and Satan's work is never otherwise than evil.
6rH REASON.-The w~rld is full of allurements and
temptations, which the idle have neither the desire nor
the energy to resist.
7rH REASON;-The flesh is master when the mind is
idle ; and the carnal passions are the 'enemies of virt.ue.
Srnrr,gs.-An uncultivated garden will be overrun
with weeds.
An iron tool will corrode with rust, if never used.
Stagnant water will soon corrupt ~nd putrefy.
A. ship at sea left by the helmsman, will be tossed by
the waves and driven by the winds upon rocks and quicksands.
A. horse unexercised and a hawk unflown contract
diseasefl", from whkh in active life they are entirely free .
.A.n idle dog will be .mangy.
The hand unexercised will become stiff and incapable
of work.
.A.n evergreen will soon run to bare stems and be
covered with withered branches, unless pruned at the
proper seasons.
A. fire will go out, if not attended to.
Moths will fret garments, which are not in wear.
A room that is unused and disregarded, will soon be
filled with
,, cobwebs, dust, and vermin.
HrsTORICAL lLLUSTRATIONs.-When Hannibal wintered
at Capua, his brave soldiers were so corrupted by luxury
and idleness, that they could no longer resist the foe they
had so frequently conquered.
Ezek. xvi. 49.

'l'he .. mutiny of the ship " Bounty" was caused · by a.
~
. being at anchor for a 1ong ! t•ime, th
.calm
at . sea . for
. e
crew was un~mployed and became mutinous. ' '. ·' . \11,.'
·~\ tThe-Cretans were pro~erbially lazy, a~d S.t. Paul san
.they· we~ proverbially wicked also.-Titns, i. · 12.

~· ,,Quo.rj _r10Ns.-The w.ay ·of the slothful is .a hedge of

iiio~ns.

.

·

.: 4.Ii e~pty vessel

may ?e filled wi~h poi~o~, but ~ full
one
has no room for infus1on ..-Buck s Christian Guide.
.
fl
• •
Idleness offers up the soul, as a blank to the devil; for
·

him to .write what he will upon it.-Dr. South.
lll"...-1·~·,(j

•-.!.

'.\,I

.

•

, Idleness· is the root of much evil.
Idleness is the parent of vice . .
~ ~ \ .An idle brain is Satan's workshop.
· · ~I~~ 'fu~n· t~mpt the deviL
"ft
~ h1H1 < " '
'
-Doing nothing is doing ill.
(. He'. tbatgathereth ~ot, scattereth abrpad.-Luke, xi. 23.
As1 in'' ai'sta~ding ' pool; worms · and filthy creepers increase ; ·so do ~~i,ta1:1.d .~.or,rupt .thoughts in· the stagnant
mind.-Seneca.
. ' - \:;1;;.- "'"" ; ' .. ·
1i ·P rov. xv. 19; x~ 4; xx. 13. Eccl. x. 18.
~ If good 'we plant not;' vice will fill the place,' . .< '; ~
·u1" 'As rankest weeds the rich~st soil deface:. Pope.
In works of laboµr or of skill,
,
Let me .be busy too;
' ·" 11
·· , .
· •- · For Satan finds some mischief still " " •
~-~.. 1l
· .. ../CFor idle hands to do.- JVatts. ' · . '
•
Sloth, like rust, consumes much faster than labour
wears ; while ·the used key is always bright, as poor
·
·
a,ichard says;-Dri Franklin.
• \ i /
"''. Iter pigrorum quasi sepes spinarum.
\1 u1·:
- "
'""'Plµrima ·vitia docet otium. . I ' .
'
.• . I ' .
Otium famis mater est, et frater fnrti.-Tobias.

:"*

I

i ·

•inn ·

;..

/·

/

,,

12

THEME V.

THE FIRST STROKE : IS HALF THE BATTLE,

: more difficult, it is also more ' laborious than : 1 any~ subsequent part ; from the numerous unforeseen ·'obstdcles,
expraneous impedim~nts, ,. .and antagonistic forces to be
overcotne: If with these accessions to the general work,
the business in ha11d . prosper, there is.,no .rea~on , to. doubt
that 'it will continue to . do sci, when freed _froi:n these
incuml.n·ances.
.
· /
' '
'·
·"

<?.?rporum. babitus quiete ac otio corrumpitur, gymnas1.1s et .mo~1bu.s magna pa.rte conservatur; Itidem animre
hab.1tus m~titut10ne ac meditatione servatur, evaditque
mehor: ?t:o au~em (quod ab.omni disciplina vacatio est),
neque d1sc1t qmcquam, ac s1 qure didicerit, oqijviscitur.
-Plato translated by Stobbams.

4

Arcum intensio frangit, animum remissio.-Publ. Jf£m.
-Romines nibil agendo, discunt male agere.- Cato.
Facilis descensus A verni ·
'
Se.d revocar~ gradurn, superasque
evadere ad auras,
Hie labor, l11c opt.is est.- Virgil.
..

)

...

Nihil agendo male agere discimus.
CoNCLUSION.-Since . . . . . .

•

V. ' Tlze first Strolce 'i°s half the Battle.

lNTRonutrrnN.-The success of a battle depends in a
great ~e~s.ure on ~he. prudence ·and vigour of the onset;
and a JUd1c10us begmmng of any other enterprise is a fair
earnest of ultimate success.
lsr ~EASON.-At th~ beginni~g of an undertaking
theory gwe,'f wa.71 to practice : If this test succeed well, the
operator may fairly conclude, that every arrangement has
~
been judiciously made.
. 2ND REASON.-The beginning of every work is the rnost
difficult P.art, because the labour is new, and practice lrns
not ye~ given experience to the novice : If, therefore, the
most difficult part be done well, it is but reasonable to infer
that the less difficult, will be successfully performed also

3Ro REASON.-The beginning of every work is not only

~

'

4ru REASON.-The beginning of every .work.is attended
by nervous fear: - ' But, · after .a time, s~ccess c~anges fea,r
into good hope. ·
•
· .
.. .
_;.
5rn ltEASON.-As a w~rk progresses, a ' lively interest.is
created; which excites energy, ardour, and resolutton to
bri~g to a close what has already so well prospered. 1 . •
.
'
'1\rn CoNVERSE.-" Badly begun" is labour bestowed in
vn,in; for, if the first part be done badly, it is worse than .
useless to spend further time and toil upon it: " In such a .
case, the only wise plan is to lose your fi_rst labour .and
begii1 afresh.
·
' ,t 1 • ' , • ~

Malo mihi male qnam moliter esse,..:._Seneca .
Inertia est mater ejestatis.

THE:M:E

-

,.'

y

SrMILEs.-To stai·t . a coach or wagon is far more ·
difficult than to keep it moving; if, therefore, the motive
: power be sufficient to give the _s,tart, it ,,~i!l, ,9e , ai;nply
sufficient for the future draught. . . . . . , ; . '., , , , : f
When a physician has discovered the nature · .of a
, disease, and has administered the right medicine, the-cure
· 1 : , is half effected :
Whereas, if he : has .. mistaken ;: the
· symptoms, . . . . .
.
· , . '!p' , ·, .,, ., ,~• •1~/r,,; 1!
~'I..,,;., When a hound has tracked his_game, ~uccess is ,almost ~- •
"" ,.\• certain;
but if . . . . .
., .
~i .•·• i'·• ·• ,•,.,!: ~. ~ · ··
PJ
..f...~ '. ..When a tree planted in a genial soul and right aspect,
·· has once struck root, its future growth . may1 be;, antici- ,
~· )ated with full assuranc~ o~ hope; bu~ :,,..· r' .~ 1 ; • • \-il , ~
·'
: ~/ · After the foundation of. a house has been subs~antially /
-~ ,t laid, the superstructure is secure; but if · the foundation
~i~b.i;l . insecure, no labour 'bestowed upon the building ·will
1
· : bave it from destruction.
· .
'
•• ,
\ ./
,.., In kindling a fire, what an amount of 'time and labour
I'

' ·"'' . . .

2

,

'it2rf~'f .

-.r; :· r ?:"':'.:~=~~~
,\•

14

' ,

;:· ~

•.

THEME V.

is often lost by seeking to repair an injudicious disposal
of the fuel, or a careless ignition I
A ball requires a blow to give it a start, and if struck
in the right direction will continue in ,the same course.

If wine be badly made, no quantity of sugar or spirit
added subsequently will make it palatable or sweet.

.

I

.,

HISTORICAL lLLUSTRATIONS.-Hanniba.l used to Rfl,y, he
attributed all his victories to a bold and vigorous onset.
At Cressy, after the onset, the issue of the battle was
certain.

1F. .

'l'he same may be said of the Danish slaughter, ':hen
king Alfred attacked Guthran. ,

l

•.

I

I

When Julius Cresar fell upon Pharnaces, the son of
Mithridates the Great, near Zela in Pontus, the victory
was so easily obtained after the first stroke, that he described it to the senate in three words, " Veni, villi, vici."
The bold, independent, and manly spirit of the ancient
Spartans, may be attributed to the vigour and simplicity
of their education from earliest infancy.

,·.
'·:

"
.'

..

I
I
1·

rrhe piety and godly wisdom of Samuel was the fruit of
his early. education to the Lord.
The same may be said of Timothy.-2 Tini. iii. 15.
The greatness of ancient Rome was due to the wisdom
and judgment of its founders, Romulus and Numa.
The ancient alchemists started in pursuit of a shadow,
a.nd the amount of labour lost is beyond all calculation:
Whereas, modern chemists, who commence. with correct
data, are perpetually inaking the most valuable discoveries.
It has been said that Newton succeeded in his vast re. searches, because he started with the certa.in knowledge of
revelation before him: \Vh crens, the folly and error of an, cient cosmography are mainly due to their false mythology.
QuoTATIONS.. Well begun is half done.

15
>;.

TRUST NOT T0 °APPEARANCES.
,.,,...

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the twig is bent, the tree's inclined. ; '"" ,,... ;·; /d·~ 1-»

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; ·' ' ~rain up a. child in the. way ~e .should· go, , an~ ~h~~
het: is• • old
he will not depart from it.-Proverbs1 xxu, 6. 1 '
~'
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' '•
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ti. f/
~. <J.e n'est ,que le premier pas qui cout~. ,,,; ,.,.', · ·· -,.; .. :)
1
i'. Quemadmodum domus, et navigii, . et : aliorum hujus~
modi, partes inferiores firmissimas oportet esse: Si~ ~t
actionum initia fundamentaque · vera 1 et justa convemt
esse.-Demvsth. Olynth. 2, translated by Stobbmus. 1:·:! i.Vi,~
l'

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'· De malo principio malus finis exit.· Euripides . trans~ ·
lated by Stobbmus.
· 1• · •
.

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Adeo in teneris corisuescere multum est . . ,
.

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Dimidium facti qui crepit, habet.-Horac1. ·

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.

1 • . ••
~~ : •

· Facilius est incitare currentem, quam . ccmunover~ Jl'tn·
guentem.-Cicero.
. , . , ..
,,,. .,J: .
. De bile fundamentu~ toll~t opus~ , ,, ,,.
.., . , ·~.
•

I

.

· CoNCLUSION.-Hence , .
'

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! ! •

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THEME

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'VI

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VI. A goodly Apple is ofle'f!,r,<?tt1n:naUhe/lp.re.

lNTRODUCTION.-As it would be very unwise to imaginethat every ripe and rosy looking apple .is sound at the
core; so it would be .equ~lly pnwise; to trust1 ~!11.plic~tly ~,<?
general appearances. .
. .
.
.,._ I· , · .: ;, ?i'
-~: 'lsr REASON.·· It is very often a man's interest to deceive, i
iri ' order to palm off a worthless article, · or ~onceal. an :.
' .. unpopular propensity.
' ' · ' ' \ · · '''';
~:: f,$ l 2ND REASON.-Mere accident will very: often change ab.,..
. "( : outward appearanc.e; as. a ?ollier ·may ; have;;a \~egro's .1
:. colour. from the acc1dent .,o.f Ins. trade. . · ~i ... ,, ,,. . \ ; , " •":.; .
'~·1r3Rn' REASON.~The surface
the m.o st part,6nly a. .
shell or case to something rontained within of · ari essen- ·
. tially different character and value. · / - t• I ·' 1

fs.'f'or'

·,

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THEME VI.

l't,.

4TH REASON.-The eye is sometimes greatly deceived
and mistakes one thing for another; as when a cara va~
mistakes a mirage .in the desert for a pool of water.
5rH REASON.-Sometimes ignorance will induce an
error of judgment; as persons are deceived in respect to
the actual depth of a stream, unless they are well
acquainted with the law;:; of refraction .
. . 6rH REASON.-There is for the most part so great a
mixture of go'od and evil, that every one will be liable to
error, who imagines there is " no soul of good in things
evil," or no alloy of evil in that which is good.
7ru REASON.-The .credulous are extremely unwary
and exposed to fraud and misconceptions, far more than
the cautious and prudent.

were

: l- '~

'

A mouse deceived by the cheese is caught in the trap.
•
" The Fox and the Mask."- AJ;sop's fable.
A tree maY, be full of leaves, and yet unfruitful.-Matt.
xix. 19.
Counterfeit money.
sleight of hand.

The ignis fatuus.
. Irish bogs often appear sound; but if a stranger were
to venture on them, he would sink and lose his life.
The fruit of the deadly nightshade has been often mistaken for red currants : Whereas, the one is rank poison,
and the other an agreeable fruit.
· · The tiger and cat crouch , and seem to be asleep, in
order to deceive their prey.

./
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s.

... '-:)
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SrnrLEs.-A fish trusting to the bait, is caught by the
hook.

All

J

·•

.. H1sroRICAL I~LUSTRATIONs.-The Syrens.-See Classical
])ictionary.
Circe.-See :Classical Dictionary.
.

·-~;.

f.

18

THEME VI,

monarch wl1ose external grandeur made him an object of
etlnvy to the w01:Id, was, in reality, more wretched than
1e meanest of Ins own slaves."

, I

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D~'mDocles and Dionysius.-See Classical Dictionary

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amocles."

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II

LYING.
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,. men ' and things. ' . . ; .· . ..
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Judge not of a ship as she lies in the docks.
All is not gold that glitters.
, All are not hunters that blow the horn.
Many a smiling face conceals a broken heart.
Johu, vii. 24.
Decipimur specie recti.-Horace.
N ulla fides fronti.
Cucullus non facit monachum.
Qui facile credit, facile decipitur. ·
Alb~ Iig~str~ :adunt, vaccinia nigra Ieguntur.- Virgil.
Falht erum v1tmm specie virtutis et umbra.
. Securitas blanda specie reipsa repudiand~.-Oicero.
Nil temere credideris.
1 · Nimium ne crecle colori.- Virgil.
Natura veritatem in profundo abstrusit.-Cicero.
'Apparere non facit esse.
: '. Non e oro tutto quel che Iuce.
.. - ~on giudicar' la nave, stando in ten:a.
Tutto cio che: riluce non Oro.
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~~-.-d~:·J~,~~.~ M~'. 1 :y~r·:: . :Lying i's a .bad track. .,,~ ::.<,,~,

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~.1 J~ril6~iiq#~'N .' ·.~, M:~ny ~~p erS~IlS :. seek' t~ ... obtain ; · p~tty'. . ~··~

1

01

advahtages'i.by. ,deceit Et!J.d falsehood ; but ·such practices
are .as impolitic as ,they' are .sinful.
.
.
~+t.i- f~r~R~a~,;~: r; ':Lyi~g is a bad trade for our Master, wh~
dishonoured by,so gross a misappropriation of the talent
~"~• ·' ~ of speech .c
tte<l to ' us.
' . . . .. - '·
. 2~~2R~Aso'.J!~It1' it'bad· fo~.'~i1t "'n ~'1'ghbou~~ / not ' ~nly
1
~cause~ they.' are'· srtbject ·· to misrepresentations, but also .
' "'"" q_8e,11~b(e~Jr~;itl5;.th.at. mtitiial con~dence without which
e~~ · cannot·;
ubsist;
~i,;}... ,., rt..;.., •<i ;;"" ...~r·.,., ,;,..,::, :t., :. 1y.-, "'?···."' t- .~?V
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QuoTATIONs.-Trust not to mere appearances.
yon 't rust before yon try,
1'. on shall repent before you die.

~.

.~ ]i~ C9NcttrstoN.·· Let us not be hasty.in our judgm~nt of·~---:~

'

Mucianus pretending reconciliation with Antony1 treacherously advanced mauy of the triumvir's frien ds to
posts. of honour; by which device he hoth threw Antony
off h~s guard, and won the persons thus advanced to hi's
own mterest.-Tacitus, I£ist. iv. 39.

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.t.~~'. l;i~ft;f,\ll}f~i!ipg ·i~~'~?ry '. ·~nd
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'. Jl.!e,tg\e.r.._~te_c\ih,y; .,th~}w,<;>.r1~' ~P4. ,often ~~v~n. admire_d ; .91.1~
-~.,_e!iar_1s; al'Y~Y~ ~~l\~?P.ll?t~bl~,: ~nd always ~espised:. . ·, 1
r~1(!.l.j!{f BeM.n~f1t1 car,7:i~s \ its · own ,punishment, m the
~r~.ad_ ?f deteqtiqn ~ the;~consciousness of sin, and ·the coni

,vic,tio,n, of.univers:;il p_b loquy: .: .
.,
. ·
.· : "
" ~n.1.(5.)'(Becatise' it JV,ill 1 hot be' better· but w9rs~, .when he
:: bhaiigetf P,~s :'p'fMen t' 1 abo'de:,~ to '.4 \vel(' 'in'< ev~rl~sting: 1burn".
;- · ings::::..:. .:.Rev. xin:t gfl1. ,~t:~· 'i..! ,uf -.~:!.>Jt J• n!.! ·1..;·~ !!>" 1-u~.;1 11 0.1~, .~. r~ 1
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,rn,) ;,A11~at)'.s~;,It· Pf!-$ q , /1aJ...,w1~w.e 1 i~\-AJnwst~ ~II otlier. sms

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fi~iMJLE·~..-. The~:shep~~rci ,_ Boy; \.who:'_used; to cry,:'\.w qlf."
'":r;::;4t.sop'sfcible.;'/i,f\i) ';Jt{11 ri,:hnflt t~l•· •\;;.: .. :;...:: ,;, ':, ; ;;_•, ,1 •/ .. :: ·~.•
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c~:> :B~s~1 • ~, JW. ~· .riJJ v.riP.r.ofit~~te ). : inas~rnch '.as b.e
o.~ lR~h~fy~9;:~eye_P.i 'YJien)ie..sp~~ks _ph~ tr,uth :'~
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{'.l ~l 1The ~Woodman

'.:and M:ercury." ;_ ..The •lying woodman
1

~as not only disbelieved, .b_
ut·'. al&o.' Ios(hi~ axe ~$ wen •.;..,.·
:.tf!sgp'~fabf~.' '°{\;~~ l':. -[!r.d ":..:.,:'. t,:/~.f~ .
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rec"!u~~~t~~setl:isj~\~~wti~ fl~t!·~~~ !I~ .ah~
1

ug c wou
carry him on h b 1
.
'
had r eached a g reat heio-ht the lie e~ ac c,. After they
the eagle iustautly tossed tl~e tortoise vfi~n~1~c~vercd, and
fell to the earth, and was killed in the fall. c1 back ; he

" '1.'he \Volf in Sheep's Clothing:."-...1.Esop's fablt?
" '1.'he Jackdaw an cl the Doves • " -..L-1!;,
Aj'sop ' sfia bl e. .

ou:-n:f~r!~
•

like a bird, had

f; ~~1 ! cel~11_c1 w of a1rdnig·hty ~r~asure~vhi~h ~~ew~~\~ ~:~c~~~~e
1

~~~t~~ore troublesome

and less becoming than

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HISTORICAi, ILLUSTRATIONS. -Anania
-Acts, v.
.
s and Sapphira.
Gehazi, the servant of Elisha
•

iserhra~~ie~~ wyo .;roughtl tlhl~

21-33.

os ua anc

< .-

rr
2 .rungs,
v. 2 0-27'.

lying r eport of the prornis colleagues.-./ilwnb. xiii.

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GI One day, as Archbishop Leirrhton was rroinrr f.
a.sgow to Dunblane, . he was ~le~crietl at b a cf t i om
b y two robbers, who had not courarre to nt't 11 s nl ~1cc
Oue of ther ti
~
o
'" ac c nm

iere ore, pretended to be dead while th~
tJhe arc.l.1bish.op, and said that his comrade
'"
ecn s 1 nc c by JfO'htnu
d
bury him L . 1 t
o
ig, au 1ie wanted money to
th i·
.
e1g l on gave the fellow money . but when
e. rnr returned to the spot where he had J~ft l .
pamou, he fo.u nd him lying actually }ifelcs~ ~n the ~:O~l~~r
· G
·
Abraham ,\,hen he s ·
I . !f
O.Journec1 lil erar, g·a ve out thnt
Sal·al1
· us \YI e was 0 I h · ·
.
..
brought trouble o I? y lfis bs~ste1:; this misreprese ntation
and all h'
t n nmse , is wife, the king Abimelcch
IS cour .-Gen. xx.
,
.

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.
~;: .,QuoTATIONs.-1Esop being ; asked, What benefit a liar
received ' for ~ his pains, replied, II N ev~r,. to be . belie~ed
even when he speaks the truth.~'
',
. . . :.
, .' A)ie
has n.o legs, but scandalous wings. .
.. :· .,: ' ~
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.
·· He who tells a lie needs twenty others to make it good.
. Truth is always consistent with itself, and needs nothing
to help it out: It is always near at hand, and sits upon
our lips, and is ready to drop out before we are aware:
Whereas, a lie is troublesome, and sets a man's invention
on· the rack to fabricate twenty more in order to make it
I .'

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.

•

good.-Em·ipides, Phrenis.

·· ·

·

· · ,•

··

•:• The ninth commandment.

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21

DELAYS ARE DANGEROUS.

THEME VII •

by his ~~lsehoods brought down on the kingthe death ~p~ a .seu.es of. fearful plagues; ·which ended in
and· army in ~l eiyRfiidstS
,ho111, and t.he d~struction of himself
le
e . ea.-Ex. iv.-xiv.
St. Peter in the judgment hall.-S. llfark, xhr. 6G-7'2.

Lev. xix. 11.

' '· 1· 11
Pi:overbs, xii. 9, 19, 22; xx. l 'i; xxi. 6.
. ,. · 1~
Mentiens nullus multum temporis latet.-Menander.
· Facile capitur improbitas, et undique per se-ipsani im~
plicatur.-Tlzeognis. '
·
·'
'· · "
·· Principium mendacii exiguum habet gratire: circum
vero finem lucrum turpe nascitur.-Theognis:
;:
Mendaci homini, ne vere quidem dicenti, credere soie~us.-Cicer_o.
. . ' .. ./ , .. .~.
_" Fallacia alia · aliam. trudit.-Terence.
·: . ,.: 1
Veritati adhrereto.
· CoNcLUsioN.-Hence

••
. THEME

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VIII. Make Hay while the Sun shines.

. . lNTRODUCTION.-Hay is greatly injured by exposure ~
to rain and fog; therefore, a wise husbandman1 will _avail ~
: himself of the earliest opportunity ,to gather in his hay .-,,
crops, lest the fine weather should · not continue. , The .
spirit of this proverb is applicable t.o:all pr~crastinatQrs~ .
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THEME

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VIII.

, DELAYS - ARE DANGEROUS. '

who are reminded that ood
..
as an English sk and g h opportmuties are as uncertain
they are offered. y,
s J ould be embraced .immediately
lsT REASON -Life is u
·t .
rant that he will su~·vive t~~e~~~~~~~d no man has

awar~

~ND REASON.-Healtli is un t · . .
be m his " full stren<Tth " d ~er am' to-day a man may
hopper may be a bu~ue~ tonh' o~!norrow eveu " the grass1m.
.
3RD REASON.-Opportunities ar
general mutability of all subluna~/ t~Tna:S~scent, from the
4TI-I R EASON.-A thousand cont' .
·
when a future opportunity offers t in,q;n~t.es may. occur
thus a farmer who deferred his lo renl er. it unavailable:
would be overtakerl by wl th layse till the autumn,
iea - arvest.
5Tu REASON.-Competition is so . t h
.
nator is outstripped by mor . . gtiea ' t at a procrastie vigi1an and active rivals
6 TH REASON.-The market is ver
.·
·
.
procrastinator ma b ·
Y
_vm wble; so that a
the " fair" h b y rrng 1us stores mto the town after
·
as een removed.
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SnnLEs.-·When a fox is ch d b
.
therefore is cau<Tht with difficul~s~ ; : ntver stops, and
Y· l! a are, though a
much swifter animal i
.1
quently halts to list~n ~i~~/h~:~J;_lrnn, because s~e freThe hare in .£sop's fable of " Tl H
Tortoise."
le
are and the
If a sick man delays t
l
·
early stage of a· '·d ~ app y to his physici¥ at the
be cured.
.a 1so1 er, it may become too obstinate to

~rhe five foolish virgins.-S. Matt. xxv. 1-13.
Seed sown out of season never thrives.
• :- ship must be l~unc~ied at high water; when the tid
own, the water IS too shallow to float it.
e
Iron must be modelled whil •t . h
.
becomes cold H is untractable.e i Is ot; immediately it
IS

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~· . -' A .traveller . deferred ·to 1 supply'. a' nail;·' and. 'fost his
horse's shoe; ' he delayed to supply the shoe, arid h!s horse.
became lame; he · deferred to regard this lameness,-the
horse s_tumbled, and the traveller was killed. .
·

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HrsroRrcAt lLLUSTRATIONs.-When the Athenians made
war with the Syracusans, and were reduced to the last
extremity, they deferred to embark for nine days on
.account of an eclipse of the sun: But the delay was fatal; ·
· 'for at the end of the time, Nicias, the Athenian general,
was forced to an engagement, lost hisfieet, and suffered
a most disastrous defeat.
, '' '
The Roman historians say, if Hannibal had marched to
Rome immediately after the battle · of Cannre, he would ·
have been master of the city: But by delaying at Capua, ·
he lost the opportunity; the Romans rallied with renewed
energy, and Hannibal's glory hastened to its set.
9
·.~
The Pretender delayed in Scotland to indulge the 1oolish ,
vanity of bei1ig crowned, and . . . . .
·'
. ~· ·! , .
·i;i
Absalom delayed to follow David, a.ccording to the·
treacherous advice of Ahithophel, and instead of c_rushing .
.. his rival, was himself defeated, and slain by Joa~ : in the
wood of Ephraim.-2 Smn. xv. xvii. xviii. . · · · · · · · ·
'\Vhen the Scotch had incurred the anger of William
III., a proclamation was made requiring all the chieftains
to submit to the English government before the . 1st of
]
J'anuary, 1692. Mac Ian of Glencoe delayed to comply
with the demand till the end of December, when the roads
· '3
were rende,red impassable by a storm of snow; so that the .. ·~
unfortunate chief could not by any possibility reach In- . :
· verary, where the oath of allegiance was to be tendered,
till after the period of indemnity had expired. ' In consequence of which, Mac Ian, the venerable · chieftain,"and
all his clan,· were massacred without mercy.
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QuorATIONS.·I
Delay not till to-morrow to be wi~e,
/
'l,o-morrow's sun to thee may neve_r rise. ' ·

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•24

THEME

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EVIL EXAMPLES.
•

.There is a tide in the affairs of men
Which, taken at the flood leads on' to fortune·
But once omitted, a.II the ~est of life
'
Is bound in shallows and in misery.-Sliakspeare.
Strike while the iron is hot.
Delays are dangerous.
If you will n?t, when you may,
When you will, you shall have nay.
Boast not thyself of to-morrow . . . .-Prov. xxvii. I.
~

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Piov.' x. 5.

Many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip.
Procrastination is the thief of time.-Dr. Yoimg.
To-morrow is a period nowhefe to be found,
Unless, perchance, in the fool's calendar:
· Wisdom disclaims the word, nor holds society
With those who use it.--;.-Cotton.
One to-day is worth two to-morrows as poor Richard
says.-Dr. Franklin. .
·
'
For age and want save while you may
No morning sun lasts a whole day.
'
II faut battre le fer pendant qu'il est chaud.
~
Sera nimis vita est crastina, vive hodie.-~.fan;.
Ille potens sui 1
Lretusque deget, cui licet in diem
. Dixisse, " VIXI :" cr:ts vel a.tra
Nube polum Pater occupato,
Vel sole puro; non tamen irritum
Q~odcunque retro est, efliciet.-IIorace.
Dum deliberamus quando incipiendum, incipere jam
serum fit.
·
Carpe diem, quam minime crednla postero.-1£orace.
Deliberat Roma, perit Saguntum.
l\folta cadunt inter calicem supremaque labra.
CoNCLUSION.-Hence

•

THEME

IX.

Evil Examples are like pestilential .·;
,_ Diseases. .. , .- ..~ip ~· : , ·
'

lNTRODUCTION.-Those who associate with · evil companions are exposed to imminent danger of moral corruption : even as those who mix with the infected are liable
to sicken with the same disease.
lsr REASON.-Man is a creature of imitation. Language, writing, trade, and almost all practical knowledge,
are the result of imitation: if the example be vicious,
the copy must be faulty like.wise.
. ,, . , , .. , ,
2ND REASON.-Example is stronger than precept, because example is practical and precept theoretical: Hence,
the evil example of wi<~ked companions will soon efface
the beneficial influence of the wisest instruction.
·
.
. ·
,
3nn REASON.-As companions are objects of choice,
admiration, and affection, the repulsiveness of vice is lost
sight of amidst so much that is attractive. · In short,
though the vices of a companion be gross and palpable to
others, yet (as Shakspeare says), " a friendly eye cannot
see such faults." ·
· · · _, · · · 1
4TH REASON.-There is a sympathetic instinct in 'man,
which acts upon companions by some unknown agency.
fj_'hus, if one man weeps, laughs, jeers, or even yawns, all
who witness it are· impelled instinctively With 1 the same
,, ! .
. , ,
passion or desire.
•
5rH REASON.-The mind is generally ashamed of singu.; ·
larity in virtue, and imitates wicked examples frpm "mauvaise 1wnte," .or the dread of being thought" afri;tid of sin.';
6TH REASON.-There is, in addition to all this; an actual
" viru1/' in evil examples. Many a .wanton . and _vicious
thought, many a f~ul and sinful word, many a base action
and depraved desire, being suggested to the "mind bywicked companions,· which would never otherwise .have.
occurred to it;
. .. :• .
i .. ._ \
1,
7TH REASON.-·-Gompany in sin is a great inducement
to evil ; as soldiers are bray.er in battalions,· and thieves
·
.1 ·
more daring in gangs\

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.· ;r~- ·.- ...
THEME IX.

SnnLEs.-As a drop of ink will infuse itself over a
glass of clear water, and discolour it; so . . . .
As the smallest portion of asafmtida will taint the air
of the largest room; so ....
. ~s leaven spreads through a measure of meal and assmulates the whole to itself; so ....
As the shad.es of night involve in their own darkness
the most beautiful objects in creation · so the evil example
of wicked companions . . . .
'
A~ t~rn cities of Herculaneum and Pompeii from their
proxmuty to M.ount Vesuviqs were exposctl to the fury
of the volcano, and buried in its lava; so . . . .
·
If !wo streams meet together, one pure and the other
braclnsh, the pure water will always be corrupted at the
confluence.
·
The conflagration of a neighbour's house endangen
our own dwelling.
· H!s~oRICAL lr.Lu~TR~TIONs.-Solomon '"as corrupteu
by his mtercourse with idolatrous nations and wives.
. Israel was corrupted by Moabitish women, introduced
mto the camp by the infamous advice of the prophet
Balaam.-Numb. xxv.; xxxi. 16.
·
The Israelites in Egypt fell into the idolatry of the
inhabitants among whom they sojourned.

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The hardy troops of Hannibal were corrupted by the •
luxurious townsmen of Capua.
'
Dion's son.-Nepos, art. " Dion," chap. iv.
~enry Y. acknowledged the force of evil example, by
caJlmg together the boon companions of his wildness,
when ,?e succeeded to the throne, and saying,
Presume not that I nm the thing I was,
For I have turned away my former self
So will I those that kept me company;'
When thou dost hear I am as I have been
(turning to l!alstajf)

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.E\'.lL EXAMPLES.

Approach me; and. thou shalt be as .thou wast,
The tu tor and the feeder of my riots;
'rill then I banish thee, on pain of death,
(As I have done the rest of my misleaders)
Not to come near our person by ten miles .
Butj as we hear you do reform yourselves,
vVe will, according to your strength nnd qualities, : ·
Give yon advancement."-Iiing Henry IV. part ii.
·' ' Qu~TATIONS.-. Keep bad men company, and you . ~~11
be of the number.
:
. :
.No one can touch rouge withou.t staining his fingers. . .
He. who. touches pitch must expect to be defiled. ~· ·. ·;,. ·:
Evil communications corrupt good manners.-· 1 Oor.
xv. 33.
An evil lesson is easily learned.
.
A rotten apple injures its companions.
Vice is a creature of such hideous mien
That, to be hated, needs but to be seen:
Yet once beheld, familiar with her face,
- .i
We first endure, then pity, then embrace.-Pope. ., ..
Mala vicina pecoris contagia lredent.. Virgil.
· ·~
. Grave virus munditius pepulit.
• . :,
'l'unc tua res ngitur, paries cum proximus ardet.
' 'li
Mala consortio bonos mores inquinat. ~ .
·'

• .!),,

,:

,,.

Corrnrnr)unt bonos mores colloquia prava.

·' : :

. Dociles imitandis turpibus et pravis omnes sumus . ..
. Malorum commercio reddimur deteriores. 1.j
. "·
Exemplo plus quam ratfone vivimus.-Seneca..
Homines amplius oculis quam auribus credunt.-Seneca. :
Lon gum iter est per. prrecepta, breve et efficax ·per ·
exempla.-Seneca, · ". · ··
'·
, <.
Hie 11iger est, Romane, caveto. · · ·
/. •
Ut te omnes dii malis exemplis perdans.-· Terence.
Non is clmsar coll' orso. · · ·
.· ·
·' · · /
. ~

Qo NCLUSION .-Since

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EMPLOYMENT 18 THE SALT OF LIFE.

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THEME X.

THEME

X. - ·Employment is the Salt of Life.

lNTRODUCTION.-A constant and virtuous occupation
produces on the mind and body similar effects to salt on
the general food.
lsT REAso-N .-Salt purifies; hence its emblenrntic use
in ancient sacrifices, and the command of the Lord to the
ancient Jews, "in all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt."
-Lev. ii. 13. Employment, without doubt, serves to
keep the mind pure also, for an idle brain is "Satan's
workshop."
2ND REASON.- Salt is a great preservative or antiseptic,
hence its use in curing meat : And a virtuous employment
is no less essential to keep the temper, heart, mind, and
body from corruption.
3nn REASON.-Salt is needful to give relish to food;
indeed, without salt, food woul<l be insipid and unwholesome. So employment is needful to give a relish to life,
and prevent time from " hanging heavy on our hands."
4TH REASON.- Salt is essential for digestion, not only
because it acts as a stimulant, but because it · furnishes
the material whence the muriatic acid of the gastric juice
is derived. So employment serves to digest our food by
its wholesome action on the mind and body.*
5TH REASON.-_ Salt is requisite for health, and the absence of it in food soon leads to a morbid state of the body;
hence the ancient Dutch custom of killing prisoners, guilty
of capital offences, by feeding them on food which contained no salt. Employment is no less requisite for
health; for, without it, the spirits flag, the nervous system
becomes irritable, and all the functions of the body are
disordered.
6TH ltEASON.-Salt .is absolutely essential for l{(e, for,
without it, blood cannot be formed;t and, without labour

•

• This snbject ls treated at length In my" Gulde to Science," p. 85-98.
t Only the acid phosphate of potash can be formed from food without snlt;
and th!' phosphate of soda (which is absolutely indispensable to the formation
of blood) cnn never be replaced in tho blood by the phosphate of potash.

2!)

.

'

·or employment, .a · man may be · called "dead · even·while
he liveth."
· · 1 ·
J
•
··: : ; ,_
_, :: r. ~ ·:
' 7Trr REASON.-· Salt is a wholesome medicine; for many diseaRes of a malignant character arise fro~ a : defici:~cy
of salt in the blood. So employment acts like a med1cme
in restoring health an~ cheerfulness to the system.,, .,
8TH REASON.-Salt given in excess produces scuryy,
hrcrnorrhao·e and many other disorders. -So labour earned ·
to excess pr~duccs derangement both of body a~d mind:
9TH REASON.-Salt keeps n.f the flies from meat, ·_. which
would light lipon it otherwise and corrul?t it. : ·so a .con~ .
sta11t and virtuous occupation keeps away id~~ compamohs, .
·.·; '- " L--,- .: who would allure to temptation and sin:
,

'

SrMILEs.-Runnin~ w~ter is clear; sw:et, ~n~_ ' fr~s~1;
'i
,.;.,

•·

but sta()"nant
water is noisome Iand deleter10us.
· . ._. • · ··
b
.
If the air be fanned by winds it remains exhilarating
and wholesome; but, by being.confined in a close roo~, it
beco)Iles oppressive and unhealthy~ · .,,
~
The ~ea in ~calm .is ~ften "c~ver~d with ·a 'thick SC)lm of animal putrescence most noxious to life and health. ~: ,
, · ':rhc earth by cultivation yields good fruits ; but is ·
soon covered. with weeds and poisonous herbs, if suffered
to remain failo~.
·,
....
While iron and steel are employed they continue .·
bright; but rust corrodes them when they are ,unused~ ,;
The hands are fashioned for work, the feet for walking, -:
our senses for vigilance, ' reason to contrive,\ and every ·_
function of the body for active life: If they are unem- '.'
ployed they suffer a kind of death; as manur~ unsprcad
is .useless and even pernicious. ·
·'
· 1•
/,
1
. Money, unemployed, ' eats itself up;" but, in ci~cula- ,'
tion, it is the great lever of the world. ; ; \
·.,
c

-

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-

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•

.('. ,

- .. ,

•

-. I ·

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·

H1sTORICAt lLLUSTRATIONS.-"'-Sir R.ichard 'W hittington
rose by industry from the lowest / state ~o be lor_d
3*

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EMPLOYMENT IB THE · SALT OF LIFE.

THEME X.

mayor of London, &c. Perie was a common ditcher, and
rose by diligence to the highest civic honour.
Arkwright rose by industry to the highest distinction,
and was knighted by George III.
Canning used to say, "I would not change, if I could,
my subjection to physical laws, and my exposure to
hunger and cold, or the necessity of constant conflict with
the material world; for, without these, man would become
a contemptible race."
Alfred the Great was remarkable for his great diligence. He divided the day into three portions· one of
which he employed in study, another in business 'and the
third in sleep and recreation.
'

'·

Peter the Great, when he succeeded to the throne of
. Russia, found his subjects ignorant, lazy, and brutish.
He, therefore, laid aside his diadem in order to learn those
useful arts which would employ them. With this view
he travelled into foreign countries, made himself familiar
with various mechanical employments; and by personal
labour and judicious instruction so ameliorated the condition of his ·people, that his name is still held in the
highest veneration.
When God made Adam and placed him in Eden, he
employed him " to water the garden and to till it."
The angels of heaven are always represented in the
Bible as active in some employment; either ministcrin()"
to those on earth, or worshipping before the throne o~
singing prayers, or fiyi11g on the errands of J eho;.ah ·
they are never represented. indolent and idle.
'
QuoTATIONs.-The reason why the rich and great are
more subj ect to disease than the working classes is, because they have not sufficient employment to rouse their
mind and exercise
th eir bodies.-Gauganelli.
I
Idle persons (says Burton) can never be well either in
body or in mind: wearied, vexed, loathing, weeping, sighing·, grieving, and suspecting, they are continun.lly offended

..
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with the world, and disgusted with every object ·. ·
Their liv.es are painful to themselves; and burthen
.. .
others. Their bodies are doomed to endure the isenes
of ill-health, and their minds to be tortured by every fgolish fancy.-An_atomy of llfelancholy'. .' .. "~
.' · ,t ,
Prov. vi. 6. Ecc. v. 12.
· .· ,.. · " · '"
Idleness is the rust of the mind, the bane of the · body~
the nurse of haughtiness, the chief author of.mischief, o?e
of the seven deadly sins, and the . cause of numerous diseases; for, if the mind be not employed, it rushes into
:,.. · ..... ... 1 ' ' ... .
mischief, or sinks into m~lancholy.
· Canning says, " Man owes his growth and energy of
character chiefly to that striving of the wm,,. and tha_t
conflict with difficulty, which we call ' effort.' "
.
~ ,Any employment which ~s. innocent (says Pal~y)_ is
better than none : as the wntmg of a book, .the bmldmg
of a house, the laying out of a garden, the digi;;ing of a.
fishpond, even the raising of a cucumber or a ~ulip. ·· . '
Why sits Content upon a cottage sill
. ' (.,.
:· .. ·
At eventide, and blesses the coarse meal - · • · " . i:
In sooty corner ? vVhy, sweet Slumber wait , . • , · . "
The hard pallet?
·
· ' · " : • , i : 111·
''l'is labour savoury makes the peasant's fare, ' ,.~ ;
And works out his repose : for Ease must ask ;
The leave of Diligence to be enjoyed.-S. .pavies. ..
Oh listen not to that enchantress Sloth
'
. .t
With seeming smile; her palatable cup " , ..1.• ;r- .• :
By standing grows insipid: an~ beware
:· .
:
'l'lrn bottom, for there's poison m the lees 1-S. Davies.
See also Shakspeare, Henry iv. on " Sleep" (Act III.);
:Henry V. " the Miseries of Royalty" (Act IV.); !f_enry .
.VI. "Blessings of a .Shepherd's life'~ {Act. II.). ,1\. ' · :·1;/
·.: Life without em~loyme~t ~s. a vague, an~, l~n~~~,~
~~~·
:-Bacon.
·
.. . ·,
- • n:
, ·\ 1 .,1{
Ignavia corpus hebetat, labor firmat.-Celsus. , • :i
" . 1
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CoNcLusroN.· ·Hence • .. '

.... .

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THEME XI,

THEME

XI.

The greatest Even~ are often drawn by
I-Iai"rs.

iNTRODUCTION.-Events of the greatest moment are
very often brought about by causes apparently the most
trivial.

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lsT REASON:-A very small event may pive value to
"'.'hat was prev10usly worthless: as a unit to a number of
ciphers.

2N~ REASON.-A very feeble agency may so transpose
an auangem.e?t, as greatly to augment its value : thus
any t~ans~o~it10n would
increase the collective value of
1
the nme digits.
3Rn REAso.N.-A very insignificant achlition to n, series
may so 1!1-ultiply its previous powers of combination and
pennutatwn, as most materially to affect the general
resul~. Thus the permutation of six units would be 720,
~ut, if only one more be added, the number of pennutations would b~ increased to 5040. *
4TH REASON.-.-.The most minute event may produce a
co.ncurrence of Clf?utnstances which may generate most
m1~hty effects: ~s if a small spark of fire were to fall by
accident on a ship's powder-room.

6T.Ii R:EASON.-A mere accident may be the cause of an
-, extraordinary arrangement, from which new and important effects maY: re.suit.
As when the country girl
pu.t .some scarlet .dye rnto a pewter pot, it gave such
brilliancy to her ribbons n.s to excite the attention of the
~?nor, nnd le~ to one of the most vahrnlJle discoveries in
tue art of dyemg.

* Thus 1 X2X8X4X5X6

= 720.

But1X2X3X4X5X6XT=504-0.

hH REASON.-Great and small, trivial and. important, ,
are terms which depend for their meaning, in a grea~ ., .
measure, on the prescience of the person who usd them.-·
Thus to lay a log across a rail might seem a very slight
matter to a person who knew nothing oflocomotives; but
to another better acquainted with steam-trains, would be
'
regarded as " full of most dangerous hazard." '·
8TH REASON.-The real gerrn of life is always -very
minute, and, to those who measure value .by size, exceedingly insignificant; but the worthless acorn cast into 8.
field by a wandering boy, or trodden in the earth. by an 1
erran~ ox, may contai~ the germ .of .a future fore~t. ' ;· - '!~
9TH REASON.-A very trivial circumstance .- may strike ..
upon the hopes or fears of a man, and turn the. whole
current of bis thoughts and feelings; as a stone falling
into a stream may divert the water into a new channel. ..
IOrH REASON.-As the providence of God superintends
and directs all things, the most important events are
often brought about by the most inadequate means, in
order to teach the world, that " it is not by might nor
by power," but by the sovereign will of the Lord of
Hosts. rrhus the walls of the strong city 9f Jericho fell
·· ·
down merely at the blast of Joshua's trumpets. ·•·
j.

5T.I~ R_EASON.-A mere trifle .may sometimes suggest or
supply what has long been de:m·cd and even souqht for
As .when Archimecle~ entered the bath, the ovei:flow of.
wate_r suggested to him the valuable discovery of "specific
gravity."

GREATEST EVENTS DRAWN DY "HAIRS,
'
.
·. ,, '

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SnnLES.-A splinter in the finger may cost a ·man much
pain, and even his life.
i· • ·
' :
·• The mustard seed (says our Lord) is the smallest of all
grain, but produces the largest of all trees. ' , · .
A spark of fire falling from the pipe of a rustic on dry
'· · ·
leaves, has been known to destroy huge forests. ~
A worm in a " stick of timber" may cause the wreck
of a giant ship; bring qeath to hundreds, and sorrow fo
thousands.
.
~
1 •
.. ,n.,;_
"
If the elements of the air were combined together, in~ : /
stead of being !11ixed mechanically, they. ·~,
~ml~ .ge~e~a~e''
most deadly poisons.
' · ,· 1 - · .. • " .: .. \ · / 1 -. Vessels have been lost at sea by ~is·t~ku;g ·~ .\vord :
for one of similar sound, as when ''larboai:d" and '.'·star./ .

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Um !I!~ I

Hi
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Im1".jl II
!! ~ :--·1

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TIIJCME XI,

GREATEST EVENTS . DRAWN BY HAIRS.

board" are mistaken for each other amidst the roar of a
tempest.

·. The valuable invention of printing was diScovered by a.
frolic humour of John Geinsfleish ofHaerlem, who had cut
his initials on a tree, and in an idle whim t.ook an ~pression on paper.
.
,
The siege of Troy commenced from. a visit o~ Paris at
the house of Menelaus where he fell m love with Helen;
eloped to Troy; was ro'uowed by the Q;recian ari;nament;
and, after a siege of ten years, the city of Priam ~as
burnt to the ground.

HrsromcAL lLLUSTRATIONs.-Benson savs Napoleon's
love for wa:i; was planted in his boyhood "by the present
of a, small brass cannon from one of his juvenile friends.-

{.

S!cetclies of Corsica.

As Josephine was going to the opera one day, General
ltapp detained her n minute to a1Tal1Ll:C her shawl nf'tcr
the manner of the Egyptian women. ,_ By this tri!le the
life of Napoleon Iluonaparte was saved, f~r Lhe "infernal
machine" exploded one minute too soon. Thns the fate
of Europe depended on the fanciful :Hljustment of a shawl.
The famous Rye-house plot in the reign of Charles II.
was thwarted by a mere n.ccidcnt; for the lin11sc in which
the king lodg-ed hnppcninp; to cntch fire, he ffas ol11i,_.,·cd
to leave New market a few hours sooaer Ll 1:1! 1 lH! in tern led;
and the whole scheme of the conspirators >rns thwarted.
The great London fire in 1799 was or·ca sioned by a
servant, who inadvertently dropped a spark from a, cruidle
on a cottage floor. And the fe:irful eonflrwrat.i0n of the
1: city in the reign of Charles II. is ascrib()tl to a similar
accident in a bn.ke-office near Loudon Bridge.
, 'l'he ambition of Maril1s and all its concomitant evils
orig-inated in a foolish prophecy, tltflt "he s!tou lcl be seven
times consul."
•
The destruction of Athens wa.s liroug:lit about bv a
jest : For some witty _Athenian, struck with the pirnply
~ac~ of Sulla, called ~uu " A rnnluerry pudding'." , 'fhe
md1gnant Roman sn.t1sfiec1 his veugeauce by destroying
the ancient and beautiful city.
Brennus was prevented from storming the Roman citadel by the cacklmg of some sn.crecl geese, who were disturbed by the tramp of the Gn.ulish besiegers.
Th~ i.nvention of glass is gcnernlly ascribed to some
Pham1c1an merchants, who lighted a fire on the sea-shore
and observed the vitrification of the sand after the fir~
had bur11.t out.

. l

'l'he history of J osepb.
Guy Fawkes and Lord Monteagle.
Mons. Lafitte the eminent banker of Paris, and one of
the most conspic;10ns public men of the age, was originally
a prrnpcr; and ascribes the employment, w?ic~ ol?ened up
to him his rmth of fortune and glory, to h~s p1ckmg up a
stray pin in the streets of Paris.
'['he theory of gravitation was suggested to Sir Isaac
Newton by the accidental fall of an apple. from , a ·tree
under which he was reclining in a fit of mu~mg. · .
}

·:

·' - '••··: , ,,

QuoTATiONS.· Life is a bundle of acci~ents. ·. ! ' .
A little spark kindles a migh.ty fire.~. ·. '. " ' " . .· ,
Little neglect breeds great mischief.
Those that with haste would make a mighty fire, ·'·!· ·
Begin it with weak straws.-Julius Cwsar.
..~ · 1 •

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· A wee ·thi~g puts yo1;1r beard in a 15Teeze.' · .. .' . . .. . ., . .
Cresar says ," Accident ' has much to do with war;"
but it has still' more to do with scientific and political discoveries.-The. ,T,irnes.
, ..~.
. , i
A very small incident will occasionally lead to the most
brilliant results, and soµietimes produce the ,mgst dis.mal
misfortunes.-R. Chamb~rs. : : ,., ·. 11; ,.. 1::.1 : \ · · • / :-~~
What are usually termed trifles are no longer so/ when
. there is a possibility of their taking · a serious t~rn.-R:
()harnbers.
·
'>:/ ·, ·~ •. /P/~n· ',·, ·
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THEME XII.

MENTAL STIMULUS NECESS.t\~Y }[OR BODILY EXERCISE • .

Michael Angelo used to say, " Trifles make perfection
and perfection is no trifle."

:.ne dictates of the will, and wheneve~ tb,e will is violated
the health ~uffers.
'· 1 · · · ' 1 " - •. '
hn HEASON.-As no man can. s,erve lU)o mast~rs witP,out injury to both, so no · perscm c~n wisp one thm~ aµ~
do another without injury t~ th~ mm.;I and bod~.
8rH REASON.-· He~ithy muscula~ actioµ ~u.st ?e nc~lU(
ml and riot distorted: nut so long as the w1ll mcl~~s the
muscles one way, and some physical force constrau;is them
another, their motions must be torture~ a:q.(i unll:~tu~!11 1

Trifles make the sum of human happiness.
N ugre seria ducunt.
Parva scintilla excitavit magnum incendium.
Eheu! quam brevibris pereunt ingentia causis.-Glau-

dian.

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CoNCLUSION.-Let us be careful in all our thoughts,
and circumspect in all our ways.

Snm.Es.-Exercise in v~~>Jatiµ~ tq t\1.~ w;~}l is lilrn ~

wheef with a drag on.

u·

~11f1 11
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THEME

XII. 1 lJiental stimu_lus is necessary for bodily
exercise.

lNTRODUCTION.-Bodily exercise, taken for purposes of
health, should be under the influence of an harmonious
nervous excitement.
lsT REASON.. Exercise for health should be pleasant
and agreeable: But all exertion in opposition to the will
is painful and offensive.
2Nn REASON.-Healthy e._xercise must be vital and
energetic : But all action in opposition to the will is only
mechanical. and lethm·gic.
3Rn REASON.-Exercise to be healthy should be with. out.fatigue of body o_r distres.<? of mind: But all involuntary

l;:i,bour is wearisome and tedious.
4rH. REASON.-Exercise for health should be easily
pe1:formed: But constrained action must of 1lecessity be
difficult and distressful.
5rH . REASON.-Good temper is e8sential to healthy
exercise: But whenever the will is violated, the temper is
:ruffled, and many evil passions are excited.
6TH REASON.-Exercise taken for health should be
voluntary; for the muscles are made by nature to obey

I

When a stick is bent by main force it will crac~ and
break.
A merry laugh is a real feast, but hysterical laug~ter
is most distressing.
·
·
No workman can plane his wood against the gr~in. ·
A wheel well greased moves easily; so vo~ul,ltary exercise is easily performed:. Bu_t a stubb~rn. wh~e' t~at. needs
greasing causes much rmsch1.ef from fnct~~n; s.o bod1!y ~~­
ercise, in violation to the will, produc_es ~nJµnous fnctI<;>1:1
on the mind and body.
'
'
·
,
Bodily exercise directed by mental stimulus may he
compared to lightning running alo~g.a conduct~r: :Whereas bodily exercise that is anta~omstic to the will, is .':\.~ mjurious to the body as lightnmg tQ a house ~nprqv1~.~~
with a conducting rod.
·,
He who hunts two hares leaves one and loses the
other: So he who takes exercise fqr health while hi~ min.d
is otherwise occupied, mqst
i;ixpect . to ob~al? -~8
object.
·
· ( ·:. . · · . , /.'
It is harcl tq sw~Ql ~gainst the str~am. ~ ~ ~ \ '. .· .: .:')'. : ._.

net

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H1sromoA~ ILwsrRATIONs.-.Addison/ · in \ t~e : Spectator, tells us of a physician who brought a ~ack~t to an .
eastern despot suffering severely from const1pat10n, and
told him the remedy was co11c~a,lec;l in t}i~ l ba.ndle; and

4

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38

THEME XU.

must be made to pass into the body through the palms
of the hands. The king was to play with the racket till
perspiration was induced, which would be the proof that
the secret medicine had been received into the system.
It needs scarcely be added, that the sole object of the
racket was to stimulate the king to bodily exercise; and
the remedy was effectual so long as the prescription was
followed.

~ill
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1/Ill

Bil ii
Hllll
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In the retreat of the French army from Moscow, when
no enemy was near, the soldiers became depressed in
courage and enfeebled in body, so that they nearly sank
to the earth from exhaustion and intense cold: But no
sooner did the report of the Russian guns sound in their
·ears, than new life seemed to pervade them; and they
wielded powerfully the arms which, a few minutes before,
they could scarcely drag along the grouml.
, I was told the following fact by a Christiun minister.
.A traveller crossing over the Alps in 1849, was so over.come by fatigue and cold, as to be no longer able to resist
the powerful impulse of lying down , although he was fully
.conscious it would be fatal to go to sleep. Just at this
moment he heard a groan, and rose to sec wh euce it proceeded; when he found a fellow-traveller lying on the
snow, overcome like himself by the cold. He was instantly stimulated with a desire to save the dying man,
and began to rub his limbs with the snow, till he himself
glowed with his own exertions. After a time he saw the
eyes of the dying main open, he heard the sigh of returning animation, he renewed his labour with greater vigour,
felt excited and strong; and had ultimately the unspeakable pleasure of accompanying his fellow-traveller to his
journey's end. The Scripture says, " he that watereth
shall be watered also himself;" so was it in this case; the
" labour of love" that saved the dying man, supplied the
glow which restored him also who administered it.
So in.fluential is nervous stimulus, that it has sometimes
·given life and vigour to paralytic limbs: this has happened in cases of shipwrecks, fires, sea-fights, assaults, &c.
Dr, Sparrman (after describing the fatigue aµd e4haq~~

MENTAL STIMULUS NECESSARY FOR BODILY EXERCISE.

30 .

tion which · he and his party endured in their travels at
the Cape) adds, "yet what even now appears .to me a
matter of wonder is that as soon as we got a glimpse of
the game, · all langu~r left us in an instant."
·
I was told the following little incident wh~le writing
the present theme. Mr. Farley of Exeter, takmg a walk ·
with bis three young children, bad so tired them that they
began to cry .with fatigue, and could not proce~d forth.er:
as they were still some way frc:m home, and it "'.'as impossible to carry all three, he hit upon the foll~w.mg device. He cut four sticks .off the hedge, and stndm!S one
himself, began to canter and caper about ; the ch1ldi;-en
soon followed the same example, and ran home astnde
their sticks, laughing and shoutin!? for joy, now try.ing to
catch their papa, and now calacolmg as they saw him. do.
Dr. Andrew Combe relates the following anecd~te. .An
Englisl1man who suffered from a nervous depression, and
fancied himself too ill to stir, was persuaded to go .from
London to the north of Inverness to consult an emment
physician: the stimulus of expecting the means of cure
enabled the invalid to bear the journey down. Wh~n he
reached Inverness he found that no such pers?n e~1sted,
as he had come to consult, and his rage at fiu~mg ~1mself
hoaxed sustained him in returning; but on. his arnval at
home his disease had left him. :Mental stimulus was the
emin~nt physician that effected the cure.
Sportsmen, cricketers, golfers, skaters, the rowers in a.
boat race and others who are moved by any strong mental
impulse, ~ill undergo without fatigue ~uch an amo~nt of
bodily labour, as the strongest frame without some rncentive to action would sink under.
.
,. .
Every body knows how wearisome _it is to sau~ter and
loiter about without any definite obJect . to ,a~ta1~ ; ~nd
bow unprofitable a walk ta~en agamst •.t~e mcln:>;ation,
merely for the sake of exercise, al~ays ·1s1• compared. to
the same amount of exertion made rn pursmt of,an °:~Je?t
in which the mind feels an· interest;· as, for ·example, m. \a.
a mountain;
dance , a game ' a. romp
. , an ascent of ./
I and so. o~.

...,·
j ,

-.~

·'
"

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40

THEME XIII.

QUOTATIONS. - The conversation of a friend is a
powerful alleviation of the fatigue of walking.-Dr. A
Combe.

•

Comes jucundus iii via pro vehiculo est.
·, .]1aith in a ?ure abets the physician, by giving a cheer-

~1- n er'vous stimulus to the muscles of the body.-Dr. A.
ivom6e.

. ,The ,nerves ~erve for the conveyance of the motive
faculty from the brain.- Wilkins.

T~ehealthful r_esults of cheerful exertion will never be

o?t~med., wh.e:e the nervous impulse which animates the

muscles is 'demed.-.Dr. A. Ganibe.
The .labour We delight in physics pain.
A willing heart makes nimble fingers.
A willing horse needs no spur.

'CoN-cLus101-t· Hence .....

Knowledge i's power.

.. ~NT~ODUCTION.-A. mind well infotmed is possessed of
grea.t mfluence.
.. ~~T

~EAso'.N.· _Because it

has command ove?· tile 1·eason,

~e,l~if.; _and; un<j,erfla?J,~ing of men : by which means

It

leads captive their will; and the will directs the actions
of the human machine.
.. ~ '~:No~. R}ias?N.-It inspires confidence in those whose
c_o:op~rat10n is required, without which the wisest schemes
are often frustrated.

.

~Rn R~~soN.. ·it · ~isarms

opposition, and prevents ob-

stacle~ bemg thrown m the way to impede or thwart the

plan suggested.

-·--~

-------- -

'

•

I

•

f;

•

•

~ ·,

'j/: • ·1 ~ '\ .,~

;

••

. 4TH REASON.-It gives the mind .mastery over" its o~ r" .,j
devices, so that it can comprehend and handle them ~t~ ; ~;;the familiarity and skill of a maste.r-wo,rk~~n; , ; ; ,, _,,, ··
1
5TH REASON.-It inspires that full assurance o/ su~
cess, which arms the mind with energy and ind~mi~apl~
courage to persevere to the end.
' , .
. -~
6rH REASON.-It .conceives the means of accomplish~ng
the object in hand, a_nd is _able to sugg_~~lt Aev~<-!~.s)~ .i
cases of unexpected difficulty.
, ." i " , ., ;;;' ·' r{ · ~,t
'lTH REASON.-It lays all science, · art,· mtd ~tur~ ., · ~'.!
1.mder tribute; and makes them fellow-workers and . obei .• ·,
dient servants.
, r " -· " ·;. "· ;; '
!

Jt

,•

'THEME XIII.

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.

I

\f'f ''

,, .

)ff

. ;

:

1.J;~t..t

81MILEs.-A. rudder guides a ship whithersoever r ii
wills.
. . 1 , .•
Edge on a scythe is better than strength in the mower;'
The power of knowledge may be likened to ,t~.e ~~~;
la tor of a watch.
. -~ .
It may also be compared to a lever, which is the simplest
of all mechanical contrivances, but will lift , e~or~~~
weights by a wise arrangement of the fulcr'!1m.
.,,
A. mass of men without knowledge ·i:p.ay be compared .
to a train of locomotives without a steam engine. ,. There ·
is every means of . transit complete,. except the ~o.tiy~
power.
·
_; "' :' i<):;:: .'~ .:'!l
~rhe power of gunpowder in blasting rocks is infinitely
more efficadous than all the brute. force that ,ca!1; ,~~ \.
applied.
·
·
· . · 1
• •
"'.
,i
Knowledge is like the key of a comple~ 'Ioc~; its appli·;
ance to the wards would be more effi~ac10µ~. 1:?1, ~~oofa!lg
the bolts than the strength of a giant!•>!· 1•:l· \,: .-." A <t
.
An automaton cannot be made to imitate th,e motions ,
of living beings, or perform .the.functions d~signe~ b~ the '
artist, by the application :.of extra~e9us..,,force :.o r .any.. .
amount of ph~sica~ ':io~ence; but wh~n th~._8~~f~~1~~2.D.~1s;
are set in motion, it 1s mstantly obedient.
r
~

. I

-

·.

42

, H1sroRICAL !LLUSTRATIONs.-Demosthenes, by his ora·
tions, swayed the whole Athenian people according to his

will.

Cicero, by his wisdom and oratory, put Catiline to
and caiTied with him the co-operation of all the
senate and people - of Rome, although many were the
secret favourers of the conspiracy.
fligh~,

~ ~m
- ' " !'

KNOWL:&DGE

THEME XIII.

. Antony, by his oratory, turned the admiration of the
ltoman people for Brutus and his conspirators to open
hostility and rancorous vengeance.
Sheridan, by his eloquence in the House of Commons
on the celebfa'ted trial against W aiTen Hastings, so carried
away the minds of all present, that they were obliged to
adj ourn in order to recover from the effect before they
pronounced judgment.
When CarncadeH the philo;;;opher went to ltorne, C:ito
the Censor gav-e counsel in the open senate, that he should
be sent back to Oreece with all despatch, or he would
enchant the mincls of the Ho ma ns, :rnd :-: \Yay them at his
will.
Arnpliion irnd Orpheus owe lo the power of their wisdom, what the poets ascribe to the magic of their music.
. Meneni ns Agrippa, by his wise fabl e of the "Belly nnd
its Members," quelled t he dangerous insnrrection which
thi'eatened destruction to the infant r epublic of Rome;
it'nd brought back the · seceders to the city to protect the
very people they had designed to destroy.
Cecrops by the power of wisdom raised the Athenians
'f11oin i·ude bai'lfa!rity to civilised life.
Cresar, by his address and knowledge of tlie human
"tni'ntl, 'hlore thai1 once restored his rebellious soldiers to
'obedience, and n1acle t hem ardently attached to his
person, and _d evoted to his cause.
. ;tJ:iysses b.yhis 'wisdo'm contributed more to the cuptm:e
o{ Tl'9y, than :Ajax by his 'strength, Agamemnon by his
~ot~~ei@ty, or Achill~s by his courage.
Ar~niin~des, 0y h'is wisdqm, did inore to stave off Mar1

·IS POWER.

cellus and his soldiers from Syracuse, than all the com~
biued effortf;l of the army and fleet of King Hiero.
,
St. Dunstan (the mostlef:l,r~ed m'a~ of the .10th century)
was so potential over both kings a:nd subject~, that ,the
c~mmon belief tmp~ted his tnfl.uence t-0 ·magrc and ' de·

m'Onia:cnJ ra,gen:cy:.

.

'l'to·g er Bacon, the ·te·arned 'fl.•iat, Wits _aMused ?f nec~o~
mancy, merely becit't't'Se 'hi~ inn'nen'se knowledge 'g a'Ve him
11pparetitly s-uperh.nma\1 power. , •
... , ·
.
Solomon.. BM 1 Ki'rigs, iii. 5'-'-1'3, rand '1 ·OlfftO'li. xxix.' 25.
!

. · QuoTA'CTONS•.-A. little wit is worth a deal of strength.
Lord Brucon says, 11 If arms and d'~sceilt have /ca'fri~d
away kingdoms, learning hath earned away counCils
which have competed with empire."
" If iron be blunt and the mower do not wet the edge,
then mus t he put t~ more strength; but wisdom is pro.
fitable to direct ."- Bacon.
\Yisdom anu fortune combating together,
If that the former da,re but what it can, .
No chance may shake it.-S1wkspeare.
It is the business of the mind to command, and of Uie
bocly to obey.
.
.
"Tisdcim strengtheneth the \vise more than. ten Illighty
men ,v hich ate in the city .-EeCl. vii. 19. · . '·
.
Learning is like mercury, o~e of .the most powerf~l and
excellent things in the world m skilful hands; , but, m un·
.
: ·
'
skilful, the most mischievous.
The wise man reigns in the souls a~d hearts1 of men.-

Bacon.

.

. ,

.J

Magna quidem, sacris qure ·d~f prrecept~ · libe~l~; .:· y:
Victrix fortiinre ·Sapientia.-+Juven~l. ,. ··: ;
/ : ~. Cognitione n~turie, et scientia, b~ati,sumus.~Gic~ro. · '.
Doctrina vim··promovet.• iiisitam;~HC?race~
/ 1. '·. ~
" ., , ('
\, /, • f ..
Mens agitat molem.
i · :.
.·
; ·
'
1

' CONCLUSION .. -. : .

/"

>

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~

~· ,.,' .»;/ .. ". : ~.- ,~·,...~ .,

~·

.

44
THEME

'
'I'HEME XIV.

XIV. If you wish to give your talents fair
· play, dress well.

lNTRODUCTION.-If you wish to rise in the opinion of
others, and to obtain their sanction and support, be careful tha~ your dress and outward appearance be in accordance with your age and rank in society.
lsT REASON.-A. man unsuitably drest is ridiculous·
and whatever excites ridicule excites contempt also.
'
. ~ND REASON.-A man unsuitably drest subjects to

rzd~cule those who befriend him j and no man likes to be

derided, even for his choice of a client or companion.
3RD ~EASON.-A suitable dress is a letter of recommendation j for all persons are in some measure influenced by appearances, and many are altogether led away
thereby.
4T.H REASON ..-The senses are the jury of the judgment;
and if the verdict of the jury be unfavourable the judge
rarely reverses it.
'

I
11

I

I
'

6TH REASO~.-The conventions of society can never
be o?traged without .provoking the prejudices of the communit~; and, as certai1:1 styles of dress by the conventions
of soctety are appropnated to certain trades professions
ranks, and nges, those who violate these n;les provok~
the prejudices of society against themselves a~d cannot
expect its aid and approval.
'

II
I
i

. 5'!H REASON.-.-';fhe association of ideas is a natural
From
this habit or mstmct of the mind, we associate the craft
of an operative with one kind of dress the rank of a
g~ntlemai:i with another, and the sobri~ty of a student
with a third. Thus the dress becomes associated in the
mind with feelings of respect, pity, veneration, contempt
'
and so on.
rn~tmct,. or so. ha~Jitual, that it is no less potential.

II

'I

'lTH REASON.-Congruity is always pleasing, and incongruity offensive . .

~~. . . t

DRESS, AN .INDEX OF THE: MIND. '
I

-

,

.

....,.

8rH RmAsoN..· 'fhe 9ress is often e.n index of 'the ,n;tin"
and chara'Cler. rrhus the sloven and ,the careless,,, the, '.
coxcomb and the proud, the miset an~ the pedant, ,the,
tidy and the tasteful, may be discerned hi . a mo'ment by.
their dress. It is qesirable, there.fore, for those who w:ish
tq rise, not tO ·ptoduce a ·w-r~·ng ·~mpressl.9n,' on· the til~~4.
of others, by negligence or affectation ih di"ess.' ·' __, ,":- ,., ..,
9TH REAso~.:--A per:~o.n'.s d:i;ess has_ a d,ire9t. injfo,ence' i
on his mind and morals. .' 'thus 9·erfaih idea~ ',arid feelings .
ate exdted by certain fashions uf dres~; ' and it would be
as difficult to banish slang ~aii,iiera troni a slang dre~s, as,·.,
ball-too!n manners trom a ball-'room dress. r"H·;i· • S • -:.·[ ,; ~·.
1

•

I

1

•:' I

'

· -f·

SrnILES. -Precious stones never sh.ow to advantage,

uuless they are well set. 'l'he most inestimable jewel
woulJ he. lightly esteemed by the geii~ra~ bbBei'ver, if 'se,t
in pewter or copper like ~ chilq's toy.
,
·'
. ·A picture never does justice to the artist; till suitably_ ,
framed, and propedy varnished.
.
.
. . . '· ·
A well print~d bopk is not .only more · pleasing, but
in~re iinpressive., than 6ne on ha~ pape~ a~d 1 i,J?:'. ?ad .type . .,
Why are :r;nahogany and _ ·ros~~'\V"OOd ·U,~ed for furnituh
i,rntead of ordJnary .woods, but because the" eye, is better
pleased, and the judgmEmt 11.ssocdat~s · tespectability_ with
these externals. ·
In all the wo~l~s of natpre we. perceive a great_,regard
to appearances. r.l'hus the flowers are dad in every variety~
pf hue, although they \;vould smell as i;;weetly without S1'ch
J:?e~uty; the birds are feathered ,w ith exquisit'e plumage,
although their \V06dno~e~ would be eqhally melodious, .
wit!1out . this lavish varie~y ~f tints. This ide~ may be
easily developed an:d ap.plred. · ·
' ·· · "
· ...
A candle enveloped with horfi burns as ·clearly as in 1
a glass lantern; but the spectator judges very differently
: . - .
. ,, ' . · \ / · '"'
of the two lights.
\

.

'

.

I

HisromcAL lLtUsfRAl'ioNs. - · Our forefathers' were so
well aw'are of the hnportO.hce of dress, that they presc.r ib'ed
.

-

.

• ., , I I.

'

.. ..

t

46

Men judge of the nature and qualities of . things by
their outward appearance; because it demands no painful
exertion of the understanding, or slow process of investi-

by law a certain costume for every.public functionary, in
order to c?mmand respect. Thus Judges, barristers, clergymen, pr.mces,. officers, &c. are all arrayed in a handsome and imposmg costume.
The high priest among the Jews was dressed by the
command of God, in the most costly. and impo~ing apparel.
The Egyptians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, and indeed
almost .all th~ great nations of antiquity, were v~ry scru:
pulous m their costume; and would not allow their slaves
to dress like free citizens, lest the distinction of rank
should be forgotten.
.
Alci.biadcs. owed h~s power an~ promotion, in a great
meas~~ e , to his splendid style of hving and dress. Ncpos
says, ~mnes Athe~i ~nses splendore (non minus in vita
quam v1ctu) superav1t."
L~sander, the Spartan, lost the respect of his citizens
and t~1cm:red their ridicule and disgust by his absurd
fectat10n m dress.-Nepos.
When Agesilaus :vent to Egypt, the king 1'achos
Wtts so offended at his slovenly and unsuitable costume
that he ~ould not entrust him with the command of
the Egyptian army; for he could not believe so shabby
a dress could be adopted by a really great mind.-

gation.-Oogan.
Even virtue in a graceful person shows to better advantage.-Bacon.
Beauty is external virtue.-Bacon.
He who observes not decorum in small matters may be
a great man, but certainly is not a wise one . .
Vir tue and wisdom, without audress, are like foreign
languages without au interpreter.
· '
Personal Jiecormn, though not necessary for existence,
is eminently so for subsistence.
Chose qui plait est a demi vendue.
Nitidre vestes pulchriorem reddunt.
Formosa facies muta commendatio est.
Fronte et oratione, magisquam ipso beneficio reque
capiuntur homines.-Oicer__o.
· Teipsum ne negligas.
Deos novimus ornatu et. vestitu.-Oicero.
· .•
Quin tu te colis antequam exeas domum.-Ourtius; · t

af-

'.

Nepos.
Napoleon was very particular about his own dress and
that of all his officers.
'
Nelson wo'1ld not appear on deck as the commander of the British squadron, till he had put on his full
costume.
At~i?us splendidus, non :umptuosus, omni diligentia.
mund1tiehl affectabat.~Nepos.
• QuoTATIONs.-Fine feathers make fine birds.
Costly thy habit as. thy purse can buy,
. But not e4pressed m fap.cy; rich but not gaudy:
For the apparel oft proclaims the man.-Shakspeare.

.·47

BONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY.

THEME XIV.

CoNCLUSION. -Hence . . . • • .

'

- .~~

.
t

THEME

XV.

·,

I'

.

\

'

.

)

Honesty i,s the best policy~ ' · · '
'.
.,
•.
1:n}\ t 1' t ,_. ~

PART I
,n.~ ··\~i, . .. ,, t11,'· I
1
lNTRODUCTION.-A man who is just and honest in ·every
·transaction of life will be more likely to succeed, than the
most artful knave, even although his d~ep-la\d .schemes
escape exposure.
·
. · • · ' ' ··i
~r
JsT REASON!· ;\.11 h9nesi ma11· gainS pairlide7 ,)rus; .
.

•,

•

,, . . ,

...

l

> ·· . '/.' .

I

·''

48

THEME XV,

and credit, from those with whom he deals, in consequence
of which he is enabled to buy to great advantage: But a
fraudulent creditor receives no favour.
2Nn REASON.-An honest man wins the respect and
confidence of those who deal with him/ respect and confidence produce good offices ; and success is the handmaid
of public favonr : But he who has the character of a
dishonest trickster is watched with suspicion and always
distrusted._
'

3RD REASON.-A.n honest man procures the good word
ar,id recommendation of those who know him; and nothing
p~·~motes success so much as the voluntary praise of the
d1smterested : Bnt he who makes others the dupes of his
underhand dealings is always abused and exposed.
4TH REASON.-The honest dealer retains the good
offices ·of those who once confide in him· and a constant
client, patient, or customer, is far uetter than many casual
ones: On the other Jrnnd, a dishonest kn n:rc mn.y cl cc.cive
t he un wary once, hnt. canno t exp ect to p alm Jiis tricks a
second time on th e ~nm e person.

5m HE,\sn~ . - J fon(•st, 11('fl lill!! ?1n·rr n1•cr-rmcl1cs i tself·
and, therefore , is never 1mujected to pains a,ncl penalties~
But the fraudulent are constantly incurring heavy expenses from fines, lawsuits, hush-money, and the thousand annoyances which follow in the wake of dishonest
prncticcs.
6rH REASON.-Ilonesty produces no eneniies, for all admire integrity of conduct, and make allowances in times
of need : But artifice is sure to create opposition and
every misadventu}.'e is attributed to knavery prepens~.
7rH :i:-EASON.-Honesty is a plain and easy way with
n? turnmgs, as well as a sure and safe one : 'Vhereas,
dishonesty turns .to crooked paths and bye-ways which
are full of danger, trouble, difficulty, and doubt.
SrnILEs.· It is better to travel by the high road, than
to venture through by-paths, with the hope of finding
out " a short cut."

. ' 49

HONESTY:<: THlD "BEST POLIOY.

·

The rook (in .the fablefbuilt her. nest of sti~ksJllched .
from other birds; but no sooner 'was the theft discm:~red,
than the nest was · pulled down, ' and the dishonest rook
had cto make two instead of one. , ' _ ;
·.
.' :
Ill gains bring a curse, · like the gold of Tolosa.-;-See
Class. Diet. art. " Tolosa." · · -. : · · ' · .. ' -'
· ·· :
Honesty is a pearl ' of the first :water;' fraud · is a base
imitation, like Fren.c h paste, always ~awdry an~ worthless.

A straight onward walk is more conducive to health
than one with frequent turnings. r • t
; · ·
- ~:. :
The Woodman, who threw his axe into t~e river, and
Mercury.-AJ:sop's fable.
·, .
There is something unnatural in painting, which a
skilful eye may easily discern from · native beauty and
complexion.
·
'fhe Jackdaw iu borrowed plumes.-LEsop'sfable. ·

The attempts of t he dishonest to fi nd a short road to
WC'nlth , mrry be lik ened to th e fooli sh a tteri1pt of British
ad vcn t.mers to find u north-west pasfmge to India.·
HISTORICAL lLLUSTRATIONs.-The South Sea scneme,
. .· r: r
Rome time np:o there resided in R retired country village
·a poor but worthy curate, who, with the small stipend of
· 40l. per annum, supported himself, a wife, an.d seven. children : walking in the fields one day he stumbled on a
purse of gold, which his wife ad vised him to emp~oy, as
he could find no owner; but he positively refused, assuring his wfie that "honesty is always the best policy."
After a time, the purse was owned by a gentleman at· a
distance, to whom the clergyman returned it,, witµ · no
other ·reward than thanks. · On his 'return home, his . wife
began to reproach the ·gentleman . with iugra~it9de 1 and
to censure the over-scrupulous honesty of her husband ;
but the good man still replied as before,' " ,h.onesty _
is
always the best policy." A few months -ti,fter .t his; ·the
5
! 0
A. D. 17~0.

/

. .50

.r·..

'l'HEME XV.

5F

poor curate received an invitation to dine with the same
gentfeman, who presented him to a living worth 3001. a
year, and added a douceur of 50!. for present exigencies.

QuoTATIONs.-Of all C!afts, ,t~ .. ~~ . ,an ~,one~t _µrn.~)~:
the best craft.
·
. ,
. . .. ·
Knavery may ~-erve a turn, but h~~esty i~ best in the end.
'rreasures of wickedness profit notbing.-Prov. x. 2.
He that walketh uprightly walketh surely.-Prov. x. 9.
Cheats never thrive.
' ·
' ' . 1·:
Craft bringeth nothing but shame. · · '
' '··
Ill-gotten goods seldom prosper. ·' : -. Unto the.· uprigh~ · the~e , aris~s ) ight , ~- darkness ..:;
Psalm cxii. 4.
., ,
The upright shall dweJI in the land.-Prov. ii. 2L , ·
The . tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.-fr oy,.,
xiv. 41. ,
~
· Psalm xxxvii. 18-20 and 37-40.
Prov. xxviii. 10.
. , r,
· Deceit is the net of shallow politicians.-.Bacon.
The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is vanity.-:.·
I'rov. xxi .. 6.
· .,
· ·
It is in ' life -as ill a journey, where the ·shortest road is
·the dirtiest, and yet the better not much about.-Bacon.
I have heard you say,
Honour and policy, like unsevered friends,
.,
I' the war do grow together: grant that, and tell me,.
In peace, what each of them by th' other lose, ·
·
'fhat they combine not there.-Shakspeare;
. Bonne renommee v~ut mieux qui ceinture doree
De male quffisitis .vix gaudet tertius hffires.-Horace•
Candor dat viribns alas. ·
· · ··!!'' '• .,. · '

When Oliver Goldsmith published his Deserted Village, the bookseller gave him 100 guineas for the copyright. A friend having observed, it was a very great
sum to give for so short a performance: "In truth," said
Goldsmith, " I think so too," and instantly returned the
note, begging the publisher "to pay him out of the profits
of the sale." The publisher complied with the request,
and soon handed him a cheque for 450l.

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Sir rrheodore Jansen, a merchant, by unavoidable losses
became a bankrupt. Several years afterwards, his creditors
being invited to a splendid banquet, were surprised to
find the money clue, with the full legal interest thereon,
placed under the cover of each respective plate. rrhis
instance of honesty so endeared ,Jansen to the citizens,
that they elected him unanimously to the lucrative office
of chamberlain ; a post of honour and profit which he
retained to the end of his life.
Fabricius and Pyrrhus. The integrity of the sturdy
Roman who sent back to Pyrrhus the traitorous physician,
saved ~ome from a long and destructive inrnsion.
Camillus and the Faliscans. When a schoolmaster in
. Faleriuin offered to betray his pupils into the hands of
the Roman genera.I -for reward, Camillus ordered the
traitor to be stripped and beaten back into the city: this
noble integrity induced the Faliscans to surrender at discretion, "not that they yiehled to arms, but were -won by
. honesty."
· Tarpeia agreed to betray Home to the Sabinefl, on co1.1- dition that they gave her " the ornaments worn on their
arms:" when she opened the city gates, the iuvadin.g
soldiers threw upon her their bucklers, instead of then·
bracelets, and the tra.itoress was crushed to death.
Joseph in Potiphar's house, and after he was made·
·. governor of Egypt.

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Mea virtute me involv.o.
Fraus bominum ad perniciem, et integritas ad salutem.
vocatur . - G/icero. .
.
..· '., . '. .. 1' , • . .'~ .....
rfl~us'.
' -::·,lt._l ··m
..Melior a.mh1,1latio recta quam _fl. e;uo_s~:-,~~
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Ea maxime conducunt, qure sunt reCtiasini/:LOicero:<\ti.

'··~"

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~

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......'

THEME
THEME

XVI.

XVI.

Honesty is the best pol·i'cy; but he wlw

is honest frorl! policy,

is not an honest man.

PART II.
lNTRODUCTION.-He who is honest merely for the sake
of expediency or gain, and not from a sense of duty, cannot be called a really honest man.
.
lsT REASON.-The merit of every action should be
weighed by its motive : The motive of policy is profit;
but the motive of genuine integrity is moral rectititde of
heart.
!

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,1

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ii

2Nn HEASON.. Politic honesty is merely superficial
eye'·service; but honest actions no more constitute
honesty, than a king's robe and diadem make a king.
3nn l~EASON.-No reliance can be placed on such
honesty as springs from exped}~ncy, or the desire of gain ;
for immediately any other line of conduct may appear
more profitable, the same motive of policy will compel its
adoption: Whereas rectitude of heart knows no vacillation; but is single-minded, constant, and uniform.
. ~TH REASON. -Politic honesty is a species of dissimulation and hypocrisy ; and, therefore, is in direct
antagonism to that uprightness of soul which abhors all
craft.
·
5TH REASON.-Exterual honesty, assumed for motives
of policy, is always tainted with unholy wishes, and a
secret undercurrent of chicane; for no mere assumption
is always consistent throughout: But the really honest
mari is as upright when no eye is fixe~ upon him, and his
secret is secure, as in the broad eye of a gazing multitude.
6TH REAsoN,.-Policy is purely selfish ; but genuine
honesty has no regard to self.
7TH REASON.-Policy is always venal; but uprightness of heart is never to be corrupted, or shaken from its
purpose.
'
·
~

HONESTY

THE

DEBT " POLICY.

SIMILES.-·A fox is no sheep, though dressed in sheep's
clothing.
.·
·
:
, ,
.·.
rrhe seed on the rock, where there was no depth of ·
earth.
,
The Jay (in the fable) was no Dove, though he had'
white-washed his feathers from mistaken policy. ·· · : · i
.A. counter is no legal coin, though it contains the true·
stamp and superscription.
. .·
.
rrhe Ass (in A!sop'sfable) was no Lion, though he put:
on the lion's hide.
·.
.
· ·
Honesty without principle is like a mirage in 'the
desert, a lake without water.
.,
Mere/olitic honesty is like a whited sepulchre; ·which
is indec beautiful externally, but within is full of all
uncleanness.
.
An actor is no king, though be struts i_n royal, append-.
ages.
. . . .;

.

~

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· HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS. - The ancient Phari&ees
were very charitable, most scrupulous · in their moral con-:
duct, and in the discharge of every ceremonial observance;
yet our Lord perpetually told tliem, because they acted,
thus merely to Le seen of men, or from motives of policy,
they were worse than even the publicans and harlots;
whose conduct was more blameworthy, but whose hearts
were less corrupt.-.Jfatt. xxiii. 28.
·
.
'l'he seven sons of Sceva were no disciples of Christ,
though they took upon themselves " to call 1over them
which had evil spirits in the name . of Jesus.'- Acts. x~ ..
13-16.
" , : \ .. ; - ·i ·1>i
'l'he Pharisee, who went Uf' to the temple to pray,· and·
cri~d, sa.ying, "Lord, I thank thee that I am not as other
men are, extortioners, adulterers," &c. was·no.honest.man,.
though his conduct was ' irreproachable.___;. Luke; · xviii.:
10-14 . . '''." ; :, . ~- -P : HIP H• ' ' t - ' 11''• 1!l /_·_. ·'f·, ;>1i. l "'·r"'rti1:·rt

~ing

~as r:~end ~ivil_ libe~ty~ althingh~_{f{i;_

.
J ()h.n
no
to
motives of policy, he signed the Magna~ Chatta'.. ,... ,. ~·· -, --- ·

-,~

54·

THEME XVI.

· King Henry VIII. cannot be called an lJonest man,
though he exposed the frauds of popery, and established
a more honest form of religion throughout his kingdom.
Who would call the disciples of Nichohts Machiavel
honest men, who adopt for their line of conduct the base
policy of their master;-" Pay no regard to virtue itself,
but only to the public reputation thereof; for the credit
of integrity is a help to a man, but the thing itself a perpetual hinderance." 'fhis crooked policy has maue the term
"Machiavellism." synonymous with perfidy and artifice.
David was no maniac, although from motives of policy
"he scrabbled on the doors, and let his spittle fall down
upon his beard," when be fled to Achish, the king of Gath.
-1 Sam. xxi. 10-13.
QuoTATIONS. - Not every one that saith unto me
"Lord, Lord," shall enter into the kingdom of God.Matt. vii. 21-23.
He is not a Jew which is one outwardly; neither is
that circumcision which is outward in the flesh : but he
is a Jew which is one inwardly; and circuinei siou is tliat
of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter.-Rom. ii.

28, 29 .
'l'he letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.-2 Cor.

iii. 6.
Not always a.ctions show the man; we find
Who does a kindness, is not therefore kind.-Pope.
The mo.st secret desire of wrongil)g our neighbour, and
the most covert guile, destroy our pretences to an honest
principle· as much as looking after a woman with unchaste thoughts destroys out_ pret~nces to purity of spirit.

-Law.
Follow not the common reputation of lionesty, which
is for the most part no honesty at all : but if you will
seem honest, be honest, or else seem as you are.- Wyatt
lo hi$ son.
1'1hrr.t we call an honest in.an, the French and Roman~.

CIIARACTElt

DEVELOPED

~ BY

TRIFLES.

call a good man; applying · honesty rather to qualities and :
principles which agree with honou,r · and esteem, .than . to t
any set of oste1isible actions.-Temple. ·: · .
. ,, ;.
The utmost man can render is but small; ·
The principle and motive all in all.-Cowper.

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Actus non facit reum, nisi mens' sit rea.

.,

Fallit enim vitium specie virtutis et umbra·.
Affectio nomen impunit operi.
·· ~

THEME

XVII.

A little Straw shows ·'
lVhidi way the vVind bl,ows.

~
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INTRODUCTION .-The most trivial actions and inconsiderate words will often show more of a man's natural
character than those of greater weight an<l deliberation.

ls-r REASON.-.Actions of great pith and moment" being
the fruit of car:cfu.l labour and lo11g study, serve rather to
mea,sure a man;s industry and talent, than to point out his
natural character; but those of no importance, not being
subjedc<l to thought or labour, are the spontuneous impitlses of simple nature. ~
2No REASON.-Actions and words of mnch importance
are dressed up, like actors for the tlieatre; but those of
no moment are unadorned and undisguised. ·
3RD REAsoN.-Unguarded words and actions are either
too strong or too sudden for control, and, therefore, show
what are the natural impul~es far better than the conventionalities of politeness, or the exotics of mere policy. 1
4TH REASON.-Any sudden injluence~has · a' more immediate effect upon · the n'a tural impulses : and ·prejudices
of the mind, than on the judgment and prudence; · as t a, ·;
gale of wind would move loose straws so6ner 'th an heavy ·
timber: in ,· consequence of which; judgme~t and prudence
1

56-:

CHARACTER DEVELOPED BY TR!FLES.

"

THEME XVII.

remain quiet, while the na,tural impulses and prejudices of
the mind are excited under such circumstances.
5TH ltEASON.-N ature, like a loose coat, is too lux1l1'ious
to be abandoned entirely; but, like a loose coat, is not to
be seen in market or exchange : there are times, however,
when the luxury cannot be resisted, and would not even
if it could.

I

6TH REASON .-The stro11gest impulses are the last wit ic!i
are brought unde1' subjection, and the first to break tit rough
the trammels of restraint.

hide.

ha REASON.-'l'he mind is constituted to form a judg-

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ment from very niinute evidence, by the power of inference,
deduction, anology, and synthesis: in consequence of which,
it can form a judgment of a man's natural character from
his most trivial words and actions.
8TH R-EASON.-As face answereth to face in \Yater, so
one mind is analogous , to another; and the motives of a
stranger may be tried in our own crucible : hence a very
small sample will serve for a test., because we can judge of
others by ourselves.

SnnLEs.-A little weed will indicate a climate, soil, locality, or nation, far better than a garden of flowers, or a
plantation of trees: For example, a bramble shows poverty
of soil; a thistle, moisture; a nettle, proximity to human
dwellings. So, again, the hedges of England are variegated
with daisies, violets, antl primroses ; the wilds of Scotland
with the heafher ; Ireland ·with the shamrock ; Holla.nd
with the gorgeous and scentless geranium ; Intlia with the
marigolLl ; and so OIL
A banner or motto will show to what nation an army or
fleet belongs, better than the build ~nd general aspect of
the men and ships themselve8.
A crest or coat of arms will indicate the nobility of an
ancient family far better than a house or park, a robe of
state or costly banquet.
A ' little word, a look, or touch, will often convey more

meaning . than ·a ·whole volume of . studied rh~ton~ .~~,~d t
impart: · · · '
·. ~ ": · ' '." ·• . · ; ·. · ·. ·· -·· · , . ! ~. • ·?·;
A very little'. rise or fall in the mercury of. a ba~ometer
will indicate ' approaching weather be.t~er than the .~~~~ . ~~
the skies, or the whole map of the v1s1ble world.
A leaf will declare the character of a tree, as well as a.
·s ight of the tree itself could.
'
· · ,
The Ass (in .&sop's fable) dressed i~ the skin of a Lion,
was detected by his ears, which protruded through the

.,

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A foreigner, though he speaks good grammatical English,
and makes· a most judicious selection of his words, may,
nevertheless, be detected · by the tone of bis voice, or ~~e·
inddental substitution of the letter d for th. " · ' · · "';
. The Fox knew by the footmarks all pointing toward the
Lion's cave that the den was dangerous, quite as well as if
she had see~ thecarcasesactuallydevoured.-.&sop's/able.
A tune hummed or whistled in an idle· moment will disclose a man's native country more ~ effectually than ' hiB
general conversation. ' . ·. · ·
·
· · : · '' ' .· · . ~A provincial word, or manner of pronouncing a lettet,
will plainly shew to what nation o_r county the ·speake.~
.
. . .
· ·
" · • .•. . . · . • • .· •., 1, ••·'
b eIongs. · I · ·· ·' ·
'

.

' · :

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:liJ

· . ; ·' ~ · / \ L .. f'.

HISTORICAL lLLUSTRATIONs.-Catiline kne'w; when . the
senate left the bench on which he was sitting, that his. conspiracy was discovered, and that he was 0:n. object of · ab.:.
horrence, far better .t han from the po~erful oFation of t~~
consul Cicero.-Sallust.
! ,
t_ '·
.:. :·1 ~ ;i
When .A!Jneas and his desperate followers changed
armour with · Androgeos and the ·Greeks, they were·· detected by the tone of their voices and . t~eir. ' !oreig~.
accent.- Virgil's .&neid, ii. ·· · . · :~: · . ;~.~: ,, :~ ~. /(". ·f
'

, I

Thetis to prevent Achilles going ·to the Trojan w~r,
where she . knew he would be · killed,1 '. ~ent him ' privily to
the court of Lycomedes, disguised in female ' attire. r, 'As,
however('r.r~y could J10t be.. _takel))~-~tbo~\Jii;,:..~ly~~es

/

58

THEME

MENTAL CULTI\t.A.TION

XVII,

.

I
11

Ulysses, -in order to escape ~oing to the Trojan war,
pretended to be mad, and yokmg an ass and ox to a
plough, began to sow salt; but Palamedes placed before
his plough the infant Telemachus, and detected the fraud,
because Ulysses turned the plough aside.
·
· Tradition says that Queen Sheba, to test the wisdom of
Solomon, brought before him six boys and six girls, all
equally beautiful,. all of a .similar age, and dressed exactly
ahke, ~nd ~old .h1m to pick out the boys from the girls:
The wise kmg mstantly ordered water to be set before
them, and discovered the boys by their washing itp to the
wri.~ts, whereas the girls washed as higli as their elbows.
·Elijah knew that rain was coming, not by the rush of
winds or gathering of clouds, but by a little speck in the
heavens no bigger than a man's hand.-1 Kings xviii.
41-45.
'
. When Mary, Queen of Scots, made her escape from
Douglas castle, sne was rowed across the lake dressed like
a laundress; but when she gave the boatman his fare 1 the
whiteness of her hand betrayed her' condition.
The judgment of Solomon.-1 I{frigs, iii. 16- 21.
When the Ephraimites wanted to pass in disguise over
the passage of Jordan, they were discovered by the men
of Gilead, because they said Sibboleth instead of " Shibboleth."- Judg. xii. 5, 6.
When St. Peter gained admission into the judgment
hall, he was known to be a disciple of Jesus Christ by his
provincial speech.-St. Matt. xxvi. 73.

·'

TO . HEALTH • . ' .: .

&9

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, · Trifles light· as air . :_ "~~ ,· 1i-!' A,1-~1. ··'i
Are to the jealous confirmations strong.':"-Shakspeare..-!
,
.1 . .
··.r
1
·
·
k
.
b
h"
•
h"
·
;,
-:· ·~ .t 11i ' tr¥.<1.i il\Jn
carpenter
is
uown
_
y
is
c
ip~.
·
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,
·
,
•
h
"'
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A

resolv~d to find him o.ut! which he did by displaying a

c?llec.t10n of wares, cons1stmg of arms and jewels, before the
disguised hero; and when Achilles made choice of a sword
in preference to a ti;inket, he instantly betrayed the
warrior through the female dress.

•~CONDUdES

{

t ' '. ~ It°

,

if \f, jl~

'" 4.;"i ! 1'f i .i1ifI.f: 7

Ex pede Herculem (i.e. we rnay judge ,. ofi , t~ . s.~z~ ,_of ' _,
.liercu les' stature by merely seeing ~h.e foot). ; ';,: : ~,~ - J ~';f~~

\

Exunodisce _omnes.
, {,-' :, ·:·; ,;.,, !•w1}W.
N aturam expellas fu~·ca,· tamen usque recurret. ' ~i·±>";·~~ ~
•

'

' '
. '
-.. ...};f"-0.i
.i.: , . ,:;,. ~, ~ .' ·~-~ 'l!!..t J:'.· ·~- '

,. t

t ;

~

)t'~, ·

,

.· :~ '' · -'·re~ '

' ' .• :: . .:·· . "'.'. :·'L\i~
THE~tE XVIII. Menta.l Cultivation conduces to both
Health and Jlappiness. r I .. '. : __ . ..i :1. -

,;.t .. ~ . . :;-~t! .. 1~-~ · !
lNTRonucTroN.'- Literary pursuits are considered.• by
many ignorant persons as dull and unhealthy ; but experience testifies that they afford ever-varying and abiding
enjoyment, and more than an average portion of " go~d .
,,., '· . ..i . 1·,, 1,1; ·t-<; <r· ti
health.
lsT REASON.-Mind and body are so intimately con•
nected, that each participates in the health and sickn~ss,
the joy and sorrow, · of the other ; and; therefore, a ju-.
dicious exercise of the mind contributes to .the well-being
o~ the body, n? less than health of .,bop~)n~,re,a~_~ s.+:~.!1~.· .
vigour of the mmd.
.
. _.
·
2ND REAsoN.-Mental cultivation helps to ' balance- the ·
animal passions, and keep them under discipline/ '!:4!c~ ·. ,
greatly injure both health and happiness when suffered to '
run riot and obtain the mastery. ·
. . ·' ;... ,. - ' ' 1 ; . i . ; : .
3RD REASON.-Cultivation of the niind tends to eradicaie'' :. ·.· '
t!wse vicious inclinations and rude pleasures \vhich ' are ' so . -~~
frequriltly indulged in by gross and 'senslial minds, to the .. '·-~"~
injury of happiness and health. , .. f • '. · · ( ·, ;':·" · · ... ·.,::. ,·-; ~'..,,
4Tn ltEASON. - Education supplies a ' thousand 'new
sources of enjoymeiit, to keep the spirit cheerful, ~rid the
temper sweet, than . which nothing is · more , essential :to
happiness and health.
· , l· , . ,;
.{r .:~ · r 3 n>
.

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QuoTATIONs.-Many a truth is spoken in jest.
· Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
Daylight will peep through a very small hole.
-

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MENTAL CULTIVATION OONDtrCES TO HEALTH.

THEME XVIII.

60

ex~aling oxygen) ; so · mental cultivation delights · b.nd

REASON.-Education indues with a new clwnn tl1e
most ordinary objects of life. The stars, the flowers, the
very ground we tread on, furnish a stimulus to the wel~­
cultivated mind, which acts upon the nerves, aml contn- butes to the well-being of the body.
6TH REASON.-Mental cultivation prevents that " tcedium vitce " and ennui which greatly depresses the nervous
system, and deranges alike the functions of the mind and
body.
7Tn REASON.-The companions of the well-educated,
instead of being gay, dissolute libe~tines, 01: dull, unlettered boors are persons of cultivated mm<ls ; and
afford new me~tal pleasures and bodily relaxation.
5TH

SnnLEs._:__As wind not only clarifies the air, but by
opening the earth, renders it more I?rolific ; so me.n ~al cultivation not only str~mgthens the rrimd, but ~y exc1tmg the
intellectual functions diffuses a wholesome mfluence over
the nervous system.
As plants kept from the light not only lose their fine
colours but also their woody strength ; so the darkness of
ignora~ce bas a baneful influence on the cheerfulness of
the mind, as well as on the health of the body
As weariness of the body depresses the mind, so ~veari­
ness of the ·mind depresses the animal spirits.
As cultivation of the earth renders the soil more fruitful, and the air more healthy ; so cultiYation of the
mind ....
As a genial fire is exhilarating to the si:irit~, and conducive to health ; so is it •vith mental cultivation.
As the practice of rlancinµ: , singin~, and rh.etoric, increase the appetite, promote digestion, a.ncl :xh1larnle the
spirits conlrilJuting to both health am~ 1rnpp111c8s ; so education'. geoero. lly, li as n, !Jenclicial e IJp1·L 11 pun the men lal
and ph);sical fuuction s.
~
As trees, shrubs, nrnl flowers n.ot on1y d~li~l1.t the
senses, but purify the air (by absorbmg carliomc actd and

:~n

purifies the mind, whHe it suf1Plies a healthy stimulus : to
the body, and diverts the inclination from pernicious
sensual indulgences.
~
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·H1sToR~CAL lLLusrRATIONs. - When Petrarch ' (th~
great It.ahan pt;>et )-was at Vaucluse, bis friend, the Bishop
of Cava1llon, fearing thfl.t bis too close application to study
was th~ .cause of his declining health, locked up the books
and wntmg de~k of the student, saying to him, "I interdict
yon from pen, rnk, paper, and books, for ten Clays." · Petrarch submitted. 'J.1he first day passed in the ·most
ted!ous manner ; during the second day he suffered from
a violent headache ; and on the third he became affected
with low fever. 'l'he bishop, alarmed at these symptoms
returned Petrarch the key of his library, and the next day
he seemed restored to his usual state of health.
· The seven famous sages of antiquity all lived to a 'v ery
advanced age ; Cleobnlns, the young~st of all, died at the
ag~ of 70 y~ars ; Thales, at the age of 91 ; Pittacus,
Chilo, and Bias, about 85 ; Solon, and Periander, at the
age of 81 years.
·
The five English philosophers (all ex~ept Sir Francis
Bacon, who died at the age of 66 years) lived beyond the ..
average age of man: thus, Roger Bacon liv ed to the age
of 80; the hon. Robert Boy le to 70; Locke to 13 · and Sir
Isaac Newton to 85.
· ·
' __. - ..

.

The same may be said of foreigners : thus, Boerhaave,
the famous chemist and botanist, lived to the age of 10
years ; Galileo, the astronomer, to 18 ; Fontenelle (called
by Voltaire), the universal genius, to 101 &c. This list
might be easily extended to a very great l~ngth, and serve
to demonstrate that mental cultivation conduces to both
health and happiness .
.· · .
·
Life assurances for clergymen, who are proverbially
men of letters, ar~onsidcrnbly less than those fo1• other
men : a practical illustration this of the acknowledged
fact, that mental cultivation conduces· to longevity. · ·
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ORDER NEEDFUL FOR IMPROVEMENT,

62

. THEME XVIII.
·,

Insanity has often been cured by bodily and m~ntal
occupation and has as often been produced by solitary
confinemen't, where there has been no employment for the
mind and body.

. rrHEME

QuoTATIONs.-Mental stimulus is essential for healthy
bodily exercise.~ Combe.
One of the rewards of philosophy is long life.-Bacon.
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and .th~ man
that getteth understanuing. Ler~gth of uays lS lll her
right band; and in her left hand riches and honour. Her
ways are wa,ys of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
-Prov. iii. 13, 16, 17.
Get wisdom, get understanding, and the years of thy life
shall be many.
A cultivation of learning is required to give a seasoning to life, and rfiake us taste its blessings.-Dryden.

I

To a mind well ·cultivateu, no part .of cr~ation is i~­
different· in the crowded city and howlrng wilderness; m
the fiow~ry lawn and crnggy mountain; in ~he rnurill:ur of
the rivulet and in the uproar of the ocean; m the radiance
of summer and gloom of winter; in the ~hunders of
,.. heaven and in the whisper of the breeze, will be found
something to rouse or soothe the imagination, to. draw
forth the affections, and employ the understandmg.Beattie.
Aniini cultus, quasi quidam humanitatis cibus.-Oicero.
Is mihi demum vivere, et frui anima, vide~ur, qui ( aliquo
negotio intentus) prreclari facinoris ant artis borne famam
qurerit.-Sallust.
Studia adolescentiam alunt, senectutem oblectant, secundas res ornant, adversis solatium et perfugium pr~bent,
delectant domi non impediunt foris, pernoctant nob1scum,
peregrinantur, ,rusticantur.- c·icero.
I'

CoNCLUSION .-Hence ....

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XIX.

,....

;

.

'63

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•)

()_rder is needfu_l for

_zmprovement.~~;

.
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lNrnooucrroN.-Order comprises arrangement, · method,
and decorum; without a due respect to which improvement must .always be greatly impeded,
lsr REASON.-Order is more agreeable than confusion:;
and the mind will exert itself with more cheerfulness,
alacrity, and profit, upon an agreeable task, than upon
011e which is distasteful. : · i · . ' '
.. • ·
,; .. ,, 11
1
2Nn REASON.-.-Ideas systematically arranged are more
easy of comprehension than those which are thrown
together promiscuously; thus in arithmetic, if the parts
were not progressively arranged, and the examples sorted
under their respective rules, the' science' would be an
almost insnrmountable difficulty to the young; whereas it
is now within the compass of the most ordinary ability. · .
•
.r
3RD RE ASO N.-All thiugs appear fewer. when arranged
in order, than when scattered about in confusion: and the
fewer the objects appear to be, the more willing the mind
is to set about the task of learning theJll : whereas, when·
the objects presented to the eye appear infinite from con-'
fusion, the miud despairs of being able to master them. ..
4TH REASON.-In regard to PERSONAL '' order,· it isf
absolutely essential for improvement. Consider :what 1 a.··
vast amomit of time is lost by the disorderly;' hooks, implements, apparel, &c. are never to be found without
diligent search; and thus the time due to study is wasted
in a tedious hunt for the requisite materials of.study. :,
' 5TH REASON.-Consider again, what an amount of ill-:
temper is produced by disorder. No one is willing to bear
the blame for things mislaid, but all seek to 'cast the fault
upon some one else: by which means the -innocent and ·
guilty are alike provoked; while the thoughtless caus~r of
all this trouble; feeling that the time lost must be ,atoned
for, .is soured in temper, flurried in spirit, · confosed" in·
thought, irritated by nervous excitement, and totally_ _~is-:
analified for cahn reflection, and ment!il appi dtionc "• :

64

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THEME XIX,

6rH REASON .-In regar'd to DECORUM, or order of conduct. 'l'he disorderly are involved in perpetual disgrace,
and annoyed by constant impositions, which make teachers
and the subjects taught objects of aversion; and rouse the
mind to resist, rather than receive, instruction.
'lrrr REASON.-Again, the disorderly never patiently
attend to instruction; their ungoverned minds wander,
and ' their thoughts are occupied with various irrelevant
matters: in consequence of which, they never hear or read
with that intensity of thought which is required to give to
the mind permanent impressions.
8TH REASON.-Lastly: the disorderly have no love for
learn·ing, because the regularity and method essential for
it, are directly antagonistic to their irregular habits and
the spirit of their mind: It is needless to add, that those
who do not even care to improve, but rather despise instruction, cannot be expected to make the same progress
in literature as those who value and earnestly seek it.
SiMILEs.-A set of dominoes put into a box, in proper
ordei:, will exactly fill it; but if heaped together in confusion cannot possibly be thrust into the same space.
A very small army, well disciplined and marshalled for
b:;i,ttle, will vanquish a large host of confused and scattered
rebels.
Jewels arranged upon a lady's person appear far more
brilliant, beautiful, and valuable, than when lying confusedly in the casket.
If a farm were planted promiscuously with potatoes,
turnips, wheat, barley, fruit, flowers, and grass, every crop
would be spoilt, and the land utterly wasted.
Bees are famous for method and good order.
Ants afford an admirable example of the benefit of
discipline and system.
.The letters of the alphabet, thrown together promiscuously, express no thought, and convey no instruction; ~mt
arranged in syllables, words, and sentences, reveal mmd

ORDER NEEDFUL FOR

IMPROVEMENT.

,65

to mind, and make known to inan ev{ln the counsels of
. ·.•' 1
Omnipotence.
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·•!

HISTORICAL lLLUSTRATIONS.-N oah and the ark. ' '
Alfred the Great duly appreciated the value of order ;
and accordingly arranged the day into three parts, one of
which he devoted · to exercise, another to study and the
· 1
state, and the third to sleep and refreshment. ·
Philosophers have arranged the stars into.constellations:
to facilitate the science of astronomy. ; .
,.
Similar systems have been adopted ·. by botanists, geologists, zoologists, entomologists, &c.
The science of Mnemonics consists, for the most part;
in mere arrangement and classification.
In manufactories the importance of order is so great,
that a different individual is, for the most part, employed
for every different process: tbu[3 in pin-making, one draws
out the wire, another cuts it into lengths, another points
the pins, another cuts them into pin-lengths, another heads
them, another coats them with tin, another polishes them ,
another sorts them, another papers them, another packs
them, a~other labels them, and so on.
· '· ' '
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QuoTATIONs.-Order is heaven's first law.-Pope.
Let all things be done decently and in order.-1 -(Jor.
xiv. 40.
God is not the author of confusion.-1 Oor. xiv. 33. '
The least confusion but in one, not all ·
That system _only, but the whole must fall.-Pope. •
· Good order is .the foundation of all good things.-

,

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Order is the life of business.
A place for every thing, and every thing in its place. tt
Method implies the placing of several things, or performing several operations; in such order, ·as is most convenient to attain some end.- Wates. · · · -/
~ ··· ·, ·
6*

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66

THEME XX.

·.
COMPLETE

~

HAPPINEss"· 'uNATTAINABLE • .

••

f•

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The man who does not know how to methodise his
th~u~hts, has ~lways a barren superfluity of words : the
frmt is lost amidst the exuberance of leaves.-Addison. .
Nibil pulchrius, nihil prrestantius dispositione et ordine.
-Columella.

and neighbourhooq, tha.t all whom we lo.ve and know"m~st
be completely happy; before we ' ourselves
-experience
unmixed felicity.
'
6rH REASON.. Our sympathies :would prevent ,our , enjoying complete happiness so long as ,one single instancs,
of misery, want, ur;ikindness, sickne,ss, treachery, or dis-.
appoin;tID;eQt in ~he whole .world come to our knowledg.e.
7ra REASON.. Our .desires ar.e always in ad'l)ance .. ofr
our possessions; so that, if the whole world were laid ,at,
our feet, we should want new pleasure,s, a.nd ne;w posse$-.
sions, and new powers of enjoyment, · a11id . pe._w fi,~lq~ i ~f_,
, action, before we could feel satisfied with our lot. . .. . , . !
8rH REAsoN.-If man were completely happy, · there
could be no development of his moral .character. '· For.
example, if there were no temptations to dishonesty, there
would be no trial for integrity; if no disappointrµe,n t, ~qere
wo~ld be no exercise for patience, for_titmle, . ~r,.,d . !i~.~t!{~
natron.
. .. ........~~·-.· ~ ·-·~
·.·.'.~·
· 9m R:.EASON.-If man . were cornpl53tely happy 4ere,
he would never look for " those rive1·8 .of joy an4 ple<is,iJ,res
for evermore" re.served for the hereafter : rSo Go,d · has
mixed sorrow in the cup .of life, in" order to ,.wean ' the
affections from the world, and win them to Hirnself.'r · n i
lOm REASON.-To eat bread in sorrow is the entail of
our first parent's disobedience ; and so .long as the curss
remains, th~ entail of sorrow shall never be cut o~. . ._: ·• "

can

Quintilian calls method, " breve discendi compendium."
Compositius cuncta quam festinantius decet sapientes
agere.-Tacitus.

•

CoNCJ::USION.-Let us, ther~fore, have a proper place for
every thmg, and do every thmg at the proper time.

·THEME

XX. None are comp'letely liappy.

. lNrnonucrrnN.-N o one on earth is so entirely exempt
from the common. l?t of sorrow, as to enjoy uninterrupted
and unalloyed felicity.

• 2 ND REASON.-Sickness and death are always too busy
with ourselves, or others in whom we feel an interest to
permit our enjoying complete happiness. ·
'

3Rn REASON.-So many things are beyond our control
~nd repugnant to our wishes, that none a.re entirely fre;

. ,,

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l

. ......

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from crosses, vexations, and disappointments.

..

.

},

lsr REASON.-Our own infirmities of fieslt, spirit, and
temper, are so numerous, that they constantly interfere
with our peace of mind.

4rH ~EASON.-Our affections, feelings, and sensibiliti~s,
are not m our own k eeping, but dependent on others ; so
that every servant. and stra~ger who crosses our path, as
well as every relatron and friend, must combine to humour
and please us, before we can feel completely lrnppy.
5rH REA.soN.-Our interests and affections are so in·
volved by the ties of corusangninity, ·alliance, friendship,

•

I,

SrnrLEs.-Even the sun is not wi~hout its spots.
- The most vigorous tree .h as ·.spme dead branches, or
'.._ , , · ·
_ · ., ·: ------=:
withered leaves.
A garden kept in the most exqU:i~ite ord~r is. never
~
tirely fr~e from :weeds and perni<~i~~s~in~~-c.t~. ~ ', . , ~-"' ; : · ·: . ___ -~
Every light must have its
shadow
. ...'. : 1 ,'t ..\, .· I,/..:-:; ·' .$.!•
·. ~
·
•
· 1· ·
-----3
Every inedal has an obverse .side. , : 1<',_.' / ~" ~ ,=;-,,: · - ,~
Even a guinea has its portion .of alloy~ ; .... / .-.:c 1 1 '>:.;,·:~ i,
,~ 3
1
No.roseiswithoutitsthorn: .-\ ;,,_ -i_, n; I :~ :· ·:·>.-~ l' f ~dJ

en:

1 ...3.c\

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68

EVIL

THEME XX.

TO

BE RESISTED

AT

ITS COMMENCEMENT,

QuorATIONs.-lJi~ is !Ptningled yarn: ; . ·

Every bean hath its black.
•
Every luminary is sometimes eclipsed.

.
;, , ,._ ~ ·2
As sparks ' fly upward to the sky, . ~ .
_., ·, '.; .~.i
~~
So man was born to misery.· ·Pope and Joh, ~ .f'!
-=~
Man never is. but alw:ays to be ,b lest.-Pope. '
~
·~ l· ~
;Every black must have its w.Q.it~, , .
:.
\ 'i: _
And every sweet its squr.-P,erc,y's _Rel~cs~.. .. ;'
There is no happiness 011 this side of .the graye. , .. -··, .
There is a poison-drop i~ man's purest c~p.
, ; ·! u ,
Every path hath its puddle.-Scotch proverp. ! · ' i · l- · ·
1
There's no joy without alloy. •' . ; '-'. ,,,1 ·~. ~ · :. "'. '. . \:!~~;: .
.. There is a crook in every Iot.-Bos{QrJ.:
.1
.• • . r
.Gel).. iii. 11-:--19..
. : ,
' ·:~·; :,{:
What hath man of all his labour . . . .for all his ,!lays· ~
a.re sorrows, and h~s travail gri~f.... Eco: iJ. ~.~, 23,
·; ·
Man that is born of a wo,m;tn is of few d~ys, ~nd full .o fi
trouble.-Job, xiv. L
' ·
··
' · . !,'.:i'
Non v'~ rosa senza spina.-Ita~iffnpr9_v_erb.
Ogni medaglia ha il suo reverso.. Ita,fia'nt prov,erh.. ~.;
...
Cui omnes home felicitates · magis ; adversre · suqt..-.: ·
Terence. · · · ·
· · ·.· · i; · · . , . : · ,.·, :! ·
Dici beatus ante obitum nemo debet.-Ovid. .. :.. · t: ·r'i
·.
N ulla dies no bis mrerorem e pectore demet.-Lucretim.
Caduca et mobilia Fortunre munei'a.-Horace. · "---.:~· ·'.
1
Fortuna constans in levitate.-Ovid. . ' . , . .. · : ;-;~~T 1 •·>~·

v:

• -

HISTORICAL lLLUSTRATIONS.-Xerxes, replenished with
all the good things of the body and of fortune, proposed a
reward to that man who would contrive a new pleasure.

.

Crresus, ~~e most wealthy and glorious king of Lydia,
was once v1s1ted by Solon the philosopher. When the
monarch asked whether Solon did not account him a
happy man, the philosopher replied, " No man should be
called a happy man till he has finished his life." Not
long. after this, _Crresus was taken captive by Cyrus the
Persian, and bemg condemned to be burnt alive called
t? _mind the words of Solon, so significant of th; mutab1hty of human happiness.

. J?ionysius assured Damocles, by a most painful experiment, that, although a king possessed everything the
heart .can covet, yet a sword of sorrow is always suspended by a single hair from the ceiling directly over his
head.

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f

Ahab, the king of Samaria,- was so vexed in spirit that
he "laid him do:vn upon his bed, and turned away his
face, and would eat no bread," because one Na both, a
J ezreelite, would not sell him a small vineyard close by
the palace grounds.-1 Kings, xxi. 1-4.

<l

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Solomon says, " Whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not
from them: I withheld not my heart from any joy;" but
adds, "behold all was vanity and vexation of spirit."Ecc. ii. 10, 11.

" •

·~

Alexander the Great was not contented after he had
conquered the whole world, but actually wept because he
could not find another world to conquer also.
· The Sybarite, who enjoyed every luxury which the
earth could afford, complained of broken sleep and disturbed ~ase, because a rose-leaf was accidentally doubled
under him when he went to take his siesta.

'

•

'" )
t

'

THEME

"

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.•

~'I

,__. •. :

i:; ;. I
.,.1i

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XXI. Resist the beginnf,n,g~ o/lfli;i,Jt, ..:~~

lNTRODUCTION.-All temptations ~ to sin_sh,ouJ,d b~ with-.
stood firmly the instant they occur ;; and . no(be ·suffered
to take. root before vigorous ·measure,s are taken to '· resisii
them.
·
. / . ' ' · ·· . 1 • . · • • •.~ -:r · ~.

·/

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70

THEME XXI,

lsT REASON.-Evil at the ~ginning is smaller and
weaker, than after it has been suffered to have free course
for any length of time.
2ND REASON.-Sin creeps on so stealthily, and by such
imperceptible encroachments, that its progress is scarcely
to be heeded, after its first entrance has been allowed.
3RD REASON.-The mind is more willin.IJ to .<Jive 11p
enjoyments it has never tasted, than those which have
vitiated the appetite and become palatable.
4TH REASON.-Conscience bec01nes scared and indurated by indulgence iu sin; and when the watchman is ·
asleep the fort may be easily entered.
5TH REASON.-The hope of restoration declines as evil
becomes habitual; and the mind, in despair, gives up
every effort of resistance.
6TH REASON.-The power of temptation and <~f 1·esisting it are always in inverse proportion; as the one
increases the other declines.
7TH REASON.-Sin to the novice always appears sinful
and revolting; by familiarity it not only lOses its singularity and odiousness, but becomes so attenuated to the
mind's eye, that it is difficult to distinguish between right
and wrong.

I
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SunLEs.-A stream at its source may be checked by a
child; but after it has become a strong river, a giant could
not stand against it.
Sin is like a wedge-once insert the thin end, and the
rest can easily be made to follow.
Diseases at their first appearance are easily cured; but
after they have been suffered to undermine the constitution,
always prove fatal.
An oak, when it first shoots from the cotyledon, may
be easily plucked up; but even Milo of Crotona could not
root from the earth an aged patriarch of the forest.
When water first. oozes through a dam, it is easily

71

EVIL TO lJE RESISTED AT ITS COMMENCEMENT.

I ,

stopped ; .but when. the tull stream rolls through, it requires no ordinary mechanical power t_o cJose the sluice,
A little . spark may be put out with the tip of one's
finger; but after it has kinclled into a blaze, the raging fire
is irresistible.
_
· ·.
· ·
A serpent's egg may be trampled under foot without
danger; but th~ full-grown serpent is a fearful antagonist
to encounter.
'
_. .·'
t ; • , • •
A falling stone increases in speed according to the
sqttares of the time occupied in falling: thus, if it fell 16-f'a.feet in the first second, it would traverse 48l-~ft. in the
. next second; 80 { 2 ft. in the third second; 1121'2"ft. in the
fourth second; and so on.

':1'

1

'.)

HISTORICAL lLLUSTRATIONs.-N ero is described by bis
biographers to have been a very mild, humane, and indo- ·
lent young man; but after be succeeded to the crown he
began to indulge in sin, and became ultimately a monster
of tyranny and wickedness. '
·
rrhe beginning of Caligula's reign gave promise of the
greatest moderation, justice, and beneficence; but, after a
time, the temptations of sin overcame him, and he made
.
his name to " stink in the whole land."
,· .
.'
Macbeth is represepted by Shakspeare,' in the first
part of his immortal tragedy, as hospitable 1 brave, generous,
and , conscientious; but he yielded to temptation,· was
hurried from one crime to another, and in a few years the
inhospitable regicide was universally abhorred as a reckless assassin, tyrant, and oppressor. ' . ;' ·\' ; ' . ...
::~~
1
..
· ·' -~:.~
Dion's son was brought up with great care =· in ~ ' pri- · -~-5~
mitive simplicity and stoical self-denial, ' till bis father .. ·. : ·2i;
was sent to Corinth; when the tyrant Dionysius, t in a ·c :.:~
spirit of diabolical jealousy, determined to ruin the young -· ·_ ··
lad. For this purpose he plied him with wine, i{\troduced._ ~: him to harlots, and led him into every sort of , temptatii:>n.~.1-~
When Dion returned to Syracuse, the power of sin had ·-:c " 3iji
gained full ascendancy over the young man, 1 and
threw
~

.

he

/'

'

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r ~

hini'self headlong from the palace roof, because his father
tried to reclaim him froin his evil ways.
H Only a drop" has made many a drunkard.
Hogarth, the great painter, has illustrated the ac~umu­
lative power of sin in several pictures of extraordmary
merit: df which "The Harlot's Progress," "The Rake's
Progress," and "The Stages of Cruelty," are striking
exemplifications.
When Hazael, the captain of Benhadad's army,
wtis sen:t to Elisha he shuddered at the very thought of
frirhe; and 'said, t~ the prophet who revealed to him his
future career of sin, "What! is thy servant a dog that he
should do this ?" But temptation came; the wall of conscience was thrown down; and Hazael, who trembled at
the bare mention of sin, became the murderer of the king,
the ·usurper of the throne of Syria, and the oppressor of
the !people; he set on fire the strongholds of ~srael? slew
the young men with the sword, dashed then· children
against the ground and ripped up their women that were
with child."-2 Kings, viii. 7-15.

.

INVENTION,

NECESSITY THE ' MOTHEti QF

THEME XXI.

If sinners entice' the1f cotisetit thoH 1 not;.~PrdJ.1 i. ' Hi. "
A stitch ih ti~e sav~s' nitie.
"! . · 'I'· .,'.~·. ·i;.
',f
Pas a pas on va; bien .loiri.
.. , ; . . , . .'!
Les petits ruisseaux font les graricfes :rivieres." '... , ., ,\
Non is ch\rnar coll' orso.-Ita/ian proverb,
~·
Erb a mala presto cresce.-Italian proverb.
· ,., . ~ '"
Donna che prende, tosto :sr rendL..i._£tlzliatt'pr'1ve7'bi l1 .,;
1\falum nascens facile opprimitur, inv~teratum · fit robl1B-

ho

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.-t.,.

i

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tius.--Cicero.
·
... .. ,, · , . · ~ ., .
Virtus· est, etiam effugere vitiuri:t ,
. ' ; .; ;,;,
Parva scintilla excitabit magnum incendium.·
.. ~ l
Cacoethes epidemicB' grassatu~ . .
' ' . ..
Anitni acies crecatlir errbribtiS}~ Oft'e~O;~·
. " , ,'
Serum est cavendi teinpifa' iri mediis mall~~
'.·'. ,,',
Venienti occurrite morbo.
. ..
1.
N emo repente turpisiimus unquain fuit .
, ,' , : '

.'

;
::
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·~

;;r .:
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Obs ta principiis.
.
_,7 "r. ~; !i
Dimidium facti, qui crepit, habet~- Horace. • . ·. ·' · ~: .?
Nascitur exiguus, viresque acquirit' eutido~·~Ovia: ' · •
l

.

,. ' t

QuoTATIONs.· Thou s.h alt not covet.
Nip sin in the butl.
'Oppose the first appearance of _evil.
To parley with temptation is to yield.
·Many a little rtmkes a mickle.
.
And since the quarrel
Wiil bear
colour for the thing he is,
Fashion it thus; that what he is augmented,
Would run to these a:µd these extremities;
Ahd, therefore, think him as a serpent's egg,
Whicldrntched, would, as his kind, grow mischievous;
And kill ·him in his shell.-Shakspeare.
Vice is a creature of such hideous mien,
'rhat to be hated needs but to be seen,
Yet once beheld, familiar with her face,
.
We 'fit~t l:!naur.e, then pity, then emb1'ace.-Pope~

--

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THE:M:E

XXII.

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Necessity is th~ Moth~~ Ojikv~~lt~n~:
•

....

I

_to

lNTRODUOTION. - Many contrivances .are dev:ised
supply what is really' needful. .
. i
·.
I.
lsT REASON.-TiH a thing ' be wanted; tnere is nothing,
to sua-o-est it to the mind, and bring it under seHoris' at-'
00
tention:
But immediately the want is felt;. t he th'ilug h ts
are dii-ected towards it, and the subject' is :ca'nvass'e d';irr ·an:
its bearings.
·
.
. · . ' < '.
: '· . f
2ND REASON .-Immediately 'a. want . is"1brought I profili.;'
1
nently before the mind, ingenuity is set to 1 work' td contrive
means of supplying ,the defect.
/
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-----.l '

THEME

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11
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XXII.

3an REASON.-Till a thing be wanted, there is no
demand for it, and no compensation held out for the
labour and expense of invention: But immediately the
want becomes pressing, there will be a demand and a
liberal reward for those who satisfy it.
4TH REASON.-N ecessity drives the mind to all sorts
of experiment:~ and contrivances; and these experiments
and contrivances lead to useful inventions.
5TH REASON.-ln cases of real emergency men consult
and combine together; and while in "many heat.Is there is
wisdom," in " combination there is great strength."
6TH REASON.-Strong stimulus will often create faculties, or, at least, bring into operation such latent powers
as the mind is wholly unconscious of under ordinary circumstances: But as no stimulus is· so great as necessity,
no motive can more forcibly arouse the latent powers of
the mind, and excite tpem to energetic action.
7TH REASON.-When the mind has been pondering upon
a subject for any length of time, it seems to be possessed
of a crescive power entirely independent of the faculty of
reason; as seed becomes crescive hy being buried beneath
the soil.
8TH REASON.-After meditating upon a subject for any
length of time, the mind becomes so alert and vigilant, that
incidents which would excite no notice under ordinary
circumstances, becpme suggestive of most important consequences.
Srn1LEs.-Taifor birds sew their nests to the extremity
of a leaf, in order to escape the ravages of serpents and
monkeys
A cat wishing to lap some cream from a ewer too
narrow to ad'mit her head, hit upon the following- ex~
pedient: She. set her forepaw into the cream pot, and then
licked the cream off her foot; this she repeated till the
~wer was drained.
'
'l'w.o rats, .wishing to get at some olive-oil cqntaincd in a

1
l
~
,/

NECESSITY

THE

MOTHER OF INVENTION.

co~nbin.ed. together in the following . sche~e i: ,. One'
~hrust 111s tn1l mto a small hole in the tub, and presented

cask,

it to the other to suck; this was repeated first by one
mt and then by the other, till both were fully satisfied.' '· '.
. A crane. wis.hing for a draught of water from a deep
JUg, filled it witl~ pebbles till the water rose high enough
to be reached without difficulty.
..
. ,, . . , , ., ... -.,
. Creeping plants deprived of a prop to twine around ;· ·
will throw out their tendrils to a great length towards any
opaque object, and ultimately attach them to · the lower
part of their own stem.
,
.. . ,· , •
The ing~nuity of bees when slugs · snails or . i~..:
sects intrude in the hive, is very remarkable. if a slug
happens to creep into the hive, it is attacked on all sides,
and stu.ng to death; but as the burthen is too heavy to
be carried ~ut, the deu~ body is enveloped with propolis,
through wl11ch no. effiuvm can e~cape from the dec~ying
c~rcas~. If a .s?a!l get entrance i?to the community, a bee
~tmgs its sernnt1 ve horns, the snail instantly retires within
its shell, and the bees glue all round the margin with pr~
polis, so as to render the snail perfectly immoveable. · It
a!1y insect intrudes which can be carried forth it is first
. 1 : · ,,
stung to death, and then pushed out of the hiv~.
When ravens are unable to break a muscle-shell they.
will carry the fish high up in the air and dash it' on a.
rock ; by which means the shell is b~oken, and the fish
exposed for food.
. . .'
Deer and hares exhibit wonderful cqntrivances when
hunted. They will double, jump into a pool start other
game to deceive the dogs, run into sheepf~lds conceal
th.ems~lves i~ the earth, jump, or mount walls, ~nd contrive mnumerable artifices to beguile· the hounds and
huntsmen.
H1sToRICAL lLLUSTRATIONs.-When Hannibal ' wanted
to cross the Alps he GOntrived means to ' split and thaw
~he rugged m,ountains, so that even elephants laden-with
towers \Vere able to pass where a single traveller, un·
/

----~ -~

\ :·
i.

c:
7.6

I

1:

\'

I'

\\

1:

THEME XXII.

encumbered with .armour, had often been deterred by the
?~~cult!~~ of the way.
· When Hannibal was encompassed by Fabius in a
mountain gorge, .h e fastened fire-brands to the horns of a
herd Of . oxen, and s~tting them on a blaze, drove the
o;X.en iip the mountains. Fabius, ·Supposing the lights
to be carried by the Carthaginian army trying to make an
escape, gave orders for iminediate pursuit; but while the
Romans pursued the ox,en, Hannibal led off his army safely
iJ?. the opposite direction.
· The Greeks having been foiled for ten years at the siege
of Troy, wasted by pestilence, weakened by discord, and
reduced t.o the last extremity, hit upon the contrivance of
t~e wooden horse.
When Ptoiemy Epiphanes prohibited the exportation of
papyrus from Egypt (which was the common material on
wh~c)l b.ooks were written by the Egyptians, Greeks, aml
]:torr;i.ans), EnmeJies p., k.ing of Pergam.us, invented p:.irchmeht as a substitute.-· Plin. xiii. 21.
.. ~ Tl~e Q.um~rous inventions and contriva;ces of Alexander
S,elkLrk, when he was . shipwrecked on the islaml of Juan
Ferp.a;P.1ez, ,a re kno~n to every person W~\O has read the
beautiful tale of P,obirison Crusoe by .D::tmel de Foe.
The num.erous inventions and contrivances of Archinied~s, . wl)ei;i Syracuse wa,s besieged by the Romans,
mli:.ay · b~ r~.~~ of- iJ?- a~ ,classical dictionary or Roman
istory.
·
~he safety-valve of the steam engine was invented by
~~ ' ~dle · b,oy, -th.at h,e · might n9t be intcd·upted in his
g.ailles of marble~, by 1~.aving to run every few minutes to
bp,~I! p. s!n~H 400,! ~o ~~t off t~e superabundant stcmn.
- Jµ ~8~1, pn .tb,e 0Rc~sio11 of the "strike at Manchester,"
of the capitalists, feariwr0 their business would be
several
.
nven
to
other countries; had recourse to the celebrnted
d
ipa,c hinist.s, .M:essr!'. Sharp & Co., of Manchester, and reqm~~~ed ~i~ . to dit:ect the inventive talents of their partner,
~r.: Rol;?er,ts, to ~he construction of a self-acting " mule,"
l~ or?~X ~? F,ni~P.eip~te the trade from the tyranny of the

T

NECESSITY THE MOTHER . .OF INVENTION.

workmen.

In the course of a

, : i•·
7'"f

fe~ mo.nths M~ Rob~~ts

P~fduced the machine called" the self-acting mul~ ,, -wbi h

wi 1ddod th~ work of the head spinners far better than th~y .
.· ·· · ·· .
cou1 o it thernsel ves.

rrhe art of calico printing was for ~a~y ' iea~s the'.
sport of foolish journeymen who led their erf l 0.
.
life. of. constant slavery and jeopardy ; but
jee~s th
~ap'.talists sought deliverance from this bondage, and "~be
fo111-colonr and the five-colour machines" ( h' h
render c-aI'tc~ prm
· f mg an unerring and expeditious
W IC
now
pro)
cetssbl'v.h·ere
mvented, and mounted in all great calico
cs a is ments.

,ft

wa~

intolera~le

. It.
in order to free masters from .the
dommat10n
of
for d ·
d workmen
· ·
' that "the seIf-ac t•mg apparatus
ymg an rmsmg calico prints" was invented - ' .. ·~·.
.From the frequency of the . ,; strikes" mad~ .b .th 6.
croppers .and hecklers, or flax-dressers of y orkshirr th ·
masters mvented:· machi~ery to rend~r them.selves ind:
pen_d ent of these i_m povenshing irregularities. · : 1" • ·; __ ;,
~ .

~ . ~· ' . ; . ' . "l )

QtJ~TATIONs.-:--Pytha.goras used to say, "Abillt" · ~~d
necessity dwell m the same cabin." . . ., , I
Y ,
.

t~r. ~o~tY"says,

"The secret of success lies in ~h;e~
. . ,.. . , .. ,
. ,,
But
your
to the
..··And we II not fail.-Shalcspeare. .
. , _ ..
.S eek and ye shall fi~d.
. ! .
• ·L.J..'
Want is ~ bi~ter and a hateful good, ;·./
.....:f{°
Because its virtues are not understood• : ·~~-·::,.,·
Yet many thing~, impossible to ,thought, J 1.. t;r~.i, ·
Have been by .need to f~ll perfection brought: »'t' :'
•
·
·
•
':· '..;" 1 • ··11' .Dryden . ..,j .
1
Poverty is the mother of the arts . . · · ., , ;·:
· U sus est artium magister.-Colurnella. · .-, · \ .-. ,
:>'.
. , Paupertas omnes artes perd.ocet.-'-P.lauitis/ \; i/ i."~
Ultimum et maximum telum . Ne~essitas - L- . ' -: r1·tf: ·

1e ers,

scr~w

~ourage

sticking-plac~: :i ~'

1
,

,; ;

L".·"
,:,Z\
, , . •

.wr ·

7*

'

.

. - wy.

I

.

.

..

....

-~
------------·_. - --=
'

'l.S.

THEMlll XXIII.

, P,qrupi telum N'ecessitas.
poverta e lo, IDl:\.dre di tutti l'arti.-Italian proverb.

t0r

CoNCLUSION.-Let us therefore grapple boldly with distress, and be of goo~ courage, for a "way will be found
escape."
·

for ·

T¥E}4::m ~XIq. Pride is the Bane of Happiness.

•

INTRODUCTION.-An overweening conceit of our own
superiority, accompanied with a mean opinion of every
other person, will be the source of such constant annoyance
as to embitter life.
·lsT REASON.-A proud man esteems himse?f. too lz~.qhly,
and is not sati~fie.d unless others regard lnm with a
reverence commensurate to his own conceit: But as none
will do this except from h~terested motives, be will fe~l
constantly annoyed at every one with whom he comes m
contact.
' " 2~n RusoN.-A proud man thinks too m ea nly nf every
pe1·s.~n except himself, .an~ is not willin~ to pay them that
respect which they Justly dcserv ~; 111 consequence .of
which, he is constantly subjecting lumself to the r etaliations, of. their wounded pride.
3RD REASON.-rrhe proud man is n")Ycr happy while
µnother is superior, or held eve n in eq1.1lil estimation ·with
himself: Bu~ as e.v ery proud spirit mu st come i11to
constant collision. with persons of higher rank, or more
exalted t~ien,t, or. wider fame, · or at least more u.rdcnt
esteem and foye than himself, his life will be a perpetual
wa;i;f~re between envy, self-conceit, and mortified pride.
4TH REASON.-Every one dislikes a haughty spirit,
and p ays it un'l.!).illing service.; in consequence of which
the proud m~H clp~.s n.o t receive that portion. of homage
which i~. 4~-~ t~. 4Jrp, an~ ~4~ tl;n:~ad. of drngust runs

T
I'

PRIDE

THE

DANE.

. · ' · ..

OF HAPPINESS •
'·

.

'

,thr~wgh - eve!! the eye q.ml l~p r13verel}~lf which interes~ Y
&,c cord, i:itohun.
, , . . . , t · .: . . -• . ·· _ .. · ,~.
.
:"
\

RE;\,SON.-Every one is ple.ased~- at exjJo.s ing ·. a
proud m.an'8 f oibles, and making the ·most of them; ·But
us proud men are more sensitive than others, their peace
()f -?1ind is in coqtiirn.u,l jeop""rdy even L' from the squan~
c.lenng glup.c~s of a fo.oLn
. .. ,
5TH

. 6-r1~ :f.lE1soN'.-,-The wants of nature are few, qut the
wants of n.ride a.r~ p2tfndless; and if "7e egamine into the
~1rntt~r we. spall find1 ~h a t b~ far. t?e large~t porti<?n of o~r
1llort1fic11t~oqs anP, d\fficult1es anse, not from · a lack of
what is needful, but from the withholding of $()me empty
homage, or some mark of honour, or some ' form of .
etiquette, which our pride conceived to be o·ur due. .. ..

.~~n R. E~soN. - ~ndepende~t

of

other ~ ~en., th~ . very

spmt of pride contains tlie elements of unhappiness : and

the proud man is equally miserable in bis . own private
room, as when subject to the annoyances of a disrespectful
<;r.owd.
8TH REASON.-The spirit of pride is mortified by retrosp~ction, and harassed by a.nticipation,s.
It loves to brood
on hnaginary insults received, to plot schemes of revenge,
:;ind study to annoy those who hav.e · given annoyance:
Its prospect for the future is no less cheering, being
haunted with the fear of similar grievances, and thehopelcssness of ever attaining the position which is con-:
s~dered due.
, ;..
:-: ,

:~
:.1

..
-~.

...
·~

f'

: SrnILEs.-When the Pe~coc~ spreads his gorgeous tail
in the swelling of his pride, the other oirc1~ instantly cry,
o.ut against his.ugly legs u,nd v.oi~e . .
· ,: '
, ·,
Three silver trou.t s being permitted, to choose whatever.
they pleased, one asked for wings, and perished 'in ' the'
desert ; one asked for knowledge, and s~arved through f~ar
of .danger; but the third; i~ 4umility, • le£.t: : tP.~~ ' <:ili:o,i~~· i.};13
the han.d of G.Q.d 1 an<,l.liv;~ci:l ,~ppjly. ,•• ,. ,/.'. l .J / : -· ··· '.11.-;.
· :.A. Stor~ . e~eing an Eagl~\ s9ar l}l~ft . th~~µg}i, th,e.· air, '
I

:.

PRIDE TH·~ · ,DANI£ qFl ,1 IAPPINESS.

80

~~ ,1\'f()~C$, ,

THEME XXIII.

;w ere swallowed
w1th:·their 250 follo'wers.

ad~rnzzar

,, thought he would be more majestic if he did the same,
and accordingly mounted up on high : He next saw
the eagle pounce upon a lamb, and, making a similar
attempt, broke his leg in his descent.
A proud Oak, which stood on the banks of a river, was
blown into the water by a violent storm; and as it floated
down the troubled current, passed a Reed which was still
standing uninjured. 'l'he oak asked the reed how such
a feeble thing could resist a storm which hn.d blown
down one so sturdy as himself? "Why, sir," said the
modest reed, " I bowed to the blast, and it went over
me; but you were too proud to bend, and the storm
broke you."
rrhe humble rill is sweet and clear, but the proud
torrent is muddy and turbulent.
The modest violet is sweet-scented and long-lived; but
the proud tulip blooms _for a few hours, and is without
perfume.
Alba ligustra cadunt, vaccinia nigra leguntur.- Virgil.

l·
1

I

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H1sromcAL lr,LUSTRATIONS.-The pride of Alexander
made him believe himself a. God, and this folly led him
into every kind of extravagance,-even to drink more
wine than any other man to prove his superior nature.
This absurd pride threw him into a fever, of which he died
in the prime of life.
Haman, though placed in the court of Ah asuerus above
all the princes of the realm, was ·wretched, becanse
Mordecai, a poor Jew, would not.bow down to him. This
overweening pride led Haman into a murderous plot
against the whole race of Israel: which b eing fonnd out,
Haman was hanged on a gallows he had caused to be
erected for Mordecai.-E::;ther, iii. v. vi. vii.
Lucifer the archangel, unwilling that '~he- Son of God
should be advanced before him, rebelled against his Maker,
and was cast into the pit with all the fallen 11ngels.
Korab, Dathan: and Abiram, being too proud to submit

:· Ne lmqh
. believe ' himself a
grass, like an ox.

thro

.81

·~P. .a }'iv~ b, ;yJt'.~ Y~wnmg ',~11.J."th·~
i..

h

·d

•

.

:. , '. •

~ild bug t pn e, was so mfatuated ~s to
,e as, ' and a~te~p.t~d . to li~~· upon .

·Herod A ·· ·
· ·h.
·
·
··
·
Gou· but .bg:1ppat ~nl is pride of heart, assumed
be a.
of '
' em~ s ric rnn by the Almighty, was eaten u .
worms and died most miserably. . .
.
. . ,· . p
rrarquinius Super bus of Rome.
,.
.~

tb

Capaneu~, on~ of the seven heroes ~ho ~arched . f;om
d . ' .
. ,rgos aga.1nst 'fhebes dared to defy th
rrrogant p1:ide, and
struck by Zeus
his.
ie w.as scaling the walls of Thebes.
mg,, a~
A

wit~ Yi~h~n~n

wa;

--l

AJaX the Telamonian contend d "th
. Ul
11rmou1· of A I ·11 ·
· · ;
e wi
. ysses for the
t
c 11 cs, and bemg beaten in tl
t t
so wou1)dcd i~t bis pride that he becam~e con. es ' was
One day !uslun.g from his tent he fell
ravmflg mkad.
sheep ·wht h h f
•
. upon a oc of ·
put a~ endc to l:is ~~~e~f;ere bis enemies, and ultimately ::
Acts, viii. 9,

io.

· · .:·

·'

.M11.rl{, x. ,41; .42.
. ]tµ,k~, ~i. J3, ~hd .~.iv.
I

1-9.

'.;

· Quo.TATIONs.-He that exalteth i ns
· gate seeketh de_.,\
s t.rue t 1ort.-Prov. xvii. 19. ·
Pride goeth before destruction
d
'
before a fall.-Frov. xvi. 18
' {1Il a haµghty_ .spifit

'

..

. When
A
,pride'dcometh then ~ometh shame. ' p rov. xi..· 2. .. ,
man~ pn : shall bring him lo"'.'.-/?ro?J. xxix. 23. .. .
Only with pnde cometh contention.-Prov: xiii ' 10 , ,
Proud and haughty scorner ij; his
·
·
· . l
proud wratb.-Prov. xxi. · 24. . . . H~m~ .~ho de~Iet?. m
·. Seekest thou great things for thyself? . . k th

.

forJ~:.h~~- I5 ~ill bring evil upon .all such, ::i~h ~h:~L~~~'. ;
D*

t ,,_"'•

-

'

82

(

HABIT 18

SECOND

NATURE.

THEME xxm.
p

God ha~h a special indignation at pride above all sins.
-Bp. !fall.
..
•
•
"11 conce1't-Rom. xii. 16.
Be not wise m your o,,
·
B that sin fell the angels, how can man th~n, '
rrhoucrh the image of his :Maker, hope tos:;mkby t.
o

!la speare.

Pride that dines on vam•ty, sup s with contempt.Franklin.
All pride is abject and mean.-Dr. Johnson.
.
.A proud. man, while he despises others, neglects h1mself.-Bacon.
Pride is the ivy of virtue.-Bacon.
Of all the causes which conspire to blinP. .
:Man;s errincr judcrment, and misguide t!ie m1fd,
v\hrnt the ~e.ak head with strongest bms ru cs,
Is pride, the never-failing vice of fools.-~-Pope.
In pride, in reasoning pride, o_ur error h~s;
All quit the sphere, and rush mto the slue~.
Pride still is aiming at the blessecl abod es,
e
Men would be angels, angels would be gods.-P~p .
Superbiam, fastidium, arrogantiam, ru_giamus.- C~cero.
Ex arrogantia, odium: ex insolentm, arrogantia.Cicero. '
Via virtutis, est via bonoris.
.
Invidia Siculi non invenere tyranni tormentum ma.JUS.
Dei istius recordissimi mentem cura metuque terrebant.
-Cicero.
A vidus semper eget.
CoNcLus10N.-Since . · •.

•

•

•

~ .. . ;.. , · THEME

i

I

XXIV.

INTRODUCTION .-Man is not a creature of instinct, 'like . .;;;;;;;,;;;t,;I
birds and quadrupeds, but a creature of ·habit ; and,is, therefore, possessed. of two natures, the one inherent or
indigenous, and the other induced or ingrafted.
·
' ls-r REASON.-The "spirit of tlze mind" is more .indebted to habit and education, than to birth. '
' ' · :·
2ND REASON.-The will, which actuates and rules the
man, is itself actuated and ruled by habit: for that which
a person is most accustomed to he likes the best, and that
which he best likes his choice will impel him to do.
3RD REASON.-The animal pas15ions are so much the
slaves of habit, that they are less indebted to nature for
their direction and even existence, than to indulgence.
4TH REASON.-The five senses are for the most part
the creatures of habit: 'l'hus a surgeon from habit derives
pleasure from the most revolting operations; a blacksmith
is not sensible of the noise of his own hammer; and a
drunkard ·actually enjoys the stupifying influence of his.
strong drinks. As habit can thus mould at will the eye,
the ear, the palate, and even in sorrie measure the sense of
feeling, it may most aptly be called a second- or quasi
nature.
·
·
5TH REASON.-The very fashion ~f the body is some- ·
what due to habit and education : Thus the foot of' the )
Chinese lady is stunted into a " club;" the head of certain
American savages flatten ed; and the shoulders of a miller ·
-~~
'-"
are made broad by his trade. But if habit can so modify
-~
the conformations of the body, and the disposition of the :
-~1
mind, it may well be called an extra-natal or second-nature.
6TH REASON.-Custom will render certain operations ·
as familiar and easy to perform, as the proper· functions
...
of our nature : Thus habit imitates nature su exquisitely,
that the copy may be called a second_ original. ·
. _ - ~
hH REASON.-Long 4habits are as difficult to eradi· ,
ca,~e, as ~,9 change the fashion of our body. They have so
'

·..j

~

I
..... : ; ;

HADI'f . lS SECOND NATURE.
THEME XXlV •

.
of one tree grafted into th.e
SnnLEs.- As the scion the nature of' its fruit; so habit
stock of another' ch~nge~
. natural disposition.
changes the propensity o ou~ hunting-dog he kept in his
. Socrates bred two dogs. l bred to the chase. On .a
kitchen, and a house-dog .1e and set a dish of rnen;t befo1 e
certain day he stn,rted a ha1:, moment ; upon wlnch,. the
the two dogs, at t~e sam and the hunting-dog quietly
house-dog pursued t e ga~~~ e
attended tO the mess ~f po . g . r hape to which the
A tree may be tramed mto an) s
'
twig is bent.
,
Families" dogs and cats,
In what is called "rihe. Rappdy ·ce an'd vn,rions other
· ,s, owls an. t· nunn,tures
'
· d to
hawks and sparro"
are trame
.
l
t of antagoms ic
'
birds and Jeas s
t
t harmony and peace.
dwell together in the u mos ·u' do is well known; which
The story ?f the b1u.ck,~~o~ts pit~o11sly when the ~pn,rks
hov'
l:
but after a wlnle, be
Used at one tune . to
. f ll urJon nm .
' '
.
.
th
from the beaten non. e d. l ' without rnamfestmg
e
. t tl1e anvtl an s ecp,
would lte a
.
h t scintillations.
least distress from the o
·th rosebud the nature
When a. brier is inocula.te~l w~ it ~reduces {·oses instead
of the stock is changed ; so 1a
of its native flowers.
iece of common steel,
net be drawn across a p.
. I~ a .mag
netic power to it.
it will impart a mag
b .
ften drawn upon the hand,
A straight glove, by emg o
will become easy.
.
will acquire and retain
A f k by use and contmuance, .
a' be:di~o~trary to its natural one.

;I
~

·:1

1\\
I\

rs -Sn.vngcs have chnnged all
. 11 "''C so completely alterecl
H ISTORICAL lLLUSTRA:rlON
''"sed
• of a new nature.·
· ·1·iz,,.at1on ' anc
ir
habits
by
c1v1
'
the
·r
to
be
posses
.
lf
' their mode 0 f 11 e, as • of p OD t u,s so habituated
hlmse
.
Mithridates, t b e k mg
'

,

f

>

·"'·:)

(' 85 . ~

, - =: ..:

to apt~l]otea, that when. be wished to destroy himself aft~~ :,:;
·his overthrow by Pompey and the revolt of Pharnaces/·~ .,
-he found that poison had no ~tfect upon him ; and he was >,
· cornpelled to call in a (},aulisli ~ercenary to despatch him "'~
, with a sword.
· 7 ,, : , . .. Count .d e Lorge was confined, for some political offence,
for thirty ye::,trs in the Bastile ; and when liberated (July ._,
14th, 1789), declared that freedom had no joys for him, for
. habit had made him long for the solitude from which he
. had been taken. After imploring over and over again' to
he permitted to return to his dungeon, and being refus~d, ..
he lingered for six weeks, and pined to death. ~ · •r! 't t L
A prisoner once being condenined to die, had his se~- ~.(
tence exchanged for seven years close confinement on a bed . "
-of: nails, so sh11irp as to penetrate the skin. After the ex- · ··.
piration of five years he declared, "if ever he were released,
he should adopt from choice, what habit had rendered so
ngreeable to him.'!
'
,.
· . A certain soap-boiler, retiring on his fortune, made ·,-;-:.
arrangements with his successor, to be allowed to attend
...
gratuitously on melting da,ys, as long habit had rendere~ · .';
·this offensi vc process a source of pleasu:re to him: . : ·
;;'.~
The English speak one language, the French another,
....,~
and the Germans another, simply from habit. By habit
·.i:!
the organs of speech arc so modified, and the ear so educa.tetl, tlrnt very few persons can ever change their verna~ular tongue withou~ being detected by a native. .
i ·
Mr. Cogan once visited a prisoner of distinction in the
Bench prison, ill of typhus fever; who told him, · that
'"
custom had so reconciled. him to the gloomy twilight of
the grated cell, its filthy spots and patch.es, the hardness
of his bed, and even t~e confinement itself, that he could
11ever feel happy in any otl1er place.
~ '
,The love of home is due to habit, much more than
to
/·
} .
its accommodations.
" ··
·
A woman of Leyden, on the expiration of a long im- .
prisonment, applied for readmission to her solitary cell,
declaring to the magistrate, that if this reque's t could not
8
.
!

!

84
tb and strengthened with our
"grown with our grow. ' fted upon our proper nature.
strength," as to become mgra

..

8\3

'tHEMm XXIV.

· be granted as a favour, she would commit some offence io
give her a title to her old quarters.
Custom regulates our perception of beauty, taste, and
decorum: Thus a fair complexion is accounted a_ deformity
in Guinea, but thick lips and a flat nose are reckoned
bea.utiful; black teeth are preferred to white in ,Japan;
tatcioing is thought to add charms to a N cw Zealand chief;
a club foot in China is esteemed a female ornameut; and
· some of the North American savages squeeze the heads
of their children ulmost squure in order to euhauce their
supposed beauty. The ladies of England and America
think it by no means indecorous to be seen with. unveiled
faces, but they would be shocked to enter a room full of
company with naked .feet and legs like the Egyptians.
The same observations may be applied to dress-the
long shoes, turned up like skates and fastened to the knee,
during the contests of the York and Lancaster factionsthe broad trenchers worn upon the feet in the reign of
Henry VIII.-the frightful gorget worn by ladies in the
reign of Edward II.-the patchwork foppery in the reign
of Richard IL-the steeple caps and ridiculous sleeves in
the reign of Edward IV., and the fright.fol costume of the
last century, would now be thought preposterous; hut our
present style of dress would lrnve appeared equally ridiculous, when those fashions prevailed.
QuoTATIONs.-Pitcl~ upon that course of life which is
most excellent, and habit will render it the most agree. able.-Pytlta.goras.
'l1 here is no trusting to the force of nature, nor to the
bravery of · words, except it be corroborated by habit.Machiavel.
Man is a bundle of habits.
rro a fond parent that would not have his child corrected
for a perverse trick, but excused it, saying it was a" small
matter," Solon very well replied, "Ay, but custom is a
great one l"-Loclce.
Prov. :xxii. 6.

liABIT rs .SECOND
" th

57.·:

NATURE.

Th~

m~·ul~ ~

force of _education is so great, that we may
e mmds an? man°:ers of ~he young into what shap~ ·,we :
; please, and give ~he impression of such habits as shall ever .1,tfterwards remam.-Atterbuiy. · · ·; · · · ' · ··"'': r·'·. ·,
'i

I.

The mind acquir~~ an inyincible attachment to ~h~-f;_
ever has been familiar to It for any length of ti'me··l~gan.
·
·
•

•

:"

"'>-

thought~ are according to their inclinations t~~~r
iscourse accordmg to their opinions but th .
, t'
. according to their habi ts.-Lord Baco;i
eir ac . ions
d' Men's

.

The ear inu~ed to charitable sound~ · '
: :''; -·
. An~ pitying love, must feel the Jrnteful wounds.''d 1
Of J~st obscene, ~nd vulgar ribaldry, ,· · , . . !. • ;1 !:~
The Ill-bred question,, and the loud reply: , . .' ·:,.·
But, brought by hab1tude from bad to worse J • • "f
Men hear unmoved the oath, and direful cur~e; : 1•.i, ,

'

l l

· ,, -

.

.

.

·

Priir; .-

.
~ab1t does much; I do begin to think. "::,
1
Smee gnef has been so clos·e an inmate with ' ·-· l . 1
~hat I have strained he~. nearer to my bosom m,,e\~/·;
'Ihan I had pressed her m the crowd of life · · · · f .
,

I

'

. ,; -T

• '

fl k
.
Colman.- . _ -~
h s a. es of s°:ow that fall unperceived upon the ~arth' '.
t ~ seemmgly ummportant events of life succeed one an~
ot er.
A~ th.e snow gathers together, so our habits are . - forme~. . No smgle flake that is added to the pile roduces . -.~
a sens1bl_e . change;' no single action . creates, ho~ever it
:ay exhibit, a mans character: but as the tempest hurls '
... e a,:alanche d?wn ~he mountain, and overwhelms the '.·.
mhabitant an? h1? hab1t.ation, so passions, acting u on the : . ;
-'
elements of m!schief, w~1ch pernicious habits have 6tou ht
t~geth.er by ·Imperceptible accumulation may overt11fow·:, -~
t e Ted1fice of truth and virtue.-Jeremy Bentham . .. '. · •' ·. ·:
Nature is a kind of schoolmaster· custom a ma . t t. . ._,
· -Lord Bacon.
'
'
gis ra . e. . k
A

' t

I

L'abito e una seconda :natura. .
Yetustatis et

1,.

.
'

-·

~

-~ ·..~~ . ~
.-;
,,_

¢'!

-~

-~

co~suetudinis vis ma;ima e~t~2·aice~~~~~~=~=-

88

THEMF.

XXV,

~

A

Consuetudo quovis tyranno potentior.
Consuetudo pto iege servatur.
Altera hatuta usus est.
Si volet usus.-Horace,
U sus est optimus magister.-Colurriella.

(

I

INTRODUCTION. - A man'S cbarticter, opi~ionR, taste,
nnd temper, may be fairly gauged by the choice he makes
of Msociates.
l sT RttASON.-AsB6~iates ai·e selected for gratification · but tJnless they are bf congenial habits, they would
rath~r clisUess thai{gratify.
2ND REASON.-Assodates are subjects of fr~e choice_;
but'no n1ai1 will choose to annoy himself by takmg to his
bb~om \,vllat he dislikes.
SRD REASON.-All men naturally like to liave their
own wo}l, and a.re a verse to opposition: Tlw.se, therefore,
of antagonistic sentiments rather seek to avoid each other,
than to '-coalesce by friendship.
·
4!Tn RF.ASON.' Men
similar tastes and habits can
leitd a helpin{/ han'd to each other; but. those of uncongeni!1l riiinds an~ purnuits . obstruct ~y i.nter~erence; and
11 0 tnan vohintal'lly lays a stone to tnp lns own feet.
5TH REASON._
- There is an inliere1~t at~raction in
coiigeiiial minds, atid an inherent repulsion m antagonistic disposi tionl'l.
6TH REASON. - Every mun thinks. his own opinions
and taste to be riglz t, and those of Ins opponent to be

of

MAN

KNOWN DY ~us

COMPANIONS.

'1l}rong: If, therefore, a man were to . choose for his com~ -..
panion one of different sentiments to himself, it would ,be ,:'.:,
like preferring falsity to truth, and proclaiming himself -. ·
a hypocrite.
. · ' . :-- ·: ~; ;
·7TH REASON.-A man would lose character were his
companions to be of opposite or uncongenial habits: As
if a wise man were to make a fool his associate, or a peer.- ·
· of the realm were to select for his friend a vulgar peasant, , .
or an honest man a notorious thief.

CoNcLUSION.-Since . . . .

'l1HEl\fE XXV. .A· lria,n is known by lii's Companions.

..,

I

SIMILES. - The Stork in the Fowler's net.-A!:sop's'
fable.
. ... ,_rs
Fire and water, the miscalled eleinents of the ancients,
have a natural affinity to their own kind, and a natural ·
aversion to each other. 1.'hus water is attracte<l by water,:·
and two drops meeting together will readily coalesce and .
l)ecome one; but when fire and water meet together they '
destroy each other.
' '.
~-',~ ,
Tigers and deer, serpents and cloves, lambs and . wolves,
lions and whales, never voluntarily associate with each,
other.
Light and darkness can never unite.
The temperature and climate of any locality may be
plants which abouud therein.
known by the animals and
.
..
A bramble is the companion of a poor soil; a thistle, "
of a moist one; a nettle, of stables or human dwellings; '. ·
the alder, of water; the fir-t1;ee, of ·sand; , the oak, of lim~'and so on.
·
~

~

;

·!

-

'.

'

i

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'·'

tr..

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'-~

HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS. - Different nations . live . . ~
distinct.
·
'~
The Scythians were proverbial for their ignorance and
uncivilised manners; so that when Anacharsis flourished .
amongst the barbarous people, a man in every way ·
oppoilitc to the national character, ·he furnished the. ~
Greeks with a proverb for inconsistency: for, instead of ' ~
saying, as the Jews did, " Is Saul arµong .the prophets_?"
1

8*

90

- - -

they t1sed fo say, "Here's Anaclrnrsis amongst the Scythiahs l"
\Vhen our blessed Redeemer showed himself "the
friend of publicaus and sinners," it was objected against
him thn,t he conld not be good, because his n,ssociatcRwere
evil: But we must r emc1i1ber, that He cornm1m eu with
siuners not as a compn.nion, but as a physician goes
amongst the sick, to comfort, cure, and RUYe.
\Vh en Dionysius, th e tyrant of Syracuse, sent for Phto,
the philosoph er sent woru back, " It is 11ot go~d for Plato
to be with Dionysius, any more than for Virtue to be
with Vice."
' J>uul was beset by Jews and accused of polluting the
temple, because be made Tropbimus, an Ephesiun, his companion.-Acts, xxi. 29.
St. Peter was accused of being a friend of J esus Christ,
because his speech showed him to be a Gahlean.Mark, xvi. ~O.
When a policeman wants to find a thief or a felon,
where does he search for him, bnt amongst the haunts of
wickedness, and the offscouring of society ?
QuoTATIONs.-13irus of a feather flock together.
Tell me what companions a man hath, and I will tell
you ·what the man is.
·
\Vbat fellowship bath righteousnc?s witl~ unrighteousness ? anu wl1at communion hath light with darkness?
a.ncl what concord hath Christ with Belial? or w.hat part
hath he that believcth with an infidel?-2 Cur. vi. 14, 15.
'Tis harmony and sympathy of soul,
Attune our passions into love; .
.
.
Thought meeting thought, and will preventmg will,
··with boundless confidence; for nought but love
Can answer love.-Thomson.

I ,

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•

VIRTUE

THEME XXV.

Gens de meme famille.
Noscitur

ex sociis .

its

OWN REW ARD.

.· ~imiles. similibu~ gitiden t, pares cum · paribrts · facillime :· ·_·
congreganttir.-Czcero:
.
.' ', ! ~
· Idem velle; et idem nolle, ea demuin firma amicitia est: . ·

-Sallust.

·

i 'I f· l.·,

'

'

·

Verus amicus est tanquam alter idern.-Oicero.
:,omciis, usu, consuetudine, conjunctissimus est born~.~ ·

Cicero.

,

.

Asin_u s asino, sus sui pulcher. '

· ·· · .·..t ' . ,

.

· Morum dissitnulatio dissociat amicitias~-Oi-cero. ·

.
In li.oc est omnis vis amicitire, voliuitatum, studioruin ~ .·. . .
· · ·· ·'·· - ··· ..
. sententiarurn, cons~nsio.-Cicero.

'

.

CoNcLusioN.-How car'eful should
tion ·of our companions l

we be in the sele~:.
)·,.

'

A .' '

XXVI.

Virtue is. its
.. own Reward. ''_ .. ;' !":, ·
INrRooucrrnN. - . Every good 'action brings a . r'e~om- ;•
THEME

pense t.o t~e a~e~1t, independeht of the approbation or?
·'
·
·· · ·
.favour it may ehc1t from others. ·
lsr 1:lEASON.-There is an instant delight in the first
co11ceptwn of a good deed; as in the anticipation · of .
pleasure.
·
·
,,
j
•

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l

·~ ;J"-

...,. •

,t

r

,.

i

2Nn REASON.-. Ther.e is .a relish in the very a.ffe~tir~~ .
0;11d frame of mind which entertains a virtuous intention·
a~d a repulsivMess in every evil conception and frame
or' ·.
mrnd.
·
·· .__, · _...'..;
3Rn

REASON.-Tl~e1~e is a con~urrent

or .su,stained d~b'.ght~

th~~ughout the entire performahce of a virtuous deed .'

.

ar1srng (_
1.) f~·or:n the intuitive perceptiori of its consistency '
and magna~m11ty ; (2.) frdrh a· placid feeling of content-·
ment, and rndependence of ~oul . in having nothing to ' •
co nee.al; and ( 3.) from the trmmph of self-comml:tnd . and
the victory of good ov"ei· e'vil. . '
.. ,
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/

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la!

92

.

VIRTUE ITS OWN' lt~WVRD,

THEME XXVI.

4rH REASON.-1'hero is a consummated delight of self:
satisf(iction in having accomplished what is righ.t ; and a
simiiar discomfort amounting sometimes to bitter and
mournful agony, ~t the thought of having done what is
wrong.
5r1~ REASON.-Besides these inl1erent pleasures, there
are others from without which accompany virtue as handmaids.
( 1.) All men, even the wicked, involuntarily approve ?f
atHl adn1ire virtue : nor can a man be fom~d so utte1 ly
debased as not to prefer goodness, at least m others, to
villany.
. .
( 2 ) Virtuous actions act like leaven, d1ffusrng a l1appy
and ·holy influen~e on all who witness them.. 1'hus a
man's family will catch the spirit, and al~ tho~e w ~th .whom
a good man "lives and moves and has bis bemg, 1 will feel
the reflection of his goodness.
( 3.) Virtue so frequently meets with reward from men,
either in the shape of patronage, bounty, respect, or
friendship, that the mutual consent of ~11 t~:e world has
pronounced " Honesty to be the best policy.
( 4.) The Bible asserts that God " will r~ward every
man hereaJter according to the deeds done
the flesh,.
whether they be good, or whether they be evil.

! ·~Bright sf)rihg:wfiter is deHCious to the fa~e· nhd eicel·' ,. lel:tt· for :hE!alth: .~'h~t~lis ~agniiflt: ditch~wlitet '. is, n:au~. . ·:
~6us, : lihd ptt>ductive t>f h:iany p_ainfdl disotdets; . ~ .. :;; :;} >
' .A 'h¥ight stin vivifies .and' gladderi;s an the aniinai anf ~~.g,~ta~le_ 'Yorld, which droo_r,s an?: languishes_und~r ~he ; ,
oppress1v.e mfhience of dnll weather.
1 ....
1
: .The dove, . the cow, and the sheep;.convey to the mipd1'
the notion of innocence and ~appiness; while the serpent;~ ..
· the . scorpion, and _animals . of prey, are emblematical · of .
wiCkedness and its iormehts. , Thqs the Scripture speaks ::_
of I' the
that d~eth riot;" " Tho ti shalt lick the dust:_
as a serpent;" ." Their torment
the torment of scor-; :
pions ;" and so on.
,· '. . i

I

1

. 1:1.! ·.'

.

'

.

worm

...

.

.

.

·....

'

•

.

(

was

.1

.,,

' H1sroRICAL lLLUSTRATIONs.-Enoch walked with God,.,.
,. . . , , .. .
and never saw death,
Noah, for his righteousness, was· saved from the flooc'!_, ~r;,
Lot feared God, and was delivered by an ·angel when _
the cities of the plain · were ·consumed by fire from.~ .,
heaven.
· ; ' ·
Abraham was blameless before God, and God said to·,.;
him, " Fear notf for I am thy exceeding great reward."
-Geri. xv.
· ··l : ·
Job.-Job, xlli. 10-1 'r.
'
Catbarifie of Livonia, a common peasant girl, attracted
by her m_o~st and virtuous conduct the attention of Peter ~'
the Great; became his wife; and, after bis death; was_.:
proclaimed
his successor in the
.
' Russian empire. -~-- . . _.,:
" Why dfew .M_arseilles' good bishop purer breath
When. nature sickened, and each gale was death?" :. -:
says Pope, alluding to Henry Franfois Xavier: Belsame, .· - .,
called the " good bishop," whose disinterested benevolence
during the plague of Marseilles,· in 1720 and 1721, pro- ::
cured him the love and admiration of all Europe. · '!'hough''>
offered a ducal cofonet, he refused to accept ~t, declaring
that his flock was far dearer to him than either the wealth
·- · ·\ / · ' · ·
of Laon 1 o~ . the honours it cont'erred.
I

.II;,

S IMII' Es
' .-As wholesome food has a rel•i sl~ both in
l
mastication and digestion ; so wholesome. act1011s are pa atable to the mind both in their concept1011 and performance.
•
.
.
As every thing really beautiful in nat~ll'e or art is also
useful; so virtue is not only admired for its moral beauty,
but recompensed for its moral value.
The hors~ which faithfully pe!~orms it~ dut! i~ cherishe~
d carefully tended · but a v1c1ous arnmal is. hacked
an
-·
· bringing ' torment ,to I'tse lf an d annoya nee to
and- ill-used,
·
its rider.
1'he violet is carefully cultivated and watch ed ~ver ;
while the nettle is rooted up, and cast on the dunglull.

.

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94

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i,
I

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1:

I
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·!

..

THEME XXVI,

The cheerfulness and unbroken tranquiliity of mibd
showed by Socrates during his thirty days' imprisonment,
forcibly demonstrate the power of virtue in supporting the
soul under injustice, and the prospect of an ignominious
death.
'fhe virtues of Zeno (the founder of the Stoic philosophy) shine even through the ridicule of the comic
poets; and his happy frame of mind was proverbial
amongst the ancient Greeks and Romans.
The last hours of all the martyrs illustrate the sustaining power of a good conscience under bodily suffering, and
its " recompense of reward" in giving " songs in the
night."
QuorArroNs.-.A life separate from good actions is a
curse.-Lord Bacon.
'l'he noblest reward of virtue is virtue itself; and the
extremest punishment of vice is vice itself.-Lord Bacon.
A good action is never lost.
Blessings are upon the head of the just.-Prov. x. 6.
A just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again.Prov. xxiv. 16.
Know then this truth, enough for man to know,
Virtue alone is happiness below.-Pope.
Oh I blind to truth and God's whole scheme below,
vVho fancy bliss to vice, to virtue woe.-Pope.
Man's greatest virtue is his greatest bliss.LPope.
The broadest mirth unfeeling Folly wears,
Less pleasing far than Virtue's very tears.-Pope.
'frue happiness is his, whose tranquil mind
Virtue has raised above the things below.-Beattie.
'fo be good is to be happy.
Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteous.ness,
and all things (else) shall be added unto you.-Matt. VI. 33,
Qure vobis, qure digna, viri, pro laudibus istis
Prrernia posse rear solvi? Pulcherrirna primum
Dii moresque dabunt vestri.- Virgil.

'95 !.

'71CE BRINGS i:TS OWN PUNISHMENT.
1•

....' ,

;:.Palma sua virtuti. ·

i ,

.'·.
'
. '.
.

:"

Gloria.,virtutis umbra.
, . Virtus lucet in tenebris, splendetque · per se semper.Oicero.
. in tegra' mens augustissima est possessio.
Rex eris si recte facies.
Divitiarum et formre gloria fluxa atque fragilis, virtus
clara reternaque, babetur.-Sallust.
Dos est magna virtue.
Vita beata in virtute posita est.
, Gloria virtutem, tanqaam umbra, sequitur.
E.s t elem um vera felicitas, felicitate dignum videri; vera
felicitas est hie, est ubivis, animus si non te deficit requus.
·-Pliny.
,,
Virtus est per se ipsa laudabilis, et sine qua nihil
laudari potest.-Cicero.
CoNCLUSION.-Let us therefore .•..

rrr-rnME XXVII.

Vi"ce bri"ngs i"ts own Punishment.

lNnionucrroN.-Wickedness carries with itself a torment by way of chastisement, independent of the awards
of law.
·· -~lsr REASON.-The very pre-meditation of evil has torment, as the 1 v~ry conception of virtuo~S -jntenti_ons is
1 • •
.
pleasurable.
.
:_ 1 ·
2 ND REASON.-There is a bitterness in the nffectiori' and
fi,.~ame of niind which entertains evil ~houghts. ~r . '.·
3RD REASON.-Such is the make or mechanism of.,our
1
natu.re, that it is put out of sorts by evil ' pass1ons and
actions, irrespective of the adverse moral judgment·which
conscience passes upon ·them. · · · i · "' • · • · ,· · 1. / · ;

->i· :,

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THE.bf~

\tIClt DR1NGB 11'8 OWN PUNISHMENT.

XXVU.

1.\

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II

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It
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1·

4rH REASON.-The incessant corrosion of hea1·t which
frets the wicked in unhappy peevishness all day long is
another bitter punishment of vice.
5rH REASON.-'l,here is, furthermore, a torment in
the retrospection of evil, even in the hour of triumph,
before the mind has had time to pass its censure on the
deed.
6rH ltEASON.-'rlie agony of remorse and 11pbraidings of
conscienc.e consequent upon sin, are far more painful to
bear than any corporal punishment.
7TH REASON.-The wicked sustain another punishment
in the consciousness that " evecy man's hand" and heart
are ~gainst them.
· 8rH REASON.. -The fear of detection and the punishment
of a broken law haunt the wicked with painful pertinacity.
9TH REASON.-The intuitive terro1· of an o.ffimded God,
which revelation serves to confirm, will sometimes steal
upon the most hardened sinner, and make life insupportable.
S1MILEs.-Isaiah saith, " 'rhc wicked are like the
troubled sea when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up
mire and dirt."
ThC' Fox always seems to live in terror; and th erefore,
immediately it has stolen its pr ey from a farm-yard, sLarLs
off into concealment, instead of devouring it on the spot
like other animals.
The ancient Furies are represented by the Greek tragedians with serpents twining about their head for hair, and
blood constantly dripping from their eyes ; which may
well be regarded as emblematical of self-torment.
The Greek tragedians feip;n tlrnt the Erinyes haunt all
wicked men, to take .. a way their peace of mind, and lead
th.em into misery and misfortun e.
Vice, like a scorpion, is its own torment.-Rev. ix. 5.

.

· · '·' .As the pelican feeds upon its own blood, so vice preys
.
. •:
'·
· · ',, : ,,"t ~
· ..upon its own heart. . •,
' · As the gall of the asp,' so the' heart of the wicked ·causes
,11 his meat in .his bowels to be ·turned."-Job;' xx. 14 . .J ··q 1
, Tradition says, that toads often burst with th~ir ·9-w~
venom.
..
r .. . i

'

· As the organs of taste are offended by unwholesome
food, so unwholesome morality is offensive to the moral
taste.
.
·
· '. '' 1:' . :
' ' .'
•
' ; ·. •
,
• • ·,
~.

. H1sromcAr. lLLusTRATioNs. - Orestes, the matricide;
escaped the punishment of law, but was haunted by the
~
. · : .· . ~
Furies, who tormented him to madness.
· ·· ' It is said of Cain,' "that his co~ntenance fell" from
mental agony, when he conceived evil against his brother;
and after be had committed the murder, ·"the earth
opened her mouth to receive his brother's blood," :·the
"voice of which cried from the ground" against ; him:·
and Cain said, "My punishment is . greater than I can
bear."
; _.,1,
Lamech said to his wives in deep remorse, "I have
slain a man to my wounding, and a young man : to ·iny
hurt." (Gen. iv. 23.); reforring to the self-infliction of his.
own sin.
.' ~,; · r • , • - :; ., rv• ·
St. Peter, in the judgment hall, was guilty 'of grea't ' sin/
"but he went out and wept bitterly."-1lfatt. xxvi. 75.
Judas, the traitor, unable to bear the · stings ' of cdn•
science, "went and banged himself.". Matt. xxvii. 5. - ·
~ .Pionysius, t~e Locrian, .is.;represented: by historians as
a tyrant of the blackest colours, but so fearful and suspicious that he was atraid even of his nearest friend; and
the precautions he made use of to.guard against: treachery
,afford a most s~f ikin!? pr9of, that " the ,w:i.~ke4 are .the~r
town tormentors . .-Cicero, T.u.s~ .. ,"f_. ;2~n; .,, ; .. 1 . : J; ~' - ' .'. ." .: :. /:•1
·" Catiline, the conspirator,. is . teprefented . by.Sallust 1 as '
,€xbi~ting all .tl~e symptoms of an uneasy .mind. 1 ~1/il~e
.always kep.t his eyes fixed on the ground;_:· 2. ; H1~ 'ga1t 1
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98

THEME': :XXVII.

was unsteady, sometimes quick and sometimes slow. 3.
His colour would often come and go. 4. 1'hough he tried
to brave Cicero, he could not bear to see the senators
quit the bench on which he sat, and, therefore, rushed
from the senate-house and city.
Apollodorus, the traitor and tyra,nt, "was a cn.vern of
most horrible imuginings: He nourish ed scorpions in his
heart, and was perpetually scared by spectres and the fear
of death." Amongst other things his biographer says,
"he often fancied the Scythians were flaying him alive,
a.nd that he was dancing round the cauldron in which
himself was seething."
It is said of Cromwell, tlrnt he never rnjoyed mi hour of
pen.cc after the decapitnJion of Clrnrlrs l.; nn d ns proofo
of his distress we nre tolrl, 1. 'l'hnt lw wore armour nnder
his clothes. 2. He never went and returned by the same
route. 3. He never Rllowed auy one 1o k11ow t.he Lime of
his goi ng ont or of hi s return. 4. He never slP p L in the
same chamber two successive nights, &1·. 'J'ho11glt these
statements have hcen cn11trnr1i ct(-'d hy Carlyl e n11'1 oth ers,
they nPn:rtl1 elcss enrrnlrnratc tlic ,e;cacral opinion, that
" vice hath torment."
Instances of nrnnlcrcrs f!iving· thf'mselvcs np to justice
•are very common; n 11cl every <lay the T im rs lle\vspnper
contnins the :H:k110\vl(~t1).!mc11t of mom·y which conscience
would not allow th e ha 11d of frand t o retain.

· _:-:
Fear hath torment.-1 Jolin ' iv •
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.·:'.:. T .h.e wi9ked .flee when no man pursueth.. . Prov ..xxvii:' l~
i · .Many sorrows shall be to the wicked.-Ps. xxxii. 10.

Ther~..is no peace (saith the Lord) un~o the wicked.Isa. xlvm. 22.
·
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~ ~ ,' He that hides ~ dark soul and foul thoughts, ·'
.'.
B~nighte~ w.alks under the mid-day sun;
: .. , ," Himself is lus own dungeon.-.Milton.

.'
Oh, it is monstrous I monstrous! ., ..

.Methought the billows spoke and told me of it·
1'he winds did sing it to me· and the thunder '
~l'hat deep and dreadful org~u-pipe, pronounc~d
The name of Prosper. - Slwkspeare.

0 CO\Yard conscience, how dost thou nffiict me I
Colcl fearful drops strw<l on my trembling flesh.
·what do l fear ?- myself ?- Slwkspeare.
Better be with the <lentl
Than in tlrn torture of the mind to lie
I n rcstl e~s ecstn. cy.
Oli, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife I
Shakspeare .
.Nihil tam miseros facit, quam impietas et scelus. Cu·cro.
·
Maxima pcccnntiam pcena est, peccavisse.-Seneca.
:Nil consdrc sibi, nnlla pallescere culpa.- I1orace.

QuoTATIONs.-Gnilt hath no holid ay.-Lord Bacon.
He started like a guilty thing.- Slw.kspeare.
The thief doth fear each bush an officer.-S!rnkspeare.

Haro autecedentem scelestnm deseruit pede pcena claudo.
. , Animus conscius se remordet.
·

.A guilty conscience who can bear?

Intuta qure dedecora. ·

St. Pa,ul says, the Gentiles· have the law oi God
"written in their hearts; thdr conscience also bearing
witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing orelse excusing one another.~'-Rom. ii. 15.
Milton makes Sa ten say,. u Which way I move is hell~
myself am. hell."

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:'_ Siculi non invenere tyranni tormentum n;iajus. ~ - t . ··-;,
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Vle:E BRINqS ITS OWN ·PUNISHMENT •

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.THEME

THEME

XX VIII.

xxvm.

A. wounded R eputati'on is seldom
cured.

lNTRODUCTION.-When once a person bas lost his character, he is very rarely able to retrieve it again.
lsr REASON.-Crime makes so strong an impression
upon the mind of those who are cognisant of it, that it is
very seldom foi·gotten ; and, unless a crime he entirely forgotten, the evil impression is not obliterated.
2 ND ll EASON.-A wicked deed is not often an isolated
action, but rather one of a series ; alHl, therefo re, is not
regarded as an accident of moral frailty, so much as the
ma,nifcsta t ion of a dcpraYed natur e.
31rn R EASON.- i\len ma y Le dece ive1l on ce by plausible

Appenra1 H·cs, bu t \\'Oll l(l Le co 11 dcm1ir<l as foo ls if they
allowed t he " so me scrzicn t to sting them twice ;" in consequence of \Yhi ch they -vie1v IYith cau ti ons jealousy every
tainterl character.

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4nr R 1:Aso:-i.-Tli cr c is so 111uclt enry , emuht inn, aml
ill-nfl tu re in t he wo rld; so mucli tattle and i(1le p;nssip inp;,
t hat a wo1111dcd rcp11tation is not ullowrd to heal; hut,
b einp; nmue the co nslau t subject of a nimadversion ( especially 1f the backslider is becoming prospero us ) , t hat the
wound is kept open, and not unfrequently enlarged by
lying rumours.
5 TH R~ASON.-A l mo st all perrn ns like to flatter their
own goodness by compa ring it with the weak ness of others:
And when indiscretion or vice has furnished self-conceit
with a " flattering unction" of its own superiority, it is
· unwilling to lose the pleasure of the Pharisee's boast,
" Lord, I thank thee that I am not as other men are, or
· even as this sinner."
6TH REASON.-A man who has once fallen, shows a
strong proof of weakness, that he can never be safely
trusted: As a horse with broken knees is prejudiced for
life.

101 [

A BLEMISHED REPUTATION SELDOM RESTORED.

·:; ·hH REAsoN.-The difficulty of recovering a wounded ·
reputation is so great, that few pel'sons make the attempt, ,
btlt continue in the downward course with recklessness
and despair.
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SrnrLEs.-The Dog, who invited the Wolf to come .and
_e' at
his mas..t er's sheep.-.LEsop's fable.'
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· . A sheet of paper once blotted, can never be wholly absterged from the stain.

·A tree, wh ose t runk has been inj ured , never recovers
from tlic wound.
. No patch can r estore a torn g armen t so neatly as not

to show the rent.
A fl ower once faded can never be made to resume its
beauty and fres h perfume.
No cement can join a broken vase so as to leave no
mark of the crack.
A cask never entirely loses the flavour of the liquor it
has received .
·
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If the lenf of a book be rent, the injury can never bo
wholly repaired.
IIrs-rom cAL lLLUSTRATIONs. -The Cretans as a nation,
having lost their reputation for veracity, have been stig- ,
rnatised , even to a proverb, with the cognomen of "liars."
Shimei, having been once guilty of treason to king .
David, was suspected of the same crime against Solomon, ,.
when he merely l~ft the kingdom. to .~apture . a fugitiv,e ~
sla_v e.-2 Sam. xvt. 5-8, and 2 .fiings 11. ~9~~;· .... ~ , ;:b; _.. ,
· .Alcibiades, having lost his honour by neglecting to pay ·
pr9per attention to a port consigned to his care, never re.. ~ ·
covered the full confidence of his countrymen, although he . .
w9n for them many brilliant .bat~les.,::, '1 ·; \'··:·· . ·

'. \1.,.j..·, \:.

'In the reign of Louis

XIV.,

Colonel Chartr~ux, who ·. ; .

had amass*ed a Vast fortune at the expen~e of,,his1chai:ac.1 '
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THEME xxvnr.

A GOOD CAUSE MAKES A STOUT HEAR~

ter, was often heard to say, "he would give all his wealth
to regain his good name."
Sir Walter Raleigh, being connected with a plot for the
purpose of placing Lady Arabella Stuart on the throne,
was brought to trial by James I., king of Engln.nd, and
found guilty; be was, however, reprieved, and, after the
lapse of twelve years, liberated from prison ; but his
wounded reputation brought him to the block ; for, after
his unsuccessful expedition to Guana, he was again
arrested on the old offence, and executed in Olu I'alaceyarc1, A. n. Hil 8.

;4~~;,_, :, 'V:iolets pluck'd . ~ .. will never grow again. ,; 1 · ' • · ·
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108

He who filches from me my .good. name
Robs me of that which not enriches him,
And makes me poor indecd.-Shakspeare.
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'l'he purest treasure mortal times afford
Is-spotless reputation; that away,
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Slwkspeare.
It is hopeless to recover a lost reputation.- Lord Bacon.
A rnant refricare cicatricern .-Cicero .
':' Arbore dejecta, q~ivis lig n(colligit.
Qui deliquit, supplex est omnibus.-Pwulus.
Semel malus, semper malus.
Mcndaci homini , ne vero qnidcm dicenti credere so·
lcmus.-Cicero.
Ne tentes sarcire malum nomen.

. Sextus Tarquillius, having excite<l the indignation of
the Romans by his base conduct towards Lucretia, brought
such odium against the very name of Tarquin , that not
only the king was banished and the kingly office nholished,
but even Collatinus the consul mm obliged to lay down
his oflice and lca\·e tlie city, because he happen ed to bear
the hated name of 'l'arquin.
It is customary for persons of damaged reputation to
leave the locality where they are known, and live among
strangers: not unfrequently they change even their names
for the purpose of greater concealment.

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CoNcLusroN.-How careful, &c ....

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QuoTATIONs.-Salt is good; but if the salt hatli lost its
savour, wherewith shaU it be seasoned? it is neither fit
for the lan d, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out.
-Luke, xiv. 34, p5.

'I1HKHE

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Give a dog a bad name and hang him.
Once bit, twice shy

XXIX.

A good Cause malces a stout Heart.
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lNrnonucTION.-Nothing gives a man more confidence
and boldness than the consciousness that his cause is -just
and honourable,
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'· :i lsT REASON.-A mind conscious of right is not ashamed!
and as shame is always cowardlj, so the ' absence " of it
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conduces to moral courage.
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' •:. ' 2ND REASON.-A mind conscious to itself of honotirabl~
~ and honest intentions is not paralysed by any fear· of}e_
ing
,. detected in what it is doing.
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3RD REASON.-Conscious rectitude gives confidence "tO
the heart, from a conviction of being in the path ,of duty.
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A liar is never to be believed, even when he speaks the
truth.-../Esop.

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Iteputation is gained by many acts, but is lost by one.
-Lord Bacon.
What I .wouldst thou have a serpent sting thee twice ?
···
Sh akspeare.
Know one false step is ne'er retrieved.-Gray .

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THEME XXIX,

a

and .win run 'away; 'but, guarding house at,night,· ~annot - . . . . ''. ,t'- :: . i .
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be :terrifiea by threats or danger.
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4TH REASON.-A good cause Iimkes a stout heart, from
persuasion that God will maintain the 1·ight; and if
" God be for us, who can be against us ?" .
5TH REASON.-The expectation of the approbation of
man will also be an encouragement to those who are engaged in the cause of truth and justice.
6TH REASON.-1'he just man will be further emboldened by the reflection, that his adversary's cause is a bad
one, ancl cannot prevail against him.
7Tii REASON.-Even to fail in a g ood cause is hononrable; and, therefore, the upright mind is sustained by the
double assurance mentioned by St. Paul, "Whether we
live we live unto the Lord, or whether we die we die unto
the Lord; living or dying we arc the Lord's."
8TH REASON. - rfHE CoNVEllSF.. - H e who is doing
what he knows to be wrong is afrnid to be seen: his heart
is paralysed by a constant dread of rlctcction, disgrnce 1
and punishment; and the conviction that he is maintain' ing the wrong against an adversary wh o is arm ed with
conscious honour and rectitude, will have a most pernicious
influence npon hil'I moral r onr ngP anrl phyRirn l Rtrr: n:;th .
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Boys engaged upon their duty are not ~fraid of,the ey~ .
of their ma:ster ; but every sound alarms them when they
~r~ .doing wltat they know tq be w.~ong. ' . . '
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Pure silver will resist the corrosi~e power of salt, grease,
and vinegar ; but German silver will tarnish eve_11; from
1
th~ ,influence of the common atm.c;isphere.-. ·< .. : ..' ' c. ·; . ' · '., ..
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. H.1s~omcAL ILLUSTRATIONS. -.According ,. to · Shak- .;
speare's representation, Ricl~ard III., at the battle of Bosworth Field, was weighed down with the· oppression of
conscious guilt ; but Richmond, being buoyed up with
the· conviction of the justice of his cause, fought like a lion ,
and prevailed. ·
, ·- .
M~cbeth sturted at every whisper of the wind, or shriek ·
of t_he night-hawk, when .he went to murder Duncan; but '
stood a:s an "eagle against a sparrow, or a lion against a.
hare," in the fierce contest against the Norwegian rebels. ' ·
Siccus Dentatus resisted a hundred adversaries sent to
assassinate him with considerable success ·; for he killed
fift~en, and wounded thirty others. " · . . . .. .. ·
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mon tradition says, that Cromwell wore armour under his ·
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clothes, and never went and returned by the same route. :
Leonidas, at the straits of Thermopylre, : ~~s· not afraid :.'
with 400 men to oppose X erxes the invader 9f,Greece, at · ~ . .,:.)
the head of a million troops.
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Sam,Es.-As bri ght armonr will r esist 11 musket ball
for better than a rusty suit of mail; so a good cause is far
stronger than a puissant arm raised to uphold what is
wrong.
A gooc.1. foundation makes a building firm; and when
the rain descends, and the floods come, and th e winds blow
:ind heat upon that house, it will not fall, because its
foundation is secure : But a house built upon th e sand
cannot resist th e rain, the flood s, and the ·wind, bnt will
foll wh en they beat aga,inst it, and great will be the foll
there or.
A ship built of sound timber may weath er the roughest
sea; hnt one mad e of ro tten planks cannot riLlc in safety
through the smoothes t water.
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A dog stealing a bone is alarmed at the slightest sound,

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William Tell, with a handful of , adherents, boldly',re~. \: > .'. i ~
sisted the Austrian multitude, and even repulsed it. ' "·' ~S ; .._..... ···;··· _·:.·_:J
bavid, with a simple sling and st9ne; enc~m~tered Goliah
9
the giant of Gath, and slew him. · , 1 " , '· . . ~,/ · · ·.
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The Lord said to the oeople of..Israel 1, " If. ye. will not '· ·
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THEME XXIX.
. CONTENTMENT · IS TRUE

hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments
· .. I will appoint over you terror . . . and ye shaJI flee
~hen none pursueth you . . . . I will also send faintness
mto your hearts in the land of your enemies, and the
sound .of a shaken leaf shall chase you, and ye shall flee
as fleemg· from a sw~rd.-Leviticus, xxvi. 14. 17. 36., illus:
trated by Joshua, Vll. 10-15., and Jud!Jes, ii. 14.

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.~i;:, P:Cohscia mens recti ·Famre mendacia rid et'.-:-' Ovid. · ~ ·
'~:·: ;Hie murus aheneus esto
, '· ·, · ,,,. , ·-.: :>. · · · ., r
:·.~:.'.: Nil consqire sibi, null a pallescere 'culpa.-·-. Horace: .' ~.
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,., lvlurus rereus consCientia sana.
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Sola Virtus invicta.
Virtus mille scuta.
· · Magna vis est conscientire.- Oicet·o; ·
; 'Conscientin. convictus repcnte conticuit.-Oicero. ·
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QuoTATJO.Ns.-Honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
-Prov. XXlX. 23.

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. The wicked flee wh~n no man pnrsucth ; but the
righteous are bold as a Jion.-Prov. xxviii. 1., Ps. liii. 5.
The very weight of Richard's guilt will crush him.
Sit a kspeare,
Virtue is bold, and goodness never fearful.
·
Slwkspeare.
~Vb.at ~tronger breastplate than a heart tmtn.intcd?
'llmce IS he armed that hath his quarrel just;
And he but naked, though locked up in steel
Whose conscience with injustice is corrupted.'
Shakspeare.
The thief doth fear each bush an olficer.-S!iakspeare.
Conscience makes cowards of us all.-Sl1akspeare.
c .onscience is a dangerous thing, it makes a man a
coward; a man ca~not steal, .bnt it accuse th him; a man
cannot s.~ear, but it ~b:cks l11m. 'Tis a blushing shamefaced spmt, that mutm1es in a man's bosom, and fills one
full of obstacles.-Sliakspeare.
Still as they run they look behind
They hear a voice in every wind '
And catch a fearful glance.-(:h'.ay.
When the mind proposes honourable ends not only the
virtues, but the deities also, are ready to ~ssist.-Lord
Bacon.
Innocence is the best armour.
Integer vitre, scelerisqne purus,
Non eget. Mauri jaculis nee arcu.-Horace.

PHILOSOPHY.

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CoNCLUSION.-Let us, therefore,

THEME

XXX.

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Conlenlmenl i,s lh~ h'm P hi'losopher' s
.
&one.
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· lNTRODUCTI'ON. ~The ancient alchemists imagined it
was possible to make a tincture, which would turn the
baser meta.ls into gold. This elixir, or tincture, has reBut
ceived the name of 11 The Philosopher's Stone :",
~lthough no chemical skill can make a man ·rich by
converting dross into gold ;· yet contentment · can cast
such n. sunshine on his mintl, as to make life a perpetual
enjoyment.
' . '' . '
hr REASON .-The desire of somethi~g unpossessed ·'is
the source of far more mis~ry than pqsitive pain is or actual
destitution; but a contented mind is fre~ .from this misery;
by being satisfied with its pr.esent lqt, : ~Iid wishing for
nothing it does not possess.
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2ND REASON. -A contented mind not only desires
nothing it does not enjoy, but also feels a perfect sati.ifac~
' tion in w/iat it po8Se8ses.
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• It seems rRther anomalous to call a tl~ctnre ·e. 8ton6; but lt appears that
the tinctur~ WllS first convert(ld into a 1Jolid 8ubstancf!, ~nd then mixed with
· · · ' 1· /
lead, iron, or tin1 while bqth were in a. state of fusion; · ; •

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'.l'HEME XXX,

CONTENTMENT ,. f.S ; TRUE. PHILOSOPHY.

3Rn REASON.-A!I men have their trials and affiictions,
b.ut a con~ented .mmd accommodates itself to every vicis·
sztu<te.of life; neither poverty nor distress neither losses
nor d~sappoint1!1e?ts, neither sickness no~· sorrow, can
affect its equammity : As the elixir of the ancient philosophers converted- the baser metals into gold, so contcnt~e?t converts the severest trials into subjects of thanksgi vmg.

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6rH REASON.-There is an action and a re-action fn
contentmen.t reproducing and enlrnncihg the pleasures of
~~cr~iother : Thus,. ?ontent!nent produces gratitude, peace
tda and humility, which in their re-action eno-ender
1
and.man, a good opinion of others, ablivel
ove 0
se~se of hem~ estimated and rewarded according to merl
:nona go,o d ';ill to~ards man ; these feelings again re-act
tJie mmd "'."Ith beneficial influence, and refine its
.,fl easures as gold 1s refined by the refiners.

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: 'itH REASON.-!HE . OoNVERSE.-A discontented mind
~I ways . hank(f1:211g fol' sornething it does not possess
which, however, IS. no so~ner acquired than it is despised'
a~ddsome new. des!re sprmgs up to cast a shade 'over th~
mm and vex It with fresh disquietudes.
IS

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SIMJL~s.-The Town and Country Mouse.-A fable.
~ ·.,· Tb~ Q~ at ploqgh 1tnd the Oalf.-.dl:s(p'sfable.
Th~ Cm~tented Porter,,,.,_.,,.4 Y!f31l-known anecdote.
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4T~ REAS~N.-A contented mind is free from, the distressing passions of ambition, covetousndss jealousy envy
ahnd t~e like, which prey like vultures up~n the pe~ce of
t e discontented.
5TH R~ASON.-T~e habit of a contented mind is to
compa;e its state with the condition of those umrse off
than itse.If; but th~ habit of a discontented mind is
comp~re its state with the condition of those better off
than. itself: T~e former l1abit is the source of perpetual
g~atitude and Joy, the latter of carking desires and unremitted regrets.

... ..: As a boat glides down· a stream ; :so a co~tented· mffi:d
. 'glide~ . through lif~ 13mootply, .~il~nt.ly, , aJ!.d, ~!t~~.'1.t vo~.s~ruc,. ;tion . ., . , ;. · 1.. .
., : ·. ·., .. , .•. · "' • . .. ;;>,.,, ·· ·1j ; -1,,; ·,~ir :·r
the sun ' shining . on th~ lowli~st · cot~ gives '. t? .it:a
.charm which gladdens the he~rt ; ~o _cqnt~n,fo1en,t g~v:~s a
.charm to the mind whic}i ~cts, upop. i.~31s. 91 , rµ?rai ,suµshirn~.
· . As oil poured on the stormy. ocean serres ' to .padfy: the
troubled waters ; so contentment diffused ;thr.o ugh ;the
mind serves to smooth all the troubles of life.
, '"':
. The cow may be lo.oked , on f!.S . an em'Qlem · of : .co~t~nt­
men t ; all she eats is tur_u ed to useful '. and nutrit10qs
food: Whereas the asp may ,be considered.a.n emblem.of
discontent, "whose food i13 , turned· ..to gall ;in Hs .. own
bowels."
·•; .. ·
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· HrnromcAL lLLusrRATIONs.-; St. · Paul ' says/ " I have
learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be-content,'' which he calls ti great ·gain ;" ·and .adds .'. t hat
" they which covet money pierce. t!iemselve~ th~o~gh
with many sorrows."-Oompare Phil ..iv. ll.~ w1th J Tim.
vi. 6. 1 O.
.
.: : , .· , '.'.' / · . : ,. =,: ;
· .Job, having lost all his substance and aU his ~hildren; exclaimed with pious resignation, "The Lord, gave and th,;
Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lo~d I,
Alexander having told Diogenes, "He would gra~t' hirh
whatsoever he asked, even to the half of his kingdom,"
received for reply, "Diogenes asks Alexander . to ~.tancl
out of the sunshine.".
·: . ,· · r·<· ~ ·;::•'.!"
Solon being asked by Orresus, " Who was the happiest
man ?" referred the king ,of Lydia to. a poor ..~ottager of
Greece, who never desired greater wealt~ or a b~tter condition than he possessed. .
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Marcus Ourius Dentatus was three times · 1consul of
Rome, and having obtained most brilliant victories o.ver
Pyrrhus, the Samnites, p,nd several other : ad ~ e~sanes,
retired to his small Sabine farm. .. On .one . ocy~s~.on the ·
Samnites sent to him · a most costly present, ·and the
messengers found . him. sitting at , bis , hearth 1,:_ roasting
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THEME X:X:X.

TAKE CARE OF ' THE

UL

PENOE.

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. :::· · · Poor and content is rich, and rich enough; ~ · " • .,
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But riches endless are as poor as winter,
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.To him that ever fears he shall be poor:..-"-Slwkspeart.c
'Contentment opes the source of every-joy.-Beatt'ie.· . . · - Contentment is, to the mind, what light is to the body. ~
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- The greatest wealth is contentment with a little. _._ - •
·, Contentment, parent of delight, &c.-_Mrs. _Barb.auld. __.:
N'est heureux que qui le croit etre.
. ,,·>··
_, Qui cum fortuna convenit, dives est.
Non esse cupid um, pecunia est.
Lretus sorte tua vives sapienter.-Horace.
Leve fit quod bene fertur onus.-Ovid.
Felix est qui sorte sua contentus vivit._
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,Felix est qui nibil cupit.

.• turnips. When offered the gift he reiected it sayin<Y
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n 11 e rn remamed poor he governed himself and others
but by accepting their present he would sell himself t~
the Samnites and their gold."
Luci~s Quintus Cincinnatus was so contented with the
hoI?ely mdepe~denoe of his little farm, that he returned
to it afte.r servmg the office of Dictator, although he was
offered kmgly state and honours by his grateful countrymen.
Caius Fabri.cius, surnamed Luscinus, was frequently
called from Ins farm to fill the hirrhest offices in the
Roman .Repu~lic; b~t always retu;ned to his Sabine
co~tage immediately Ins services could be dispensed with •
bern.g contented with his humble lot he was greater tha~
a krng, but had he coveted regal pomp, he would have
been no better than a slave.
~ poor shoemaker wJ10 used to sing nll dny over his
wo1k, attracted the notice of a rich prince who was so
delighted with .his cheerful temper and ste~dy industry,
th~t he made lum a present of 500l. : after the receipt of
this present, the merry son of Crispin lost all his mirth
and became so woe-begone and wretched, that he took th~
_money back, saying, "before the gift came he was contented and always happy, but since he had received it he
had known no peace of mind, and was most miserable."

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CoNCLUSION.-. Hence it is for man's happiness, as _w:ell
as for his goodness, to obey the commandment, " Thou
shalt not covet.''
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XXXI. Take care of the Pence, and the ' ~
Pounds will take care of themselves. _ . . .

THEME

QuoTATIONs.-A contented mind is a continual feast.
True h.appiness is to no place confined,
But still is found with a contented mind.
Among good things I prove and find
The quiet lyfe doth most abounde ·
And sure to the contented mynde '
There is no riches may be founde.
Sanges and Sonnetes.
Let not what I cannot have
,1\i!y cheer of.mind destroy;
1'· lnle thus I smg, I am a king,
Although a }Joor blind hoy.~ "'alley
O"bb
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lNTRODUCTION.-By avoiding petty extravagances and
economising the little daily expenses of life, a competency
. will be realised more surely and more honourably th,an by;
parsimonious savings or inordinate profits.
lsr REASON.-A man who is careful of small expenses,
will be at least equally careful not to indulge in extrava·.
gant follies.
;, ·
- 2ND l{EASON.-"Many a little makes a micklf','.' says
the Scotch proverb; by which is meant, · that little ex~·
travagances soon accumulate into a great los~, atid ·littl~.
savings.into great gains.
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THEME

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'rAkE CAtt.tt .OF , THE PENCE.

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REAso_N.-Extravagance is a habit which grows in
stren:;th by indul7ence, as a river increases by flowing.
":e who wastes 111s pence one year, will not be sutisfied
with the :sai:ne amount to squander the next; hnt wasted
c~pper will mcrease to wasted silver, and squuudered silver
will be supplanted by squandered gold.
• 4TH REAS.ON. - Extravagance and economy are not
ISolated habits, but rather ~he handnmicls or parents of
other~ : !hus extravagarice is the companion of idlenes,<:,
and. mdicates a mind more fontl of pleasure than of
bus~ness; economy, on the other hand, is the companion
of industry and temperance, and shows a disposition more
fond of business than of plea,sure.
5TH REASON.-The h~bit of hoarding small Ravings h::tS
a greut effect upon the mmd, the appetiteR, and the conduct.
It .superindnces a care.fidness, cleanliness, and 11i,r;ilance,
which prevent great waste: "'\Vhereas, the habit of extrnv.ag'ari~e. superinduces a w~nt?n recklessness, a gaudy unsubstantial taste, and · an md1fference to the wise caution
of "a stitch in time."
6rH REASON.-Pence are the inte.c;ers of pounds, and if
the .parts be ~reserved, the who.le mu~t of course be safe;
~mt if the pa.1 ts b_e wasted, the mtegnty of the compound
IS dest~oyed, ?'nd it ceases to be a sovereign: on the other
hand, If the mtegers be saved they will accumulate into
pounds; and therefore, if the pence be taken care of the
pound, which is composed of those pence, must be perf~ctly
secure.
:.:· .
3RD

· .· . Srnri:.Es.-·- An plants grow from smaJI seeds and unless
those seeds are preserved with care, the plant; themselves
will soon become extinct.
· ' If t~ie oa~ sapli~g be carefully nursed, the full-grown
tree will ~hnve by its own inherent vigour.
If the spring of a river be stopped when it first bubbles
from . the hill, .the .current will be effectually destroyed:
B.ut. if ~he sprmg be suffered to well out freely and join
with tributary streams, the full river will flow on fearless
of obstruction.

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' ' If. a few drops of water be suffered to ooze through a. :'""- r ~
dam without impediment, the full .tide will soo~ follow,. ::·-:::. - ...=-~
. Drops make the clouds, the clouds send forth the rai~,
~·~
the rain supplies the rivers, and the rivers the great
ocean: By withholding the invisible vesicles exhaled by
the sun, therefore, the multitudinous sea itself would 'ultimately be dried up.
.- As word by word great books are made, so penny by
penny great fortunes may be amassed.
· As a small rent in a garment will soon spread unless
it be repaired, so petty extravagances will soon become a
·--f.·;<.
most serious expenditure unless the habit be duly checked.

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H1sroRICAL lLLUSTRATIONs.-Daniel Dancer, of Harrow; the celebrated · miser, by carefully hoarding up his
1·
farthings · and half-pence: acquired the immense sutn of a
million and a half of pounds sterling . . He died October; '
1794, in the 78th year of his age.
·
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Pliny the Elder, the great naturalist, wrote 20,000
treatises culled from 2000 volumes; and how was thi.S
effected ? Hi~ biographer tells us, it was his daily prac~
tice to spend a portion of the night .in stJ.!dying by .
candle-light. Before daybreak he betook himself to the .
emperor Y espasian, to perform the commissions he might ·
be charged with, and then returned home to breakfast '
while some one read to him. He would then take a cold :
bath, and, after a short nap, pursue his studies till suppertime. He was never without a book and his tablets;
even at his meals, in his walks, and during the procesS'of
scraping and rubbing in the bath, he was either reading
or being read to, and invariably made extracts from
every book.
:.
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As the collector of a Christian charity approached a
certain house where he intended to call, he' overheard the
master rebuking one of his servants for wasting the end
of a candle. The collector, thinking it would be 'no use ,
·to call upon a. man of such economical habits, passed by;
. but upon reflection returned, and having stated the object '

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THEME XXXI.

of the charity, received a very large subscription. The
gentleman observing an expression of surprise depicted
on the collector's face, inquired into the cause, and after
hearing the circumstance of the wasted candle end, replied,
"If I allowed extravagant waste in my house, I could not
afford ·a liberal subscription."
. Charles I., of England, suffered small encroachments to
be made upon his prerogatives, whereby he lost both his
crown and life. Had he boldly resistctl the very first
symptom of discontent, like Queen Elizabeth, he would
probably have enjoyed a reign as prosperous as his illustrious predecessor.
Thomas Guy began the trade of bookselling in 1660
with only 200l.; by a systematic practice of the strictest
economy he amassed an immense fortune, which he spent
in charity. An old newspaper served him for a table-cloth;
he never allowed himself more than one sort of food of the
most homely kind; and the luxury even of a rush candle was
an extravagance he never indulged in. This penurious,
but benevolent man, founded Guy's Hospital; he gave
during his lifetime 18,793l. to erect and furnish it, and
endowed it at his death with 219,499/., being the largest
sum of money, .~ver . given by any individual for charitQ.ble
purposes. Re also built three wards of St. 1'homas's
Hospital in Southwark, the almshouses at rramworth, a
part of Christ's Hospital, &c. ; and left 75,5891. at his
. death to be divided among his poor relations. Ile died
.at the age of eighty-one, A. D. 1724.
John Overs, a waterman, who ferried passengers from
Southwark to the city, by dint of penny savings acquired
a very large fortune, with which his daughter, at his
death ' founded and endowed the church called St. Mary
Overs, in London.
John Elwes, Esq.; M. P ., of Stoke (Suffolk), and .Marchham (Berkshire), though benevolent and strictly honest,
was very parsimonious, and left behind him a property
exceeding · 800,0001. His maxim was, ''that a.11 great
fortunes are made by saving, for of that only can a man
be sure." He died 1789, at an advanced age.
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IDLENESS DRINGS W'ANT.

.., William Jenning, Esq;1 a neighbour and acquaintance
of' ~ J ohn· Elwes, by similar thrift, accumulated a property
estimated at a ' million sterling; ": He' died··'. 1797, aged
hinety-seven years. ' · ·. · · · ~ . . ' : · _ ·: · ' . ..
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QuoTATION:s.-The ways to enrich are many: parsimony
is otle of : the best.-Lord Bacon.
. A pin a day is a groat a year.
· A penny' saved is ;a periny gained. · '
Many a little makes a mickle.
t F1;a,e .sa vjng ' comes having. '
'". Waste ·not, .want not.
W oful waste makes woful want.
. Ever save, ever had.
'.Little and often fills the purse.
·No ·alchemy 'like economy.
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: Without fr.ugality ~o~e can .be rich; and, with it, ,very
'. ' } ~4
f~w would~be poor.
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:'. Economy is a great income.. .
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..n ne faut pa"S manger tout son bien en un jour. .,, .... "
Les petits ruisseaux font les grandes rivieres. · · · •\ !" ;,
Obsta principiis;
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Non intelligunt homines qualI!- magnum vectigal sit par:.
simonia.-Cicero,
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.Sera in fundo est parsimonia.-Seneca.
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Idl,e young Men make
ory,es.

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,· INrRooucrroN.-Those who indulge habits : of.' laziness
in their youth, must expect to spend an ()l~ ag~ , of.po.~~!~Y,
and distress. ·
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IDLENESS BRINGS - ·WANT.

THEME XX.XII.

lsT REASON.-Property is not to be earned without
gre1~t labour .and steady industry; but a man who has
halntuat~d hu;nself ~o idleness and frivolity in the early
pn:rt of life, will be mcapable cf endurinO' the fatio-ue and
toil essential for a thriving business.
b
b
2Nn RE~soN.-Those who would accumulate money
~nust exerc~se economy and self-denial; but, after long
mdulgence m pleasure, both the body and mind are incapable of bearing the privation of those luxuries which
habit has made essential to them.
3RD REASON.-.-J ohn Elwes says, "All great fortunes._
are made by sav~ngs ;" but the o?lY. time for saving is in
youth; when wmter has come, it is too late to gather
honey.
4rH REASON. - Youth is the time for activity and
endurance, old age of rest and indu1pence. If the active
period of youth be wasted in self-indulgence, the emaciated
and feeble old man will have neither the will nor the
power of providing for his daily increasing necessities.
frrH REASON.-1\Ioney is made by enteipri;e, but. old
men are averse to all novelties ; hence few masters will
employ an aged journeyman, and few tradesmen in their
old age can compete with their younger rivals, or s1·and
their ground again st the force of' modern improvements.
6TH REASON.-ldle young men acquire dissolute hCT"its,
which make great inroads on their property, and entail
feebleness and disease upon their constitutions.
7rH . REASON.-Self-indulgence is always followed. by
a cramn_q after new sources of grat~fication. By indulrring the passion its wants are increased, and its mca~s
of grntifyin g it proportionably diminished; so that in old
age the wants become infinite, and the il-1ind distressed
with a perpetual desire for something unpossessed.
SrH REASON. -THE CoNVERSE. - Those who have
been frngal and indu strious in youth, have fewer Wftnts
to satisfy, know by self-denial the sweetness of littl r, indulgences, and have a well-saved store laid up against
decrepitude and age.

J:: SIMILES.-'The . Butterfly and the A..nt.~LEsop's fable.·:1
' : 'rhe V\:7" asp anci the Bee.' AZsop' s fab,Ze: '
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" · The .Grasshopper: was . told · by the Ant, .."Those who
play. :in .the su:111mer must pipe in the winter.".
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-' Land which h'as not been wen cultivat~d .in the spring
wiU be unprolifi.c in the harvest. . . '
. ·
·: 'A .c~sk wllic'h is ·ne~er . used ~ill become rotten, and
leaky.
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. A young twig will soon. take. root ,and flourish· but an
aged slip will wither in a few days. . ·
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··. :· H .the limbs are. not well exercised in youth, they will
be stiff and feeble m old age.
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IlrnTorucArJ lLLusrR~TIONS.-. 'l'he Prodigal who spent .
his portion in riotous' Ii ving, would have starved when it.
was spent,' had riot hfa :Father taken compassion on him.
- ·Luke, ·xv . .,..,, · ·· ·' " · """ ·' '' ·· ' · · · .· ·
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· Robert, Duke of Normandy, was so indolent, that he
w11~ compelled to mortgage his estates to William Rufus.
He was ultimately reduced to poverty, and died in gaol.
George Morla,nd, the celebrated artist, was so lazy, that '
he was often held to his wprk · by violence, or locked in a
room to compel_him .to finish a picture' to pay his tradesmen .. Although his productions were in great demand
and sold for li;i,rge sums of money, he was confined at th~
close of his life ih the King1s Bench . prison for debt· and
actually died in durance, Oct. 29. A. n, 1804. :; • ' ·, ···
, "\Villiam Collins, the lyric and pastoral poet was a man
of great genius and cultivated taste; .:but so i~dolent that ·
he, was constantly iuv?lvecl in pecuniary uifficulties which
so distressed his spirit, that he was confined in a 'lunatic
asylum to prevent his committing suicide. · He died at the
age
of 35 in 17 56.
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could
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118

A SOFT ANSWER TURN.1l:Tlt ·AWAY WRAra:

THEME XXXII.

r 'He becometh poor that dealeth with a

slack hand; but
x. 4. ,,, · l
·. He that gathereth in summer is a wise ' son: but he
that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth sbame.-·Prov. x. 5.
The slothful shall be under tribute.-Prov. xii. : 24.
_ An idle soul shall suffer hunger.-Prov. xix. 1~.
'.:·I Drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.-Prov. xxiii. 2L
• By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through
idleness the house droppeth through.-Eccles. x . .18. .
-._ Qui bon l'achete bon le boit.
~~ Ignavo homine terra pejus nil creat.
··: Nimis homo nihil est, qui piger est.-Plautus.
.,,. Qui fugit molam fugit farinam.
. . Ut sementem feceris, ita et metes.-Cicero.

converse with fluency in English, Italian, French, and
Dutch; and could repeat by memory Horace, Virgil,
Cicero, the two Plinys, Juvenal, Homer, and Aristophanes.
Yet was he so. indolent that he never followed any regular
trade or profession, but sometimes picked up a few pence
by sweeping chimneys, grinding knives, dancing at a fair,
or showing his power of language a.t a pothouse. It is
needless to add that this extraordinary genius died in the
most abject poverty at Middleburgh, and was literally
found dead in a common ditch.
John Jefferies was left a fortune equal to 50,000l. by
his fa ther, a London merchant: when he first began business for himself, the novelty of the enterprise held in check
his natural propensity to indolence; but, after a time, the
novelty wore off, his habits of business relaxed, his corr espondents grew irritated, his credit was undermined, and
he became bankrupt. His family arc now rcuuecu to
beggary, anu he is spending his olu age in a common
ahnshous·e, a mournful monument of the ruinous effects of
indolence and procrastination.
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QuoTATIONS.-"-'rhe way of the slothful man is a hedge
of thorns.-Prov. xv. 19.
He that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption.-Gal. vi. 8.
Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.Gal. vi. 7.
He that soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly.2 Cor. i1'. 6.
'l'hey have sown the wind, and they shall reap the
whirlwind.-Hos. viii. 7.
He tlrnt soweth iniquity shall reapvanity.-Prov. xxii. 8.
They that plough iniquity and sow wickedness, reap the
same.-Job iv. 8.
They must hunger in frost, who will not work in heat.
They who play in the summer, must pipe in the winter.
Reckless youth makes rueful age.

:119

'. ~he hand of . the diligent maketh rich.-Prov.

::· CONCLUSION.

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XXXIII. A soft An;wer· turneth away.
Wrath.

lNTRODUCTION.-When the anger of another is kindled
against us, Solomon directs us to observe two things, if
w_e wish to ayert or to appease it: first, let an answerbe
given; ang, secondly, let that answer be a conciliatory one.

n1sr REASON.-LET AN ANSWER BE MADE. ..
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'.· .: · · By stubborn silence, a man either tacitly allows ·that he
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. :·~ has given just cciuse of offence, and can offer no' extenuating
" explanation: or else,
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' That · the reprover is so blinded by prejudice, and
.carried ·away by his temper,Jhat he will 1wt hem·ken' to
the voice of truth: or else,
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., ·'f~aj; P:~ _is too contemptible to be worthy of .an1-~nswer.

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2Nn REASON.-Deferring to answer till some future
time either looks like the artifice of a dishonest man, who
requires time to concoct a plausible but fictitious defence:
or else,
The inwlt of a contemptuous one, who would appeal
11
from Philip drunk to Philip sober."
3RD REASON.-If no answer or explrwation be given,
but merely a concession made, the ID:i~d of a:n angry n~an
is still further provoked by mortified pride: nothmg
more irritates the temper than for an oppone1~t to say,
" Have it all yonr own way," or " I shall not dispute the
point with you."
4TH REASON.-LET THE ANSWER DE CONCILIATORY,
otherwise it serves only to irritate still further, and to add
fuel to the kindled flame.
5TH REASON .-rfhe canse of anger is the sense of injury or contempt, and the way to remove it is to 1·emove
the cause. By mild conciliating words yon show that no
o_tfence was intended; and !f any i~jury has been committed, it was not from malice or des1,yn.
6TH REASON.-Mind acts reflectively on mind, so that
kindness beO'ets kindness and anbcrer provokes anger. If
b
.
an angry spirit
is met by' kind and ~ourt~ous b eh av10ur,
the contagion of good nature acts hke oil upon troubled
waters.
hH REASON.-Anger, like love and every other passion, rnust have food to live on, or it will starve a1~d ~~e : But
wrath can find no pasture in benevolence, amiab,1hty, and
forbearance ; and therefore goes out by a natural decay
when surrounded by such elements.
8TH ,:REASON .-Nothing can thrive in an h.eter'<>g~neous
soil: 'l'hus love and affection would soon dwmdle, m the
midst of hatred rancour and contempt ; and resentment
would soon be ~xhausteri', if kindness soothed the irritated
spirit, and benevolence "provoked to love'' rather than to
wrath. '
SniILEs. - As water thrown upon a burning house
tends to allay the fury of the flames ; so a soft answer
tends to allay an irritated temper.

A SOFT ANSWER TURNETH: AWAY WRATH.

As oil on a rough sea will ·m(l,ke the surtace smooth a,nd
., - ·calm; so the oil of -kindness will pacify · the · tempest of
1 an angry mind.
·
·' : , · . '
'.; ,.: -,,
As the warm . sun will thaw ; snow and h~rd ice ( so :'a
' kind.\vord will melt down the froz~n_ sympathies ~f 'reseht. m,en,t . and ,w rath. ·
· - _ · " ' ·:·,.· · · ··' · .-.. ' _, .
· As 'the morning sun dispels mist and _darkness; ~ so a
clrnerful countenance dispels ~he troubles .of a .v~~.ed and
irritated mind.
·
Even an unruly horse may be made tractable by patting ·
his neck and speaking to it softly; bow much rather may
an unruly mind be pacified by·conciliating words and
1
-actions I
A ruffled cloth may be made 'smooth by stroking it
gently with the hand; and a ruffled temper inay be ~p­
peased by similar gentleness and suitable .deportment. · '
.' A balmy breeze drives aW:ay the clouds, and ~akes
both earth and skies "to laugh with joy;" but a stormy
wind heaps cloud on cloud, and p~ovokes the tempest J<J
·burst forth.
' - ' -' .' . · . _" ' ' · '· :
.II~. who gives a soft answe~ to an . angry ·~an: i~ like
the sandal tree, which gives balm to. him .w.ho smit~s .it.
As wine and oil to an angry wound, so are good words
to an irritated temper. , ,
.· ·
.

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HrsrbRICAL ILLUSTRATIONS.· When Jacob · cheated his
brother
Esau
of
his
birthright,
Esau resolved to kill him,
\
but Jacob fled and sojourned .. with Laban. in ,,Haran.
After a time he left . the house of' his father-in-Jaw,
and
~"
.
:
~ . _being obliged to pass through Sell', where Esau . dwelt,
.- sent a handsome present and a penitent _message .to;,him,
· ·:,·.·= with the µope of .appeasing his anger: Es~u's wrath was
: .. appeased, and instead of slaying ~ acob, .he · " ran to meet
•-' - J1im, and embraced him, and fell on his' neck, and kissed .
him: and they wept."-Gen. xxxii. 3. and xxxiii. 4. , r
"'' .. , When David was in the .wilderness of Paran, the surly
;·; · Nabal · gr·eatly provoked him by his 1 discourtem1s ~ words
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THEME

xxxm.

-- ·--,

· a.nd condllCt; so that David armed 400 men with the in·
tention of falling upon N abal and all his household; but
.Abigail (N aha.l's wife) hastened to meet David, and fell
at his feet, and said, " Let not my lord, I prny thee, regard the words of Naba1, but forgive his trespass, and the
trespass of thine handmaid:" she then told him, 11 a man
had risen to pursue him and to seek his soul, but tJiat the
Lord had bound it in the bundle of life;'' and concluded
by saying, " V\Then the Lord hath dealt well with my
lord, then remember thine handmaid." This conciliating
conduct of .Abigail entirely diverted the wrath of David,
and he said to her, " Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
which sent thee this day to meet me: and blessed be thou,
which has kept me this day from coming to shed blood:
for in very deed, except thou hadst hasted and come to
meet me, surely there had not been left unto N abal by
morning light a living soul."-1 Sam. xxv. 4-35.
When Saul was pursuing David to destroy him, he
pitched his tent in the wilderness of Ziph; and while he
was asleep, David entered the royal tent, and took a spear
and cruse of water from the king's bolster. Next morning David rebuked the sentinels of Saul for want of vigilance, and said to the king, 11 'Vherefore doth my lord
thus pursue after his servant; for the king of Israel is
come out to seek a fl.ea, as when one doth hunt a partridge
in the mountains." Saul was so overcome by the magnanimity, forbearance, and modesty of David, that his wrath
was instantly averted; and, instead of slaying, he blessed
him.-1 Sam. xxvi.
..
When Saul pursued David to the wilderness of Engedi,
David secretly entered into the cave where Saul slept,
and cut off the skirt of his garment. vVhen the king
awoke, he said to him, " Behold this day the Lord hath
delivered thee into mine hand in the cave; see the skirt
of thy robe in my hand: in that I cut off the skirt of thy
robe and killed not thee, know thou that th ere is neither
tran~O'ressiou in mine hand, nor hnvc I si1111etl nga.inst
·thee Ji Saul was melted at these words, his anger was
mollified, and he " lifted up his voice and wept," saying to

·· ~

A SOFT .ANSWER TURNETII ' .A.WAY WRATH,

Da~id, ·i~ Thou art more righteous than 'i; for thou hast .
rewarded me good, whereas I have awarded thee evil;" :
and that same day the king and David were reconciled.-'
1· Sa.ni. xxiv.
' · " · ~; ~
· .A.fter Gideon had routed the host of the Midianites,
the men of Ephraim "did chide with him sharply,'' be-.;
cause he " called them not when he went to the fight;;' '
but Gideon said, " What have I done in comparison of .
you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim
better than the whole vintage of Abi-ezer? God hath
delivered into your hands the princes of Midian; and
what was I able to do in comparison of you ?" These
pacific words abated the anger of the men of Ephraim, _
and prevented a division in the tribes of Israel.-Judges, .
vii. 15-25. and viii. 1-3.
Xantippe, the wife of Socrates, was a woman of such
a vile and angry temper, that her name has passed into a
proverb: yet the philosopher, by hii; meek and conciliating
behaviour, so completely changed her disposition, that she
watched over him with unwearying assiduity and affection
during his imprisonment.
John, having greatly injured his brother Richard, surnamed Creur de Lion, was most severely rebuked by him
on his return from the Holy Land; but so completely
averted the anger of his royal brother by his meek and
supplicatory conduct, that Richard frankly forgave him,
and said, " I as freely forgive your offences, as you will
forget my pardon."
When William Penn purchased of the American Indians
as much land as a man could traverse in a day, and the
chiefs expressed great displeasure because the " man had
run too fast," he was advised by his companions to fall
upon the Indians and cut them to pieces: But Penn re-:
jected the advice with abhorrence, and asked the discontented chiefs how much more would satisfy them. They
asked a few baubles of little value, which being instantly
given, their anger was appeased; and, ever after that time,
William Penn was called by the Indians, " their father
and friend."
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THEME XXXIII.

A MAN KNOWN BY HIS CONVERSATION,

Quo·rATIONS.-Resist not evil, but whosoever slrnll smite
thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.Matt. v. 39.
Recompense to no man evil for evil.· Rom. xii. 11.
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give
place unto wrath.-Rom. xii. 19.
See .that none render evil for evil unto any man, but
ever follow that which is goou.-1 Tliess. v. 15.
Be courteous; ' not rendering evil for evil, or railing for
railing: but contrariwise blessing.-1 Pet. iii. 8, 9.
'If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him
drink: for ill so doing; thou shalt heap coals of fire on his
head.-Rofri. xii. 20. ·
Bless them that curse you.-.Matt. v. 44.
·' ~e riot .ov~r6orµe ' of evil, but overcome evil witli good.
-Earn. xl.i. 2L .. :" . I · . .
.

Provocantes alter alterum , injuria.-Paterculus:
Conciliat animos comitas affabilitasque setmonis.- ~
Cicero.
,.,.
Lenitas verbi tristitiam rei mitigat.-Cice;o,
. Animi in odium alicujus concitati comitate retinentur.
-Cicero.
· CONCLUSION.

THEME

._A soft

tongue breaketh the bone.-Prov. xxv. 15.
Grievous ·wol'ds ·stir up anger .-Prov. xv. 1.
A spoonful of oil is better than a pint of vinegar.
He that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.-Prov. xv. 18.
·A.s c'oals ar~ ·to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a
co1l.tentious man to kindle sti:ife.-Prov. xxvi. 21.
The_second' " ;ord makes .the fray. ·
It is the glory of a man to pass by an offence.-Prov.
xix. 11.
Forgive and ye shall be forgiven.-Luke vi. 31.
The way to a.ppease anger is to sever, as much as may
be, the construction of · the injury from the point of contempt; imputing it to misunderstanding, fear, passion, or
what you will.-Lord B acon.
Licentia., si niminm videbitur acrimoni::e lrnbere, mitigationibus lenietur.' Cicero.
Qua~to sumus .snperiores, tanto nos subtnissiores gera-.
mus.Cicero.
.,.
,.
I
Bona verba qureso.

125

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XXXIV.

Every Bird is known by his Note.

lNrnonucrroN.-We know to what species- any bird
belongs, althonp;h we cannot see it, by the tone and nature
of its voice: We urny also discern the character and disposition of men by the general tenour · of their conv:ersation.
lsr REASON.-.A. man will naturally talk about those
things with which he is nwst familiar: So that his occupation and habits of life may be discovered by attending
to his ·general conversation.
·
·
2ND REASON.-Our Lord says, " Out of the abundance
of the heart the mouth speaketh ;" and, therefore, the
mouth reveals the predilections and aversions of the heart.
3RD REASON.-Ca.n the leopard change its spots, or the
Ethiopian ' his skin ? neither can nature he so entirety ··
subdued by education and the conventionalities of society,
as not to burst through restraint, and betray itself to a
careful observer.. .
·
. , . 1
· 4rn REASON.-A good man has too much 1·everence ·to
God, and respect to his own character, to seek :'. concealment: And a bad one has too much indifference to God and I
man, and too little inclination for any acts of self-denial/
to trouble himself about "the government of his tohgue.'?.
· 5ra REASON.-If a person attempts-to GOnverse ,oh it.
~upject wit4 which he is n~t conversant, or ,to give titter~
11*
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126

THEME XXXIV.

A MAN KNOWN BY IIIS CONVERSATION.

- . ...
m~ster 'if he lias seen · any . stranger. lurking ; about ~the~
1
premis~s, and gives answer, 11 There is no enemy irt 11 t~ - -=.field, your honour, except he be in ambuscade," _we know ~
· bi in to be an old corporal. \iVhen Jack W a~ers . talks of :___ - ii
getting ·" on board'' the horse or railway carnage,. we feel ~ ~
-,

H

ance to a sentiment he does not feel, lie will soon expose
liimse{f by some impertinent remark; and reveal his true
character, even by his unsuccessful attempt to conceal it.
6rn REASON.-Every bird has a distinctive note to
1n·event confusion; oth erwise it would be impossible to
discriminate one bird from another, except by sight : So
also every per&on has a distinctive voice 11s well as a distinctive face, that ide11 tity may be more easily established; and friends may not be confounded with foes, or
the guilty with the inuocc11t.
7rH ltEASON.-A pleasing variety is preserved by this
wise provision of the great Creator : If every bird sang
the same note the monotony woukl be wearisome : So,
also, if every man were cast in the same mould, commerce
would languish, society become stagnant, sympathy would
slumber, and enterprise entirely decliue.
SniuLEs.-An Ass once clad himself in a Lion's hide;
but was detected by the cunning Fox immediately he
attempted to roar.-LEsop's fable.
A soldier knows whether the trumpet is calling to
battle, or sounding a retreat.
A skilful eye can discriminate different kinds of wood ·
by observing the grain~ and a skilful cn,i· can discriminate
different species of birds Ly observing their note.
One musical instrument is easily distinguished from
another by its tone; and one man is easily distinguished
from another by the tenour of his conversation.
Every dumb animal has a peculiar cry.
Every musical string has a distinctive sound.
Every flower has its peculiar perfume.

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H1sromcAL lLLUSTRATIONs.-·when Mr. Ollapod speaks
of being " inoculated by a military ardour;" and describes
a military coat as " a scarlet jacket, tastely turned up with
a rhubarb-coloured lapelle," we judge him at once to be
a country apothecary. When Mr. }_,oss is :wkerl by his

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certain he is a sailor, &c.
· ""- ~, --~
The proverbs of a nation are a.. dia.gnosis ~f its ,cha- . _--=
· racter. Thus the proverb, "Judge , not a slup as she
--::
11
lifts in the stocks," indicates a maritime peo~le ; All
is not gold that glitters," savours of a commercial, m?~ey­
loving nation: 'fhe ancient Romans, who hated mo.ntime
affairs would never have adopted the former of these
prove1:bs; and the ancient Spartans, who. despised gold, _. · ~
would never have invented the latter. Agam; the proverb, :
~
"All are not huntsmen who blow the horn," is a sports-'
man's observation · " All are not monks who wear a'
cowl," smatters of Italy or Spain: The morose ascetics of:; .
4
the early Christian church would never have perpetuated . -,~
·the former aphorism, and the gay sparks of the court of:.: _~~
Charles II. woulcl nev~r have lighted on the other. .This. _;_ , ~
idea, carefully developed, would . furnish amusement . and ....::.::
instruction~
-(
r.
-.~"1
Shakspeare, in his comedy of ":As you like it,'' has most
.;
grnphically described. the. seven notes of the s~~en ages of , .. 3
man : 1st, the mcwlmg mfant ; 2nd, the wh1.nmg sc~ool:-,
1
boy ; 3rd, the sighing lover_; 4th, the sweanng s~ld1er ;
~
5th the documentary magistrate ; 6th, the shnll old
'.I
ma~ ; and, 7th, the voiceless imbecility of second child:~
ishness.

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'rhe note of love is gentle and ardent; that of anger,
·~
loud and turbulent; that of friendship, hearty and cheer-. ·~
ful · of business, cautious and curious ·; of sociability,
J
car~less and free ; of · modesty, reserved and coy ; · of
~
vulgarity coarse and overbearing; of politeness, courteous
j
1
and smo~th : So, that much of a man's moral character, as
"l
well as of his position in life . and educational ad':'antages, -~
may be discerned even by the tone of his ":oice. , . _ ,
. .~
Blind people are unusually .skilful in , disc~r~ng Il}en's '1
character by their voice; ··
-~
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128

St. P et er, in the judgment hall, was betrayed by his
Galilean dialect.--.A.fatt. xxvi. 73.
The Ephraimites were discovered by their pronunciation of th e word Shi!Jb ul etli, wh en they a t tempted to cross
over the passages of Jordan, which the Gileadites kcpt.Judg. xii. 4, 5.

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A SLOW FIRE , MAXES. ·.SJVEET MALT.

THEME XXXIV,

The Jews, who had mnrried idolatrous women, betrayed
to N ehemiah th eir unh oly connexion, because "th eir children spake half in the speech of A shd od, and could not
speak in the J ews' language, but according to the language
of each people."-Neh. xiii. 24.
The English betray their Norman subjugation by calling
<;oolred meats (such as beef, mutton, pork, veal, &c.) by
the French terms, although they r etain the S::txon names
of oxen, sheep, calves, and swine to designate the living
animals.
Every nation is easily disting uished by its lang nn ge,
and every county by its provincial tone, pronunciation,
or expressions. Thus, think for "thing," betrays a vulgar
Londoner ; me for " my," a careless Irishman · man for
'
" man," is a Scotch characteristic, &c.
1-'he four dialects of Greece distinctly point out th e locality of the authors whose works have been preserved to
the present duy.
QuoTATIONs.-If tho trumpet g ive an uncertain sound,
who shall prepare himself for battle.-1 Cor. xiii. 8.
Every tree is known by his fruit. :F'or of tl1orns men
do not gather figs, nor of a bramble-bush gather they
grapes.--Luke, vi. 44.
Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
-11.fatt. xii. 34.

By thy words th<?n shalt be justified, and by thy words
thou shalt be condcmned.-1lfa tt. xii. 3 7.
:Nothing comes out of a sack but what was put in it.
As the bell is, so is the clapper.

, .As the crow is, so the .egg will be; :T!·~ ·,:- .,,,:: H, ~:...,P; ~ :E
;,: A fool's >voice iS known by ~ multitude of wordB;-· . Ecc.'~- . ,
v.3. ' • ;I : ' ' L .. -·.: · : i ~; · '·;, ; ' ! , ' .·) .:·,·f:~ . ~~~~:"
Sermo est imago cogitationis.
·' · - "
·: Naturani e~pellas furca, tairien usque recurret:- · ·Horace.
Os animi est janua.-Oicero.
·
"'·
Voce sua crocibat corvus.-Plautus~ ·,.
·•
. Suus cuique mos ..-T_erence.,
,', Sua i;n arbore poma.-Vifgil.
i.
.i.·

CONCLUSION..
;

THEME

1 1 .. \

xxxv.
.i :

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A sw'W Fire makes sweet Malt.
I .

lNTRODUCTION.-A fierce fire would burn malt · and:'
destroy its. sweetness :
like manner, hurry and pte·
cipitation are prejudicial to success.
· '· '
lsT REASON.-Those who are in a hurry overlook . 01·
forget many things needful for the dui3 '. performance 'of
what they have taken in hand: ; '
. •• ;. ., .. I ! • ' ' . " . ' '
. . ... ' l.
2ND REASON.-Those who are in a hurry soon · get·
excited and flurried,-theif mind becomes nervous, and
their energies unhinged. · . · ·
·

In

3RD REASON.-A cool judgment and a collected mind
are incompatible with fluster and headlong precipitation, : . :but essential to every work of any import~nce . ... ~ .. , i ~. ,· -:_-<
4TH REASON.-Every work done in a great hurry .,
must be slovenly executed, because the operator will be so __ ;t
anxious to reach the end, that he will disregard the struc-. ""'..,.,
ture of the several parts.
·
·:: / ~ ·
·
5TH REASON.-Hurty is very fatiguing, ' an,d w~ars ' out~ ' r '
the mental and phys.ic~l powers mucl~. so.oner :~~an si'.e~Y ___
industry.
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130

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THEME XXXV.

I

A BLOW FIRE MAKES -SWEET MALT,

.

6TH REASON.-The mind and body require frequent
rest; and, if deprived of this needful relief, will become
so jaded, as to be utterly indifferent about any work
whatsoever.
7TI-I REASON.-Almost every work requires time for
settling, and for getting reconciled to new forms and combinations; otherwise, the tensio11 or pressure on the previous
parts will be so violent as to endanger their security.
8TH REASON.-rrhose who are in a great hurry neve1·
see the impediments and obstacles which lie before them,
and have no time to unravel or remove them when they .
unconsciously stumble against them.
Srn:iLEs.-Vegetables which rise the quickest from the
earth are always the least perfect : for example, the
mushroom is far inferior to the oak.
A steam-engine, forced beyond its proper speed, will
explod~.

Food baked over a very fierce fire will not cook but burn.
Colours laid upon canvass too quickly will run into
each other.
A book, bounu before the sheets have had time to dry,
will be greatly injured by the blurring of the half-dried
letters.
A horse, driven beyond his speed, will stumble.
A candle brought suddenly into a dark chamber, will
be painful to the eye of the awakened slumberer.
HISTORICAL lLLUSTRATIONS.-Flaminius, being in too
great a hurry to engage with HannibaJ, was disgracefully
defeated : vVhereas :Fabius, by his judicious caution,
proved completely successful.
Catiline's conspiracy entirely failed from the precipitancy of Catiline himself, who gave the signal of attack
before the conspirators were ready.
Edward Baliol, fighting for the Scottish crown, was

~

opposed by the Regent himself, who rushed on his adver- : c.
sary with such rash fury, that he was easily vanquished, __
and Baliol obtained a complete victory
. .-. . ' · ·--·
. .
. :.h.i · ···'-- ·)
William Beckford, Esq., built the tower of 'Fonthill '
Abbey so hastily, that the whole pile fell .to the ground
in ruins before the building was completed.
Sir Amias Paulet used to say, "I must not be in a "
hurry, because I am in haste."
'
•·.
. Almost all railway accidents occur .from urging . the
..,:t·i .
· train to too great speed.
How many books are published which never succeed, ·
because the author has been too impatient of what Horace
calls the "limre labor et mora."
..
.

..
~

.QuoTATIONs.-Hastcn slowly.
He that hasteth with his feet sinnetb.-Prov. xix. 2.
An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning,
but the end thereof shall not be blessed.-Prov. xx. 21.
Make no more haste than good speed.
Slow anu steady wins the race.-Robert Lloyd. ·
Fair and softly.
Take goo? heed, will surely speed.
'l'he more haste the worse speed.
.,., 1
He who walks too bastily,·wm stumble on a plain way.
-~ . :.:.; -!
'l'arry a little, if you are in a hurry.
Hastily and well never met.
', .Haste makes wq,ste, and waste makes want, and . wa~t
makes strife 'twixt man and wife.
·.
'· . .f, ti···;-it
:·~
It is good to have a hatch before the door.
Hasty climbers have sudden falls.
. .
He who is in haste fishes in an empty pond.
\
Qui trop se hate en cheminant, · en bon chemin se fourtvoie souvent.
. .. :.
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Come s' ha fretta non si mai niente che stia bene.
Presto et bene non si conviene.
.A cader va chi troppo alto sale.
Sat cito, si sat bene.-Cato.
Qui nimis propere, minus prospere.
Nimium properans serius absolvit.
Canis festinans crecos parturit catulos.
Festina lente.
Cn,vendum est, ne in festinationibus suscipiamus nimias
celeri ta tes.- Cicero.
Qui unumquodque mature transigit, is propemt · qui
multa simul incipit neque perficit, festinat .-·-Cato. '
Quo mn.gis properare studeo, eo me impedio magis ;
citius quam melius pensum absolvo.
CONCLUSION.

THEME

TO TRIFLE WITH SIN - IS DANGEROUS.

THEME XX.XVI.

xxxvr.

It i's dangerous to play with edged
Tools.

lNTRODUCTION.-Those who play with sharp instruments are in constant danger of cutting themselves : and
those who tamper with immoral practices, run imminent
risk of being contaminated.
'
lsT H.EASON.-When vice is made an object of sport
it is divested of its odiousness; for those things can neve;
appear t errible and disgusting, which only excite mirth
and ridicule.
2ND REASON.-The mind will often re vert with a
craving appetite to wh atever affords it amusement ; and,
if accustom ed to a.inuse itself with sin, will soon acquire
an appetite for the" sweet morsel."
·
3Rn REASON.-Those who can sport with wickedness

·will soon seek to excuse the wicked, and ·palliate their

I

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offences.
4TH :REAsoN.-The distance between sin and the person who tampers with it lessens every hour; so that the
victim is overtaken, before he imagines. he has even consented to " the accursed thing."
. frrH REASON.-..While the mind is sporting with sin, ·it
is thrown o.ff' its gitard, because the thought of danger is
merged in the excitement of pleasure.
6TH REASON.-It is the nature of sport to .love adventure, and the relish is enhanced by the imminency of the
dange1• int'urred. He, therefore, who amuses himself .
with sin, will often run beyond the verge of innocency, in _:
order to give zest to his sport.
hu ·REASON.-lle who plays with wickedness is made
familiar with many sinful words and practices, which
drop into the mind like seed, haunt the memory, and
suggest evil which would never have otherwise occurred.

81MILEs.-.A. rash soldier who goes into an enemy's
camp to satirise the commander of the adverse army,
foolishly exposes himself to almost certain death.
.A moth buzzing round a candle, delighted with its
warmth and glare, is burnt by the flame with which it ·
sports.
The man who nourished a serpent by the warmth of
his bosom, was stung by the creature immediately it was
hatched.
··
·
·
He who plays with pitch always defiles his fingers.
He who touches rouge will be ·Stained with red.
·.·f .
,.
The swine that wallows in mud may find •' sport, · but .
will ·,not escape defilement.
.
. ,- ~ 1\· . .. ;.<- ~ ,
: .A bird, fascinated with the·beauty and't•attle of.a/snake, ...
flutters round '. and ·round, till it ;falls · insensibly\' intq/ithe .
jaws of death.
· .- · .. · , ,, ... ·\ :: ' ; .- .
· '. r .1 he hands of a ·dyer show ·his:-0·ccupation. · ···~ ,.;{- · -'~·:
1~
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134

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THEME xxxvr.

FAMILIARITY BREEDS CONTEMPT.

HISTORICAL lLLUSTRATIONs.-Solomon tampered with
vice when he "multiplied wives and horses ; " but Solomon found, by bitter experience, the dauger and sinfulness
of his folly.

the siege of Troy; but was taught, ·by a severe castiga·
tion from Ulysses, the danger of playing with edged tools.

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135

QuoTATIONs.-As a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and ~ea th; so is the p:ian that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, " Am not I in sport."-Prov. xxvi. 18, 19.
It is as sport to a fool ( o~ly) to do mischief.-Prov. x. 23.
Fools make a mock at sin.- Prov. xiv. 9.
Folly (i. e. wickedness) is joy t o . him that is destitute
of wisdom.· Prov. xv. 21.
But fornication and all uncleanness, let it not be once
NAMED amonp: you, as become th saints; neither filthiness,
nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient .
-J1,j1h. v. 4.
They shall receive the reward of unrighteousness (who)
count it pleasure to riot in the daytime: sporting themsch·es 1Yith th eir 01rn deceivings, while they feast with
you.-2 Pet. ii. 13.
GLtdium insanicnti tradcrc peccatum cst.-Cicero.
J\[:1 le old omnc co2n1mL - Cicero .
Malorum commercio reddimur deteriores.
Melius est cavere semper, quam pati semel.
Caret periculo, qui etiam tutus cavet.
Corrumpunt bonos mores colloquia prava.
Qnod cavere possis, stultum est admittere.-.Terence.

St. Peter tampered with temptation by entering the
judgment hall, after the warning g iven him by his Lord
and Master; but wept bitterly for the sin by which he
was overtaken.

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Balaam tampered with sin when he kept the messengers of llahtk all night, ancl sar·rif-ic<'d to what he knew
were uo g01ls ; hut Ba.la.fun dill no t eRc: npe the consequences. 1st, I-le allured the children of Israel into foruicatiou awl idolatry, uy wliieh lie \Jrought upon U1em a
. most gr ie vous destrnct io 11; 2ndly, lfo incnrrcd thr' anger
of Gou by his uuriug d isolJedie uee ; and, 3nlly, He was
slain by the very people he had blessed and betrayed.
When R cm ns lcnpeil onr the 1Ynlls of th o city fr) uml cd
on mount Palatine, in order to show his contempt of such
a defence, he was instantly strnek r1catl hy hi s brother
Hom11 lu .'<, wliose angn 11:ts 1n·u1uk1·d J,y ll 1c indignity.
~l'he Athenians made t\ulla their jest, because he had a
red and pimply face; but Sulla was a.11 edged tool too
dangerous for sport, and retorted the iusult by destroying
their magnificent city, and reducing Greece to a Roman
province.

Philip of France amused himself by foolish railleries
against William the Conqueror ; hut the indignant monarch of England resented the gibes by ravaging France,
and reducing its capital to ashes.

CONCLUSION .....
-· \

The three sons of William I. of England were one day
in sport together, when the two younger brothers threw a
pitcher of water over Robert in foolish joke. The angry
Robert instantly drew ·his sword with intent to kill his
brothers, and the whole family being set at variance, a
war ensued, which entailed numberless evils.

THEME

XXXVII. Too much 'Familiarity lJree,ds
_Contempt.
' \

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lNTRODUCTION.-Those persons who intrude upo~ us at
all times, cast aside the formalities of politeness, an~ take

Thersites chose to . play his jokes on Agamemnon the
king, and general of the combined armies of Greece in

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136

THEME XXXVII.

137

FAMILIARITY BllEEDS CONTEMPT.

unwarrantable liberties, will infallibly lose our esteem and
respect.
lsr REASON.-vVhen persons are so intimate as to throw
off all restraint in the presence of each other, numerous
foibles are exposed, which tend greatly to lessen respect.
2ND REASON.-lt is too frequently the ca,se, that persons will not take the trouble of exhibiting to familiar
acquaintances the same r.ourtesy, deference, and intelligence that they do to strangers; so that esteem languishes
from the discourtesy and dulness of indifference.
3Ro RrusoN.-The unlicensccl frec<lom wl1ich great
. familiarity gives to selfish and ttnamiable passions, constantly provokes resentment and a feeling of contempt.
4rH REASON.-Those who are very fami liar with efl.ch
other "vill oft.en require services which neither friendship,
conscience, nor propriety can justify; and whether the request be refused or granted, one party or the other must
feel offended.
5TH REAso~ .-It is the nature of men to think more

rneanly of that which 1:s conimon, than of that which is
scarce; so that boon companions, from their very fami-

liarity, lose some portion of their mutual esteem.
6rH REASON .-All persons are imposed upon in some
measure by ceremony and obscurity. 1'hat which is
shadowed by mystery · excites wonder, admiration, fear,
and reverence; but, when great intimacy has drawn aside
the veil, a reaction takes place in t he mind, and whereas
it felt inclined to give to " the unknown" more tlmn his
due, it is unwilling to concede to the "well-known" even
a just award of merit.
7rH REASON.-Liberties are taken with very intimnte
companions, which wound their pride and offend their
self-esteem: these offences provoke a desire of retaliation;
to effect which the aggressor must be humbled, his merits
extenuated, and his foibles magnified. 'l'hus, wounded
pride will often plant contempt between those whose
familiarity exposes them to these annoyances.

SnnLEs.-The Frogs and King Log.-Asop's fable.

A Jackass wishing to be beloved by his master as much
as a spaniel,' jumped upon his lap and threw ~lis l:gs
round his neck; but the master, offended at these liberties,
Leat the offender with a cudgel, and put him under
restraint.-./E:;op's fable.
Light is absolutely essential for colours, but if colours
are exposed constantly to a brilliant sunshine, they soon
fade and lose their beauty.
'l'he daisy, in Bngland, is despised and rooted up as a
weed because its familiarity makes it intrusive ; the
marigold, on the other band, is cultivated as a gardenflower and greatly admired. But in India the marigold
is acco unted a troublesome weed, and the daisy petted as
an European exotic.
Hich viands, sparingly and occasionally taken, are
agreeable to the palate, but produce loathing and nausea
when repeated to a surfeit.
Men's behaviour with friends should be like their dress,
sufficiently free for unrestrained exercise and motion, but
not so free as to be indecorous and offensive.
·
·
Colours are beautiful to the eyes, but if one colour obtruded upon them from every object, its familiarity would
distress rather than charm.
Music is delightful to the ear, but nothing is more dis-:
tressing than the palling surfeit of sweet sounds.
A certain dress, or a cedain ornament, may be very ex- ·
cellent and charming ; but if a lady always wore the same
dress and ornament in every society, the spectators would
feel inclined to laugh with contempt, rather than smile
with admiration.
·
H1sroRICAL !LLUSTRATIONs.--J ames I. of Engbncl was
a man of considerable learning and few vices ; but, by
jesting with bis attendants, and a too great familiarity
with his subjects, be was held in universal contempt.

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Robert, Duke of Normandy, was a prince of magna·nimity, generosity, and talent, but by allowing his depen(lants to take unwarrantable liberties with him, he
wa~ ,,.;,Jn obliged to lie in bed all day, because they had
robbed liim even of his apparel.
Deioces, a lawyer, br.ing elected to the sovereignty of
tlt~ .Medmi, felt so {Lcutely the evils of great familiarity,
that he secluded himself from all his subjects, allowed no
one to enter into his presence, and surrounded his court
with unparalleled pomp n.nd splendour, that no opportunity
might be given to his former companions of comparing
Deioces the king with Deioces the lawyer.
Kings, judges, clergymen, &c. adopt distinctive costumes and titles, in order to remove themselves from too
great familiarity with those who owe them respect and
honour.
Our Lord said, that a prophet has no honour in his
own country. The reason is this,-those with whom he
"lives, and moves, and lms his being" are too familiar
with him to feel admiration antl respect.
Lucius Sulla raised Pompey to such a height of dignity
and power, that Pompey used to vaunt himself "Sulla's
overmatch." Once l1aving carried the consulship for a
friend., against the desire of his patron, he insolently remarked, "Sulla had better bokl his peace, for more men
worship the rising· tha.n the setting sun."
.Most conspirn.cies hn.ve spruug from royal favourites.
For example, Decimus Ilrutns was so fo.J11ilinr with .J 11li11s
Cresar, that he hatl access to him at all hours ; but Decirnus Brutus despised the mun whom strangers thought
" the greatest of the world," and undertook to cajole him
with flattery to leave his palace, in order that a band of
ruffians might compass his death. A gain, Sejanus was
raised by Tiberius Cresn.r to the greatest honours nnd
intimacy ; but Sejanus organised a plot to murder the
friend ·whose familiarity made him despised.
Numerous otlie1· examples will occur to the veriest tyro
in history.

189-

FAMILIARITY BREEDS CONTEMPT.

THEME XXXVII.

"

QuoTATIONs.-That familiarity produces neglect, has
been long .observed, says Dr. Johnson.
Because that I familiarly sometimes
Do use you for my fool and chat with you,
Your sauciness wiJl jest upon my love.-Shakspeare.
1i'here cannot be two greater enemies to the har?Ion.Y
of society, 1 than freedom and ~amiliarity, both of which it
is the whole business of politeness to destroy.. ~or. no
man can be free without being in danger ~f mfnng~ng
upon what belongs to another, nor familiar without bemg
in danger of obtruding himself to the annoyance of others~
-George Crabb.
Make not thy friend too cheap to thee, nor thyself to
thy friend.-Ray's proverbs.
~
A prophet is not without honour, e~?ept in his own
country and in his own house.-Matt. xm. 57.
· Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house, lest he
be weary of thee, and so bate thee.-Prov: xxv. 1 7·
. . Hast· thou found .honey? eat so much as is s~ffi~ieµt
for thee, lest thou be filled therewith and. vomit it.~
Prov. xxv. 16.
· No man is a hero to .his own valet.
Amo~1 g a man's equals a man is sure of f~miliarity ; .
and, therefore, it is good a little to keep state, ill order to
retain respect.-Lord Bacon .
La familiarite engendre le mcpris.
La famiglianta fa dispregiamento.-Italian proverb.
·~ Nimia familiaritas contempt.um parit.
~ Id arbitror adprime in vita esse utile NE QUID NIMIS.
·
.
,
Terence.

: E tribns optimis rebus tres pessimre or!u.ntur; .e v.er.itute
odium, e familiaritate contempt.us, e felicitate , IDv1d1a. 1
Plutarch, translated.
·
{" '

·:
CONCLUSION ••• • •

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140
THEME

THEME

SIN .A HARJ)

..

The Oros8 ef Vi·ce
than that of Vi'rtue.

XXXVIII.

TASK•MASTER,

XXXVJII.

idolatry, the votary of these worldly gifts t;n?st li~e i.n. -. --~
bondage to the -world; Tlfe slavery of pos1ti~e Vice - 1~ < __- · 7:
even m01·e abject than that of mere ':orldly-mmdedi;iess. : :'" :S
But Religion and Virtue confer principle~ of noble inde.., ·:-::~
."
pendence. The happiness of a good man lS not centered: -- · _
1
on a fickle world, but upon the Rock of ages. Instea~ . of
;-;
hun<rering and thirsting for that which can never satis~y, ,
he ~ content with hie lot, and . oontentment makes : bun.
happy. Instead of fearing that every breath ?f: fortune ,
will cast down his joy and hope, he has an abidmg con~ .
fidence and a sure hope. Though .he li.ves in the. world,
he is never " of the world."
5TH REASON. -Vice is always attended wi~h selfi> / ·
. hnmiliation; every wicked heart is .ashamed of i!s own,
sinfulness : But Virtue is self-ennobling, and conslStency
makes it magnanimous. The one '.' loves darkn~ss rather::
than light, because its deeds are evil ;'.'the other is fearle~$:
of reproof, and cometh into the sunshme. ·
6rH REASON.-·-The very mechanism. of the :nind and
body is put out of sorts by evil passions and actions ; buti
the way:.s of Virtue are "ways of pleasantness, and.all hen
paths are peace."
·
·

is far heavier

lNTRODUCTION.-N o condition of life is entirely exempt
from suffering : Both Virtue and Vice have their cross to
carry to th~ g:nin: ; but tlrn miRr.ry wb·ch 11ccompanies a
sinful course of life is far greater than that which attends
the footsteps of the well-doer.
lsT REASON.-Vice allows every passion to range uncontrolled, but it is impossible to gratify any sinful passion

~itbout encroaching upon happiness. rl'lms, ambition
a severe tax upon the love of ease, pride upon
mterest, covetousness upon vanity, envy upon self-respect,
revenge upon rest, and so on. But Virtue strives to
tempe1· the passioils and bring tliem under suldection.
In one case the passions are tyrants, arnl "give no holidays ;" in the other, they are subjects who rarely break
out into rebellion.
~mposes

2ND REASON.-Selfdenial belongs both to Virtue and
to Vice, but with this great difference :-.the passions
which Virtue r equires us to mortify arc daily weakened;
·whereas those which Vice compels us to deny grow with
our growth and strengthen with our sfren,c;tlz.
The pain
of virtuous self-denial decreases after every victory, but
. the pain of vicious self-mortification frets more and more
every time it is unwillingly imposed.
3RD REASON.-What distress does tl1e virtuous mind
ever suffer comparable to the agony of a wicked conscience?
or to those hwniliatio11s which arise from adversity brought
on by guilt ? or to those pains of disease which sinful habits
entail. upon the body ? or to the bitter disappointme11 ts
expenenced by those whose sole hope and lu1ppiness is
centered in this world ?

4TH REASON.-Vice reduces man to n. state of the most
rrhe worldly man is the slave of the world,
and of the world's favour, of Fortune and her caprices.
Whether pleasure, ambition, or riches be the object of
abject slavery.

·.

SIMILES.-The sun may be covered with spots;. b~t
yet it affords a steady and certain light : Whereas an1gm~
fatuus, however brilliant, w.ill ORiy gmde to . danger an,d,..
death.
rrhe trials of Virtue may be comp~red. t~ a path u~ a.
steep hill, leading to the Temple of Life : ~hose of Vice.
may be likened to a bridge over a p;ecipice, where. the.
traveller is in constant danger of fallrng over the giddyfooting.
,,.- Virtue walks like a Roman conqueror over a path of
·flowers to receive a crown of victory and lif~: Vic~ w&lks
like a Rom11,n captive over a path of flowers.topums~m~mt
~, and death. · To the one "it is a savour of life unto . life; to
. the other it is a savour of death unto death." ,
·" ·· ..·Virtue and Vice have each a burthen to . carry to . the -

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142

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THEME :X:XXVIII.

grave ; but with this difference,-Vice has to carry her
burthen entirely by her own strength,.it is bound upon her
shoulders, and no one will "touch it even with the tip of
his fingers :'' But Virtue casts her burthens upon God,
whose "strength is made perfect in weakness."
Vice may be compared to a Roman criminal, compelled
to carry on his shoulders the very cross upon which he is
al)Qqt to die ; Yirtnr. may be likened to (~uintus Cmtius 1
who rode amidst admiring thousands to martrydom and
glory.
Virtue in this world is like metal in a furnace, which
is burnt that it may be purified : But Vice is like the lava
of a volcano, the source of terror when quiet, and. of desolation when active.
The trials of Virtue resemble the winds of the rl'emperate regions, which are healthy and purifying : But the
trials of Vice resemble the tornadoes of the Torrid zone,
which desolate and destroy.
The chastisements of Virtue are like the wholesome un. dulations of the sea, which are needful to prevent stagnation and corruption : but the castigations of Vice are like
the turbulent agitation of a storm, which terrify and bring
shipwreck.

'

SIN ' A HARD TASK-MASTER.

•

;_ }43

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The sorrows of a virtuous heart are but spots on the
sun ; the deep grief of the wicked is the shallow of an .
eclipse.

· Solomon in his early life walked uprightly,· but towards~·
the clm;e of his reign lapsed into idolatry and sin. · .And · .•
what says Solomon? . " The way of the transgressor is; ...
hard."-P1'0v. xii. 15.
· , '· .. '" • · .. ' . ·
Haman,· though raised to the highest honours in ' the
court of Ahasnerus, was infinitely more wretched than
Mordecai the Jewish slave.
lJti,'t'fa I ad to ·carry both the cross of Virtue and the"
cross of Vice. The former was the cross he bore from
the unjust persecutions of Saul, the envy of the Philistines,
~
the usurpation of Ishbosheth, and so on : The other was
the death of Bathsheba's first child in punishment of his . .
-·~
adultery, the death by plague of 70,000 subjects because
'.•
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he numbered the people, the murder of his children at the
sheepshearing in Baal-hazor, the rebellion of his favour"
":1
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ite son Absalom, banishment from his kingdom, and the
--~
deepest remorse of conscience ; all brought upon him in ·
chastisement for sin.
·
Hezekiah suffered both in his innocency and in his
guilt. ··while he was innocent, the Assyrian army invaded
his kingdom, and Hezekiah "rent his clothes· in grief:"
but his grief was much deeper when "'Qe turned his face ·
to the wall, and wept sore," because "he was· sick unto
death," when he "waxed proud."
Cain was wretched from corrosion of heart, and when ·
he sought relief by slaying bis brother, found "his pun- ·
ishment greater than he could bear." Abel was murdered
by a club ; but who would not esteem the sufferings of
righteous A be! "a light affiiction,'' compared with . the .
weight of Cain's guilty 'conscience.

HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS.-Cra.nmer found the remorse
of an accusing conscience more intolerable tlmn the fire at
Smithfield. Having denied the faith in order to preserve
life, he was so wretched that he made an open recantation;
but after martyrdom his heart was found entire, in proof
that his constancy and fortitude remained unbroken by his
sufferings at the stake.

QuoTATIONs.-The labour of the righteous tendeth to
life, but the fruit of the wicked is sin.-Prov, x. 16.
The path of Virtue is the path of peace, (but) the ,way '. __ .•;:4
of transgressors is hard.
· · ·'··
·1
What misery does the vicious man secretly endure ! · · · ~~
Adversity, how blunt are all the arrows of thy quiver in
~
COmpariSOll to those Of guilt 1
I ,

The calamities of a virtuous man come over him like
the inundations of the Nile, which nourish and fructify ;
those of a wicked man come over him like the destructive
sweep of a lllouutain torrent.

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THEME XXXIX.

AVOID FALSE

The good man can find enjoyment on a bed of t110rns,
but the wicked man is not at peace on a bed of roses.
No wretchedness is like to sinful villanaye.-Spenser.
Over the guilty there the Fury shakes
The sounding whips, and brandishes her snakes,
.And the pale sinner with her sisters ta~es ,-J)rydm .
If there's a power above,
·
.And that there is all Nature cries aloud in all her works,
He must delight in Virtue, and that which he delights in
Must be happy.-Addison.

.

j

Count all the advantage prosperous Vice attains,
'Tis but what Virtue flies from and disdains:
And grant the Bad what happiness they would,
One they must want, which is to pass for good. -Pope.
Oh, blind to truth, and God's whole scheme below,
Who fancy bliss to Vice, to Virtue woe.-Pope.

Raro antecedentem scelestµm deseruit pede pama claudo.
· N emo malus felix.-Juvenal.
Conscientia bene actre vitre, et benefactorum recordatio,
jucundissima ·est.- Cicero.

·TiIEME

XXXIX. Endeavour to be what you woulcl
seem to be.

lNTRODUCTION.-Some persons are · constantly striving
to support a character and a reputation which they do not
··honestly desel.·ve : But those who are wise and honest
will always endeavour to merit the praise they gain, anQ.

145 '

will scorn to puff themselves off for qualities which they .
,
,
do not really possess.
1sr REASON.-Truth has all the benefits of appearance'
without tfie disadvantages. If th.e semblance of anything
be good, the reality must be at least equal1 with this ad·
vantage, that whereas the sembl~nr,{1 is unsubstantial, and
~l:Lll tl.e Vet.i be relied upon, the reality is based upon truth1 .
and is an " enduring substance.1'
. ·1
2rrn REAsoN.-The reality is ·hot only equal · to the
resemblance, but even superior. For why do men dis- semble and seem to be what . they are not, but because .
they think it good to have such qualities as .they politicly
.
.
assume ? .
3RD REASON .-It is more troublesome
support a .fictitious excellency, than to acquire real merit; for nature
is so elastic and impatient of concealment, that it requires
in~essant vigilance and self-restraint to preserve a disguise
with tolerable success for any length of time.
·
4rn REASON.-Disguise is but short wisdom, and the ·
arts of deceit grow weaker t!ie longer they are indulged •
in: But integrity gains strength by length of time,' and ·
becomes of more value to the possessor ·the . better it is
known.
5rn REASON.-Arrogating fictitious merits injures the
moral characlPr, by fostering conceit and encouraging
falsehood: But integrity of principle improves the heart,
superinduces humility, and leads to virtuous practices:
6rH REASON.-When falsehood is detected, it brin,qs
shame and confusion of face : but when honesty is discovered, it brings glory and joy.

r, .

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The brqadest mirth unfeeling Folly wears
Less pl.easing far than Virtue's very tears.-Pope.

OoNCLUSroN. . . . . .

APPEARANCES.

.;

·: . SIMILES. - The Jackdaw with borrowed Plumes.-·
.LEsop's fuble.
, The Wolf in Sheep's clothing.-.LEsop's fab~e.
- The Boasting Traveller.-Atsop's fable, N 0.174. ,
The Lion who pretended to be a Physi.cian ..__,._.LEsop's
fable.

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146

TUEME

AVOID FALSE APPEARANCEB.

xxxrx.

The .Ass in the Lion's skin.-Atsop's fable.
'l'he mirage in the desert seems to be a lake of water;
but, instead of relieving the thirst of the pa.rching caravan,
allures with false hope, and provokes the dying curse of
those '1hom it deceives.
The ignus fatuus seems to be a candle from some neighbotH'lttg house , but many n trnveller would be 1lnvetl
from danger and death, if it really seemed to be nothing
else but a luminous putrescent gas.
The frauds of speculators would do no mischief in the
commercial world, if they did not assume the appearances
of honest traffic.
.As real medicine is better than the nostrums of the
empiric, so it is far better to be, than merely to seem to
be.
.As nutritious food is better than that which is adulterated, so reality is to be preferred to fiction.
HrnromcAL ILLUSTRATIONS.. The miracles of the Bible
are the seal of Omnipoterice to the truth of revelation ;
but the quackery of priestcraft has done more to injure
the cause of Christianity, than al~ the open attacks of its
most inveterate enemies.
Sabba.tai Seva, about the middle of the seventeenth
century, declared himself to be the Messiah ; but, after
deluding vast masses of ,Jews and Turks, he was seized
by the Grand Signior of Constantinpple, who decJared
that he shquld be shot, and if the balls <li<l him no hurt,
his messiahship should be acknowledged.
Upon this
Sava confessed his imposture, renounced Judnism, and
embraced the faith of the False Prophet of A rah in. $qch
is the career of imposture ; but how different the life and
death of a Christian martyr !
. 'Vhen Richard I. wns r ctnrning from the Holy Land,
he assumed the garb n.nd cha.meter of a Palmer ; but was
seized in Germany by the emperor, Henry IV., as a political spy, and cast into pri~pn, from which he )Vas not re~

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,147

leased till his true station was revealed, and a suitable
ransom given.
. · ,·
When certain vagabond Jews, who . were exorcists,
assumed to themselves the power of casting out evil spirits
in the name of Jesus, they were driven from their _city
naked, and wounded.-Acts, xix. 13. 1 7.
·: 1
. . ,Lambert Simnel.7 .t he son of a baker, pretended, in the
reign of Henry V11., to M the son of the Earl of vV a~
;
wick, and grandson of the Duke of Clarence, But, when
the imposture was discovered, Simuel was reduce.d from~
position of respectable independence to live as a common _
, ' . :r
menial in the king's household.
Perkin W arbeck, in the reign ~f Henry VII., assumed
to be Richard, Duke of York, who bad been smothered in . -the Tower by the command of Richard III. But, the imposture being discovered, be was hanged at Tyburn for a
traitor. How much better would it have - been for this
young man, -had he endeavoured to adorn the station to
which he belonged, than thus to assume a title to which
he had no pretension 1
When Sarah was passing through Egypt, she declared .
herself to be .Abraham's sister, and not his wife ; but
reaped the reward of her deception by disgrace and insult.
-Gen. xx.
' · ., ·
The J ewi~h Scribes and Pharisees assumed a chara~
ter to which they had no lawful pretensions ; but the cen-:- .
sure of. our Lord against them was most severe, who told
them to cleanse the inside of the platter, that their prin- ·
ciples might correspond with their practices.-Matt.'
xxiii. 25.
·
:
'IQuoTATIONs.-Show not two faces under one hood.' · · ·
Be aye the same thing ye woul_d be ca'd.

An empty sack cannot long stand upright. . . , .
Let every tub stand on its own bottom.

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148

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THEME XXXIX.

.i49

THE LOVE OF MONEY THE ROOT OF EVIL.

Craft bringeth nothing but shame.
Deceit is most short-sighted policy.
Dissimulation is short wisdom.-Lord Bacon.
Beware of the leaven of ihe Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.-Luke, xii. 1.
Wiedom from above is pure, and witb.0~1t hypocrisy.James, iii. 17.
· Lay aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisy.I Pet. ii. 1.
The joy of the hypocrite is hut for a moment.--Job,
viii. 13.
The hypocrite's hope -shall perish.-Job, xx. 5.
We are oft to blame in this :
'Tis too much proved, that with devotion's visage,
And pious action, we do sugnr o'er
The devil himself.-Slwkspeare.
To thine own self be true ;
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.

. ) ..

THEME

Esto quod esse videris.
Cui non conveniat sua res, ut calceus oliw
Si pede major erit subvertit, si minor uret.-Horace.
Esse quam videri maiim.-Seneca
Ex omni vita simulatio <lissirnulatioque tollcntla est.Qicero.
Non simulatum quidquam po test esse diuturnum.Cicero.
N equa fraus, nequis dolus adhibeatnr.-Cicero.
•
Diligimus omnia vera, id est fidelia,, simplicia, constantia; vana, falsa, fallentia odimus.-Oicero.
In omni re fugienda est solertia.- Cicero.

XL.

'
. '
lNTRODUCTION.-An overweening desire of wealth '. i8
the cause of much moral turpitude.
·; 1-:'
lsr REAMN'.-Mmrny being the meJi-utti of tMlfindulg- ·
ence, lays a snare for the feet to draw them into evil. 1 •-'f~
2Nn REAsoN._...The love of money is the cau.~e of many
actual sins, such. as theft, murder, cheating, and so on.~· ~
Mic. vi. 10-12.
· · ''rJ·:. _
t
3Ro REASON.-It weans the heart from God; for 'he
who makes Mammon his idol can never worship the God :
of heaven.
·
· · '"'":~ .
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,· ,
4rH REASON.-It causes men to draw the line of merit
in tl1e wrong place,-not between good and evil, but be- .
tween wealth and poverty : To the lover of money, larg·e
possessions " hide a multitude of sins," but need " stirreth .
up very hatred."
·
5rH REAsd'N .-The love of money produces an endlesa
variety of misery, as mercenary marriages, oppressive landlords, grinding masters, contumelious neighbours, &c: -·;:~·
6rH REASQN.-.A varice checks all the generous emotions
and sympathies of the soul; the lover of money has ·no
heart to pity the distressed, no hand to assist the needy,
no gratitude for favour receiv_ed, no liberality, no love for
his neighbour, no reward for merit, ingenuity, and toiL ::
' '
7rH REASON.-The money-lover is the most selfish of all
rnen; he sacrifices the whole world to himself, and himself to Mammon.
.: ·.::~ '
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The Love of Money is the Root of ,all ·

Evil.

Sliakspeare.

CONCLUSION.

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Ill

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S1MILEs.-Food is needful for the suppor~ of life, ~but
gluttony and drunkenness are the ' source of · vari~us .
diseases.
.
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Manure is necessary for the production of corn ; but,
iii immoderate quantities, is most prejudicial to agricnl·
ture.
·· · ·
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150

151 .

THE LOVE OF MONEY THE ROOT OF EVIL,

THEME XL.

.

Nothing is more conducive to h ealth than judicious
exercise, but immoderate exercise wears out the body, and
renders it liable to various diseases.
Pluto, the God of Wealth, i11 synonymous with Hades,
the God of Hell, in classic mythology, and sometimes by
a figure of speech is even put for the infernal world.
The ath~i~l1t pMts f~lgn, that when Plubus ( whioh ie
· riches) is sent from Jupiter, he limps and goes slowly; but
when he is sent from Orcus, he runs and is swift of foot ;
meaning that riches, gotten by good means and honest
labour, come with a tardy step ; but when they come
rapidly; they come by frau<l, oppression, an<l sin.

A miser is like a heap of unspread manure, which engenders reptiles of a venomous nature, noxious weeds, and
pestilential miasmata.
'l'he love of the miser for money is like the Jove of a
dropsical person for water; it is both the effect and cause
of great disease.·
HISTORICAL lLLUSTRATIONS.-The avaric€!' of the popes
of Rome introduced into the Christian religion the abominable sale of relics, indulp;ences, the practice of celebrating masses for the dea.d, the invention of purgatory, and
many other infamous superstitions.
The love of money induced Achan to steal " a goodly
Babylonish garrnent and 200 shek els of silver, and a
wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight," from the accursed
spoil of Jericho. In consequence of this trespass, the
army of Joshua was ronted by the men of Ai, God's anger
was kindled, and Achan, with all his sons and daughters,
oxen and asses, and all that he had, were stoned, and
burnt with fire in the valley of Achor.-Josh. vii.
Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, lnsted after the wealth
of N aaman, the Syrinn ; after vainly attempting to conceal Ms crime by falsehood, he was punished by leprosy,
'which " olave. unto himself and unto his seed for ever."2 ki1iga, v. 20-.:21.
•.

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Judas Iscariot betrayed the Redeemer of the world for
fifty pieces of silver, :and committed suicide aftern:ards. .., .
Balaia.m "ran greedily 'for reward" to Balak; the king <
of Moab : His love "for the wages of unrighteousness" ·
rnade him a counsellor of evil; for he persuaded the king .
to allure the children of Israel to sin, that the anger of .
God might be stirred np agains't them~ to cut them off
from the Mrth : · Hil:l plob s0 fo,r suoooodod, that 24,000
persons fell a sacrifice to his infernal machinations.-2 Pet. · ·
. ii. 15 ; Numb. xxv. 1-9.
Desire •of " the. wages of .unrighteousness " induced.
Redrnb, and Baanah his brother, to murder Ish-bosheth,
the Ron of Saul: but when they went to David, "thinking
to have brought . good tidings," he commanded ' ~ his ·
young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands
and their feet, and hanged them up over the pool in
Hebron."-2 Sam. iv. 5-12.
Demas forsook St. Paul, and the Lord who bought him,
"out of love to this present world."--2 Ti11i. iv. 10.
.
Demetrius the , silversmith, and the other tradesmen of
Ephesus, resisted Paul and rejected the Gospel, because
" their craft was in danger of being set at nought."-.
Acts, xix. 24-41.
~ ~
Babylon was "the habitation of devils, and the hold of
every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful
bird," because of "her great riches.''-Rev. xviii.
Dives and Lazarus.-Luke, xvi. 19-31.
Shylock.-See Shakspeare's Merchant of Venice.
QuorATloNs.-Ite that is greedy of gain troubletli his
own house.-Prov .. xv. 2'T.
Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field
to .field, till there be no place, that they may ~e placed
. Isa. v. 8.
,
. alone in the midst of the earth.. As the p11rtridge sitteth on eggs and hatcheth them
not; so he that getteth riches shall leave them in the mid~t
oi his days, and at his end shall' be a fQol.-Jer. ,~viL Js~.

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152

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THEME XL.

The love of money is the root of all evil; which, while
some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and
pierced themselves through with many sorrows.-1 Tim.
vi. 10.
'l'bey that 'Yill be rich fall into temptation and a snare,
and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men
ill destrur.tion and perdition.-! Tim. vi. O,
The deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and (it)
becometh unfruitful.-Matt. xiii. 22.
Go to, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that
shall come upon you. . . . . Your gold and silver is cankered, and the rust of them shall be a witness against you,
and shall eat your flesh as it were fire.-James, v. 1. 3.
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the
·world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father
is not in him : for all that is in the world, the lust of the
flesh, and the ltrnt of the eyes, an<l the pride of life, is not
of the Father, but is of the world.-1 John, ii. 15, 16.
Ye cannot serve God and Marnmon.-Matt. vi. 24.
$
Many who imagine all things may be bought by riches,
forget they have sold themselves.-Lord Bacon.
Riches are the baggage of virtue, which always bindereth the march.-Lord Bacon.
But there was one in folly further gone;
'l'he laughing-stock of devils and of men;
'l'he Miser, who with dust inanimate
Held wedded intercourse ... Of all God made upright
Most fallen, most prone, most earthy, base art thou!
Pollok.
Useful (is wealth); it serves what life requires;
But, dreadful, too, the dark assassin hires:
Trade it may help, society extend;
But lures the pintte, and corrupts the friend:
It raises armies in a nation's aid;
But bribes a senate; and the land's betrayed.-Pope.
Seek not proud riches, but such as thou mayst get
justly, use . soberly, distribute cheerfully, and leave con..
tentedly.-Lo1·d Bacon.

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158l

THE LOVE OF MONEY THE ROOT OF EVIL.

'Tis gold
· ·which buys admittance; oft it doth; yea, .and makes ...
Diana's rnngets, false themselves, yield up
· · ;~ r
Their deer to the stand of the stealer; and 'tis gold ' ..~
·which makes the true-m.,an killed, and saves the thief;
Nay, some time, hang both thief and true-man. What .
' . ' ·:.'
Can it not do. and undol-'Slzakspeare:
Uold? yellow, glittering, prebious gold Y • • • •
.. . •
'l'hns much of thee will make black, white; foul, fair; ; ,
Vhong, right; base, ' noble; old, young; cowara, valia~t... :
· This yellow slave
·
·
Will knit and break religions; bless the accursed;
.·;' ~.
Pluck stout men's pillows from below their beads; • • • .~
Place thieves . . . with senators on the bench.
Shakspea!e;
,,
Oh thou sweet king-killer, and dear divorce ·
''l'wixt natmal son and. sire I thou brig!1t <lefiler
Of Hymen's purest bed I thou valiant Mars I
Thou ever young, fresh-loved, 'delicate wooer,
'Whose blush-doth thaw the consecrated snow
'l'hat lies on Dian's lap I . . . ~h thou touch of hearts 1.
rrhink, thy slave man rebels; and by thy virtue . , . ·: '. .:.1
Set them in to confounding odd.s, that beasts . · :I· .i ; '
May have the world in empire.-Shakspeare. .,
,•
Auro pulsa Fides, a.uro venalia Jura, ·
": ·
Aurum Lex sequitur, mox sine lege Pudor.
Proper ti us.
.A.urmn omnes, victa pietate, colunt.
"
Orescentem sequitur cura pecuniam ·
·- .
Majorumque fames. Multa petentibus
Desmi.t multa. Bene est cu,i .Deus obtulit
Parca quod satis est manu.-Horace . .
Effodiuntur opes irritamenta malormn.-Ovid.
. '
Amor pecunire est radi~ omnium malorum.
. .
Auri sacra fames.- Virgil.
· · · 'I.
'· .
Ferro nocentius aurum;-Ovid.

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154

A MIDDLE

THEME XLI,

STATION

THE MOST DESIRABLE,

sclwla1.,~, because they have too little Inducement to subTHEME

XLI.

The mi'ddl,e Station of Life i's most
favourable to Virtue and Ifappiness.

lNTRODUCTION.-Great rich~s and great poverty pring
many a ~man: ~nd ;mp,ny a vexation, from which 'those
who have "neither poverty nor riches" are generally
exempt.
lsT REASON.-. The wealthy are immersed in a distract.i'llg round of pleasure; the poor are distressed with
pinching want. Neither of these states is so favourable
to virtue and happiness as one of competency and moderate
employment.
2No REASON.-The very exalted are placed too high
for tl.1c exercise of those virtues which only i1~(eriors can
practise toward.., suzJeriors; such as pn.tieucc resignation
industry, obedience, &c.
'
'
The very abject are placed too low for the exercise of
those virtues which only superiors can practise toward,<;
inferiors; such as genetosity, humanity, affability, and
charity.
But those who stand between these two extremes, being poor in comparison to their superior's, and
rich in comparison to their inferiors, have ample scope·
for the practice of every virtue, and can enjoy the " sweet
incense of every good deed."
3RD REASON.-The h'igl1est are deprived of the luxury
of ambition and emulation; the lowest are debarred from
the heart-felt joy of honest pride, and the gratitude of
feeling they are not the most abject. Those in the
middle station of life can both aspire to a higher grade,
and also rejoice in the measure of favour which they
already enjoy.
4TH REASON.-The great are too independent to feel
the full value of praise, and the imperative necessity for
strict moral decorum:

The mean feel that they are too little regarded to care
for either.
5TH REASON.-The wealthy and great are rarely good

ject tJ:iemselves to the toil ess~ntial for that purpose: ....,
. The poor h.ave no time, opportunity, or money for.
literary pursmts. But the middle class have every inducement and every means to make them seek and value
solid learning, than which nothing more conduces to hap-

pinefSS

~wd

virtue,

·

·. ?TH REASON.-The rich are su1jected to great temptations, and have both means and opportunity at their disposal to indulge in them; the poor are also subjected to
temptations in order to relieve their pressing necessities ·
and furnish them with some little respite from never-ceas:
illg toil. rl'l1e middle classes are far more likely to escape
the snare, the sin, and the sorrow, than either the mighty
or the mean.
.
·
hn Rr-AsoN.-The 1·ich are scarcely. sensible of the
wholesome restraint of popular opinion, and rarely deny
:
the,mselves for the purpose of gaining popular favour:
rhe poor feel that they are tuo obscure lo excite observation: But those who occupy i;he golden mean between
poverty and riches, are placed too low to feel themselves
independent of their neighbours, and too high to lodge a
.
,
hope that '.' sin will never find them out." .
~TH REASON.-The wealthy have so mucl~ time up[Jn
their hands, that they frequently seek to relieve their
ennui with amusements by no means unobjectionable:
.The abj~ct . have so little tinie to spare, that they can
thmk of little else besides the all-absorbing thought,
".what shall we eat, what shall we drink, and where-.
withal shall we be clothed." Both these states are less
favourable to virtue and' happiness than one where life is
" seaso:ied by employment," and employment lightened by
relaxatwn .
.·
.
9TH RF.ASON.-The "mammon of unriglzteousne;s" and ,
the. cares of poverty are both unfriendly to religion; for ·
wlnle, on the one hand, " not many mighty, not many
noble are called;" on the other band, not many righteous
f:-~IJ. ~~ fpqJ,J.q " who are forsaken, and beg their ,bread/' ·
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A MIDDLE STATiON TltE MOST DESIRABLE .

15G

'f llEME XL!.

Sr:MILEs.-The Temperate zone is more healthy. and
more favourable to morality, literature, and happmess,
than either the Torrid or Frigid zones.
A river is more useful in the pr9motion of h ealth and
fertility, than the thundering torrent or .the staunant pool.
A certain ton•ent meeting a Btt•eom with whioh it hnd
lon•r been united in bonrlR of Rtrictcst amity, spoke thus
with noiRy diRrlaih and hnng-htineRR:-" '\That, brother,
still in the same state? still low a nd l'rccpiug? A:c yon
uot ashamed when you behold me, who have ema11c11~ated
myself from a grovelling rnnncl, - a'.n now become a mighty
river,-and intend sho rL!y to outnc ~he Da1111l>c and the
Rhine if these friend ly rainR ron t 11rnP ~t few mouths
louge 1: ?'' " Very true,'' replies tlie huuiLle slrea~n, " yon
are 11ow inuccu swoll en to a most mon<:trnn<: f'IZ"'; h ut.,
methinks, you arc become withal somewlm1; turbulent ~.nd
muddy: I am content with my humble stat10n an<l purity;
and so farewell I"
Iron is more useful than either gohl or lead.

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. Convenient foo<l is more healthy and more favourable
to morality than either gluttony or starvation.
Neither the denRe nir of dr(' P tninr.s. nor the rarefied air
of high mountains is equal to that which is inhaled by the
" general dwellers upon the earth ."
.
- Cheerfulness of temper is to be preferred to immoderate
laughter or deep grief.
. .
Liberality is preferable 1to meann~~s and pro~igahty.
Pure and undefiled religion to superst1t10n or atheism, &c.

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HISTORICAL lLLUSTRATIONS.-Agur, the son of Jakeh,
said to Ithiel, " Two things have I req~ired of ~bee;
deny them not before I die. . . . . . . Give. me neither
poverty nor riches; feed me with food convcment for me,
lest I be full and deny the Lord; or lest I be poor and
steal and take the name of my God in vain."-Prov.

I

I.
I

xxx. ' 7-9.

Saul, the king of I srael, was both virtuous and happy

in his early life, b ut after he was created king, became
. arrog an t and disobedient to G.od ( 1 ,Sam. xv. 11-23); .and
- wa~
ev er to1·inented 'with Jealousy, envy; · and moodis4l
ness.-1 sam. xviii: 9-:-11. - - . - : · " , . ·
· · .- · .

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Solomon was noted for , his piety and wisdom 1-fore he
Was anointed king; but no sooner did he become ' possessed of supreme power and unbounde(l wealth, than he
forsook God,-" drew sin as it were with a cart-rope,''a1ul declared his life to be " a weariness to his flesh."
'l'homas a Becket, in early life, was not~rious for his
humility, courtesy, and ch eerfu lne ~s of temper; ; but, after
he was raised to the highest honours to which a subject
cou ld n ttain, his nrrop;a11cc 'ms unLou11(1e!1, h is insolence
iutole.ral>le, aud his te111per .i'norose and gloomy.
\V ol sc~·

Canlinal

was th P nc1 miration of J<Jiigland , till

his wealth rnat1e him ambltious, and 'his ambition made

him a traitor. · · ·.

·

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PolicratPS bestowed five talents (11251.) for a gift upon
one Anacrisa, who was so troubled w.i th care how to keep
them safe, a11d . how to b ~ st~:nv; them,, 'that. his .life . was .a
misery to him: After ~he expiq1.tiof!.. o.f two days ~nr two
nig-hts, he took them back t? · Policrates
' _agai!1; : · ~aying,
1
"Tliey 'arc not worth thc · p~iins I liave already ' trtketi for
them"
· 1 .1 >
·:,.,,1 • : .::. · ·i :': .. ' 1 ·. •.1q
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Ijuther, being offered by the Elector of, Sax,o ny the
produce of a rich mine at Sneeberg, refused it, 'saying,
" He could not sell his holiesty and peace of mind."1 · ·
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When J eshurun waxed fat and . kicked, .then ,he: forsook
God which made him, and 'lightly esteemed ' the ' rock of
h.
I t.
D t · .. p:
. . :. "i
' . '- · . -· IS sa va ion.- e1!. x,xxu .. / .· .'' ; ..,.. ~-:· ··:i.;• ·~: 'J',~~' lil · , . "'¥hen Ephraim spake tremblingly, he ~e~ftlted, 1h4n~elC-:
in Israel; but when he offended, in.;Ba.al, :he1,ldied::{,) • . .'··.
According to . their pastu:re, .sQ 1 wer~ th~y::fille~.; : thef. w:ere _ ;
filled; and their heart was :,e~alt~q ;~!tther,~{9.J,'e J'.;b~Y.!l; th~y ""
forgotten me. Therefore, . . . . . I will meet , them as a ·.
bear t.~at is b~,reaved_ of he~ .~~belps; .;anP: 1".q1~~~<t.~h~).9~ul~
,. ~f _theu .~~ar_t! :&:c-~-:Ifos: ~1~1·)·; stf: ;.; 1,,':Ht ~ 'ri trb!.!I!t

,p.

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158

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THEME XLI.

QuoTATIONs.- See Deuteronomy, viii. 11-11.
If I have made gold my hope, or have said to fine gold,
"thou art my confidence," . . . . . I should have denied
the God that is above.- Job,-xxxi. 24. 28.
HavTng food and raiment l~t us be the~·ewith content.
Jfot th ey that will be rich foll u.1to temptat1,on and a snare,
and into many foolish and hurtful lustR, wl11eh <lrown men
in destruction antl perdition.-1 '1.'im. vi. 9.
.
The love of money is the root of all evil, whi~h while
some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, ~nd
pierced themselves through with many sorrows.-1 1 un.
vi. 10.
It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle,
than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of Gotl.fiiatt. xix. 24.
1'he middle station of life is called, by the consent of allnations, T~E GOLDEN MEAN.
A void extremes.
Virtue lies in the medium, Vice in the extremes ; and
every virtue has its attendant vice.-A ddison .
'
I deem an equal mediocrity of life
Most to be wished ; if not in gorgeous state,
Yet without danger glides it on to age ;
There is protection in its very name,
And happiness dwells with it.
Potter's Euripides, "Medea."
Is there no Temperate region t? ?e shown
Betwixt the rrorrid and the Fng1d zone?
Remote from sordid filth and gilded care,
Health, virtue, wisdom, compet ence, dwell there.
Know all th e good that individuals find, .
Or God and Nature meant to mere ma nkrnd,
l{eason's whole pleasure, all the joys of sense,
Lie in three words, HEALTH, PEACE, and COMPETENCE.
Pope.
For aught I see, they are as sick ~hat surfe.it with too
much, as they that starve with nothmg: It 1s no mean

~ i!S9 ::-.-

THE USEFULNESS OF MATHEMATICS •

•

happiness, therefore, to be seated in · the mean. '· Super· , ·
fluity comes sooner by ·white ·hairs, but competency µves
, l onger.-DClh a_k speare.
.· ·>\
o 1, · , , • 'i>' · 11. :•·•i11v·;.!,;Jj
1
Est modus in rebus, sunt certi denique fines,
•. .fM11:.
Quos ultra citraque neqnit consistere rectum.-·Horace,\..
Mediotutissimusibis.
1 1 ·:· .. · ·: .. ":' -.•; '.' 1-H
· Curre lacqueata .circum tecta'.-. -Ho;:a~e. '. '. ' ~·' 1 · 1 ·r~·l~;~:
Id arbitror adprii:ne in' vita est utile ' NE QUID Nrn1s.~·
Terence. ---...
, ·: ,
,J · , ' · r d , i · ; ,.,1
Auream mediocritatem dilige:
· · •." · : ... " ·ir .h0 11
·~1 1 .'1 i~ .rr-11
1

( ,' t

Auream quisquis mediocritatem
Diligit, tutus caret obsoleti
, Sordibus tecti, caret invidenda ·
, Sobrius aula.-Horace . .·

".

:.1\

I

'1h•(t

·, . , rnFr:
,. ··· ·. ii~:·~1,,;

-

t ~ '" r\1\.' ""

• '.

Media via est tutissima.
·
~
.- 1...~h
In plerisque rebus optima est mediocritas.-Gicero. ' ·, , :,~ f~
i:~

•

t

CONCLUSION.

I

· ·r

XLII.

;1.

..:Jv

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THEME

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"uLFI
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f.

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The Usefulness of Mathematical ~~_, ,
Learning.
.·
: ·, ,. '•.
' 'i ~....

lNTRODUCTION.- Mathematics inay be called the art of t'
arguing by numbe1·s and quantities ; the benefits _of this\
science, as a branch of education, are very great.
·
lsr REASON.- The study · of mathematics accustoms
the mind to minute attention, by entertaining it with a, ;
variety of truths, indisputable and demonstrable, though ,
often obscure and greatly involvedt . , 1i
. ; .-. . ~.
2ND REASON ..:.._Jt is the only sden(!e which .· cannot ,·
admit of error : opinion, prejudice,· fraud, and ' falsity ,
may, in some measure, affect all other sciences, but ,can .
' have no ' influence whatsoever upon ~ th~ deductions off·
fmathematics.
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160

'!'HEME XLII.

•

3Rb REASON.-rrhe study of mathematics habituates
the. · i;nind. to clear 1nethodical reasoning ; and, by early
trammg, it may be taught to argue logically, and discern
_ act~tely, as well as it may be trained to any other exercise.
~TH H ,f.MlQ,N,- l t disengages the mind from f oolish
credulity, by compe1ling it to examine ml1'1l1t t!lJ tlV~ry
stutemeut, and to take nothing upon trust.
5TH REASON.-As vice and superstition are founded
and upheld by error a nd false reasoning, the study of
mntl~cmatics must be fri endly to the cause (~( re1i,r;inn, by
purgrng the mind from all sophisms, an<l engrnfting in it
a love of truth.
ffm REASON.-The science of pure mathematics is so
intimately conn ected with natural philosophy, tlrnt meclrnnics, nstrono111y, optics, nrnl other physicn.l 1rn hjccts,
are both investigated and explainecl by it ; and, without a
knowledge of mathemn;tics, natural philosophy can neither
be apprecfa.ted nor understood.
7TH REASON.-Many of the arts depend upon mathematics for their development, as architecture, surveying,
engineering, navigation, &c., ancl no one can be qualified
for th ese pursuits, who has not been trnined to the study
of rni:i..thematics. ·
8TH REASON .-The study of mathematics trains the
niind to illdnstry and p ersevemnce, by leading it to an
important rest1lt !)Y the slow· ptocess of minute gradations.
Sem,Es.-As a winnowing fan blows away the chaff,
and renders corn more clear and valuable ; so the study
of math ematics frees the mind from error and frivolity.
A s drilling anrl p:ym1rnstic exercises render the body
more graceful, healthy, and erect, by training it to selfdenying labour, driviug out snperlluo11 s humours, and
correcting bacl habits ; so the study of mathematics may
be callecl a mental drilling, or gymnasti c exercise, which
makes the mind more healthy and straight-forward.

THE USEFULNESS 01!'' MATHEMATICS.

As the ~se ?f 't he hoe ~. nd spade brings · the soil i~to --:··:..:]
better cultivat~on, by ke~pmg dowry weeds, bringing forth·J ~-:-~"'~:::::i
la~,tet1~t pr~pebrt1es, break mg up the hard clods, and · ad- i
::~
m1 .mg. air elo.w the surface ; so the study of mathe- ..
4
mat1.cs .1s beneficial to the mind, by excluding error, and -·-·-- ::S
admitting only truth.
.
.. : ,, :
.]
MathematiM may be ct:>rnpared to a still, every dro~ ·
~
that falls into the recipie11 t is perfectly pure ; and by no ·
~
other means can perfectly pure waoor be obtained. .· ; -· ·--]
As metals ·are tested by a crucibl;, so truth and error ." ·__ ]
arc tested by mathematics.
·
. ' ·'
· · · -'·- ~

!•
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. As gold is refi~ed in the furnace, so . ~ propositi~n\s ·-~:;~
sifted by the refinmg fire of mathematics. . . - ~ . -·- · :-:~-.'ij.1
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Mathematics may be compared to the ordeals of our ' forefathers, which only the innocent and undefiled could .
..
pass innocuously through.
Mathematics may be compared to the fabulous well of ,
St. Agnes, iuwhich only the chaste could see their re- ''
fiection, or taste its delicious waters. ·
HrsTomcAL ILLUSTRATIONS. -

Sir I saac Newton

l

the '

grea~est mat~rnmatician of modern times, was remarkable

1

for 1~1s ~rbamty .of manners, his humility of mind, his ex-· ·
tensive mformation, ancl his devout piety.
Many of our g~·eatest divines, and most eminent state~- :
m~n, hn,ve been high Wl'._anglers at the University of Cam- ·
, bridge.
·
· ·· ·

....

Richard Porson, one of the finest classical scholars that

En~land ever prod ucecl, w~as trained by his father from

earliest yonth to mental arithmetic · to which he always
ascribed his literary eminence. ,
'
' ·Pythagoras, the celebrated philosophe~ ~f Sa~os ~ w~~
one of the finest u:athenrntici~ns of antiquity. ' His idve of ~
uumbe1:s macle hnn n.n adtmrable musician, ~ astronomer · ·
and ph1lo~opher., He relluced music and even ethics to ~ '
nrnt.1.1cmat1cul .sc1 e n~e ; and taught that happiness, as well '' ·
as piety, cons1stecl m the perfect science of ·numbers "" '
1~
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] 62

THEME XLII.

No philosopher of Greece ever stood higher than Pytba.·
goras, or was more hon on red for learning, consistency,
moral reetitude, and devotion.
N apoleo11, the greatef:lt genius of France, was celebrated
for his mathematical lore.
Simeon of Durham \.n1s the best mathenrntician in the
rel~~n of' Henry I. ; o.nd to this pooulhll' t11hmt ir.i to be
ascribed his patient researches a,rnl admirable digest of
aucicnt i•ecords, bet,-...een the seventh and twelfth cen·
turies.
Archirnecles, the Syracusan philosopher, was no Jess
noted for his mathematical knowledge than for his scien·
tific discoveries, his patriotic zeal, his humility of mind,
and his extensive information.
QuoTATIONs.-The weakness and cffemin:wy of man·
kind, in being persuadeLl where they :ire delighted, have
made them the sport of ora,tors, poets, and men of wit.Dr. Arbnthnot.
In the search of truth, an imitation of the method of
the geometers will carry a man furth er than all tli.e dia·
lectical rules.-Dr. Arbuthnot.
If a man's wits be wanderiug let him study the mathe·
matics ; ' for in clemonstra,tion, if his wit be called away
never so little, he must begin again.-Lol'd Bacon.
l\Iathcma,tics is a balhtst for the soul to fix it, not to
stall it ; and not to jostle out other arts.-Ji'1lller.
rrhe study of the mathematics will make our natural
faculty of reason both the betJ,er and the soo1~er to judge
ricrhtlv
between truth and error, good and evil.-Hvoker.
0
J
l\fathematies and the severer sciences, ·with logic and
meta,physics, bestow an acutenes~ and an endurance upon
the mind which serve eRscntmlly to call forth and
strengthen the abstract rcnson.-.Dr. Jones.
Quicquid difficile est hoc superare decet.
L

CONCLUSION. . • • .

,

•
THEME

SUPERIORITY OF -rA :FCLAssidAL EDUCATION.
'!

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163

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XLIII. A Classical ~·s far superior
. English -Education.

1

to ·a ' ~I~~r

., ~ · ~- ~~'1'!'.'·;;
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lNTRonucnoN.-A training frorn 'ea,rly' youth in :i t'he~:
dead languages, not to the exclusion of other studies ·but ·
, as t~ie basis of mentnl culture, has peculiar advantag~sJ'i" "'

lsT REASON.-The ?reek r~nd. L~·tin , classi~s •. beini; iri'.:,dead lan~uages, reqrnre a patience . and attention ·: far
g~·eater than .books written in. our own' vernacular tong~e.~
Every . word J~ stra~ge, and must be minutely exami,n ed:: ;
every , word i~ .snbJect to in~ex~ons and . ch~nges;; · ~~d~ :
must ?e scrutm1sed from begmmng to end · every "sen•,-""
tence is more or less. invertt;d.' and must· be a'nalysed"an&
re.duc~d to grammatical English order : Thus _the utmost .·
mmut1re must 1Je noted with patience and : unremitted ·
attention •
·
.·
·
· · ·._ .... . /.
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. . :,-iw.k,:;
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2Nn REAsoN.-The study of the dead langhages ir£'i~s ·.
the eye to accura.!e observrition, better than the -' study~
of i:1o_dern languages. In studying Hebrew, GreekJ '!ind'
La, tin, the ey~ must dwell. 'not only Ort each word, but·. bn'
e~ch lette1· of each w?rd, · a11d somet~1ues on·' extremely· .
mmute accents and pornts, appended either above 1 · b~low • '.
· or on one sid~ : This is not the case with the Ehglish·.
l~nguage ; a, smgle s~llable; ·and often a single letter,,·wm .<
give a clue to an ~nttre word, and not unfrequently; to .a; .'
who\e sentence ; 111 con~eqnence of which, the .eye '. be_,. '.
~omes accl.1sto~ned to slum carelessly along fr:om lirie l'to · '
lmc, the mmd is .criervated, frivolou.s, and superficial.' 'L:i• '

3no R:EASON.-In studying the dead laniuages;··; fh;~
memory is mo~t admirably developed. , The gender; num:.:
bcr,. and case ; th~ mode, tense, and person .;' the ' 'gt-:1 m~
nrn.t1ca,l and syntax1cal conc9rds ;. thE? 'pec,nliar construction
of every word ttrn.1 sentence, as well as 1fhe 'cov,e~~ mca.~ihg ·
of bo~h, ~ll 1~.y n.n cmb.argo on. the memorr,.' 1f othlftg ·
of tlus km~ is needed m studymg our own vernacular
tongue ; a httle com~1011 sense being ~11 tlmt is required to
understand the meamng of every ordmary._ sentence; rwith~

I

.........

THEME XLllI.

16'!
I

•

f 65t..J

the mi·~d; which the utilitarian'cha. ra~·ter of ~mere .
1
educat10n tends most effectively to suppress." ·:.· ' ',i.Y£l.'.<:
· · 6TH · REAsoN.;_'l'he highly' C?ltivated judgment,\~~te, · ~
memory, and · .understanding <!f ·a·well-educated classical. scholar, bas a very: happy effect_. o·ri: the counte'fl,anc~ '.i fuid ~

ErigIJ;h .;

out any minute attention, critical examination, or effort of
memory.
4TH REASON.-'rlie study of the ancient classics trains

the judgment, strengthens the understanding, and tutors
tl1e taste, far better than that of our own moth er tongue :

:For, as every word has several shades of meaning, only
one of which is to be selected, both intolligonc:o, taste, and
judgment are incessantly brought into requisition, in onler
to make choice of the most appropriate. 'l'his 1lifficnlty
occurs, not only in each imlividual word, but in every
sentence ancl paragraph ; for the mea11ing of a classical
author cannot be guessed at by a " catch" word or two,
like that of a.n English writer, bucause the iden. is more
diffused, and the meaning of the author more secreted :
This necessity of ·searching out the individual and coI\ective meaning of the severnl words scattered thronghont an
entire period, makes the study of the ancient classics such
an invaluable mental exercise.
It is far otherwise in the ~tudy of mere English authors ;
for though the memory may be occasionally put into requisition, in order to learn by rote a given task, yet the
taste and judgment are never called into action. The
exact wonls, n,nd their exact mea,ning, are lUrcn.dy fixecl :
the illca of the author lies on the surface, and is thrust
upon the reader : No judgment is needed to change one
·word for another, no taste is rcqnired to accommodate
well-known expressions for others less known, no ingenuity is conjured up to present given idcris in a new costume.
All is done already. " Every hill is made low, every
valley is filled np, the rough places are made smooth, and
the crooked places are made straight." Hence the mind is
apt to become flippant from indolence, instead of solid ;
the attention volatile, instead of staid ; the eye careless,
instead of attentive ; the judgment dornmut ; the understanding weak ; the memory merely mechanical ; a.ml the
student unqualified for patient reRenrch :wd bborious
exercise.
5TH REASoN:-The study of the ancient classi cs will
contribute to forrn and invigorate the literary temper of

SUPERIORITY OF : A: CLASSICAL EDUCATION.

\o

":!

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·~"--:

manners. " ··' ;.. · ·

•

·

.,. 1:.-

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:".

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! 7TH ·REASON.-.The : enigm~tical diJficu.lt11 :of . the ~~·~:f
languages, independent of other considerations1 ·affords
several new a~d varied sources of delight. ; · .:.. " :. ·1fi•. ,/
1
· 8Tii REASON.-.'-A sound classical: education · gives'~,;;,"l;i
a. rank and positiC?n in socie.t y denied to · other~ .of ~qual .
birth and fortune ; because experience has shqwµ . th~: •.
· world that the classical scholar is more suited to polished'
an~ polite society,' '. than those who have : not ' been!~. so '.··
tramed : His understanding is more mature ' his ,, taste .
more refined, · his ideas more ' aristocratic ·: i~ a \Vord ,;.
classical learning so humanises; and refines 1· and sublirriate~ '
the mind, tliat it has received the name of "Humanity
Studies." ... '· ·.•
. , · ·. , .
. . ·.'.: .. · -· ~J.,' ,
.· .9TH REASON.· None of the foregoing adv~nt~g~s· · c~~r ·
be attached to ." translations," .because a translation ·; nd,
l?ng~i; ,a , dead lap.guage .. f . . . . ! '· . · . : ~'": . ! , . ~: , , . / ,·£; ~ :;
' 10TH ·. REASON.-The fulL force and beauty , of,; an!.
au~h01:· is. no · more cap~ble of translation, than , a fine·
painting is capable. of being represented by a copy: . Who, ··
would study a Guido, a Raphael, a Titian; . or a MichaeL·,· •
Angelo, from · the daubs of a needy garret artist ?-And.
the gol?en thread _that runs through Homer and Yirgn;: ,
Thucydides and Livy, Demosthenes and . Cicero, can., noi .·
more be transf~rred to a bald translation, than the genius,
of a great pamter can be transferred from canvas ·'1 'to· "·
~anv~s, by tracing _his ou.tline an!'! imitating his colour~.'/~

.•.

is

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~. ;~ :,P:.(~·r·, 'i ' \
'"

SnnLES. - An original work m~y~ be compared t'6 \b'et·
works o~ nature, a me~e translation to 1a painted portrait
or pencilled sketch : the outline ' inay · be correctf.~ the ·
general features like, the proportions well preserved ~ and: .
eyen the colouring faithful; yet there ' will be very '~ttle~·'.· _
1

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·S UPERIORITY OF ; A CLASSICAL
.

166

•

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~DUC.A.TION. ~

:!

'1'HEME XLIII,

of the gracefulness of posture, the shadowings, the _spirit,
the vitality, and play of life which animates the ot·iginaL
rrhe " caput mortuum," we grant, may remain, after
. the works of genius have been melted clown in the crucible
of another language, and entrusted to the idiom of another
country; but the spirit flies off, like the volatile parts of
a fine essence, wlnch has been poured from IJottle to
bottle.
As a description of Greece nnd Italy is not to be
cornparetl to the actual sight which awaits the traveller to
those classic lands so a translation of the Greek and
Latin authors is n;t to be compared to their original
productions.
As the architecture of the Greeks and Romans puts to
shame the tawdry decorations and incongruous designs
which disgrace the metropolis of England in the nineteenth
century, so also an unrivalled talen~, and as yet an unrivalled taste, breathe over the classic page.
As a garden of exotics is more valu~ble and beautiful
than the hedcre and heath flowers of our own island, so
classical erudition is superior to a mere English education.
• Trave1Iinrr enlarges the mind, ameliorates the manners,
stores the ~nderstanding, and delights the fancy. r.l'he
classical student may be compared to a great traveller;
a mere English scholar to a "stay-at-home."
Gymnastic exercises develop the muscles,. and bring
the body into subjection, far better than tl~e simple ar~ of
walkin<r · so also the lauour of a classical education
develops' the mind, and brings i.t into subjection, far
better tht1n the study of nuthors io our own vernacular
tongue.
,N aturnJ a.b ilities n,re like natural plants, that need
pruning by study.-Lord Bacon.

:Most of our great divines and eminent statesmen ·have -"'- ::--_:
been eminent classical scholars.
' . :, · ! ,, . t, ---- . ·- -~
Sidney and R.aleigh, Milton and Temple, Taylor '. and 2?--~
Barrow, poets and historians, moralists and philosophifrs,.~~~
-nay, almost all who have conspired to render Britain
.;
the glory of the world, were trained to classical literG.ture . .-~
in their youth.
.
•
Follow the history of l3urke at Beaconsfield, 'and F~~ at
St. Anne's Hill, and yon will find these distin(J'uished and
~ifted me? a.Ile via ting the · cares and struggl~s -of public
lite, and gll'dmg themselves for fresh combats, in the .wis-,
dom and enchantments of tfae -ancient classics. · · · . :»:; 1
· 'l'he Marquis of Wellesley says · of William Pitt, "he.
was perfectly accomplishBd in classical literature· · had
:j
drawn its essence into his own thoughts ' and lang~age;
and had applied the whole spirit of ancient Iearnitlg to his
daily use.. At "\Val mer Castle his apartments were lite-'
1
rally strewed with Greek and Latin dassics. 11 · ·
· · ,.
. The Elizabetha~ age was peculiarly devoted to "th~ ~
stu?y of the a~cient classics, children ?f both sexes being .
'
.,
tra.mecl from early youth to . write; and even ' speak,' ih i
Greek and Latin; and · when did England 'nourish. giants ·,
of equal strength and stature:? ··:1 , . . ··; . 1 1 r:H1.,;·1~: ~ ·
,i

9

H1sTORICAL lLLUSTRATioNs.-St. Paul, the most useful
and laborious of all the apostles, was well versed in the
Greek and Latin classics.'

••

Let any one try to draw 'Out a ' Hst 'Of iminortar narrieir·~ . j
picked from the ranks of mere 'English'"scholars and' h~'•
·\
"-';
'will soon find how difficult, and almost hopeless ~· task' he';
?a..c; undertaken: Even Dobpett; th~ first name ~f the self~
rnstru?ted, was a complete master -of the French language:, t
'
and did not leave unlearnt or ·unvalued the Greek and;··
Latin tongues.
- . i • l ' . 'r ') ·J I•

:i

Dr. Mead was a beautiful ·model of Classicai ~d~cation • '.
that elegant scholar and distinguished physician delighted L _
e~ery one with the brilliancy of his wit, the urbanity of
lus manners, and the depth of his erudition· :none could 1
be in company -with Dr. Mead · "'ithout feeli~g that the , "'
study of the ancient classics had cast a halo round him .·;.>
';~
, . ~- • ~- • I~~.;.,_ , , • /. •;
~ -7 t ·1. :·,
•: :
- QuoTATIONs.-The ancient classics avail 't o/ humanis~
, '

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.168

.'1~

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•:.O

THEME XLlll.

,169 '..

THE SOCtAL BENli!F!T5 OF' A "t::ULTIVATED MIND.

:'

the mind, and make life innocent, intellectual, and happy.
-Dr. Arnold.
The quickening influences of the ancient classics need
not be urged on those who are familiar with the history of
modern Europe; and who know the spring given to the
human mind by the revival of ancient learning: The great
mr.n of nntiqnit.y have, through tlicir writiugs, exorci &ed
a sovereignty over these latter ages, not enjoyed in their
own.-Dr. Channing.
V\T e have no desire to rear in our country (JV. America.)
a race of pedants, of solemn triflers, of laborious .commentators, in the mysteries of Greek accent or a rusty
coin. vYe would have men explore antiquity, not to bury
themselves in its dust, but to learn its spirit, and to become
joint workers with the great of nations and times g·one by~
- .Dr. Olwm1ing.
\Vorks of taste and genius can only be estirn11ted and
enjoyed through a culture and a power corresponding to
that from which they sprung.-Dr. Channing.
The Greek and Latin classics is not a study, as some
have called it, of mere syntax and syllables, but the record
of lofty feelings and heroic deeds.-Dr. Jones.
·Surrounded as we are with printed books in all languages, and treatises upon all subjects, we are comparatively mere compilers. Amidst this endless repetition,this reproduction of dead men's minds,-it must give
vigour to the intellect to consult the pages of younger
and fresher da.ys; pages which teach us the first thoughts
of writers, _and which will survive and instruct so long as
the world endures.-Dr. Jones.
Make classic authors your supreme delight;
Read them by day, and study them by night.
·Ars Poetica, translated.
In the simple, transparent, energetic, and n.lmost faultless writings of the extant classics, may be fonnd clements
of history, glimpses of poetry and philosophy, materials
for profound reflection, and models of the purest taste.Oxford prize essay.

Lo~Je6l!~~~~!~~~~s from .t~a~slati?n ~xc~pt ~ ~~.shop.~-~;'· ..•

:;

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Expert rii'en can exe· c·~t~,· a·~d p~rh~p~ ·Judg:·~i·~; ·;p
:; ~~~I
cul !ars
one
by
one.
but
th
·
t ' d
. '
e general counsels and the- ·, · : ;
}J 0 s an marshallmg of affairs, come 'best from' tho . . h . .
...
are Iearned.-Lord Bacon
·
·. .. \' · · ·" }e,. 't .. ? · ·
1

~~ he ~angua~~ in which a:~ a~tho~·;~it~ih~s ·~~ 1d~~tiC'

a d cur7sa fehc1tas,'' an untransferable witchery of wor/s'

..

~r ~;n~~~ 1 Y of S(;mnd, which are tE~ly vifal, .f:!.nd voc~l.1~ . '
_DistilleLd books are like common distill~;~ < ;ate;s · fl~s~y· ·:
th rngs ord Bacon,
' :; • · · . . . .
'" .

ma~~~o;~~tl~akneat~::i ;~~~st;;;•, 'd:~t;'.;m~~=I ~~-~~'.

~gc~~. grave;

logic and rhetoric,

a~~~ . ~~ ,~~ntend.~L~~~ ·

Scilicet ~ngenuas dedicisse 'fideliter artes . , .· ·. ,·.. :
Emolht mores, nee sinit esseferos.-Ovid · ' :f
.Abeunt studia in mores. , .
·.
. ·
' ., ,
S~pientia est possessio pretiosior.'divltii~.f; . . :·:' .: ./ _~{;::g
L1terre semper jucund::e et utiles.-Cicero. '"· . . . ·. .,.. , r:
. ~.ag?.a quid em, sacr.is q~1re dat·pt::ecepta libellis .
1ctux fortunre sapientia.-Juvenal. : :· .. . . ' ...
'
,.
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· Vos -exemplaria Grreca ·! '. ·: : . o :'.~ : / '_ ~""~
N octurna
versate
manu ' versate· 'd1'urna .-Ln
uo·race
. ..·...,/· . . 'Sl
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CONCLUSION · : ·· · ·
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170

THEME XLIV.

1sT REASON.-Works of taste give grace of mind to
the admiring r eader, because the emotions they excite are
soft, t ender, and refining.
2ND REASON. -The polite accomplishments draw off
the mind from, the httrry of lmsinelis , and the fever of
~"oddly interest., clrnriRh 1·dlection, dispose to tranquillity,
and produce that agreeable ideality and. visionary entlrnsiasm, which soften down the ruder passions, and excite
the h eart to whatever is' amiable, generous, lovely, and
elevated in nature.
3Rn REASON. -A cultivated moral taste presents an
effectual security against the grossness necessarily connected with rnany vices.
4TH REASON. -A delicacy of taste is favourable to
sociability, inasmuch as it co11fi,n es ow· choice of companions to few p eople, and those few not the gay and 'dissolute, but the " finely touched" and the domestic. A mind
that has no relish for the graces of life, may love to mix
in the crowded soiree or ball; but the fever of excitement
differs toto cwlo -from the placid delight of sociability and
literary ease.
5TH REASON. - All persons must be fu,rnished wiih
aniuse11ients ~· those who have no taste for the fine arts
will seek for r ecr eation at clubs and banquets, routs and
races; theatres, and places perhaps still more objectionable: But those who can appreciate and enjoy the polite
nrts, can find more " attractive rnetn,l" in quiet contemplation and " converse with the mighty dead.''

6TH REASON. - A very powerful effect is produced on
the mind and manners by the association of ideas; ns
. works of taste direct the mind to the beautiful and noble,
and guard it against what is vulgar and wicked, they
auperinduce a love for the form er , a.i1d a.n aversion to .the,
latter, by the iniluence of associations.
~TH REASON. - I t would be an01nalou.s for the same
person to admire that which is refined, and '"hat is coarse
and vulgar; that which is sweet and beautifnl, and what

.

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SOCIAL BENEFITS o. ._~ CULTIVATED

THE

MIND •-

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is gross and degrading . that h' h ·
·
'· ~· - '
eleg·ant; and what is deb~sing a:ci ~crut~\ h.umanisin~ an.d
full of sympathy and human k' d
. s ' that ;which ,18 1 '
.a nd unfeeling also.
rn, ~ess~ ,a~d what, ~s.•se!_fi~h
,..

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Sm1LEs.-As music tunes the ea
d
· - · t;i{
tuto.1• .the .eye, 80 workt:1 of taste refl. r;h an . fine colours ,
d
M t e mmd. A good
mus1c1an lS pained b
colours, and refin~l t~:~~rb' ~ good .artist by ill-assorted
manners · . · .
Y vulgarity and uncourteous t

a·

de~icate

~~-ar.

't.~l:·::

A·
exotic cannot
th "
·-: · . "'.: ..
thrive in the same soil witl
e rough wmds, nor
a well-cultivated . mind en~oco~:on flowers ; neither can
sensual and low cornpanionJs. y
e . gross a~rmsernen~~ ·i~~:i

An unvitiated palate will t
.
.
; · ; , •.
· fi u~i with disgust from un..:
wholesome food . and
11
equal .aversion to' vicious pf:asne me~ltal pa}ate will feel .
,
.
ures arn associates. · ~ n·::i:
'I here 1s as much difference b t
·· .
· . i 'r
and one uncultivated as bet e ween a cult1~ated mu1:d :
mallow, a pine and a ')Um kinween. a pelargonmm .and a._';
apple, a melon and a ~ucu~be;. a cia~-tree and a garq~i;i.-·.
A cultivated taste may be cor
; .'. · ..... .,
mind uncultivated to a heath or de~fr.~r~dthto a 9arden, a.;i
ab.le to domestic sociability -the
1, .e one is favour- .
tlueves and vagrants than' f
f . otd1er .1s more fit for .
social enjoyments.
'
or nen Y mtercourse ~nd.J
rrhe rbngh diamond the un or l d .
, ' ' . : ·...,
18
on the sea-beach and the
~ le pearl, the cornelian
.
'
prcc10us metals in th
·
h
e ore, ave f
· very little beauty and are unfit :C
·. th.e mind which h~s not been oli or ornaments ; so also t
. plishm ents may be fit for th
p k shed by elegant accom.:. ·1
. very ill-su[ted ..to the socia~ ~ar -~t and e~chang_e, hu_t is
... friendship. : ··
··
r~si e , an:4 i,nt~ro?.ange C?f
Tl G .
.
.. ' . . , .. ' . i . . .. : , ,:·· i r
· · le rca.t Exhibition in the Cr t 1 · . :· '· . · ·· · ·>'.: ·~'..
,, 18pl,.wa,s , th e greatest dis la ofs a Palace m the year f•
.. elegance ever beheld by ma!. ~nd ~he works of art and .
2 ~for its social a:nd humanising 'influenc:s n? I.es.~ remarka~le ·:
.

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f

1.7~~~

THEME XLIV.

'I'HE SOCIAL BENEFITS OF A . CULTIVATED MIND,

H1sTORICAL lLLUSTRATroNs._:_Sir Walter Scott was re·
markable for his fine taste and his social habits.

. · W ~rks of taste are those which are employed about the ·
beauties of . nature, and whatever is excellent in the fine~i:
arts : The pleasure of such works arises from the notion'
that th~re is some real excellence, some superiority ifi,'.
those tlungs that please, . to those that do not please.- ;.
Dr. Reed.
·
r

Southey, Coleridge, and vVords\~orth, are names well
known for their highly cultivated mmds, and. love. of the
fine arts 1· tbey are no less well-lmowu for thell' social and
domestic balJittl bf llf~.
'
C. Cilnius Mrecenas, the greatest patron of the fine ~rts
that l{ome ever produced, kept open h~nse fo~· e~~ry literary mun, and was proverbial for his socrnb11Lty and
amiable manners.
Savage tribes are so accustomed to a nomade life, that
the tw~ terms are synonymous : on the othe.r hand,
urbanity (Latin, urbanitas) means polished behav10ur and
city or social life.
N othiug more refines the taste and polishes the manners than Christianity, in so much that Mrs. Hannah
More expressively calls ~t. Paul ''. t~e paragon of'.~ gentleman .·" At the same time Chnstians
. ,,are noto110us for
their "fellowship and ::;ocia.l commnmon.
.
The fellows of a University are men of the most cultivated minds, and the ~ery name by which they are called
indicates their social habits.
The proverb says, " there is no comprr:nionship a1:nongst
thieves ·" by which is meant, that wickedness is subversive 'of friends h'
· ip.
The ancient Athenians and the modern French, both
notorious for their love of the elegancies of li.fe ab?ve ~11
the nations of the world, are notorious for their somal dispositions also.
QuoTATIONs.-Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever
things are lovely, whatsoever things ar~ of good. report ;
if there be any virtue, think of these thmgs.-Phil. iv. 8.
Delicacy of taste, like delicacy of passion, .enlarges the
sphere of our happiness, and make~ us sensible of plea:sures which escape the rest of mankmd.-Hit?ne.

'I

So far as the imagination and the passions are con:
cerned, I believe it is true that the reason is little con·'.•_
Rulted •; bnt where disposition I -. where decorum
, where ·r
.
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congruity are concerned-in short wherever .the ' best .
taste differs from the worst, I am donvinced that the un- ..
derstanding operates; and nothing else.· Dugald Stewart.
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.

Ou~e generate a taste for wha~soever things a1;e noble, ·:,
ben.ut1f'!l, and good, and you raise up a disposition and ,
··
,
wish to secure them.-Dr. Jo1zes.
Good hopes ' may always be entertained of thos~ ~inds -;
which have a ta:ste · ~or the polite arts, which is always~!
favourable to social VIrtues : but he who is devoid thereof '·1
. youth, prone to low gratifications' i;'.is a most unprom1~mg
and vulgar compamons.-Dr. Blair.
·

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S~ience is as much indebted to)iterature · as lit~;atu;e ,
.
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is to science.-Dr. Jones.
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It is of much c~ns?qu~nce. in the education of the young
to ~nc.ourage T their -mstm~t1v.e taste for the beauty and I;
sublumty of~ ature. !Yh1le It opens a source of pure and /:
permanent enjoyment, It has consequences on the charac- '
ter and hap~iness of future life which they are u~able' to

foresee.-Alzson.

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Works of taste are calculated to o'ive ~en an interest::.:
in every. being that surrounds them, ~nd amid the hours ''·I
of curiosity and delight, to awaken those latent feelings of
benevolence · and sympathy from which all the moral and
i11tcllectual greatness of men arise .-..Alison ::. .,. · . ." 1·,,· ,. '·,1
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A cultivation of the imitinctive love of the beautiful and

sublime lays iu the mind the . foundation of an ' early 'and '·
n manly piety ; and amid the magnificent system of 'ma- '.·t~·
icrial signs in which men reside ·gives them the mi(l'hty'! 1::.
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174

key which can alone ~nterpret .them.: it bids them look
upon the universe wluch they mhabit, not as the abode
only of huma,n cares and human joys, but as the temple of
the living God.-Alison.
The attentive mind,
. By thls hu,rml'.luious action on bo1• powera,
Becomes herself harmonious : wont so oft
In outward things to meditate the charm
Of sacred order, soon she seeks at home
To find a kindred order, to exert
Within herself this elegance of love,
'l'his fair-inspired delight : Her tempered powers
. .
Refine at length, and every pass~on w.ears
A chaster, milder, more attractive mien.-Alcenside.
It tells the heart,
He meant, be m11de us to behold and love
What He beholds and loves, the general orb
Of life and being ; to be great like llim,
Beneficent and active.- A!t:P.nside.
T hus the men,
vVhom N atnre's works can charm, with God himself
Hold conycn~e : grown familiar, day by day,
''Tith his concPptiom~ , act upon his plan,
And form to this the relish of their sonls.

Alcenside.
Orp11ens' 111te was strung with poets' sinewR ;
\Yhosc golden tonrh could Rnften steel and stones,

Make tigers tame, and hnge leviathans
.Forsake unsotnH1Pr1 deeps to dance on sands.
Shakspeare.
The man that hath no music in himself . .
JR fit for treason , sLratagems, and spoils ;
The motions of his spirit are dull as night,
Aml his affections dark as Erebus :
Let no such man be truste<l.-S!wkspeare.
Omnes artes, qme ad humanitate!n perti~ent, hahent
quoddam co1:im1me vincu~um, et quasi cognat10ne quada~
inter se contmentur.-Oicero.
·

OF •cc c~As~"·: PUNISHM~NT.

THE JUSTIOE

THEME XLIV.

·

17~f

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,; Ingenuas d~diciss~ fidelit~r a~te~ .'. ·' r: _'1 :n \r_-(f•0d, !i~·J!hr '"
" fl 'j l/. ri nf
·. Emollit inores; nee sinit esse feros.· Ovid. :,' · 1· .1. ·' 1. .
·
· v
·. "- ' ' ' V'9 ~
Cognitione naturre et scientia beati sumus.-Cicero. l;_ ;,~;~1't
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CONCLUSION..

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XLV. lVhy should a whole Class be ."turned···
down," when one or two Boys of i't do :not know the:
appo~nted Lesson f
. ( . ' ,, : .. ' ;1 ; ' ,. nu'

THEME

PART I.

11

"

.; ; ,

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f .J' '. '"'·': ii;:~;,iJ..q_·

lNT~ODU?TION.-I.t has been. customary in larg~ school~:-;
from tmrn nnmemorrnl, to plimsh a whole class for the default of one or two of its members . . ·. The <mestion'. to' be
considered is tlYs, By what authority; and 9y what'argu.:. '
ments, can such a long-established custom be defended? ·,:
lsr REAsoN.-It must be both wise and just because '
it is ogreeabie to the dealings of God with man:. ; and as
the .Tudge of the whole earth can neither do wronO' nor ·
act unwisely, it•may be presumed that his creature~ are
Justified when they follow his example.
·
·
2No REASON .-It cannot be considered pewliai· because
it is in exact cn1~fonnit,i1 with tke general policy of hmnan
fJovermne11ts : Thus when King J.olm offended the Pope,
the whole kingdom of England. was . laid.. under an · in- .
terdict .
31m REAsoN.- It is not really unkind, because the same
custom obt 1ins hi soci~d anJ du1uei;tic life. . .
.
.
4rn R EASON.- l t is not unnatural; . but, on the other
hand, is sanctioned by the whole economy of Nature: , ,
'l'h~rn if one member of the body is diseased, or inattentive
1
to its proper functions, the . whole body is made a sufferer.
-. 5rr~ REASON •.- I t is agreeable . tO J!nalogy,' ~.ec,ahse a ,
class 1s a c7rporate body, anq not 11:~. a~gregatio°i o~ ; .de~,
tachcd and mdependent parts. In ac1vic corporat10n,.. the
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THEME x:i.v.

176
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whole body is responsible for the act of any one member ·
in his corporate capacity, so also a whole class should be
amenable for the conduct of each individual in the "same
form."
6TH REASON.-It is found by experience to be most
excetlent potic.v. Be fra~tory boys 1 who are not to
reduced to obedience in any other way; may Le reclauned
in this. Many a stubborn temper which woul? bear up,
"like a flint '' with the severest corporal pnmshment, or
sullenly con~ign himself to lon.g solitude., won!d sl.mdder
to involve a whole class of lns compamons m lus own
punishment. 1J1is fe eling is in accordance with that ?f
David wben he saw his subjects dying by thousands 111
pnnisl;ment of his own pride, he cried in agony to his
angry God, "I have sinned, but as for these sheep, what
have they done?"
7TII REASON.-lt is no more it11j11st to punish a whole
class for the ~fault of one or two of its members, than to
reward a whol(:l school by a holiday for extraordinary individual merit or success.
8TH HE,\soN. - It is almost essential f or the master,
who could not afford time to hear the same lesson twice
through.

OF

·n CLASS" .. PUNISHMENT.
S.t.1per1· 0. I' "po· " 'ers" .. ""

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Were we, to. press, inferior i~ight be ours ;
,.
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Orf in the full creation leave a void, . . ;. , . ~ · .
r·:· '·
Where, one step broken, the gr.eat scale's destroyed: · ~ ': ·
From Nature's cbain whatever link you strike, ' · 1 " ' :•1,;
_T enth or te l,l-thousandth, ~ l·e aks thfl r,haiu alike.· ..- ' -ii•:;; _·

h:

Sum.Es. -One comet disturbs the motion of a whole
system.
The Romans h eld any day unlucky ( n rfas tus) for ever,
on which any defeat ha.cl ever been_ sustn.i1: ed. by them :
as the sixteenth of ,June, called di es All11'11sis, because
the Roman army was cut to pieces by the Gauls on that
day, near the banks of the river .A.Ilia. ri. c. 390.
If there are two queen-bees in one hive, the suj)ernumernry queen is banished, and a whole colony compcllecl
to "flight" with her.
When one member suffers, n.11 the members suffer with it; anu when one mcmLcr is honoured, all the members
rejoice with it.-1 Cor. xii. 26.

JUSTICE

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: ·~

"'Pope: ·

If any link of a chain be broken, the . whole ·chain' is .
affected.
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'l'he contagion of disease shows plainly how the sound
are often involved in the sufferings of the µnsound. :., · . Iii
·l

H1s'roRICAL lLLUSTRATIONs.-All the posterity of Adam
suffer death ·and <l!sease " through the ·' diso~edie~qe of'
one."·-Rom. v. 19. ·
·
:·"
1 • • ···.·11
All Israel suffered, and 70,000 died of the pestilence;·:
because · David sinned "in numbering ; the people."-.- .·
2 Smn. xxiv.
.
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All the mariners of the ship in · which Jonah sailed·· • . ..
were in peril of their lives, because . J oriah was disobedient
·~
to the commands of God.-Jun . .i.· 4.. . ·,.' :_; ·" ;, ., r.i :. ·. , .'i ,1
All Egypt suffered by numerous plagues,' because Pha:. +
.
~
raoh "hardened his heart and would not let the children '
. ~
of Israel go."-Exod. iv. to xiv. ;
. .. ' · .~
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All the sons ayd ·daughters, as well as the oxen, asses, ~- -- . ~
and sheep of Achan were stoned to death, because Achan
·
_;
stole "a goodly Babylonish garment · and 200 shekels cof ..
--;
silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels 'Y~igh.t," from ,,
~
the cursed spoil of the' city of J ericho.'-Jush. vii. 21. 24. 1.·
·1
The city of Troy, w~ burnt with fire, and its)nhabitants. ;,
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put to the sword, because Paris eloped with the wife , of, ·.
-=
Menelaus.
- , ,. i 1'·: ·, • : ' ; • ' !_'
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If a father is attainted, all his posterity sufre~ the loss:
_
of his rank and title.
·
·
· ~ m -.. ' 'ii ;
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Boroughs are disfranchised for the corrup~ion of -~~rt~in· _ ·: ~~
of ·.itffvoters ·- ~ ·.. . ·· "·" ·· ·'
· '! · · ·'.'-: tu'i"/i '.:,: · · :
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· In cases of rebellion, citizens, regiments; · and ships'· ·'
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178

THEME XLV,

crews, are often decimated, and every tenth man put to
death.
The whole clan of the Mac Domi.lds, which dwelt in
Glencoe was put to the sword in the reign of vVilliam III.,
because Mac.Jan ne(J'lected to deliver in his terms of submi&J&Jion by the firFit~ of ~T ammry, 1(}~~, aicconfo1~ to the
terms of the proclamation.
The whole city of Athens was destroyed, because one
of its inmates irritated Sulla with a persona.I lampoon.
France suffered great loss from an invasion by . William
the Conqueror, in 1087, because the Frenc.h monarch
made a scurrilous jest upon the English sovereign.
QuoTATIONs.-I the I1ord thy God am a jeal.ous God,
visiting the iniquity of the r.n.thers upon the cluldren; to
the third and fourth gencratton of them that ltato rne.Exvd. xx. 5.
The Lord Goel merciful and gracious, .... visiting the
iniquity of the 'rathers upon. the children, and upon
children's children.-Exod. xxx1v. 7.
'
If the people of the Janel
do any wise hide their eyes
from the man, when he giveth his seed ~o Moloch and
kill him not; then will I set my face agamst that man,
and against his family.-Lev. xx. 4, 5.
See also Leviticus, xxvi.
As for you your carcasses shal~ fall in ~he wilderness,
and your children shall wander m the wilderness forty
years.-Numb. xh'. 32, 33.
How often is the candle of the wicked put out? ... God
la ye th up his iniquity for his children.-Jo!;, xxi. 17. 19.
Thou recompenseth the iniquity of the fathers int? the
bosom of their children after the111: the Great, th?. Mighty
God, the Lord of Hosts, is his name.-Jer. xxxH. 18.
rrhe seed of evil-doers shall never he renowued.-Isa.
xiv. 20.
The light of the wicked shall be put out, and th~ spark
of his fire shall not shine : His root shall be dried _up

THE INJUSTICE OF "CLASS" PUNISHMEN'l'•.

,

beneath, and above · shall ·' his branc!i : be ·cut off.~ob,
xviii. 5. 16.
·
· "; · q~- . Our fathers have sinned, and we have borne their in- '
iquities.-Lam. v. 7.
" .. · .,. · · \ · 1 ·· ~ · t .:, i. ··.<1.1l
, , David says ?fa c~rtai'n. man who had ·spoken e~il ag_a.i~~t .
him 11 Let Ins children be fatherleM, and h1S wtte ·.a.
wid~w: Let his children be ·vagabonds and beg; 1:<):11 • .
Let his posterity be cut off, and let their name be blotted
out."-Ps. cix. 2. 9. l3. " · · ·. · · ... '' '.:. i
",,.Q
The vfrtuous son is ill at ease,
; · · ·- "·
· Pope.
vVhen the lewd father gave the dire disease.The 'least. confusion but in one; ·not an .· · : •· '. ' .i~ .. ·1 , ·
,• i
· 'rhat system only,' but the whole must fall :
· '; · ·"·
·Let enrth unbalanced from her orbit fly, ·
!~
l"lanets and suns run lawless thrOligh the sky ; ;· )·:11
Let ruling' angels from their spheres be hurled, . 'v. :.i.t
Being on being wrecked, and world on world ; · :· · ·~!
·
Heaven's whole foundations to thei~ centre nod, ·: '.,
And Na tu re trembles to the throne of God.~Pope.
.
.;
A litUe lel\ven leavens tl'ie whole lump,-1 001:• v.'.. 6. - ~
The tongue deflleth the whole body.-James, iii.
>i'
' · If thine eye be evil, thy whole body sbiill be full of
darkness.-Matt. vi. 23,
· ·
r: · ; · ·;
' · ' '. -~.JJ _
'
. "'0
Agentes et con~e~tientes pari pama plectentur;
· ·

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CoNOLUSlON, ,· ·, · , , ,

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XL VI. Why should riot a : ivhole _(!las_t!_':be
"turn.ed down" when one 01· . two Boys of it do ·not
lcn,ow the appointed Lesson? ·
· \ · · ·''' ........ :i; l :u

THEME

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PART II. ,CON."
,, -,' . ( '" )" (.~.,.()
· ·INTRonucrrnN-.-The custom of punishing ati entire class
. for the fault of one or two idle ·and disobedient· boys,,, has

rz m

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180

THE INJUSTICE OF

THEME XLVI.

often been the subject of severe animadversion. The followin<T
ar<ruments
are worthy of consideration.
0
0
lsr REASON.-A class is an assemblage of boys joined
to(J'ether for the advanta.qe vf the master, and to promote
th~ progress of each individual by emulation and nwtual
agsistance: '!'his classification of numbers differs widely
from a family or a corporation.
2ND REASON.-God never punishes the innocent for the
guilty, but makes every man bear his own burthen.Deut. xxiv. 16.
SRn REASON.-ln the case of human governments, a
nation is punished for the offences of a kiug, because it

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, 8IMILES.-lt Would be extremely unwise to destroy a,
wJiole nest; }?ecatise 'Qne, ~gg' iifaddlep ..;'·:-:;· :}·: ~ · ;:r :;i .r . ··:
it wouia' be the: 'or it ' i:nadhitin' to r ~ut'
ti 1 whol~
.
1
tofest of tree~ because 'one o~~ ,.i~ .· b~~'t11 d, · ,' pr, ; ;?~~ .,_~~~
withered.
,
· .
. No one would discard, th.e . e'ntir_~ , 't~rbp: . bt- a fruit 1~~ee, ,
b~cause one apple is rotten at the ;fore, one.cherry oitte~ .,
by the birds, or one aprico~ preyed1 on _bJ. .el1r:~ig~ a~d ~q~~: .
Almost every tree has one or twp ~ithe,red ' le~r,es ' ;o ~ : .
s~pless branches, yet the treei m~Y . ~~ pe~lth~, p~~h.~9 11 ,,M
urnamental.
· f,• ;· a-.!) ~
What huntsman would p~ni~~' ~ ,,,w~,o~~ ~P!t?~' ,f,e,?,'~se . •
· ·: · ..· . ·, ~, · i . ' r., , 11 1 , t .
(>nehound· isatfault? ·
· What coachman would punish a whole .team 1' oecfliuse _
Qne horse stumbled · and broke his knee,s ?.~
'.~ -.~ ,:»-:::(·~ '.!:
·~ One tooth may ache from·. disease, but .wJio wouldr re- ,:
commend the sufferer to hav~ all his teeth extrac,te~; .'a~~ .
not rather to direct the attention of the d~ntist _t? th!J part
diseased?
·
.. ·- · i :· - .c, ,.J

act

in the Trojan wa.r, though Pans alone comn11tted the
offence, yet the piQple became abettors of his crime by refusing to give up the adulteress at the demand of :Menelaus.
4rH REASON.-. It is unreason able to punish a num\Jer
of boys who have been industrious, and have done their
duty, because one or two of -the same form choose to be
idle and disobedient.
, 5rH REASON.-It is disheartening to a class to feel that
its success may be marred. by the demerit of one or two
of its most refractory members.
6TH REASON.-It is an act of p ositive injustice. The
master is to instruct and govern, the boys are to learn and
obey · so lono- as any one boy performs his duty, it is
positi~e injustice to subject him to punishment because
some one else deserves censure.
7TH REASON.-It is very bad policy. It encourages
. idleness in the idle, is a triumph to the malig1mnt, dis. pirits the industri.ous, aml mak es the punisl~rne nt of
offences more promrnent titan the reward of ment.
8TH REASON.-If a class should be tnrne<l down because
one or two boys have been negligent, then, a fortiori,
those few nfrocliJry bpys shou ld be rewarded, because .the .
class generally lf as nierited prq,jse:

•

1,

: ·. . : ..· ,'. • · .. ~ .\ r:·_ . ... ;, ; .. I,:"~ \ ~~-

directly or indirectly participates i·~ his miscondu~t: Thu~,

down

'.,,

Jf the fathers have eaten, sour grapes, the children's " ·
teeth are not set on edge.:'...:..Jer: :Xxxi.' 29;<~ .. : '.' ,, ,:~ )
~.
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181 ~?:'~

PUNISHMENT.

·'
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·~:Ev/ ~,,
13
~,. .9TH REAsoN.-It does the rnas,t(!r li.m'. m in t4e opin!on :"~ :W-::
of his pupils,' :when he
sacrifices their
happines~ to his
own' ~J'l
!.
. ,,.< .1 q 1 · ~·· • r • 1
, 1 -':• 1 ." · .1"
.. ,\ ,,1 ,,,f,
,
•· ,
convenience.
·
·· " ., ,_ .I,.. .,.. :.., ,•
, ,,Jl
·- lOrH REAsoN.-lt creates a bitter , p~r~;c·~ti:n,[/ 1 sptf'tl . · .~.:,.
1
aih~·ngst tAe boys themselve'.Y, and ~auctions their: ill-teniper .
aild spiteful humour agairi.~ t ·l ~ ·~choolfell?~:: who •has : i~.i: ' , .
V-olved them in disgrace;' · · 1 1 : ' '.~- ~.: ' '. :' 1 ~ : ;. :"' ,. rn·1 ,),, r.a!- •
i 1t it RIHMN.' . If the def'aqlter. wer,e '- require'd .to Write
the lesson .out, the cla~s \vtiuld ,not' be ni~d.e 'sufferer's, ''b rit. :·
1
the idle and disobedient 'al on(} would b~.' :subje9~ed to ' dis~ .
grace and personal labour. · ·_/ ·. ' '. ' ~ · .,_: ":. ' · . "' ~'. ''..1 u;·b>
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182

.~j.
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i

THEME XLVI.

It' would be intolerable and iniquitous tyra.nny to send
a whole parish to prison, because one of its inhabitants had
committed felony.
Amaziah, the son of Joash, king of Judah, "did that
which was right in the sight of the Lord," for "he slew
his servants which had slain the king, his fath er, but the
children of the murderers he slew not 1 acccirdinPi unto
that which 1s written in the law of Moses, wherem the
Lord commanded, saying, The fathers shall not be put to
death for the children, nor the children be put to death for
- the fathers, but every man shall be put to death for his
own sin.-2 Kings, xiv. 1-6.
It is not customary with kings, in cases of rebellion,
even to punish all the rebels, much less the innocent ;
but the most notorious only of the ringleaders are selected
for exemplary punishment.
When a whole city is punished for the insurrection of
a few, it is because they become partakers of the crime by
refusing to deliver up the delinquents. In this case, the
citizens are not put to the sword because some of their
number have been guilty of treason, but because they have
committed a fresh crime in refusing obedience to a just
demand.
Abaz was a very wicked king, hut Hezekiah, his son,
trusted in the Lord God of IsraeL and the Lord was with
him, and he prospered whithersoever he went forth.2 Kings, xviii. 5. 7.
All the apostles were not rejected, because Judas
proved a traitor, and betray~d his Master to the soldie~s
of the high priest.

TnE INJUSTICE OF

I(

CLAss"

PUNISHMENT.

183

Every man shall be put to death for his own sin.-·
_IJeut. xxiv. 16.
Every one shall bear bis own burthen.-Gal. vi: 5. ·' ·1
· Go~. will render to every man according to his deeds.~ Rom. u. 6.
.
·
. ' - ~
'·' ' · Every one shall receive his own re_ward according ;~o
' his own lnbour.- 1 Co<r, iii. i . . . .- . r: ~ ~ : 1 , · ... ,.- 1 . ..
0 Lordi thou renderest to every man according. to his
work.-Ps. lxii. 12.
· - ..
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. 0 house of Israel, are not' my ways equal? ~· .-. 1 will ·
Judge Y?tt, _O house of Israel, every one according to his ·
ways, saith the Lord God.-Ezek. xviiL30. :·
,
·-·
· Better ten guilty escape than one innocent man suffe~. '
. -Blackstone.
·
· · ':.
, ·
.,
_J u~tic~ would not punish .even' S~tan wrongfully,...'....·
. Fielding s proverbs.
·
t·
?
Megl~o e liberar dieci rei, che condannar tin innocente.
..
Actus me in vi to factus, non est meus actus. · '· -· · • ~. -.
.Cavendum est, ne .major peen~; quam -clllpa :' sit...::
Cicero
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Cnmen necessitatis non est criminosum.-Oicero. , ,•. ~ .
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-CONCLUSION. ; •• .••

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END OF PART I.

,_

QuoTATIONs.-The soul that sinneth, it shall die.-,.
Ezek. xviii. 4.
The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither
shall the father bear the iniquity of his sou ; the righteous-*
ness of the righteous shaJI be upon him, aryd the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon bim.-Eze!c. 4viii. ~O.

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THE IDEAL .AND THE REAL,

'
.· THEME
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CAUTIONS.

l

1. NEYER begin a theme thus: The ~neaning of this theme i9 . . . .
This theme means ....
We understand by this proverb ....
Our 81tbject teaches 1ts ....
&c. · &c.
&c.
2. No argument or illustration is admissible in the Intro. duction. • A void, therefore, the words f01·, beccmse, fo1· example, '
for instance, &c:
. · .f'. : 'fry ·to write in the third person_, an<l not in the first or
. second. ·. In other words, let the predicate of the theme be the
leading nominative case, an<l not the pronouns I, you, we, oitr,
and your. ·, ·
·
4. Preserve the same person unchanged, from the Introduction to the close of the Argument. Be very careful not to
write the Introduction in the.first person plural (we), some of ·
the Reasons in the third person, and others in the second (you),
or vice versa.
5. Historical Illustrations must bc.fiicts, not fables.
'l'hey should always refer to human creatures, or superior
inteiligences, and not to inferior animals; much less to the
vegetable or mineral world. ,
_
No mere novel, no Arabian night, no tale of the Gm~ii, &c.,
can be admitted as an Historical Illustration, although'. any of
them may serve excellently for Similes.
6. The Argumentative part of every theme should be the
longest. Let the Introduction never exceed one-eighth, and
rarely equal that proportion, of the entire the.sfa Let the
Historical Illustrations be terse, and short as possible.
7. The Conclusion may be written in either the first or
second persons (we yott &c.).

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The Ideal afforfls more .P~~ur_~
than the Real. • .. : . . __. ;· ',· .::
'

' THEMES IN WHICH THE INTRODUCTION 7 HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS, AND CONCLUSION, ARE
. ' FOR .'THE MOST p ART 01IITTED.

· : 1:

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PART II.

XLVII.

.,

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_..,

INTRODUCTION.-·-Pleasures arising from the imagination
and uQderntanding l;J..;J;e fa,; ~rna.tr,r . thft,n t,ho~m . whieil\ per..
tain to the senses.
·
.
.
' ·- · '
·i
.
. .
'
lsT REASON. -There is no lassitude and weariness ·iii ,
ideal pleasure8; but routs and balls, banquets and spec· ·
tacles, soon tire and exhaust the physical powers, depress
the spirit, and render both incapal:>le of sustai~ing the
. same enjoyment.
.
' : . - ·.. .'. ' " · ' i
2ND REASON. -There is no satiety to mental .and
imaginary joys; but the most luscious sweets, and luxu·
rions sensual pleasures, soon pall, and immediately .the
feeling of satiety arises, any further continuance of the
same thing produces positive pain and nauseous disg\lst .
3RD REASON.- 'l'o ideal pleasures there is no _disap. pointm11nt: The pleasures of imagination, the enthu~iasm
of poetic rapture, the ecstasy of mind created by some
masterly idea, , some inspired sentiment, or the description of some heroic deed, depend not upon others, or up~m any
combination of external objects, but solely upon the frame
· of mind which creates or apprehends them : such pleasures,
therefore, unlike those which address themselves to the
senses, are not marred by a frosty look, or . unkind· word, ·
or a cloudy sky, or . careless servant, o~ " trifle light as
air," over which there is no control. · 1 ·: · • • • ' '~~'7· · · •

.

4TH REASON. - Ideal pleasures are. . always " g1'. e~t~r;
more magnificent, a1id more endur£ng, than realities : No
actual enjoyment ever equals the picture of anticipation, ·.
or continues so long, so fresh,
and
so ."enascible.
· ·, .
·,
.
'' .
I
•
5TH REASON. -In the _purest, happi~st, and best of all
carnal pleasures, the reminiscei,J.ce .of it ·generally supplies
more Ii vely and enduring delight, 1than' i_ts '., ac~u~l; ~njoy;ment.
·
. •.-.. ·\ · I ~ ~ -·
.. -; . . 6TH REASON. -The capacity. of enjoying/ mental and .
ideal pleasures is increased by indulgenc~: But by sensual i
.
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THEME XLVU,

pleasures the physical powers are debilitated, and become
dally less capable of enjoying a repetition ; till, at length,
feebleness, mental imbecility, or disease, renders them a
weariness to the flesh, and a torment to the mind.
,7TH REASON. - Ideal pleasures are always real, but the
laugh and noisy mirth of the gay world are often hollow
aiad J1tie11•ol1•ioious ,

'SrMILES. -. -As fairy-land is more fascinating than the
homely realities of common life, so the ideal affords more
pleasure than' the real.
Novels are, for the most part, more absorbing than the
unvarnished narratives of simple history.
" Castles in the air" are always more magnificent than
the homes in which we dwell.
Flowers are more bcantiful nncl o!lorom1, tlrnn tho
grasses and vegetables whi ch supply us with food .
No kingdom, among men, was ever so abundant in gold
as the fabulous island of El-Dorado ; none was ever so
perfect as the Utopia of Sir Thomas More.
As thought can tra vel faster than any locomotive, so,
also, it can preparn " a feast of reason a nd a flow of soul,"
infinitely more to be preferred than all the dainties of the
visible world.
A .s mind is superior to body, and its powers more
capacious ; so, also, its . enjoyments exceed in interest the
enjoyments of the body.
H~sTORICAL

ILLUSTRATIONS . . ...

QuoTATIONs.-All true happiness is in the mind.
,
.
W oulclst thou exchange
The sacred volumes of the dead, the songs
Of Grecian ba.r<ls ... for the lot
Of him, who sits amid the g audy h erd
Of mute b:trbariaus bending to his nod,
And says within himself, "I am a king."-Akcnside.

THE IDEAL ...AND TH.E REAL,

~ 1 • i <':; ·1 '. ·:1

•' ::: .. ,.·_:· ; i Askth~'faithful youth,· ,. ;.-:i/: J"'h ·,
Why· the ·cold, hr~ her whorp. Jong he loved ,.·;1_. •
1
··So often fills his arms ; so often draws
·,JJ;
His lonely footsteps 1 at the : silent hour, . . : ; '/ _.r,-1:
To pay:thei mour.nful ti;ibute o( his tears ? ,. r ·
. Oh I he willjell; thee, tµat the.;wealth of worlds i°J':i
, ~hou~d: qe1e,; sedace pis bosom. to forego 11 1:.
.. \:n
rhat ;sncre,!'.l.. hprll.4:\\'.hich. .tutns, ]lls,tear~ to rapture . .
rJ:\· :. :;::i· ·
'' '
, ;.,,: ; .
. , A~fJf!s_ide. ·
." ',i .. . •. · . Not : t~~ bJ,'il;l~s , · " -. . . · . .. "t~11;
or,sordid wealth, nor all the gaudy spoils '' :··!·r
Of pageant honour, can seduce to leave o: .
<<L·
Those ~yer~blooming sweets, which from the store
Of Nature fair Imagination culls ·
" ' ··~, ·' ' ' ,:,.
To charm the enlivened soul.-Akenside.
·'"
·
1
Oh I ten-tim~s faster Venus' pigeons fly ' i; •i< •,n:ii'~
To seal Love s bonds new-made, than they are wont
To keep obliged faith unforfeited I
·!;'1j.{ ·
Who riseth from a feast .
.
,'f. · , ,
.· _W:ith that keen appetite that he sits down?
: l "P.
Where is the horse that doth untread again :1 .1.1~ ~l.T
His tedious measures with the unbated fire
/
'fhat he did pace them first? · ,All .things that ate.
1
Are w~th more. spiri~ cha~ed than enjoyed... .., ;'.~ ~'.
How l.ike a younker or a prodigal,
. . '· ~1 :: .::
. The scarfed bark. puts from her native bay,' ' . · : ::~~ ·
Hugged and embraced by the strumpet Wirid f I ~~?
How like the prodiga~ doth she return
· "' .,, ':f•!·
With over~weathered 'ribs and 'ragged sails/ ·." r: .f:n:~
Lean, rent, and beggared by the strumpet" Wind',!->
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· · ' ' Shaksp'eare• .
Blessed be .th~ da~ I 's?aped tpe wrangling' cre\y, •
. From Pyrroh's maze, and -·_Epicurus' sty ; ·. ·' .• ; h-~
And held high converse with .the' godlike few · .'n
. Who to th' enraptured heart, and ear, · and eye, .:,
' ~'each beauty, virtue, truth, and love, ...and melody.- ._
Hence ye, who srrnre and stupify-the mind,' ti,: :;h.1
!':· :
': Sophists,
beauty,· virtue, · joy, the bane! '\" .·:t:.
_-.;,\>;·: Greedy and fell, though impotent an~ blind, <i~r- .>;:i;}

of

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THEME

188

.XLVIll.

Canst thou forego the pure e.t~ereal soul
In each fine sense so exqms1tely keen,
On the dull couch of Luxury to loll .
•
Stun with disease, a,nd stuplfleu ~1th ~pleen '
. gto i'n1plore the aid of Flattery s screen, ....
F am
.
· t d ·d
Beattie
And impotent desire, and d1sappom e prt e..
Cerea imagine largior ardet ignis.-Horace.
.
Ex cogitatione lretitia et maxima voluptas.-Oicero.
Voluptas literarum est pura.-Quintilian.

~

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THEME

XLVIII.

The second Blow nialces the Fray.

INTRODUCTION. . . . .

.

One blow may be the stroke of a ;ust
lsT REASON.f ther strikes his son for some
chastisement, as when a ~
·1 or a magistrate a de-

grave offence, a master his pup1'
linquent.
f
- It is essential for the very .nature o a
2ND REASON.
·t' s at least should .be hostilely opposed
qnarrel, that two pa1 ie

if

to each other.

The find blow shows the anger o an
3~D REASON.-. f . th~ fray . but the return blow is
ass(11 lrrnt to ble npetl1~~ his adve:·sary is also prepared to
needful to s iow
<
•
enter the lists with him.
.
1
1
0
4TH ltEASON .-1'hough t:v ;:~~eo~~e~~% ~;L~ ~~~vi:t~le
offended at endi other, yet 1
'fi h · 'se "it is an
blow be
given m sue a ca '
w-i·zz. ensu e. If a
<
,,
assault, and not a fray.

!0 .

~~~

, . 5r'fc REAsoN.~As kindness begets 'kindness, : so anger ;\:J
stirs ~1p ~ng-er, and neitl~er can . subsi~t ' .in ' an ,vncongeni~ l ·:i,;;
element.; Thus, witho~t z:eciprocity, ~oth ki~dnes~ .. ,an(1. ·, '(!
'~rathmust ' presently rdie: . ' .·· .· _ · · · ,. '. ·· - .: !; . ~;,
.:.,.'
6rH R.EASON:~-.Every ma11 is ashamed of lt_is anger, and
requires the countenance of an adversary to make it,easy '. '
·to him : If no a.dvetsary choose$ to feel otforided, the rage
of ari angry man is smothered· by ari intuitive perception
of its uselessness and folly:
·: .. , ' , ."
· ', · '·' ;'.
7n1 H.EASON.-When a blow · has ·been given, if · the
injured party could m~ke up his . mind to receive it with
Christian forbearance, and without resentment, ii he would
heap co,als of fire ' ()nJ1is (enemy's) head,.":·· . ' \ . ' .-; :. . -~
1

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CoNCLUSION .. · · ·

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9fS9 ..~~

THE SECONb ' BLOW MAKES THE FRAY.
. . . . . .. .
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vVho spread your filthy nets in Truth:s ~air fane,
And ever ply your veno~d fangs amamBea. tt.ie.

··; :~~a~~~1 ~

I

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S1MILEs.-No lightning can . be elicited without the
collision of two clouds · in a state of antagonistic · eled".' . ·~
tricity.
··
· · ·• ·
. No hurricane can ravage a country ·unless there be
two states of atmo-sphere differing in heat and density. · ..·1
. An oak tree which I:esists the gai'~ i~ often biown d~wh"
by the tempest, but the reed which bends to the blast re. mains .tiilirijured in its ·bed;" " : . r ·: ·
. · ••
., . : ~'
.As the Isis at.its junction with the Thame swells into,.,,
· the great river Thames, so the blow of a defendant,
added to that ,of .ai:i assailant, swells into a ser.ious fray. : .: .
The sea dashes with great fury against a rock which
.resists its tide ; b.u t where ·nothing impedes its flow; ,and ·
· ebb, its undulation is regular and pacific. . · . 1 -·--: <.'; ·
. The electi:icity ·contained. in a Leyden jar remains. undisturbed till a discharging rod is applied~
; :. :) ~:~
, :! : Oil poured on a ruffled sea ;allays th~ ' ~welling of , the ·,
waves 1 qut angry winds: pr9vok~.,.tl:iem to grea.ter fury, ·,, ,
1_
~ - The best way to, heal a .wounq . is to ,wrap it up in-its
,.own blood, but t.o probe it and expose .it to irritants ,is to ·
s'increase the sore.
.--·;; ·!·: ·: ·\ . 1. '·; ,; {
A

L:n

·.,r

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HISTORICAi,

ILLUSTRATIONS.

·

_CtEANLINESEI~

190

THEME XL VIII.

QuoTATIONs.-Dea.rly beloved, avenge not yourselves,
but rather give place unto wrath. . . . Be not overcome
of evil, but overcome evil with good.-Rom. xii. 19-21.
Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear ::wy grudge against the
children of thy people.-Lev. xix. 18.
Say not, " I will do so to him .as he ha~h done to me :"
I will render to tho mo,n according to h~s wo;rk,-Prov.
xxiv. 29 ; see also xx. 22.
1
Abstain from strife . . . . for a furious man will kindle
anger.-Eccles. xxviii. 8.
If thou blow the spark it shall burn.-Eccles. xxviii. 12.
Y c have heard that it hath been said, " An eye for an
eye, and a tooth for a tooth:" But I. say unto yon, ".Resist not evil : but whosoever shall sffilte thee on thy right
cheek turn to him the other also."-Matt. v. 38, 39.
Itecompense to no man evil for evil.-Rom. xii. 17 ;
see also 1 Tlies. v. 15.
Be pitiful, be courteous, not rendering evil for evil, or
railing for railing.-1 Pet. iii. 8, 9.
'¥here no wood the fire goeth out.-Prov. xxvi. 20.
Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.-Lnlce, vi. 37.
As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a
contentious man to kindle strife.-Prov. xxvi. 21 .
Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out.Prov. xxii. 10.
Leave off contention before it be meddled with.Prov. xvii. 14.
It is the glory of a man to pass by an offence. -Prov.
xix. 11.
A man that revengeth keeps the wounds green which
would otherwise heal and do well.-Lord Ba.con.
He who does the wrong is the aggressor ; but he who
returns it, the protractor.-Lord Bacon.
Forget and forgive.
Bear and forbear.

is

, 1gnosd~o srepe aliis nul?-quam Ubi.~-fubli~s ~yru;. H-J~ _ ~
. J ~rgia prirnum, mox rixre · in prrelium exarsere:...;:;: Tacitus.
,
· · ·
. ._. " ,,i ,
·

·

·

•

· ·r

•

,;

·.:,1-1i<•

Et rixa est, ubi tu pulsas, si vapulo tantum:-Ju~enal.
Omnem memoriam discordiarum oblivione SempiternO: .
delendam censeo.- Uicero. . .
.
· .. ' ' ..j -•f{·
Co.NOLUOIO.N,

'

ii

I

I

ii

•
THEME

XLIX. . Cleanliness is a Pearl of the jirs!i' .
· water.
· · · · ·'
!

~

.

INTRODUCTION.
' ' ' . ;;,: H
.lsT REASON.-Clcanliness is an emblem of purity ' ~f
~md: thu.s the Chur~h (the L~mb's bride) is described i,
m the book of Revelations, as bemg arrayed in 1ine linen
clean and white.-(xix. 8.)
.
,. ,
·~ ~ ; ~ r
2Nn REASON:-It is a mark of good . breeding . . Those
who are. very ill-clad, and ill-fed, are instin?tively, averse
to clean_lmess: 1st, because the warmth · of dirt is agree- ;
able to them ; and, 2nd, because cleanliness increases ~
hunger, which they cannot allay by food.
' . . . ~ :; -..
-3RD REASON.-lt is a necessary concomitant of poli"re:l
ness and respect. Even the operative and the rustic will '
, w~sh his body and put on his clean holiday suit, if .he :
wishes to show honour to a day or person. -,, ,:, r -• ~. '. ; : ·,~
4!H REASON.-;--It is a letter of recommendation a1~d 'a"
motive of affection. A babe, to be lovely, must also be
clean ; and even old age i~ not unamiable, provided it be
· p;eserved clean ~nd unsullied : Whereas, dust and filth in
either are repulsive and disagreeable. , ,
; · .- · . '. ·
· - 5TH REASON.-It makes · us' easy to 'ourselves. - Th~~e
who are dirty, untidy, and unclean, are ashamed of being · .
se.en and taken notice of.
·'
,
·.
6r,1:1 J1:E4SON.-It is essential for the Pr~~~r:atio,;,

oj?

·::: ~,, · n

192

·~ ~lf.i· ·~-- -.~
THE FRUITS OF LABOUR AND GIFTS OF FORTUNE; ~J03 1,

THEME XLIX.

health. 1st, It assists digestion. 2nd, It preserves a
healthy a,ction of the skin. 3rd, ~t ke~ps the P?re~ of
the body open for the escape of the .msens1ble perspirat10n.
4th 1 It prevents many cutaneous chseases, &c.
7rH REASON.· It conduces to purity of m~n~ and
~anne?·s · for there exists such an inseparable mtimacy
betwixt the body and the mind, that it is utterly impossible for one to be long sullied, and for tha othar to ri . .
main uncontaminated.

·~

-

. '

"~t.:.

.

'·:2

Why is pretended cleanliness place_d among the virtues? ·;;
-Lord _Bacon.
.
·
'. ': · . · : :· .. · ' . 1 : ' ':~{ff. ':;
Wa.sh you, make you clean; put away the evil of your .-~.
.doings from before mine eyes.. Isa. i. 16. ·
, · · .; :. <i> , • ~
Let us cleanse ourselves from ·an filthiness of the -flesh :'
anrl ·spirit.-2 Co1· vii. 1.
· ( , ·:Nf' :!1
. In thy filthiness is lewdnee~.-·Ezek ..xxiv. 18. •' · ,;;~t~ · ~:l
Munditia illecebra animi est amantium.· -Plautu$. ·t:;i;r·
Munditiis capimur.-Ovid. ,
. 1 . , ., • _- . • :--, ·:; ~· :• ..
Pura cum veste venite et maniqils puris.-Tibullus.::/~j,.'
··'-'·: •·4
Squalid us orba fide pectora career habet.-Ovid. . >c•h· ·Mei:etrix reperit odium ocius sua immunditia.-P;lauiu1•• -:.
.
.
.
.
...
·.;:~~~
CONCLUSION.

•

SrnILEs.-Spiders and vermin of every description infest a house or room which is neither ventilated nor
cleansed.
Sewers, drains, and dunghills fill the ai~ with. noxi?us
gases, and afford harbourage for every thrng d1sgustmg
and unclean.
Iron, steel, tin, and even silver wiH s~on ox_idise, unless
they be kept free from damp and every 11npunt.y.
When a garden is infes~ed ~vith insects and weeds, all
its trees and· plants lose their vigour and beauty.
Rooms ill-ventilated and dirty generate various diseases.
Miasmata and malaria are produced by impure effluvia
in the air, rising_ from putrefying substanc~s, n;nd the
noxious emanations of stagnant water =. nothing is more
pernicious to morality, cheerfulness of temper, health, and
even life.
·
·
Clean water makes a sweet, healthy, and exhilarating
beveracre
· but foul water produces cholera, and many
0
other most' painful d.isorders.

•

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·-

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•

.,_

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':PHEME

,l ;

-

\('1 • ' . :

HISTORIOAL ILLUSTRATIONS. . . · · ·

·1

.

,. . f,!

..•

'~

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1.

~~· · ;'

+~,--

L.-The Frui"ts of Labour are 'sweeter th.a n ··
the fl ifts of Fortune. . '
. ~: :;: .)
•

'•, . : .
.
QuoTATIONs.-Cleanliness is next to godliness.
Beauty produces love, but cleanliness preserves it.Addison.
Cleanliness promotes both health of body, and delicacy
of mind-Addison.

' •'

·,

'

'

I\
~ ... ?

'

lNTRODUCTION.-That which · we earn by labour " and
merit gives us greater pleasu!e than that which we inher~t
or receive as a gift.
· 1 ; -;,~t
lsT REASON.· The fruits of Labour are full .o f good
Ii.ope;. being the produce 'of personal toil; they ·are ~ ari . :~
earnest of future success : But the gifts of Fortune bring O:~
no assurance with them of subsequent favours, and their - ·_·;~
recurrence can never be relied on.
. :·. :, ,· ,~
2ND REASON.-There iey somewhat of.· the .feeling ;of"
"•
paternity in the fruitful produce of personal labour, which ·
.
is always sweet to the mind: The wages of Labour and the
gifts of Fortune resembl~ two so.ns, one ,of which . i( th~
offspring " of our own proper loms," and the other , th~ · ~
legacy of a defunct relative. .
· · "·: 1 !" - ~
":> 3Rn REASON.-In the earnings· of · hone.s t industrr.·no
feeling of obligation burdens the mind with a sense of
17
I
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/

194

·'

THEME L,

unworthiness : But every gratuity is a species of sln.very, .
and the weight of the bond materially detracts from the
pleasure of the gift.
4TH REAsoN.-Success, the result of merit, yields both
reputation and praise: But the gifts of Fortune bring with
them detraction and envy.
5TH REASON.-lJ1dustry and personal merit create an
appetite mu!, tapucity jbt the ei!joyment of their fruits :
But the gifts of Fortune and the gratuities of J?avour
generally mar their luxury, by being the testament of departed friends, or the doles of heartless clmrity.
6TH REASON.-The fruits of industry are used more
prudently and providently tqan the gifts of Fortune : rrhe
prodigal, who receives the goods be never earned, is apt
to waste them "in riotous living," and to eat afterwards
" the bread of so1To\v ;" but the man who earns his prosperity with the "sweat of his hrow," knows its vitlue too
well to "run into riot and excess."
SnnLEs.-The first wheat-sheaf of harvest will afford
a husbandman far more pleasure than twice the quantity
given him by a neighbour.
An author enjoys his own work more than that o[ any
other man.
A mother loves her own offspring better tlrn.n an
adopted child.
A fisherman enjoys the tench caught with his own
hook, better than the salmon served at a friend's table.
The fruit from our own garden, especially if the tree
bas been planted, reared, and pruned by onr own hands,
is more delicious than that which comes from the market.
Men of wealth, who would scorn to receive a hare for a
present, will undergo the greatest fatigue with delight in
order to procure one in the clmsc:
V cry few birds will approprin to an old ncr-t iu preference to one built by themselves.

THE

FRUITS OF LABOUR

AND

~{;'

HISTORICAL ·ILLUSTRATIONS. . . . .
· · i.·

;,p

GIFTS OF FORTUNE.

.
QuoTATIONs.-Labour is the salt of life.

;:~
-.f·'~

; o,.:;... ~

r'.

-~

·r

'' (;~

That which we earn is'.doubly sweet.
''-·;·. ·.~
Venison is sweet of one's own killing.
. . ~i.X. ,,£j
Win it by play, .and wear it proudly.
:I Y~
· · ( .llfl!n) r~jolce ttnd are glad, they sacrifice unto:' th
net,,, and burn incense unto their drag.-Hab. ·i. 16. 1 r;
. Blessed .is every one that feareth the .Lord • · .~ •.. .,~;
thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands, and happy sh
thou be.-·Ps. cxxviii. 1, 2. - ·
. ·. . . · ··q

'iii/i

. Gl~rious is the fruit of gq~d labour.-Wisdo~;
Honours best thrive,
When rather from our ·acts we 'them derive, ·'.. ' :!
Than our foregoer's.-Slrnkspeare.
:: ·· '.i'
111
. Will Fortune never come with both hands full,
But write her fair words still in foulest letters ? ·
She either gives a stomach and no food
· ' .-1 · 1
.(Such are the poor in health) ; or else 'a feast ··'·'f.
And takes away the stomach (such are.the ri~h' ,·1
1
That have abundanc.e and enjoy it not).-Shalcsp~a
G~me is cheaper in the matket, but sweeter in ·fi~
Fi·ed. I hate fat legacies I
.
~-­
.Sir R. _Bramble. Sir, that's mighty singular~ :: Th
11re pretty solid tokens of kindness, at least. · ;f'. /
· Fred. They are very melancholy tokens, uncle~,!·. ~
are the posthumous despatche!'l Affection. ·sends to Gra
tude, to inform us we have lost a generous friend;
Opbnan. ·
. ,. ::!'

the

·:>.

.

.

'. ·, '.· .1?·:

.,. CONCLUSION.. , . .·

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: . ij

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("

:1t~~
t _) ~

. r.,:-,

196
THEME

!
f

I

I'

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THEME LI.

one is willing to lend a helping hand, to set the fallen .~
traveller on his feet again: But when they are the result ~
of indiscretion and wickedness, as often as the sufferer . ~
attempts to rise, every one thrusts out his hand to "pus!i ')
him froni his stool."
, '"· .'J

LI. ·The Evils iue bring on ourselves are more
bitter than those whi'ch are lai'd upon us.

INTRODUCTION. . . .
«
lsT REASON.-When evils are uncleserveu, their bitterness is greatly mitigated by a sense of consciou.~ innocence:
But when they ara a punif.l]nnent, for folly or Rm, il}CY tu·e
accompanied ·with the bitter remorse of selfaccusatwn.
2ND REASON.-vVhen calamities come through persecution ~nd injustice, the heart is allowed to spend its grirf
and relieve its bitterness by complaint: But when they
are the result. of sin or misconduct, the stings of grief
strike inwards I and irritate the
bleeding heart.
•
3RD REASON.-vVhen misfortunes are undeserved they
~.r:cite the symplithy of neighbours and fhends, w~1ich, like
"the oil and wine of the good Samaritan," relieves. the
pain of the innocent sufferer : Bu~ when they are ~nented,
t1ie general voice pronounces the Judgment to be Just.
4Tn H.EASON.-'l'hc innocent sufferer has great consolation in the assurance, i• that his light affiiction, whic~ is
but for a moment, worketh for him a far more e:rceeding
and eternal weight of glory:" But the 9uilt)_' st~ffcre~ on~y
looks from his present bondage to "fiery indtgnatwn ui
the day of wrath."
5TH REASON. - vVhen misfortunes happen to the
rirrhteous, they "can rejoice and be exceeding glad," in
tl~e full conviction that God who suffered the cl~ud to
overshadow them will also give them "sonf{s u.i the
night:" But when the wicked suffer, they s11;tfer witlwut
hope.
Grn REASON.-The evils that are bid upon men by
God are wholesome chastisement.~ for their improvernent:
They are a proof of love and of sonship, for "what son
is he whom the father chasteneth not?" l3nt the affiictions which the wicked draw upon themsclvP-s are the
penalties of sin, and the bitter wages of tL broken law.
7Tn REASON.-When cabmities are uudcscrvctl, every

THE BITTERNESS OF SELF-INFLICTED EVILS,

1

._.

a

SnnLEs.· -If ship is found to contain water, the crew ::
would feel the e'V'il to be muoh more eeriou0 if it pvo"· ~
cecded from a leak, than if a wave had broken over .~he ~
vessel.
·.' '--:,
~
Pain that proceeds from disease is far more ·dangerous
thai1 that which is the result of some. external injury. ·~·;
Whep. a chimney smokes because the flue is leaky' or
()therwise defective, the evH is far more diffiGult to cure,
than when it smokes from a supm;abundance of collected
soot.
·:r
.A tree that is withered from disease will never shoot
forth again, 'Qut many evergreens which havei:,een bli~ht~d
by pinching winds ·grow more vigorously and lux~na~!~Y .,
after they have been cut down.
•· . ~ ·
.- \Vhen the water of a steam-engine refuses to. boil,
because "furr" has accumulated upon the sides of the '
boiler, there is great danger of an explosion: But when th_e -~
water remains below 212 degrees of heat, because the fire
applied to ' it is not sufficiently intense, the remedy '., is
simple, and the evil without peril.
.
'
The classic poets al ways exaggerate those sufferings
most, and ·paint ·the1i1 leading to despair, wherein t4.e·
. person accuses and tortures himself.--Lord Bacon. ·': ·•'
'\Vb.e n the glass of a window is full of flaws, ,every ~ .
object seen through it appears distorted ; but when it 'is
covered with a transparent blind, the light is only partially
· obscured.
·
"•i:j

<

..

I
,.J
!

HrsTO~ICAL

'\
ILLUSTRATIONS.

. ,.t:

.~. ,.., •

'°

QuoTATIONS.--An innocent mind can find cqmfort on

·l

a ;bed of thoi'ns.
17*

: ~ ...

.•

~~
'~

198

f

THEME

LI.

Virtue exalts her favourites above the frowns of Fate.
The external misfortunes of life, disappointments,
_poverty, and sickness, are light in comparison of those
inward distresses of mind occasioned by passion and
guilt.-Paley.
Our disordered hearts, our guilty passions, nnd mis. pbced desires, sharpen the dart whi ch all versity would.
otherwise point in vn.lu against U8.. 'Ibylvr.
'rhis is thank-worthy, if a man for conscience · toward
God endure grief, suffering wrongfLtlly: For what glory
is it if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take
it patiently? but if, when ye do well and suffer for it, ye
take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.-1 Pet.
ii. 19, 20.
Let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or
as an evil-doer. . . . Yet if any man suffer as a Christian,
let him not be ashamed.-! Pet. iv 15. lG.
'!£/
They (the Apostles) departed from the presence of the
council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer
shame for His name sake.- Acts, v. 41.
Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and slrnll say all manner of evil against you
falsely, for my nume sake: Hejoice and ue cxceetling
glad . . . . for so persecuted they the prophets which were
before you.-Matt. v. 11, 12.
I take pleasure in infirmities, in r eproa,ches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distress, for Christ's sake.2 Car. xii. 10.
Ye took joyfully the spoiling of your gootls .-1-Ieb.
x. 34.
It is a noble satisfaction to be ill-spoken of, when we are
conscious of doing what is 'right.-Alexander the Great.
Seque unam clama,t causamque caputque malorum.
Habet prenafl:l noxium caput.-Livy.
CONCLUSION . . . . .

'

CHRISTIA~S

THEME · LIL

.

~

THE SALT

".

OF

THE EARTH,

Ye (that i's Ohr'isti'ans) are the
the Earth.

S~lJ,1oj 1
:.;': ,'.J

INTRODUCTION. . . . .
~ .
lsT REASON.-Christians are compared to salt, because
~litJy prt!utJn~ ~!ttJ ,ipl'ead of mort-el aorTup Aio1i 1 Oi8 brine . preserves meat from putrefaction.
,··,·
2ND REASON.-Th ey e:calt a nation, and give it a grace
in the eyes of, t!te world, as ~alt gives a piquancy ·and
relish to food. Thus, 'l'arsus is honoured because it ·
was the birthplace of St. Paul; and England owes much
' of its glory to its saints and martyrs, and its faithful pro"""'
fession of the Christian faith.-Job, vi. 6. and Prov._xiy}4 •. ,

'

· 3RD REASON.-As salt is very searching and penetrative
in its effects, so Christians search out evil, in order.' to
· arrest it; and send misRionaries into the dark corners of.the
ea.rth, to diffuse t!1e light of truth over those who 1are
"sitting in the shadow of death."
.
! , ·'-:

•

4TH REASON.-As brine imparts a saltness · to what- '
ever it penetrates, and assimilates everything to itself, so
Christianity is very aggressive in its character, spreading
from heart to heart, and family to family, and nation .- to ·
nation, antl assimilating a.11 to "the image of God." .ih 1·
· 5TH REASON.-Salt is essential for the preservation of
health; and as nothing is more pernicious to health than
dissipation and sin, Christians (who by precept and ·-·example, persuade men to ·a holy life) bring " strength to
their navel and marrow· to their bones."
·. · 6TH REASON.-\Vi th out salt life would soon become
extinct, and if there were no ·Christians, the world would
s_oon again b~ "dea.d in ire.passes and :sins." . . fr·~· ...;.
7Tn REASON.--As fli es n,re kept from meat by the presence of salt, so much folly and frivolity, slander and back·
bi:in;J is .ch.ecked by the . gravity and b1;otherlyJoy,e .. ~f ~
true Christian.
·

200

THE VALUE OE'. , PERWDIOAL LITERATURE,

THEME Lii.

Srm~Es.-Ohristians may be compared to light, which

"

purifies and quickens.
As leaveri spreads through a whole lump, so a Christian
influences a whole family.
As the wind "bloweth where it listeth," without being
seen so the power of Christianity is "sharp as a two' sword,'' !Jut "cometh without
.
edged
o1Jserva t"ion. "
Christian n11ss10naries in a heathen land dispel ignorance and superstition, as a lamp dispels darku<;ss and
gloom.
As the eye is the light of the body, so Christians are
the light of the world.
Lime prevents infection, purifies sick chambers, and
disperses noxious efliuvia: So Christians, by precep_t and
example, prevent the infection of sin, and punfy the
charnel-houses of idolatry.
Christianity, like incense, spreads its influence around
amonrrst men and rises at the same time u1Jwards towards
0
'
heaven.
HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS. . . . .

,,.

QuorATIONs.-Let your light so shine before men, that
they may see your good works, and glorify your Father
which is in heaven.-1lfatt. v. 16.
A little leaven leaveneth the whole lurnp.-Gal. v. 9.
Have no fellowship with the unfruitful 'works of dark·
ness, but rather reprove them.-:-B)Jh. v. 2.
Heaven doth with us, as we with torches do,
Not light them for themselves; For if our virtues
Diel not go forth of us, 'twere all alike
As if we had them not. Spirits arc not finely touched,
Bnt to fine issues; nor Nature never lends
1-'he smallest scruple of her excellence;
Ilut, like a thrifty goddess, she determines
Herself the glory of a creditor,
Both thanks and use.-S!wkspcare.

•

201 .:\

. .The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which · a
woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till . t.h e
1 .. ,,:_,
. whole .was leavened.-Matt. xiii. 33. .
Virtutis enim laus omnis in actione .consistit.-Cicero.'. '
CONCLUSION•....
· ·~

.

THEME

LIII.

~

;

..

Poetry and well-conducted Periodical,s
..,
are not without thei"r Uses.

._. ... '
INTRODUCTION.....
'.. ~.h ( ·~.-::. ..
lsT REASON.-They exercise the reason without fatiguing
it, by leading to inquiries, acute but not painful, profound
but not abstruse.
·
·
''1. ' •
2ND REAS~N.-The most .industrious .cannot · be' al~dy8
;"engaged in business, nor the most serious employed upon .
gra.ve studies: All must have vacant hours ; and it is far. ;~
. better to spend them in amusing literature, than in rout~, : ' .
and balls, or sensual enjoyments.
· ·' · · ·
" " i_ 1:_ • ')

,_

. :~;

:: ~;

;

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3RD REASON.-The elevated sentiments and high. ex- , .
. 'amples which poetry, history, and judicious periodicals
· bring under the view of their readers, naturally tend ) o, ·, ·
nourish in the mind a love of glory, a contempt for eve_f y: :. :
thing base and mean, and an admiration of all that · is :::;
. illustrious and good. Although the impression may not .
be durable, yet is it wholesome to rouse the feeling, and
make the mind sensible even of the most transient Senti·
Jilents of honour and virtue.
r ,4TH
REASON.-Poetry and well-c~nducted . periodicals~
may be made most valuable auxiliaries to the cause of · "'.
sound philosopliy, useful science, general knowl~dge, gospel morality, and frue happiness.*
, . , ..
,

r .

,

. •'!

• The Tatl<'r, Etpectator, and the Guardian deserve the gratitude of every
Englishman for breaking clown the Impassable barriers between schoolmen
and the men of the world, for diffusing throughout the :µatlon the urbanf.,
.
..
1*
/

:··>i,

202

..

THEME LUI.

THE VALUE OF PERIODlCAL LI TERATUR E.

•

•

All arts and ·sciences owe their worth to the love of
the beautiful rather than the useful.- Wieland.
•

---

,

,.JJ
i

.,
!

··~ )

I ',~

t

trr

\Vorks of taste introduce us into a new and model ,
world, and improve and enlarge the mind like travelling. ,
-Dr. Jones.
.
·,
· · .·
;.''

rrhe use of the fine arts is to apply and recommend
the dictates of reason to the imagination, in order. to
excite the affections and will.-· Lord Bacon.
.
·

. The Creator has his " periodicals '' as well as the press :
flowers that die in a day, animalcule of infinitesimal mmuteness, shadows and sunshines, the twinkling ·
of stars, the prattle of the rivulet, the spray of the cascade
and the hues of the rainbow.
'
Collections of leaves, shells, insect~, bones, ores, autographs, &c., are generally made to perform the service of
poetry and periotlicals, although occasionally they are
employed for more important purposes. vVhatever the
· object of the collector, the pursuit is innocent laudable
.
d .
'
,
amusmg an rnstructive.
Concerts of music, gn.ll erie8 of paintingR,· lectures, &c.
t end, like poetry and periodicals, to relieve the mind and
iustrnct it.
·
l;i g ht literature may be compared to the sparks which

·-·..-..-··--

.

-~

QuoTATIONS.-All study is to be valued, not 80 mu~h'
as an exercise, of the intellect, as a discipline of humanity. '
-Lord Bacon • · .,,;i,
·.
·· · '
•
.
.
.

ms~cts an~

---~~-

·-:

-. ;

HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS . . ·...

S1MILES.--Flowers afford amusement instruction and
.
'
'
many a feeling of great moral value.
'l'he stars arc not needful to give light upon the earth,
but. they ".declare the glory of God," and preach " most
excellent wISdom."
'fhe painted butterfly is not to be compared, in solid
worth, to the industrious hcc and frugal ant yet it can
tell its tale, and point a moral.
'

ti es of. refinem en t, nnd mnking Infidelity, Immorality, nnd vnl gttrlty nt lenst
unfnslnon nble. lo our own dnys, lllnckwood 's ~lngnzin e, Chnmbers' .Journal
th e Penn y and tho :O ntur<lny Mognzin cs, the Lltemry t:azelto, th e i\ th onmum:
nnd several other p erlodlcab, llave maintained a wholesollle Influence and
deserved popularity.
'

'

scintillate from burning wood ; much wisdom may be ·
·learnt if the mind is disposed to search it out ; much .
pleasure may be derived, if the mind is disposed to be :·
pleaRed ; much annoyance, if the temper is censorious; and .
much injury, if common judgment and prudence are not
exerted.

~TH _REASON.-,All literar! amusements have a healthy

social influence: They furmsh men with relaxation at
home, and prevent the necessity of seeking it in places of
obj ectionable public resort.
·
6TH REASON.-The popularity of the fine arts and of
periodical literature, causes a vast nwnber <?f pers~ns to be
employed ?-n hwnanising stndies; and the leavening infiu~JJ.I:~ Qf U1rn hm1t of nnt.lrnrn must t end to bl'eak down ige
norance, prejudice, grossness, and vulgarity.

-~-

203 .

Plato would have all boys taught music as well . as .
mathematics.
·
.
:\ ,
Rhetoric and poetry,' by" plainly painting virtue : and
goodness, render them, as it were, conspicuous ; for as
they cannot be seen by the corporeal eye, the next degree : ..
is to have them set before us as lovely as possible by the ·. · .· ..
ornament of words, and, the strength of the imagination::.: · :;;
-Lord Bacon.
·
. . ·· .
· :·~~ ,__;
These polished arts have .humanised mankind- ·~
:~~, ~_;
Softened the rude, and calmed the boisterous r:iiod. ; ' ~:
-~
1 Addis~n~~.: '
•

Horace maintains that more practical philosophy is to .: ·.·~~
b.e learnt from Homer, than from Cra~tor and Chry- -:::,, ;
s1pp1rn.
, " : ·1
·-·;:

·:.~

CONCLUSION...

"

. ...

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204

&

'l'Hli:ME LIV,

"

•

'~

THEM~ LIV. 'Phe Study of Ohem£,try and Natural
Phi'losophy i"s attended with i'ncalculable advantages.
INTRODUCTION •••••

lsT REASON.-Chemistry and Natural Philosophy afford
·
a most valuable auxiliary to revelation:
( 1.) Ry 1•op1100onting in " Tiflible glorieH,u the "etermtl
power and Godhead ;" and making " known to the sons
of men his mighty acts and the glorious majesty of his
kingdom."
(2.) By increasing man's admiration for the infinite
skill, omnipotent power, unceasing benevolence and unfailing wisdom of the Almighty, so wonderfully 'displayed
in all the operations of his hands.
(3.) By creating a feeling of profound humility and
nw~lest~~ What an insignificant being docs mnn nppcnr
aumlst the great and marvellous works" of G o<l I " "What
a poor pitiab.le speck of per~shing earth I" 'l'he fanguage
of the Psalmist must force itself on every mind that contemplates the wonders of the heavens above, and of the
earth beneath, "Lord, what is man that thou art mindful
of him, and the son of man that thou shouldst visit him?"
( 4.) B-y converting admiration anu humility into reverence and veneration.· So "great and marvellous are
thy workss, Lord God Almighty ; so just and true are thy
ways, thou King of saints,-who would not fear thee
and glorify thy name?"
( 5.) By showing the wonderful condescension of God
to man, especially in regard to the redemption' of the
fallen world. "'~hen the student of N uture looks upon
"the heavens and the heavens of heavens,'' nnd remembers
that God " sitteth on the circle of the earth and all the
inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers ·"'or when he
dives into the' bowels of the earth, "which i~ his footstool,"
·will he not :lSk with Solomon, -will this God "in very
deed dwell with man upon earth ?" and he will nllow with
St. Paul, that "the love of God, whieh is in Christ Jesus,
passeth all understanding."
·
. ·

1-..

·- ---

-·----.---

·:::::!::d

205 :. ': ~
".)_·£

( 6.) By' inspiring a; full assurance of hope and con- _ ~
fidence, though the . "elements shall melt with ~erven.t ·· -~
heat, and the earth and all the works that are thereiti be dissolved,'' yet "shall these dry bones live," in newness
of life, "by the energy of that mighty power, whereby"
God is able to subdue all things to himself.''
· \· . .'t.:~ ~
2ND REASON.-The study of Natural Philosophy' rids:<
mmi q/ nmch flrror and prejudice, and · implantR in their.:- .-;
stead more 'just and philosophical ideas of nature· and her.c ')
·
'
·'
· ·
· - ' "::;' ,divine Creator . . ·
3RD REASON.-It gives mn,n a.lmost unlimited powe1·. ;':~ J ·:
(I.) The astronomer, by his calculations, is forewarned
and forearmed against the " skyey influen~es."
' j -<;? · .
( 2.) The geologist can see into the strata of the globe/ ~ :
direct the search after metallic ores and beds' of -· coalt i ~
subdue the earth to the purposes of agriculture, bring
·
water from a depth of mn,ny ,lmndreds of feet for ' that
supply of busy cities ; and while "he holdS the · earth-. itr;~. · ··
his hn,nd,''. may be said indeed" to subdue it.'' . .'· ··i'."•''FF' ( 3.) The botanist by his knowledge of herbs fias .po_wer' "
over life and death, sickness and health. · , · · . -·· . ·· r:i t;1 :.
( 4.) The chemist can guidfC'. the lightning; and bid 'it;
11
thus far and no further ;" can command steam to obey_)' .
his _will, can use the sun as an instrument of his pleasure,9. . ,
and do all things but create a~d utterly destroy. . . ... · '.-· :,
· ( 5.) The knowledge of mechanics gives man a strengt4 :. ' <superior to a giant ; that of hydrostatics and hydraulic~ 1~ · . _•
gives him the mastery over wn,ter ; . that of optics ov~:i; .~·- :'>,
light ; and that of pneumatics over the" circumambienf. ;
.··
•
: . -' . · · . '
· .,-,:~-- air/'- ·
· ·
4

1

.

,,..
' ..

<;

•

'

!

'-f""--.,...

I~.

':;f...t,•1

4Tii REASON,_:_It invests creation with an ever-varying,.»

tind neve~-ending c!ta1'm, gives a tongu~ to every star, ~",t
~nd

stone, and minutest . insect, and makes life an in tel-. ,
._·' '._, 1 - _ . . - '" •• •• :~tr; _
lectual treat. ·,/ " '. ·. : ;, ,1. :
· ·: 5TH REASON.-It enlarges the mind; fills it with vast :··
and magnificent ideas, and raises it above the meanness _:,
p.nd baseness of ·selfishness and folly.
, ; , . "~-.
- PTH REA.SON.~ltaffords in}inite delight.
•.. '.. ,· , _ ,-,. ~i -:";
J~

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-"- - --

ADVANTAGE OF STUDYlNG TRE "NATURAL SCIENCES.

.

.

.

"i'

•·

I.

: 206

..

ADVANTAGE

THEME tlV.

.. Sn.nLEs.-The unscientific may be compared to a man
looki~g at the heavens at night with his naked eye ; the
natural philosopher to the same man looking at it through
a powerful telescope.
1
.rhe unscientific "see and ::;ce not." Bnt the rnn,n of
science beholds ~~le works of Nature through a microscope;
·a new world unfolds before him ; what he once considered
a _b~rren wilderness is found to be peo~l ~ <l wit~1 living
m1lhone ; and what, he uuce ~onte mplated without mterest,
is invested with a charm beyond all the fancies of poetry
and fiction.
The world to the unscientific is like an automaton to
one unacquainted with its secret springs and mechanical
action : But to· him who knows its seci·et, it becomes
obedient to a touch, and does all his pleasure.
As a railway-train, without its engine, so is the earth
to those who know nothing of natural philosophy rtT1d
chemistry : S~ence is the engine that puts the train in
motion, and makes it subserve the use of man.
As a flute in the hand of one who knows nothing of its
stops, so is the earth to one who knows nothing of its
mysteries. The · musician can make the <lry recd "discourse most excellent music," and the philosopher can
find books "in the ru~rning brooks, and sermons in stones."
If you "give that .which is holy unto dogs, or ca.st your
pearls before swine, they will trample them under their
feet, and turn agRin and rend you :" So the " fool" can
look upon creation, "and say there is no God ;" nay, he
can even abuse the power and goodness of the l\fost High,
because he knows no more about it than a dog or a swine
about the value of a gem.
A full-rigged man-of-war presents to the unskilful eye
an in~xplicable confusion of tackling ; but to the practised
sailor every rope bas its commission, every line its name ;
none is without significance, and non~ is useless or
superfluous.
QuoTATIONS.. Great and marvellous are thy works,

OF

.

.

STUDYiNG. TllEf NATURAL SCIENCES. ; 2(}1j

."Lord God Almighty ·; . . . who shaI(not .fear .· thee; ~and
1
glorify thy name ?-Rev. xvi. 3, 4. · . ' : :·.. , •· · '·" " , ; ,
•· I will m~ditate (says David) on all thy works, cand
talk of thy doings.-Ps. lxvii. 12. · . . . · ,
· 1 .

,,).
~1

i:

.

I

I have heard ' of thee by the hearing of the ear, but
now mine eye seelh thee ; wherefore I abhor myself, and
repent in dust and ashes.-Job, ;x:lii. 5, 6.
'
Hearken unto ~e, 0 Israel : . I am the first, . I a.l~o am
the last: l\fine hand hath laid the foundation of the earth,
and my right hand hath spanned the heavens... Isa. xl~ii.
13. Je1\ v. 7:_13.
These are thy glorious works, Parent of good t .
· Almighty I Thine this universal frame
,
Thus wondrous fair. Thyself how wondrous then !
Unspeakable I who sitt'st above these heavens
·
To us invisible, or dimly seen
.
In these thy lowest 'vqrks ; yet these declare
Thy goodness beyond thought, and power divine . .

.1

~
·;~

Milton.
The man who would discard from religion the science
of Nature, forgets that He who is the Author of human
redemption, is also the Creator and Governor of the material universe.-Dr. Dick.
· ..-.
We look thron,gh Nature up to Na.ture's God.-.Pope.
Without an investigation of the laws and economy of
N aturc, we could not appreciate many of the excellent
characters, the interesting .aspects, and the sublime re·
fcrences of revealed religion ; we should lose the full
evidence of those arguments, by which the existence of
God and his attributes of wisdom and omnipotence are
lnost powerfully demonstrated ; w.e should remain des'titu te of those sublime· conceptions of the perfections and
agencies of Jehovah, which the grandeur and immensity
of Iris works are. calculated to inspire ; nor should we
ever pcrcei ve in its full force the evidence of those proofs .
on wh~h the divine authority of revelation is founded:.

.Dr: Dick,

.

.

•

.

· ·.

.

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. ·'

208

. I

THEME LIV.

\

Beings constituted like man, whose rational spirits are
connec~ed with an organical structure, and who derive
all tht'1r know~edge through the medium of corporeal
organs, can. d~~1ve th~ clearest and most affecting notions
of the D1vm1ty cluefly through the same medium ·
.namely, by contemplating' the etfects of his perfection'
as displayed in the visible creatio~.-~. Diq/c.
'
Bluee puwe1· it1.1 vi:silJle iu ~nu ue111011l:!truteu Ly iLs.
effects, we may observe the almighty power of God in his
:works both o~, nature an.d grace : thus, his eternal power
IS understood by the thmgs that are made ;" ... and the
.. g!ory of his power is no less visible in the works of prov1de~ce, wh~reby he. upholds all things, and disposes of
them accordmg to his pleasure.-Ridgley.

II
1·

' Our earth is a star among the stars · and should not
. prepare ourselves by
' it for the conwe, who are on It,
templation of the universe and its Author ?-Iiarl Ritter.
rn1is our life, exempt from public haunt
Finds to~gues in trees, books. in the ru~ning brooks,
Sermons m stones, and good m every thing.
Slrnkspeare.
The highest advantages to be gained from this instructive study consist not in considerations of benefit
or of detriment, but in the intellectual advancement and
inoral improvement vvhich it is so well calculated to
promote, and in its power of invigorating the mind and
purifying and chastet~itJ.g the feelings of the hea~t.­
G. F. Richardson, F.G.S.
Cognitione naturre et scientia beat~ sumus.- Cicero.
. Qui studet omnium rerum divinarum atque humanarum,
vim, naturam, causasque nosse, et omnem bene vivendi
ratio.nem tenere et persequi, nomine philosophi appelletur.
-Cicero.
CONCLUSION. . . • •

II
11
11
I•

,~

,1

•

EVIL EF'FECTS .

•I

OF

LUXURY.

.. .

,

' t

.:;.

·~.

~~

1

. TirEME

·

LV. Luxury.destroys both Independence · and
Liberty.

·

INTRODUCTION •

·

·--

lsT REASON.-Luxury is founded eithe1· on vanity, or
J
'.i
the love of selj:indulgence. · · The vain man is in bondage to
i othor mon'il opinioµs J the &mma.liit, to hi11 own carnal p.p...
. petites.
'
· · 2ND R1usoN.-Luxury is ·a very expensive habit. The
appetite soon cloys with possession, a:Qd must be exyed ·
. by constant. novelties. This craving for change has rumed .
thousands, afid compelled them to· accept of offices and
. places to repair their bankrupt fortunes, whereby their
...,.
independence of spirit, and liberty .of .actio11, . have been
i.
. both destroyed.
.
.
,
3RD REASoN.-Luxury weakens the understanding . and
, vitiates the morals: But
foolish or wicked man can be
· called free, for (as St. Peter says) "of whom a man is
overcome, of the same is be brought in bondage, ·and who~ '
soever committeth sin .is the servant or slave of sin." ·
4TH REASON.-Tbe luxurious are, for the most part,
J
.. meanly attachefl to money, and those _who worship mammon
. . ·"'
., offer up, in sacrifice, their liberty and independence, their
. ease in this life, and their hope of that which is to come.
5TH REASON.-Those who live in luxury are slaves to
· fitshion, etiquette, and rank. · They must not do vyhat
they · wish, but what rank and fashion choose to exact ,,
<'
from them. The disposal of their time, their hours of rest,
· their food and dress, their mirth and speech, their com. panions and amusements, must all be conformed to the
accepted pattern.
1
· ., •
• · . 6TH REASON.-The luxurious are in bondage to ser- .
vants a.nd tradesmen. The cook can mar their pleasure
by carelessness, the tailor or .milliner by neglect, the foot. mai~ by awkwardness, the upholsterer by bad taste ; yea,
. even . • e sunshine and rain may be ' instruments of disapi' •
. pointniel1t and chagrin. · , . .·
\
·
\
'Ith REASON,.:._The heaviest yoke
luxu.ry\ is levity
18*

no

~

or

'

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I

•

210

and luxm·y · itself No luxury like habits of simplicity;
no enjoyment like contentment ; no mirth like that of
nature ; from all these things the slave of luxury is de- .
barred, " because he is in bondage to the world."

.

'

Sn.nLEs.-Luscious foods soon cloy and vitiate the
appetite.
BrilliauL culuurs 1u1u glu.rlng llght soon weary and
distress the eye.
Powerful perfumes are most offensive to the sense of
Sifelling.
Wheat planted in a very rich soil grows rank, and runs
to straw.
Titilation may cause laughter, but often brings on hysteria, and even death.
·
A chain is a chain, although it be made of silver instead
,,,
of iron.
Luxury is like a shuttle-cock, which requires a constant
effort to keep it elevated, and prevent its falling on the
ground.
HISTORICAL lLLUSTRATIONs.-The physical develapment of plants and inferior animals is fa!' more pe1fect in
t1:opical countries than it is in tl1e temperate regions; the
earth yiebis its produce witluJut labour, the most luxuriant
vegetation, tlte most delicious fruits, the most gorgeous
flowers, everywhere prevail; but what is the case with
man amidst all this profusion l So degraded in the scale
of moral excellence, that he · approaches nearer to the
brute than to the high intelligence of those who are living
in 1·egions where "bread must be earned by the swea.t of
the brow."·
QuoTATIONs.-Fetters of gold :are still fetters, · and
silken cords pinch.
Who dainties love ··
•
·
Shall beggars prove.
Silks and sa.tins put out the kitchen fire, as Poor\ich.ard
_s::tys.· Dr. Franklin.

·: 2 ~.l

EVIL EFFECTS OF LUXURY. .

THEME LV.

Pride that dines on vanity sups with contempt.-Dr.
·Franklin, ' .
. . · ··
··
'
·' ·· ·
Luxury breakfasts with Plenty, diries with Poverty, and
sups with Iufamy.-Dr. Franklin.
...
The carnal mind is enmity against God.-Rom. vm. 'l.
· Know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves servants
to obey hls servants ye l:Hlj Lo \Thom yo oboy, whether of
sin unt~ death, or of obedience unto righteousness.-Rom.
vi. 16.
The. Great w'orship Fortune.-Lord Bacon.
· Lord Bacon.
To seek honours is to lose liberty.Men in great place borrow others' opinions to think
themselves happy.-Lord Bacon.
, ..
. O hard condition I twin-born with greatD;ess, -. ·,
Subjected to the breath of every fo~l,
. .
' '
Whose sense no more can feel but his own wrmgmg l
What infinite heart's ease must kings neglect
...
That private men enjoy 1-Shakspeare.
.
,.
Princes have but their titles for their glories,
An outward honour for an inward toil ; . -·
·And fortftnfelt imaginations,
·· .
They often "feel a world of restless cares.
•
S!iakspeare~ ·
IJ

~

•

•

....

.'

-

•

•

•

_1

•

- - 3'

=.

·'

..

~

Many who imagine · that all things may be bought by
their riches, forget they have sold themselves.-Ld. Bacon.
Why all delights are vain ; but th~t mo.st v~in :
Which with pain purchased, doth mherit pam. --~ . . - ,:4
'
.,.
Shak:>peare.
' . Il ne f~ilt pas manger tout son bien en un jour. ·: ,.
; •t.
Indulgentia nerv~s omn_es et corporis et_a~imi fra~~it.~ _,::-·~
1
1 .
· Quintilia.n.
·
•·' '
1
. Noli tibi nimium placere.
·:·
·. ·:.
In luxuria avaritia.-Cicero. ·
,..

.

CoNCLUSION.: .

.. .

\

. ; :·

.·.

. I

/·

""
~ ~-~-~-~1

. ·. I
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' I.
~

213

LEARNING CONDUCES TO VIRTUE.
'

212

'

_THEME

~onduces

to moral and privQ,te

Virtues.
INTRODUCTION

,

...

~n~~T t REASON.-True learning etnolliates the mind rehe taste, subdues the .fierceness oif the
.
' d
creates
a·
1· l
pa,pions an
a isre isl for the gross immoralities of th'
e unl ettered and sensual.

,

.ft

'1· i~-ft. REASON.~. It takes away levity and insolence of
~~ t .~ t~elf-cfonce1~ a.nd superciliousness are ever the chaf l~ eus ics o an ill-mformed mind. True learnin is t~o
to be
and too sensible of Yts own
c1es o e conceited.
,
l 3RD REASON.-Tbe learned are always niode~t and
. ;·~unbl:; th~y know h.o~v. steep and difficult is ti1~ ath.
f etb t.Ieadl wh~t plaus1b1hty often Iiangs over the opii~ons ·
~mou~~~e ~/~ d1ffy ;rom them, and to what an infinitesimal
< •
'(
. now eCtge
even the best informed have at
tamed. Hence, when the Delphic oracle ronounc,ed
Socrates to be the wisest man of all the earth: that trul
p;r~at. and m.ode~t man declared, llis onl ret . y
this lngh praise was that "he bad 1
,.tY pk ension to
knew nothinO'"
' < •
earnt 0 now that he

d~fico1'efn t~outghbt

~rifling,

o·

4TH:. REASON.-Learning t ends to rniti~ate the fear of

!

1:

. ad~1ers1ty, and to pre~~nt the demornlisi'ng effect of disqi;netude and rare. lhc man who feels in himself resources
" t · rabove the control of fortur1e , i's "lo
"'' nc 1·1censed
" ,o me me to hope -rather than fear;" for thou ·h the
~hub~ans/all upon his oxen, and take them away·" Drnugh
11
e 1fe rom heaven burn up bis sheep tM c'11"ldc
carry
h'is came Is, and a wind from • the wildern
'" ans
. away
.
. esfs
smite the four corners of his house " yet bas 1
w Ith
t
1 a
. raises him
' abo"e tl1es
le a mme o .
ea
un
ouc
le
'
w
Inch
I
·. :
" t bl d
.
.
'
e ORSeS
~ou e . on eve~7.s1de, he Is not distressed . er I~xed
he IS not lll despair ; cast down, he is not destr~ye~.
,
5
f
_R~AsoN.-':rhe very enjoyments and predilections
.l{e.1 my men are favourable to morality and virtue
icy arc not the " mocking wine" and "savoury mes~,;

tl

J!I

;

'. I

.: :

L .

THEME LVf

LVI. L earning
.

!

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of the sensualist ; they are not the hungering and thirsting for uncertain riches ; they are not the dissipation of
.t~e lovers of pleasure, but the seclusion of .literary ease,
converse with high thoughts and the mighty of the earth,
figures and languages, science and philosophy, " the- feast
of reason and the fl.ow of soul."
·
·
• 6TH REASON.. As an active and healthy child grows
: daily in stature and in strength, · so those whose minds are,
· well trained, and actively employed, are ·sensible of a daily
growth in wisd9m. This perception of progression keeps
the m.ind chee?:ful and equable, and prevents. much of the
· ennui and "tedium vitre" from which the uninformed too
, , frequently suffer. , ·
i
7TH REASON.-All true learning is .friendly to truth,
and all truth is c'ifiied to goodness. On the other hand, ig"norance is the handmaid of error, and error.. the paren~ of
' sin. Inasmuch, therefore, as all solid learning must have
: truth for its basis, it must be favourable to· morality and
~virtue.
·
'
· ;·
:
.. . .
~

'

~ · · SrmLES.-.- Learning conduces to morality, as tree~ and

·'

·,•
.flowers to the purity of the . air. ·
·
'
' . .
.
.
.
.
"
, · As light pr<'Jhiotes physical development, so learning
de".'elops the moral virtues.
· ' ·· · · .
· A furnace purges the dross from gold and silver, and
. -:J~arning purges the ~ind from the alloy
error. .
· True learning may be compared to a winnowing · fan,
'. ~hich separates wheat from the chaff.
•.
·:. . As cultivated ]and i~ more healthy, prolific; and -beau~ tiful ; .. mote free from noxious weeds, pernicious exhalar
; t~ons,: and reptiles, than that which is uncultivated ; so,
"
~,also, ..a well-informed mind is . divested . of many foolish
~
'superstitions, vulgar errors, a.nd injurious pr~judices, :whi,c?- __ -=_ j
~ jp~es~.,.t!1~ , ignorant andy.Q.e~u~ate,d . . . ~; i-'1 _ .,.~ _:___ , · _ - ~
• The well disciplined mi~d . mafbe cm:~pared to ·a. ,well- . ~
. trained Arab steed ; the unlearned to ·" the wild · ass's ·-::--:-· ·

of

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214 .

THEME LV!.

1

· ~ s t~ie e~ rth, be~ore it was consigned to man for his
· ~ab1~a.t10n,
was without form and void," but after the
Spmt of God moved on the face of the waters" veas
prououn~ed by the G~·eat Creator to be "very good ;"
so the mmd of man, without education, is no better than
a moral cha.os.
IIJSTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS.

ii

f.l.uorA '~IONs. -Iiord Iia<'on ~:iys that "Bunitas and
Ventas differ only as the seal and print."

1-rn11

All 'depraved affections arc false valuations ; but goodness and truth arc ever the samc.-Lord Bucun.

ft

1111

=~ j_iji

-

i iii

- · I Ill

- !!!!

..

Learning prouuces reflection, a111l r~ection virtue.
Ignorant men differ from the beasts ouly iu their figure.
- Uleanthes.

: Hrl
: IIll
--; 1111
!"II

They who educate children well are more to Le honoured
t_han they who produce them ; for the latter give them
life alone, but the former give them the art of Ii virw
well
0
- :Arist9tle.
•

-. 1

Alexander the Great used to say, "he was more indebted to Aristotle who gave him kno\Yle<lo-c
than to
0
'
Philip who gave him life."
·
Wise men, without law, will lead the lives of wise men.
-Aristophanes.

c

!

It is better to be unborn than untaught · for ignorance
is the root of eviI.-Plato.
'
.
Aristippus being asked what he had learnt by philosophy, replied, "rrhe art of living well."
.
T_otos se alii ad poetas, alii ad geometrns, alii ad
mus1co~ contulerunt, atque in iis artibus, ut mentes ad
humamtatem fingerentur atque virtutem, omne tempus atque retates suas consurnserunt.-Oicero.
Philosopbus non lingure solum verum etiam animi ac
_virtutis est magister.-Cicern.
'
CONCLUSION .....

REFINEMENT °"A NATIONAL

"'.

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BE~EFIT. .

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,r.t<: ; .· ·. . . . . ~ 'rr
. . :--,THEME L VII . . ~ejin~?fient ~ -:~,!JatWi,~a?. f.!,e,rte/f1~.~~,f\·

·

·

· . ···~.

'':.

'~·j:'.·

1

·;.

"'..

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;,, .
iNTRODUCTION .. , .i ~; · , •
· HA~,J:.~·. ; _.;:,(NJ· ,..'ti.'-!¥
~ - ~. lsT REASON.-When the arts .fiou~ish, . mrn ·afr .kept iii ·"-"""'::;;:;;;='=
more con1;tant ernployrnent, and enjoy the fruits of honour_ - -~
·a ble labour. But before a nation has matured into refine~
rnent, its inl,iaLitantA are first huntsmen, then shepherds,
and then warriors ; the mass has no regular occupation,
and even those who are most constantly employed derive'
a very precarious advantage from their toil.
2ND REASON·--:-When the arts flourish, a taste for literature always prevails. The spirit of the age affects all
ranks of people ; the mind, being roused, carries the love
of refinement intg all the ramifications of dvilised life ;
profound ignorance is no longer tolerated ; but prosperity
and peace give an impulse to education, literature, and
every mental occupation.
·
· ·· •
3RD REASON.-Refinement is favourable to sociability.
· The natural tendency Df commerce and education . is to
draw men from solitudes into cities. Literary societies
nre organised, clubs are established, public institutions
founded, and numerous devices contrived to bring men
into closer bonds of brotherly love and mutual intercourse.
~~
~· t~
4TH REAsoN.-The humane habits of a refined people
--~~
have a most salutary effect vpon laws and governments. ~
Cuercive measures are less needed ; the severity of des- : · : ~
potism would be out of character ; and the brute .force
· ..
rwhich is essent.ial to keep in .awe a horde of barbarians, is ·_. ~~~
no longer reqmred.
·
_
--=, -~ .,, ..:>~~ ~
1
' · 5TH ,REAsoN.-As nations become . more refined, ·and ,,~}~:-~1~1.
· .wealth more generally diffused, factions are less violent, · .-'·.-/:
revolutions less tragfoal, seditions le:;s frequent, and wars -'_ ·;1~
. • •:
.
less popular and less cruel,
. 1
:-- -\.
6TH REASON.-Treaoh6ry, cunning,. an~J, 'i bldod-thirstines8 are nearly . peculiar to uncivilized life.':. few would
· :··:~
think their life or fortune so secure in the pands of a Moor or · ''
,,,- ..

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. ·Tartar, as in the hands of a French ov English

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~~ntleman.

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THEME

216

LVII.

S1MILES_.-Cultivation improves a soil, a tree, a plant ;
and refinement improves a nation.
·
The precious ores are more valuable after they liave been
dug from the mine, freed from their impurities, and refined
in the furnace.
A well-rigged ship is infinitely to be preferred to a canoe
or raft.
Who would compare an Indian wigwam to the mansion
of an English gentleman?
A horde of barbarians is no more to Le compared to a
civilised nation, than the tents of Kedah to Solomon's
temple.
,
A beautiful statue is the mechanical refinement . of a
block of marble ; the unwrought marble has very little
use and beauty, but the exquisite statue has a moral
influence, is a national glory, and l1as intrinsic worth.
Raw meat is not so good for food as that which has been .
skilfully dressed and cooked.
HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS.
QuoTATIONs.-Refinernent is the translation of virtu~
into our own language.-Lord Bacon.
Politeness is the true ornament of virtue.-Lord Baconi
Refinement makes virtue shine, and vice blush.-Lord
Bacon.
Tru~ worth and virtue, in the mild
And genial soil of cultivated life,
Thrive m.ost, and may perhaps thrive only there.
'

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hEFINEME~,T

...

'ITH REAso:N.-Civilisation is favourable to religion.
Superstition may have a more powerful influence over
ignorant barbarians, but the tendency of education is to
exalt truth over err.or.
8TH REASON.-Asylums, hospitals, charity schools, missionary enterprises, &c., are now the glory of the most
·· civilised nations of the world.

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,2111 --

~AT.lO~.AL BENEFIT.

..,. I -

Blest he, tpoµgh . ~ndis~iQgu~hed from the crowd

By wea\th or. dignity, .who tl}V(:flls s~cure c: - ·i
W:here . rp.~n py nature .fier<;e ,pas laid ~l'i\ie · ;·

·
His fierceness, having learµt, .though slR~ t9Jl(!Lrn, .
The ma~mers and the a:i;ts of civil· life .: .. , , · -· ··
. .His wants indeed are many, but supply
Is obvious, placed w~thin ~l;ie ,e?-sY rfac;Q. . . , ·
or ~emp~rate wis.hel)l ~µd iµdustrio.u,s ,qaµg,s ;
Here virt~e .thriv.ei:i M h~ ,her .moper soil, . . ' .
1
Not rude,and surly, , ~.Q.d l:>e.s et w\~g . tho~P.s, · ·
And tei-rible to sight, as when sb,e springs .
(If ere spe spnwg .spon.~aneoqs) in remr,te ' ' .
And barqaroiis cliµies, where violence prevails~
And strength is lord of all;-but gentle, kind, ..
By culture tamed, by liberty refreshed,
· ' '· ·
And all her fruits by radiant ·truth matured. · · -. .
War and the chase engross the :sa vu,ge })Qrqe >J
"'\iVar followed by revenge, or to supplant
·.
,
The envied tenants of some happier spot ;
·
The chase for sustenance, precarious trust:I
·\
His hard cond!tion, with severe constraint,
·Binds all pis faculties, forbids all growth
Of wisdom ; proves a school in which he learns
Sly circumvention, ·unrelenting pate,
, ., Mean· self-a,ttachme11t, and sca,~~e els~ ~~side.

.

. .. Gowper.,

She judges of refinement by the eye ·; · ,,
He by the test of couscience, and a heart
Not 'soon deceived ; o,.ware that what .~s . b,a,~~
•H
. No .polish can make sterling,~ Cowper.. .
~-\~_., f· ·. ~11. Our jarring interests of themselves create · · ·. ·· '1 i
.~ . ·/ · ''. The according music of a well mixed state ; . ·~ ,·:;
'
Where small and great, where, weak and · mighty;
v ·Hf'
made · ·
·
..
· . .
• · . -,: ·,.: · To serve, not suffer ; strengthen,.not invade. ; , . ;·: :1
.. ,, .....\ ' ; .More powerful, each as needful to the rest,·1 . , •.
· .. · « ... And in proportion .as it blesses 1 blessed: . \.
,- .,. ;' .
Thus God and Nature link the general frame, : '/, '!
.,And bi~ self-love aµd soci.a l be t4e . sa~e·· . Pope. ·:

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-Cicero.

In rusticis moribus multa maleficia gignunttir.-Oicero.
Exculto animo nihil agreste, nihil inhumamun est." Cicero.
CoNCLUSION • • • • • •

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L VIII.

Family Disagreements are infurious
to Moral,s as well as to Jlappiness.

INTRODUCTION .••••

lsT REASON.-They drive the membere of a family from
home to seek enjoynient and quiet elsewhere ,; and as 110
habits are so virtuous as those of a domestic nature, what.,.
ever tends to destroy them, must be accompanied with
injurious moral consequences.
2ND REASON.-'l'he necessity of seeking tranquillity
and comfort away from home involves great exj;pises,
un1>easonuble hours, gay comz)(r.nions, a love of exciternen t, and often habits of gambling and of the grosse~t sensuality.
3Rn REASON.· Family disagreements sour the mind1

219

HAPPINESS.

~<;=:;~

introduce, instead, habitual bickerings, dissatisfaction, and ·
contempt. ,
4TH REASON. -When the members of a family ar~
·· divided against themselves, tliey lose all reRpect for each
other; and thus the strong inducement for self-denial
being withdrawn, every one gives full swing to his own
evil propensities, regardless of' the annoyance he may
. cause to others ; selfishness is the motive of every action,
. and an uncompunctious indulgence of all the mean sug·
gestions of an embittered ·spirit.
. : ·:· r , ,
. ,,
·· 5TH REASON. - Neither personal nor fam-ily religion
can have any hold upon minds which are filled with rancour ; and, without the wholesome restraint of religious
principles, there is no safeguard against the commission
uf grievous crimes even for an hour.
· ·: · · .
6ui REASON.-As every one in a quarrel seeks to justif/
himself and criminate his antagonist, the fatal evils of
lying, slander, exaggeration, and malice, are the natural
fruits of domestic broils.
7rH REASON.-For husbands and wives, parents: _and
children, l;irothers and sisters, to hate one another, is to ·
;· draw down the an,qer of the Almi,qhty, who has attached
the promise of worldly prosperity to those families which
are cemented by love.
·

Man's safety must his liberty retain ;
All join to guard what each desires to gain.
Forced into virtue thus, by self-defence,
E'en kings learn justice and benevolence ;
Self-lo~e forsakes the path it first pursued,
And sinks the private in the public good.-Pope.
Virtutes multre in comitate et benefi.centia positre sunt.

THEME

DESTROY

. ···=--;.-;.,,.
spoil the temper, suggest illjeelings, paralyse tlze kindly
ajJ'ections and hu.nwnisin_q sympathies of the heart, and

Shakspeare.

!,

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FAMILY DISAGREEMENTS

'1'HEME LVJU,

Every man shall eat in safety
Under his own vine what he plants ; and sing
The merry songs of peace to all his neighbours ;
God shall be truly known,
-And [men J shall read the perfect ways of honour.

I
I
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If the pla~ets were to ·j ar against . each
... · \· Other, the whole system of the universe would be disor=:-~
" :ganised. . ·
·
:I · vVhen boiling water is poured into a glass, or delicate
china cup, it is destroyed, because the part touched :by
'{ the boiling water expands faster than the rest of the
. vessel : This disagreement in the family of atoms,· asso_
.·. ciated together in a glass, or china cup, is. fatal. to . its
-• beauty, service, and value.
.
. · . . . /.
~ , · · 'l'he atmosphere is a family of gases (nitrogen, oxygen,
' ,I.carbonic acid; vapour, &c.); so long as . each r~tains its
SIMILES. -

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- - ' · -- - · · - - - -- · ·---- - - - -·

220

THEME LVIII.

.,i

I

I.._,.:,.,,;.

TO BE GOOD IS TO BE HAPPY.

1m

Ii

normal proportion, the air is a blessing to man ; but immediately the quantities are disturbed, the most fatal consequences ensue.
. 'Vhile the planks of a ship remain firmly united, the
vessel can " walk the waters as a thing of life ;" but the
moment they separate by a leakage, the ship and all its
crew a:re in imminent peril of destmction.
A united family resembles a perfect lightning conductor,
down which the" fire of henven" will run innocuously: But
a jarring family resembles the same conductor h.roke~1 ;
soon as a storm gathers over the house, the electric fimd,
unable to reach the earth; dashes the etlifice to pieces.
A family, In which hostility and rancour prevail, is
like the cauldron which Ezekiel fill ed with spices and
bones, and then set empty upon the coals of a fierce fire,
till the brass was hot, and the filthiness molten in it."Ez:ck. x..xiv. 10, 11.
Quarrels in a family are like a cuckoo's egg in a
spatrow's nest ; soon as the egg is hatch ed, .the unnatural
mother loses all regard for her own offspring ; and the
young cuckoo has no rest till the brood is expelled, to
perish from hunger and cold.
Iirs'rORICAL lLtuSTRATIONS.....
QuoTATIONs.-Every kingdom divided against itself is
brouo-ht to desolation ; and every city or house divided
agai~st itself shall not stand.-.Jfatt. xii. 25.
From whence come wars and fightings among you ?
Come they not hence, even of your lusts, that war in your
members.-James, iv. 1.
Family quarrels, like religious wars, are always the
most bitter.-Maunder.
Behold; how good and pleasant it is for brethren to
d\:vell toO'ether
in unity I -lt is like the precious ointment
0
upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even
Aaron's beard ·: that went down to the skirts of his garments : As the· dew of Hermon, and as the dew that de-

-·
•
,
•. ,
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.
• ; ~· ! -( : • "". ·,
r:if.1::'.:f·fi:· ..scended µpon the mountai~s of Zion; for there the ..Lordi·
commanded the blessing, even life for evermor~~'-:.fs.t - __ _
~xxxiv.
·
1 ~'."'."
A~
.--=-=-;;;j
. Let brotherly love continue~-Heb. xiii. I.
.
~- ~- ~:.. :~
. The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out -:t~
w~ter: therefore..leave off contention before it be meddled
with.-Prov. xvu. 14·;
. ,·
: '._;-.:;;-.::;,,,..
1· >;
. ......
-··:·.::.:.a
· . A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong
i
city; and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.. Pro·o. xviii. 19.
There should be no schism in the body, but the members
should have care one for another.-1 Oor. xii. 25.
}
· It is a soure reek when the good wife dings the go~d
man.- Scotch proverb.
·, ·
,~
It is Satan who sets a family in- a b1aze.-Spanish
proverb.
· · : .
· 'Tis a smoky house, and the sooner out of it the better~ .
·-· Hart·is.
· · ·
· ·.
1 ,,,, .. , n

_-:?ka

~

· ; He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the 'wind.
-Prov. xi. 29.
·
·
·· ' :· ''
It is better to dwell in a corner 'of the housetop, than
with a brawling woman in a wide house.-. Prov. xxi. 9.
. see ver. 19.
'.j
The. eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to
·obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out
·!tnd th13 young eagles shall eat it.-Prov. xxx. 17. ·
'
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·~~~: ~~~icitiis, jurgia, maledicta, contumelia, nasc~-~~ur·

1

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. CONCLUSION.
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1\·

~;) ;.

THEME

LIX.

:,., ' INTRODUCTION. • • •

To . be good i's to be_h,appy. . 1 •
•

,
_·-·

, '. •:'.,lsr RE~soN.-One essentiaf to happiness is an approv. tng oonscience. Remorse for sin, the agony· of self-r&" \•.

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222

THEME

TO BE OOODT IB ~ TO'.'DE HAPPY.

LIX.

proach, and the stern accusations of a guilty heart, are
rltt'ei'ly at variance with true happiness.
2No REASON.-That which produces substantial happiness must be accummodatetl to all tinies and places; it
must not be fitted to the ball-room, and unfitted for the
Closet; it must not be fitted for to-day and unfitted for tomorrow· it must not be a mere holiday-suit, which cannot
be wor;1 except upon rare occasions. 'l'his is the case
with the mirth of carnal pleasures, but not with goodness
and vittne. Rectitude of conduct is alike suited to adversity and prosperity, to private and public life, to peace and
· war, to vigorous health and the hour of death.
3RD REASON.-rl'rne happiness must he se(f-derivative.
It must not depend upon accidents or externals, but be
wholiy independent of men and things. rrhe happiness of
a good man emanates from the heart.*
4TH REASON.-True lrnppiness nnrnt he i11d<'privable;
it must not be able to be taken from us by the caprices of
fortune or of men, like fame and riches. Such is the peace
of a virtuous mind.
5TH REASON .-It must be Jurahle, and not ephemeral,
like a flash of mirth, or the excitement of sensuality.
Goodhess is not a feeling, hnt a principle; not an occasional act bt1t a continuous habit; n,nd its happiness will
be as end~ring as the principle which produces it.
6nt R.EASON.-'l;he very spirit of a gnocl man's mind
conduces to his happiness; he bears no malice, ~le plots
no evil he is disturbed by no rnasterless passions: he
thinks ~nly of doing good; and the spirit of his mind is
harmony and peace.
7TH i:tEASON.-A good man's happiness is still further
increased by the assurance that God approves of " that
which is lawful and right;" and "verily there is a reward
for the righteous."
Sn.m,Es.-A righteous nrnn (says Dnvid) is like

*

11

tree

Thus ClceTO eays, " .Nemo potest no.n bentlssimus esae, qui est totus ex
se, qtiique In se uno isua ponlt omnla.''-l'ara<l·. 2.
·

pla\1tecl by the riters of' water1· that' bringeth' forth'· hm :
fruit in his season, and whose leaf shall · not wither~- ,
Ps. i. 3. ' ·
:1 . ·
. · Light'.is ari efublem of joy, &nd darkness : ·of sorrow;
thus Isaiah (speaking of the happiness of those who relieve
the oppressed, fe,ed . the hungry, clothe the naked, and
ffd\sfribUte" fa t'lfo ·riecesslty of the Sailits11 ) says, their
"light shall break forth as the morning;" b'u t Job says,
"th~ · light of the -widked sl1all be put 'o uti and ;(even) the
spark of their fire shall not · shirie."~Isa; lviiL 8. Job,
xviii. 5.
Pure air diffuses life,. and health, and joy; but miasma
produces fevers, pain, and death. ·
A good soil bears good fruit, and is free from noxious
weeds and destructive Jnsects; but a dunghill reeks with
pernicious gases, and teems with all that is offensive. .
··' .A good man maybe likened to 11 river whose waters are
Clear and sparkling, whose banks are clad with fertility,
and whose current is unobstructed; but the wicked to a
stagnant pool' mantled with corruption; or. to a mountain
torrent, muddy, turbulent, and destructive.
. .! .
A healthy body is not only free from positive pain, it is
,also full of sensible delight; . but a vicious state of health
entails great sorrow.
·
:·
·
;'.' A good man, like the bee, lives' upon honey: but as for
.the wicked man, " the gall of asps is within him."
1

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~: - HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS.

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1 QuoTATIONs.-Light is sown for the righteous, and
:gladness for the upright in ·heart.-Ps. xcvii. 11.
!)., l1et the righteous be glad; · yea, :let them exceedingly
rejoice.-Ps. lxviii. 3.
.
The voice of rejoicing is in 'the tabernacle of the
~i'ighteous.-Ps. cxviii. 15.
. ·
· "'· "
:t '. . Do what is good,. and no evil shall touch thee.· Tob.
, . xii. 11.
. .• .
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THEME

·-

•
LX.

A ROLLING STOkE ·ti:AfriltRB N O .
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A good man is satisfied from himself.-Prov. xiv. 14.
Psalm cxxviii.
Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; (but) shout for
joy, all ye that are upright in heart 1-Ps. xxxii. 10, 11.
Hosea, xiv.
The hope of the righteous shall be gladness.-Prov. x.
28.
The light of the righteous rejoiceth.-Prov. xiii. 9. ·
The righteous doth sing and rejoice.-Prov. xxix. 6.
Know thou this truth, enough for man to know,
Virtue alone is happiness below.-Pope.
'l'he happiness of human kind
Consists in rectitude of mind.-Cotton.
Man's greatest virtue, is his greatest bliss.- Pope.
Satan says, "Which way I walk is hell, myself am bell."
Milton .
He that hath light within his own clear breast,
May sit i' the centre and enjoy bright day;
But he that hides a dark soul and foul thoughts,
Benighted walks under the mid-clay sun,
Himself is his own dungeon. - Milton.
Vita bcata in virtutc posita est.
N ihil est aliucl bene beateque vivere, nisi honeste et recte
vivere. -Cicero.
Bono mentis fruendum est, si beati esse volumus.
Cicero.
CONCLUSION. . . . .

.!1

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I

THEME I 1X.

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11

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·- ~~ ··

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2N'n ltEASONr-.'.-Every cliahge 'of' blisih~M of: abod~-. is . L"~.~
a'r:i'en'ded with' gr~ai loss: FurnitutJe · arid ,goqds no· lpnger. ~-,;,:ti~
required must be sold at El. sacrifice, and mtlch time· must :~~::fr!
be wasted.
' · . ; : r' ·.:.' ·n • .:;'H~• i ~, :7; + -~
~
'
k.o.

3Rn RR.A.so:*.·· Every time a mah cha'n'ges his lo~alit{ ·~"" ~-~

or business, he has to build up new acquaintances, new
.- ~
. J)atrons; and a· new character; all the fabour 1 expense,
-·- ., .::4i
and care, exerted to : procure his- former connectio111 · are'-· ...,,._-::~
wasted, and he has " t~ begin the world" afresh. . · '. · ':.. '.: ··"· -41~
4TH HEASON.-The public is afraid to trust fickle and
changeable people, because experience has showri · that
they cannot be depended on; in consequence of which,
tliey make slower and slower progress at every change. ,; ;
5TH REASON. - Every time a pian le.aves bis proper
home to settle arliong strangers, he encounters great opposition from the envy and jealousy of those amongst
whorn he intrudes: He is looked upon as an interloper,
and every endeavour is made to prevent his success.:
6TH REASON.-:·- Roving 1 restless tt1inds · are al\\'ays' deficient in self-denial, patience, perseverance, tenacity and
covraqe, which alone can command success : Whenever
a lucky speculatfon has brought tgerri' tiioney; the~f discontent n,nd love of change prompt them to risk it in
some fresh enterprise; whenever any obstacle occurs, their
impatience and want of moral courage impel them to fly
from it rather than to . encoun~er and overcome it. . . ,
.. 7TH :REASON .-Every .time a man changes his occupation, he is olde1' than he was 'vhen he ' made the previous
cnange; but energy, strength, the power of endurance,
and that spirit of daring which catties a. young man
through the greatest difficulties, decline with advancing
years.

A rolling Stone gathers no Moss .

h

11.

~

INTRODUCTION. .
!ST REASON.-To c1mngc one's business or abode is
expensive: New implements n.ncl new furniture must be
purchased and numerous fees be paid.

SIMILES. -A tree frequently removed from place ·to
p}ace can never thrive.
,
/ ,
·_.· A butterfly spends tlie summer.- in roving about the,
garden, b ut has no store laid up for the winter. -'
·~ · 'K*

·

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, "_

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v-.--=~

226

THEME LX,

LITTLE NEGI:.ECTS BREED · GREAT MISCHIEFS. -

;._,227~

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A candle that is frequently blown out and relighted
will not burn so long, or give the same amount of light,
as if it were suffered to burn continuously.
A house or wall that is pulled down, to be erected
in some other place, is attended with great waste and
expense.

~.

Everything suffers from translation except a bishop.- ;·_---'.]
Lord Chesterfield.
·
· · · · ' ' · - · !;-,~ ';:,-;:' ~
· I

~ietra

mossa non fa muschio.
Sa4um volubile non obducitur musco . . ,

.. H

!

CONCLUSION ..

Fire removed from one grate to another, loses much
of its heat, and requires fresh fuel to reconcile it to the
change.
Bsscncc is gTcatly
to bottle.

it~urccl

by being poured from bottle

As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man
tha t wandereth from his place.-Prov. xxvii. 8. ·
A garment is not alterecl without both loss and expense.
HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS. . . .
QuoTATIONs.-'l'hree removes are as bad as a fire.
Into whatsoever house ye enter there abide.-Luke,ix.4.
Go not from house to house.-Lulce, x. 7.
I never saw an oft-removed tree,
Nor yet an oft-removed family,
That throve so well as those that settled be.
Keep thy shop, and thy shop will keep thee.
Unstable as water thou shalt not excel.-Gen. xlix. 4.
Were man
But constant he were perfect; that one error
Fills him with faults.-Sltaksp eare.
Fortune, like Proteus, is brought back to herself by
persisting.-Lord Bacon.
Patience and perseverance will overcome mountains.
All novelty is injury; because it defaces the present
state of things.-Lord Bacon.

rrHEME

LXI.

Little Ne,q'lect may breed great
Mischief.
'

I

. ...

INTRODUCTION. .
lsT REASON.-Little neglects often pave the way to
great losses: As a small rent, unrepaired, will soon run
through the whole length of a garment. .
·
2ND REASON.-A little neglect may cause a wanton '
exposure to serious injury : As when a sportsman creeps
through a hedge with his gun unlocked, he exposes 1 his
Jife to every thorn and straggling_sprig.
3RD REAsoN.-A careless negligence may prove ' the
germ of vast successive evils : Thus, wet feet, a draught '
after violent exercise, or a slighted Gold, may become the _.,
ultimate cause of death from pulmonary consumption.
4TH REASON.-It may be the means of suggesting mis· ::
chi~(' to others, by offering great facilities for its , accom· .
plishment : As when a door or window is left open at ,_
night-time, it invites the robber to enter for plunder; and ...
sometimes to commit murder fo_r concealment or. security. 5TH REASON.-It · may interrupt . a ~Jast conc~ tenation
of events oll dependin.q on ear:h other, like the iinks of a
cha.in : Thus the harmony of the Albans and ·Romans,
being interrupted by the neglect of' Fnffetius to join the :·.
Roman army in their attack upon the Tus_cans, produl'.ed a ·
. rupture between the allied nations; ·a war ensued; 'Fuff~tius
· f.Yt;LS .s.lain:, i;i,nd Alba Longa levelled to the ground : · ~-.,.., , ~

~

.....
·~

)

228

THEME LXl.

6TH REASON.-lt may prevent the operation of other
collateral events hanging the one on the other : Thus
when the Countess of Nottingham neglected to send the
ring of Essex to the Queen, it prevented Elizabeth
sendi~g a free pn.rclon to the Earl ; wliereby the traitor
lost lus head, and the monarch broke her heart.
7TH REASON.-lt may give a wron.rJ 1Jias to a whole
series of dependent events: 'l'hus 11 tier of bricks laitl out
of the perpendicular, in the lower pn.rt of a builcling, may
attract no notice; but, as the buihling progrcsse8, the
defect is propn.gatetl from tier to tier, till at length the
whole superstructure tumbles into ruins.
8TH R'EASON.-lt may create the most fatal 11iistakes in
others: As when a gun is hung up with the charge nndrawn, another (presuming it to be unloaded) may be the
innocent cause of a man's death.
9TH REASON. - One neglect often involves anot/1er as
a necessary consequence: Thus when the work of Monday
is deferred till 'l'uesday, the work of Tuestln,y must be
neglected for that of the day previous.
10TH REASON.-All negligence is like the letting-in of
water.c;: Little faults soon become great faults, and the
great increase in magnitude ancl importance like a river,
which rises from a small spring, but guthers strength continually in its progress to the sea.

.

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S1MILEs.- A little spark may kindle a mighty fire.
The five careless virgins, who neglected to take oil for
their lamps, were shut out from the bridal chi;tmber.Matt. xxv. 8-12.
A serpent's egg will produce a serpent.
A slight cold may terminate in consumption and death.
· For want of a nail the shoe was lost, for want of a
shoe the horse was lost, for want of a horse the rider was
lost.
How many destructive fires occur annually through
carelessness and gross neglect.

I

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~---------,,,,,_..,'""'="-=-=.....--------=-

~

---:,3

.t.'229 . :i

LITTLE NEGLEC~~ :- ~RE~.°. }~REAT MISCHIEFS. , .

A sllght neglect may be compare.d .t~'7a word spok.~Q..,on~~j]
the lofty Alps, the. vibrations of wl~ich may unseat ~uge · :~ 2
avala~~hes, and. };>~mg..th~i:r1 9-~.W.H ~1t~/~t~l cieva~t:~t}on. . . :]
. A little neglect may be likened to a stray chip or leaf
]
m a stream, which forms the nucleus of a sheet of ice:)

.

J

HISTOillCAt. lLLUSTRATIONS.

•

. - :ill!
~

QuorATIONs.-He that contemneth small things shall
fall by little and little.-Eccles. xix. 1. ..
I
: \ ,. { '! ! ~
•

•

,

A little leak will sink

L. '.

•

,

agrei:it .'ship.

'.

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.,

.

A wee thing will put your beard in a bleeze.-Scotch · ~
pi·overb.
·
. . . . . ·, 1 . :··: : r ,, ;. -;~;

j

'\Vhen the door is opened for a littie vic_e .a great b~e '~ ..
may enter in.-Mannder's proverbs. t ' " : • : •: . • . • • • ' ·' .,·, ·, \ : ' ; " ,: .;,.'_,,,
The greatest events are often.drawn
,

. •

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A stitch in .t ime saves nine. ",t..·.'... :

fro~ hair;:•L• wn·B. ·:i1
,
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Let us not sleep as do others,' but let us wat.ch. and be
sober.-1 J 1.1/ies.
v. 6, . .; ,
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"IluSINESS TO-MORROW."·' The origin '. of this Greek - ~
proverb. is give~ thus by Plu_t11;rch ·:.-· " ~ r_r:he~nn p~Ie:.
~
march, m the midst of a convivial feast, received certain · ;
despatches relating to a conspiracy ; flushed .with, wine,
he repJiecl to the courier who urged him to open them
~
immediately, 'business to-morrow ' and thrust the letters · · ~
under his pillow : But the morro~ was too late 1· the con~ ·:· ~
spira t9fS made head, and . the p,o lemarch fell victini; t0 ,. , '
his own neglect"
·
·
· · ·'
·
· ·-=~. ~ · ,...,

a

•

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!:Je. fell into the gut~er whil,e gazing at the · mo~n.- ·
Fielding'sprover~s.
. · ·; :· • ., .. ; v; 1 •1,•-·: .- :.L"·' ~'.JI .
. , -~:

n
negligenter tractanda sunt:--Oicero:

Incuria maculas fudit.-Hor,ace. : ,, · l
Etiam minuta non
Nugre seria ducunt.

. .'.

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1

Incons~~erate negligenterqu~ nequid 1 agamus.~ (Jic~o.

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·: ·', . . .-.~;.· - ;. ,''A.~t :~~~;,~z,:r.o. . _
.
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'230

THEME

LXII.

In re familiari laboriosior est negligentia quam diligentia.. Columella.
Vituperanda est maxime incuria.-Cicero.
CONCLUSION. . . .

'

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MODERATION LENGTHENs ..-oUR
.

,.

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E_N~OYMENTS~ ,t~"·~·
.

.

.

·~/.,.

,,,

cheerful countenance/' ;but; :·u sed ~m9\1~~,t~Iy}1'Pr~~,.,. .:.1t
intoxication, sickness, and pain; . ..,.:• 1 , ¥. ~,,.. ·-··;.. ~ ·:: __._ :_. '. •
Sweet food is ·agreeable · as a bonne · bou~(l,ef-;! 1 i\>~t'\!t1- ~'
large quantities is most offensive to the palate. ,q H :;'.' ,
M~derate heat' is both pleasant and. healthyj ~b~t;~lole
heat is relaxing and painful.'
l · · · : '· ,. ..~~..>
1'
If every day -were ·a sunny day, who' woUld not _Wis..h !~!
. ?.
.
rain
_
_ , , . \..< ..-:1.. -~
Immoderate laughter is very distressing ;' but in mo~-~: ·'~ration "it doeth good like a medicine."
.
_: . '". .:.···
God hath made night .to succeed the day, and winter t~~:-~ _
autumn.
·. {-Jc'.;t~"·
4
Waltzing is no more pleasure to a . ballet-dancer;- ~r ~ - ::~
play to. an actor, than a countin_g-hou~e to a m~rc.hant;'.o~ -~
his master's shop to an apprentice. ; - · ··- ·
1

THEME

LXII. Use Pleasures moderately, and they
will last the longer.

INTRODUCTION. . . . .
lsT REASON.-Pleasures often repeated pall upon the
appetite, and become not only distasteful, but tiresome, and
even disgusting.
2ND REASON. -When plcn,sures fatigue tlie body, and
jade the spirit, their repetition or continuation is most
distressing.
3RD REASON.-Any immoderate use of pleasures will
make sad inroad,~ upon health; and a sickly body loathes
the racket and whirl of pleasure, as much as a broken
spirit a foolish laugh or a flippant jest.
4TH REASON.-Pleasures carried to excess make a sad
intrusion upon business, property, and time. To those,
therefore, who have any regard for these things, the
consciousness of this intrtrnion
render what was
designed for a pleasure, the source of real anxiety, regret,
and pain.
'
.
5TH REASON.-The greatest charm of pleasure is its
n~veltj;, which frequent repetition destroys.
6TH REASON.-rrhe main use of pleasure is re1axation;
put' immediately it becomes a business, it ceases to be a
recreation.

'"ill

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SIMILEs.-Wine, in moderate quantities, "make th a ·

I

HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS. . . . •

;

;.r.~':
·~ "r

. ,- - .

•
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QuoTATIONs.-Wben the senses are too exquisite,· they . ~
want narcotics.-Lord Bacon . .
Who runs fast, cannot run long.
.Drink little, and drink long.
Go away longing, for more you will yearn;
Go away loathing, you'll bate to return.
- You must abstain, in order that you may sustain.~
Lord Bacon.
'
· -_
Pleasures immoderately pursued, waste the power~ of
enjoyment.-Maunder's prove1·bs.
. ---..· . _ .
. I
, .
_ _ Cater frugttlly for the body if you would feed the mmd
. healthily.-J_lfaunder's proverbs.
1
.A rich mouthful, a heavy groan.-Maunder's proverbs. .
Violent delights have violent ends, . ..
. _.
And in their triumph die : like.fire and powder,- · :
· ''
Which, as they kiss, consume.· Sliakspea~e.
. - Leave pleasure when it pleases you most. /

.

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232

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THEME LXII.

:' Oiie may 'support any thing better than too much ease.
-Ray's proverbs.
· ' · ~ Abstract what ot11ers feel, what others think;
All pleasures sicken, and all glories sink ;
· Each has his share, and who would more obtain
Shall find the pleasure pays not half the pain.-Pope.
He ·that resisteth pleasure crowneth his life.-Eccles.
xix. 5.
Take not pleasure in much good cheer.-Eccles. xviii.
32.
., Go not after thy lusts, but refrain thyself from thine
appetites.-Eccles. xvii. 30.
. ~f thou sit at a bountiful table be not greedy upon it,
and say not1 "There is much meat on· it."-Eccles. xxxi. 2.
Sound sleep cometh of riloderate eating ; he riseth early
and his wits are with him ; but the pain of watching, nnd
choler, un<l pangs of the belly, are with au uusatiable 11mn.
-Eccles. xxxi. 20.
· ·
·,;.Wine measurably drunk, and in reason, bringeth gladness of heart and cheerfulness of the mind ; but wine
drunken with excess maketh bitterness of the mind . . .
diminisheth strength, awl maketh wounds.-Ecc/es. xxxi.
28-30.
The first · glass for thirst, the second for nourishment,
the third for pleasure, and the fourth for madness.Auac/wrsis.
NE Qurn Nuns.*- Terence.
· · 'Voli:tptati tempera.
. Qptat Ephippia bos piger.-If'orace.
Crena brevis juvat.
Arens nimis intensus rumpitur.
CONCLUSION . . . . .
• ·This wise maxim is RBcribed by some to Thales, nnd by others to
Bolon.

-

THE RECAL OF OLD OFFENCES RENEWS .ANIMOSITY, -- 233 ·~~''

·-' • .
~

THEME

·.

.,.:-~ ~ -r, ~.

· ... . , .., ....,)f

-~~

:..~'~..

He who makes mention of .q n.'. ol<J, \-.~:
Offence separat,e,s Frien~.
.. ·'···

LXIII.

INTRODUCTION . . . . . .
- '.
lsT REASON.-Because he probes an old sore, or rake11 ::..-:up an old grievance, which often causes more pain than
· the original offence.
2ND REASON.-When a friend has received an injury, he gets wenry of having it constantly cast i11 his -· ~
teeth, and will rather give up the nleasure of friendship .........,;
than abide the nuisance of being constantly bantered . ;~ ~
about it.
.
.
. , . .. : · ~· .,. ~
3nn REASON.-The revival of an old grievance very ~
often brings forth new dzferences, and thus adds fuel to -~-;_-~
a fire, which would have gone out otherwise of its own 1• 'j
accord.
1:;
~
4TH REASON.-It mortifies the pride of him who : 1
gave, and of liim who received the wron.q, t9 hear it talked ·· i
of ; and nothing is more difficult to heal than mortified ., . 1
pride.
,, ·
5TH REASON.-It forces both parties to enter upon an . . ~
e.rculpation. or apology; but men would much rather really :~ 1
forgive, than seem to excuse an injury.
·"
J
i
6rH REASON.-When a matter is repeated, it shows } -1i
that the rumour has gpne ahroad, which; probably, the
l
parties concerned had fondly hoped was known only tµ
l
themselves.
, .
~
1
SrMILEs.-He who makes the edge of a razor visible,
must destroy its keenness.
·
He who probes an old w.ound prevents its healing. ·· - -.
He who blows or pokes a slackening fire revives it.
A door will never shut if a stone be laid at its thresh·
old ..
Continual dropping will we~r away adamant, or change '
the most delicate textures into stone.
20*

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234

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THEME LXIII.

Repeated volcanic disturbances have severed even solid
r.ocks from their cognate strata.
A fly irritates a' wound by constantly lighting upon it.
H1sTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS . . . . . 1 Sam. xxiv. U, &c.
Gen. xxi. Q, 10.

, ..... ...

RESORT

DECEIT THE

''{ "

·oF 'tHE FOOLISH,

i~ farnili~s,· ~o~e · o~~' paltry tal~-b~a;e~,:, -~Y : .car~yJng

·

11 1

stories from one to another, often inflames the mmd, :. !.t~d 7
discomposes the quiet of the whole family.. S~uth'. /~r:t

. , .·~:

Garrula, lingu.a nocet.-. Ovid. ·

.

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. . . __:~

CONCLUSION. . . . .

QuoTATIONs.-A whisperer separateth chief friends.-

Prov. xvi. 28.
Ile that covereth a transgression seeketh lo ve ; but be
that repeateth a m8-tter separateth very friends.-Prov.
xvii. 9.
Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out ; so where
there is no tale-bearer the strife ceaseth.-Prov. xxvi. 20.
Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out ; yea,
strife and reproach shall cease.-Prov. xxii. 10.
The words of a tale-bearer are as wounds, and they go
down into the innermost parts of the belly.-F'rov. xviii. 8.
Whether it be to a friend or foe, talk not of other men's
lives . . . for he heard and observed thee, and when time
cometh he will hate thee. If thou hast heard a word, let
it die with thee, and be bold, for it will not burst thee.Eccles. xix. 8, 9, 10.
There are two ways of composing differences and reconciling the minds of men,-the one beginning with oblivion and forgetfulness, the other with a recollection of
the injuries, interweaving it with apologies and excuses.
-Lord Bacon.
A tn.le-hearer fixes the evils themselves, which would
otherwise have blown over.-Lord Bacon.
The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity ... and setteth
on fire the course of nature . . . it is an unruly evil, full
of deadly poison.-James, iii. 5, 6. 8.
A sinful man disquieteth friends, and maketh debate
among them that be at pcacc.-Eccles. xxviii. \1.
Curse the whisperer and double-tongued, for such have
destroyed many that were at peace.-Eccles. xxviii. 13.

,.. · }
THEME

LXIV.

Only a Fool turns aside to' Deceit.~· ·:

INTRODUCTION. . . . .

'

. ·. \ '..

•

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lsT REASON.-A deceitful, tricking man is deprived of :~.·"·
confidence a.nd tru.st, the two main instruments· of . success !-'!!--·
in business. ·
·
':
2Nn REASON.-How specious soever deceit may apP.ear , ;
for a time, yet the most cunningly devised ,schemes :.,~ ~(! -~..~
.qenemlly frustrated by some untoward or unforeseen i m- -?'
cident.
~ ~
.-.=il. .
3no REASON.-Deceit is very trouble.~ome; and it re- ·'l ;.:...,., .
quires daily inventions to bolster up old .device~ ~s they , . _ -~ __.;;.
fail and become exposed.
. · · ..
· · .. ~ .,_ "~--:~
#

,..··_4

4TH REASON.-Artifice deprives a man o.f self-con.fidence and independence of spi?·it, both ~f wl11~h are e~- ,;~;_~,;=-sential for happiness and worldly prosperity. · ·
· · , · ... d ,, ..:_.
1

5TH REASON.-lt is proverbiai among all merchants ·'.~'-~~~
and tradesmen of every nation, that "honesty is tlze best '"'-<~~
policy;" nnd "onl7 a fool" wiU th~o~ a,';!l'Y ~i~ }>e~.~ ;a~~ "~z.~--for the sake of a silly finesse.
·
.. , ;,
' ··· · "~ · · ~
6TH R~AsoN.-Deceit is at all times a'bad speculatio~; · ,-~
for if it succeed it succeeds as honesty, and if it fail it is
~
punished as deceit.
.
·
·. · --.· , ',\'' ·. . . . . ..
..
·.h H REASON.-The ' knave and the· fepl both '.'.say in _::...;:;-:;;;
their hea~t there .is. no God:" :13ut what can ,b~ a ,greater /~';;
.proof r of mfattirn~1on tha~ ~? ri~kr.~- ~li?le, .~te.1:{~i.ty ~(or_ t!~_e,,,:=-::~~
cha nee.~ of dece t f
·
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236

DECEIT THE

THEME LXIV.

SnnLES.--It is better to travel by the high-road, than
to venture through bye-ways under the hope of finding " a
short cut."
Rouge on the face may resemble natural colour ; but
every man feels that a woman loses respect when she
" rents her face with paint."
Deceit is only a "castle in the air."
An ass in a lion's skin may be discerned without spectacles.-j}fannder' s prove1·bs.
Artificial flo\Yers nrny be beautiful, but the knowledge
that they are artificial greatly disparages their charm.
A painted fire gives out 110 heat.
Every child feels disappointed when informed for the
first time that Roliinson Crusoe is not a true story.
A hypocrite is as a ship in a storm.-E'ccles. xxxii. 2.
Deceit is like the wall of J ehoiakim, 11 painted with
vermillion, but rotten at the base."

~'E:soii1'' 'c)j TTBE

FOOLISH.- '

per~~t~e·n~~s~' '

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:N6rie baiieth 'fdt 'jti~tfoe,:'rit)r:1~ny: pleadeth ·
fo~ . t~11t~1 : ~hey _trus~ i.n vanity .a~d. ~p~ak l~es; t~~f-conli
cer9'e mischief, and · brmg· forth 1mqmty ; q They ·~ hatch
cockatrice' eggs, and weave the spid~r's web ....._ T~~ir
webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover .
themselves with their works.-Isa. lix. 4-6.
The poor and the deceitful man meet together.-l!rov•
xxix. 13.
The hypocrite's .hop~ shall peri~~·. •JD,b, _:yi~1 13.
The triumphing of the wicked is short, and th~ joy~ of
the hypocrite but for a moment.-Jifb,_xx. 5; ,.. ., · · ,"- . l. .
Corruption ~ns. ~ot more -than honesty.-Sha~speare.
'

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··

··

,' . '· t.•: • ,

;'

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: r •~(f!

QuoTATIONS. -The folly of fools is deceit. -Prov.
xiv. 8.
As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the
Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity.
-Ps. cxxv. 5.
They have made them crooked pat!1s; whosoever goeth
therein shall not know peace.-Isa. hx. 8.
rrhe congregation of hypocrites shall be d_esolate ... ·..
they conceive mischief, and bring forth vamty, and their
belly prepareth cleceit.-Job. xv. 34, 35.
Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived
mischief and brought forth falsehood : he m11.1le a pit and
digrred it and is·f:i.llcn into tho ditch thn.t he wnde : His
mis~hief ~hall return upon his ownhcad.-J>s. vii.14,15,lG.
Your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered

!,

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1\. 1 1

Lying is a bad trade_. · · ·
, ; "; ., -.1,, , , 1_: , ,',~ ·+' ·;
· Crafty counsels, though p!easa~t in .expectation,. ar~~
bard to execute, and unhappy m their execution.-Taci~us.
Craft bringeth nothing btit 'shame:
' · · ' '- '
'':~
'· The arts of deceit ' 'grow · continually weaker and. 1es~.
serviceable to theni that use thein.-Tillotson.' ''.'· :· "''·~;r
~ 'r
'
t
Cheats never thrive. _ · .· ·
, , !! ; ·: ( ·: _ . , . ·;·i !.l ?: i
Dissimulation is but short wisdom.-Lord Bacon. _,,
. · _·· - • · . . . Good, mylord, , · .... ;; .; . :.~·.,.; .
But when ·we in our viciousness grow hard,
, . ..~:h•
.. , ( O misery on't I) the wise gods seal _our _eyes : , '. 1.. ,
In our own filth drop our cle~n ju~g~ents;' , ~ak~,,~si
Adore our errors; laugh at us, while we_~tr~t, · ,,1•
;' · To our confusion.-Shakspeare. · , , · :'., .', :'' / ·:' .,,
.
.
. .
.
1 .
·'· ...-. ". ,; , .... '·P· .
:'c Plam-dealmg is a JeWe. ·
.1';-. :, .;) _,;.'T'f=
Deceit is the cloak of a little mind. • · · ~;!; j' · ; : :'.,;1, ~1 t·
, " Prudens advertit adgressos suos : , Stul~us, ~~v~rtit .~~~
(:- · dolos i - · · · · · · : ·
• ''" ·· ...i \ ( :-;- ; .-.-1· 11r\"·"
.·.- Statua vervecia.-Plautus. :
.' .; r"";-:.
, · : :·: .. 1rr
'' t
'
'
'
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" " i;
; :
: Faciie secerni possunt fucata et siinulata ; a .sinceris ,
~tque veris.-Cicero. , .
.. . · ·.:: .'» ~,'r·l,. ',\r :',·:·1 ~1/
~, Ex omni vita simulatio dissimulatioque tollenda est:.L.:
I :

HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS .....

i

•

Cicero.
Ji' ' '

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238

THEME LXV.

Non simulatum quidquam potest esse diuturnnm.Oicero.
Nihil fingam, niliil dissimulem, nihil obtegam.-Oicero.
1·

CoNC.LUSION .....

THEME

LXV.

Avoid Extremes.

INTRODUCTION .....
lsT REASON.-All virtue is placed in .t,he mean: For
example, temperance is the mean betwixt gluttony and
abstinence; Frugality between extravagance and parsimony ; yharity between prodigality and niggardliness ;
Fortitude between fear and rashness; Religion between
superstition an<l infidelity, &c.
2ND REASON. All extremes are evil; thus extreme
temperance is injurious to health, extreme study stultifies
the mind, extreme frugality degenerates into meanness,
extreme liberality into prodigal waste, &c.
3Ro REASON .-The moral restraint which is required
in order to maintain the golllcn mean, is most excellent
discipline for the mind : Both self-denial and moral
courage must be always in full exercise, and thus the
manly powers of the mind will be strongly developed.
4TH REASON.- " A void extremes" is a very necessary
caution, because the mind has a natural tendency " to
1·un greedily after error;" and needs unceasing vigilance
to resist the temptation.
5TH REAsoN.-N ot only virtue but also happiness is
placed in tlie 11iean. Thus immoderate pleasures pall
upon the senses, whereas the self-mortification of an ascetic is a living death. The prodigal, who wastes his "substance in riotous Jiving," and the miser who "starves
amidst abunda11ce," are both wretched, &c.
6n1 REASON.-The mean is more safe than either ex-

,

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ExTREMEe. .

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treme. ' Thus tpe .fool~ha~dy thrusts ' himsel~ into r peiils,. : y·r..· ~
o.nd th~ coward mv1;es them; th.e Epicure is in'tlanger fr<?~ .. , :
a surfeit, and the Essene from immoder~te abstinence. •· · .
.
'
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SIM:lLES.. . It is far more easy to run a -ship }Ip.on Scylla._ : .
or Charybdis, than to steer safely between1 -l•h·~e-r~ J -.
.. t
The Frigid zones are too cold, and the Torrid zone is too . ', "· -.·
hot, for the mos~ perfect development of. the huma1i' race. ·
If the age of man be estimated at threescore years and
ten, the ~iddle period (from t~enty-four to · forty-eight),
may certamly be called "the prime of life." .... ...
' .
He .that will take away extreme heat, -by setting the
h?dy m extre~e cold, shall undoubtedly remove the
disease, 'but together with it the diseased too.-Hooker.
In a thunder-storm the attic and the cellar should both
be avo~ded as places of danger; the miqdle of the room in ·
the ~m<ldle story of the house .is the place 'of greatest
sccuri ty; for whether the clcctn~ flash proceed from the
clouds or from the earth, it will have expended · itself
' ' ·· I
before it reaches the centre of the house.
If any one were to . measure from the surface of the
earth to the centre, and then from the surface again as
far upwards, he would find that every substance ' diminished in. ponderosity, as it approached either of these
two extremes.
·
· ·.
'
.rl'he air of mountains is too rarefied,-and that of deep
mmes too dense, for the free development of animal or
. vegetable life.
4

1

HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS.
• Quo:ATIONs.-~here is ~ mean · in all things, even
virtt1e itse!f bath its stated.limits, which not being strictly
observed, it ceases to be v1rtue.-Addison.
Minds should an equal .temper know,
· · ,1
Nor swell too high, nor sink too low.-Pop~
A void extremes; and shun the fault of such
'\Vho still are pleased too little or too much.\ P?pe.

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240

What would this man? Now upward will he soar,
And, little less than angel, would be more;
Now looking downward, just as grieved, appears
To want the strength of bulls, the fur of bears ...••
'V"hy has not man a microscopic eye ?
For this plain reason, man is not a fly.Say, what the use were finer optics given ?
To inspect a mite, not comprehend the heaven.Or touch, if tremblingly alive all o'er?
To smart and agonise at every pore.Or quick effiu via darting through the brain,
Die of a rose in aromatic pain.If Nature thundered in his opening ears,
And stunned him with the music of the spheres,
How would he wish that Heaven had left him still
The whispering zephyr, and the purling rill.-Pope.
'Tis all in vain to keep a constant pother
About one voice, und fall into another;
Betwixt excess and famine lies n, mean;
Plain, but not sordid; though not splendid, clean.
Pope.
To balance fortune by a just expense,
Join with economy magnificence;
With splendour, .churity; with plenty, health I
Oh I teach us, Bathurst, yet unspoiled by wealth,
That secret rare, between the extremes to move
Of mad good-nature, and of mean self-love.-Pope.
Summa cadunt subi~o.
Ita fugias ut ne prreter casam.
At vehemens in utramque partem nimis.-Terence.
Omnis intemperantia est a tota mente ac a recta ratione
defectio.-Cicero.
Id arbitror adprime in vita esse utile, " ne quid nimis."
-Terence.
CONCLUSION.

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Mott~ 1'L1USt1RAlltlf ·T BA; P~SS~SSION. ·+Mtt'
·..
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~•)Jf -ry1Jt \¢'l~{ J .THEME . LXVI. ., Er1Jo.71ment consists '. i~HActibn} more

'l'HEME LXV.

AOTlON

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·',. than in PosseSsio'Ji. ··:"i'/'!"1'},:d-,:1 AH,;,:; :'~"
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: lNTR~DUCTlON. ~,; : . ~
·" r
.... ....
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' ; lsr REASON.-God .has associated . pleasurable
. sations with. every . function essential . to · life: .<Jnd ! well~
being: 'l'hris, rest is a pleasure, the i:nere act of .eating is a
pleasure; and that of locomotion is a ple11isure also, becaus~
all these things are needful for life and health._. . . : ' . .
2ND REASON.-The ·vital activit~ . of performing is more
1
pleasurable than pas.~ive enjoyment. · Without doubt there
is a degree of satisfaction in the feeling of peing rested, of
having eaten enough, and having won a desired 'object;
but this mere mental complacency is far .inferior to the
strong animal passions which accompany the acts themselves.
·
· : i i ' . · 1 : r:l;
·· 3&n REASON.-All men love novelty; and soon
weary of one and the same thing: But there is '· much
greater variety in pursuit than in possession, .. , ·· ~ "'. ·' ;
· 4TH REASON.-The very hazard of the chase constitutes
its greatest charm, for which the value of the game is a
· .., ' · :· ·; .- .. ;
very inadequate compensation.
5TH . REASON.-Posse.~sion is attended with fear, but
pursuit with hope; and as hope is to be preferred to
fear so the enjoyment of action is greater than that of
seizin.
•
·
6TH REASON.-The mind always depreciate.'/ the worth
of things possessed, and exaggerates the va~ue of tho.~e in
' expectancy. The former are looked at through the concave lens of disappointment, the latter through the magnifying mist ·of anticipation. · · · i[' ,- ·• -. r .1· .. :',·:i 1 · •
•

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SrnrLEs.-The huntsman's · pleasure is the . chas~.' and
not the value of a hare or·fox. · ' ' ' : · , .. ;; 1t ': · .' . .. A child feeis more pleasure in a game of romps than in
a · whole cupboard full of toys. '· ; . ,' .: L F ' l · , : < ) 1
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..
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. :
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' . ~9lomon says, "stolen waters are sweet;" not because
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242

~..

THEME LXVl.

they are actually better than those fetched from our own
cistern, but because there is a degree of excitement in the
stealth which gives a relish to the draught.
· A boy would sooner win one marble than have two given
him.
Running water is sweet and sparkling, but a pool is
mantled with weeds and infested with insects; so action
keeps the mind sweet and cheerful, but possession cloys
the appetite, and stagnates the animal and mental energies.
Spring is more beautiful than Autumn.
A hound will leave his pottage to chase a hare.

PRETENSION LEADS TO ITS OWN

QuoTATIONS.-·-There is no one but is more delighted
with hope than with enjoyment.
Life, without pursuit, is a vague and languid thing.Lord Bacon.
Perfective good is superior to conservative good.Lord Bacon.
So it falls on t,
That what we have we prize not to its worth.
Shakspeare.
All things that are,
Are with more spirit chased than enjoyed.
·
Shaf speare.
Employment is true enjoyment.
The ample proposition that Hope makes
In all designs begun on earth below,
Fails in the promised largeness: checks and disasters
Grow in the veins of actions highest reared;
As knots, by the conflux of meeting sap,
Infect the sound pine, and divert his grain,
'l'ortive and errant from the course of growth.
Shakspeare.
It is more blessed to give than to receive.-Acts, xx. 35.
In actions, enterprises, and desires, there is a remarkable

EXPOSURE, .

.·

~-~

we . •, _

variety which we perceive with great' pleastire,"whilst
begin, advance, rest, go· back to recruit, approach, ·o~tai?-; · .~::
&c.-Lord Bacon.
·
.r' :it
Virtutis laus omnis in actione consistit.-Oicero. ":.~ · ·
CONCLUSION ....•
\ t

THEME

HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS . . . . .

' ~:=-'.~-

~a ~. ·

• •

t.

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)

LXVII. It i.s hard for an empty Bag to
stand upright.

1

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INTRODUCTION .....
lsr REASON.-Because it contains nothing to · give it
substantiality : So, also, an empty pretender cannot_long
maintain a reputation for what he does not deserve~' J ·~'!
2Nn REASON.-An empty bag may, , by inflation,; be
made to stand erect for a short time, but its own w,eight
will cause the sides to collapse again : So the mere pretender may, by boasting words, gain for himself a name ·; ·
but, when his claims are to be supported by solid nierit,
his ephemeral reputation will sink from the weight of the
task he has undertaken.
·
·
·
3Rn REASON.-If a bag has been inflated, in order to
make it look like a sack of corn, every time any one feels
it, to ascertain its value, he presses out a portion of the
air, and thus renders the deception more apparent: So, also,
every time a pretender is questioned, or comes into _ ~col. lision with the well-informed, his arrogant assumption
becomes more palpabl~, till, at last, none can be deceived.
4TH REASoN.-If a weight were tOfall upon ·a sack of
corn it would make very little impression, and the full sack
would remain standing as before; but were it to fall on an
inflated bag, the sides would burst, and all the air make
. its escape : So, the honest solid mind is not daunted by
~ rebuffs, or the pressure of unforese(ln difficulties; b.u t the
empty pretender, conscious of his· own ignorance, loses

·,.
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244

THEME LXVII,
PRETENSION LEADS TO ·ITS OWN EXPOSURE.

his presence of mind in any sudden emergency, bis arrogance gives way, and his "full-blown pride bursts under
him."
5rH REASON.-A bag filled with air is always more
plump and frfe from, 101·inkles than a sack of corn : So
ignorance and dissimulation always overact their parts.*
6TH REASON.-A careless child or a stray gust of wind
may knock down an empty bag, but would have no effect
upon a sack of corn : So, also, the squandering observation
of a child, or a trifle of no moment, may expose the emptiness of an ignorant pretender.
SnnLEs.-1'he Jackdaw in borrowed plumes.-.LEsop's
fable . .
The mirage may pass for a lake of water at a distance,
but the delusion is discovered immediately a caravan approaches near.
The Ass in a Lion's skin.-.LEsop's fable.
Meteors may shine like stars for a little time ; but
immediately they feel the attraction of our enrth, and
enter the limits of its atmosphere, they fall, and are no
more found.
· Pyrites look like gold, but are only worthless sulphurets
of copper or iron.
•
Mere pretension is like the cypress-tree, which is great
· and tall, but bears no fruit.
French paste jewelry.
A cracked vessel may soon be detected even by its
sound.
The numberless flashy articles palmed upon the public
_as cheap goods.
;

HrsTOI!-ICAL lL1usTRATIONS .....
I

"'Thus Cicero says of orators, "th<'y are always most vehement when
they have the weakest cause, a.s men get on horseback when they cannot
walk."

' .... !

'•

•

QuoTATIONs.-.Every man's work shall be made manifest, for the day shall declare it.-1 .Gor. iii.13. · .. ..., , r! ·
Whosoever bath not, from him shall be take.n even .that
which he seemeth to have.-Luke, viii. 18.
. . , 1 ..~ 1
He who pretends to be more than he is, shall have·less
than he deserves.
· · ,
,...t · .\
rrruth has always a fast . bottom, but a lie has no legs.
' '
. t 1)tJ:
Who knows himself a ' braggart.. · .. !,
Let him fear this ; for it will come to pass ' · '·
That every braggart shall be found an ass. · _· · ··:
. ·
·
··
··. Sliakspear_e.
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' Dissimulation is but short wisdQJll.-Lord Bacon.· " :f
Thraso is Gnatho's prey.-Lord Bacon .. ,',, 1· · :· 1>
Unmerited honours never wear well.-Maunder's
Pf<>! '
' i
w~
,
. . Utopian schemes . ruin the . shrewdest .·scheme:rs.-.Maunder's proverbs.
r !
... . ... , ) !.
Those who wade in unknown waters .will be sure to be
. drowned. ·~
1. .''
• ••
That which covers thee, discovers thee.-Itiieldin9's
·proverbs.
•
· '. .. .
Quien te cubre, te descubre.
Miserum est, aliorum incumbere famre.
Cui non conveniat sua res, ut calceus olim,
Si pede major erit subvertit, si minor uret.-Horace.
~

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Ne te quresiveris extra.
1
Post ub~ jam tempus est promissa perfici,1 ' • •
Tum coacti necessario se aperiunt.-Terence.
Eripitur persona, manet res.· Lucretius. .:. 1\ ~·
Ne alterius quidem laudis sum cupidus.-Gicero.

. '~· -r:.

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CONCLUSION.
.....-...... $.~~ ·-' ·•.·-··. . --·--·

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246

THEME

•

LXVIII.

CAST NOT
·:1

THEME

LXVIII.

':m

SnnLEs.-N ever attempt to wash a blackamoor white.
None but a dotard will search for a needle in a bottle
of hay.*

It was a Chinese idiot who attempted to rub down a
crow-bar on a whetstone into a kn.itting-needle.
r:l'he Cock and Jewel.-../Esop'sfable.
The Spaniards say, "To lather an ass's head is only
wasting soap."
" A bottle of hay Is a corrupt.Ion of tho French "l1otte-d o foln :" bottc IR
bundle or truss, and botte de join menns a. "truss of hay:" botte-de sounda
like bottle,

ri

1

...

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SWINE,

•

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..,.o;; ••- - -

,' Those :who s~ekto makergold ~f 'iro~; ~·ill mak~ iro1l'of ·:~~~~

.gold.

Cast not Pearls before Swine.

INTRODUCTION .....
· lsT REASON.-Because it will be loss of time and
labour, as they cannot appreciate them.
2Nn REASON .-rfhose who are wise will hold in contempt
such wanton folly and waste.
,,,,
3Rn REASON. - Swine will trample under foot the
most inestimable pearls, as loose chaff or a worthless
potsherd : So a scorner will set at naught the wisest
counsel, and treat it as "the idle wind which he regards
not."
4TH REASON.-If a dog is expecting a bone, or a swine
a h?sk, and you throw to them a jewel, you will irritate
their temper, and they may "tu1·n again and rend you, :"
~o, also, a scorner
regard your kindest reproofs as
msults, and your wrncst counsel as mistaken zeal· will .
tra~uce you to his boon companions, rend your fair 'reputation, and hate you as one that mocketh hirn.
frrn RE~soN.-You can make better ·use of your property and tune than to waste them both upon scorners.
6TH REASON.-God has forbidde1'i such waste as "zeal
without knowledge."

•

• 1r ...

PEARLS BEi~bRE

.

, ;

.

l·: it. :

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~:-r,: .~ ;--~~ -

"~-~==

.: : .T he . Japarn~se of both sexes .carry fans from t~e..'age -i~~
of ·five years, and, as fogs are ve~Y. prevalent m _the -:-~~
island, the . ~ollowing . characteristic proverb is 'very~ po~
pular among them .: 11 Never seek to dispel the fog with
J
your fan."
·
' ·· · ,. · . .' · "" ·. -.· .. .. ~ ---... - ~
Whoso teacheth a fool is as one that glueth a pots4erd - , · ~
together, and as he that wake th one ·from '· a sound sleep.
- ~
-Eccles. xxii. 7 . .
.
_. .
:- 't
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RISTORICAI. lLLUSTRATIONs.-Herod " rent " .John the
Baptist for " casting pearls before him." - Mark, vi.
18-27.
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:.1
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.

. See also 1 Kings, xviii. 17, &c.' xxi. 20; &c. xxii. 24,
&c. 2 Chronicles, xxiv. 20:-22. xxv. 15, 16. xx.xvi. 17.
.Acts, xiii. 45-4 7.
. . ,:
;

QuoTATIONs.-He that reproveth a· scorner getteth to
himself shame : and he that rebuketh a wicked man
getteth him~elf a blot.· Prov. ix. 7.
..
·· .' " . ·:
If a skilful man hear a wise word he will commend it,
and add unto it : But as soon as one of ilo understanding
heareth it, it displeaseth him, and he casteth it behind
his uack.-Eccles. xxi. 15.
Reprove not a scorner lest he hate thee.-Prov. ix. 8 ;
see also xv. 12.
·
·
.
.
Speak not in the ears of a fool, for he will despise-c the
,wisdom of thy words.-_
-E:ro'l). xxiii. 9. _ . _
. .

The (hraelites) hat~ him that rebuketh in the gate,
and abhor him that ~peak~th, .u prightl!.1 A r os, v..) ,O.
The (wicked) make a man an offender for a word, and
1
lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate .-I~a.
xxix. 21.
.
. · : -~ · . -; / i ·
~-

As he that bindeth · a · stone

so

in · a sling:
is .he· that
giveth honour to a fool ; or (according to the ' marginal

.·~...
':t

···:
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248

~

A FOOLISH SON THE · BORROW .; OF HIS MOTHER.

THEME LXI.X:.

reading) as he that putteth a precious stone on a heap of
stones, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.-Prov.
xxvi. 8.
Talk not much with a fool, and go not to him. that hath
no understanding : Beware of him lest thou have trouble,
and thou shalt never be defiled with his fooleries. Depart
from him, and thou shalt find rest, and not be disquieted.
-Eccle.o;. xxii. 13.
The abuse of good things is worse than tne want of
them.
Never fowl with a bird-call.-Lord Bacon.
Cease thy counsel,
Which falls into mine ears as profitless
As water in a sicve.~S!takspeare.
Disdain and scorn ride sparkling in his eyes,
Misprising what they look on .. . I never yet saw man,
How wise, how noble, young, how rarely featured,
But she would spell him backwards! . . . .
And never gives to truth and virtue that
Which simpleness an cl merit purchaseth.-Slwkspeare.
Echar margaritas a puercos.-Spa11ish.
·
Trabajur para el obispo. l'he Spaniards say, "He who
works for a bishop wastes both time and work."
Indignis ne benefocias.
Munera ingratis nolito objicere.
Lateram lavare.-Terence.
CONCLUSION. . . . .

"'ti 2Nn REAsoN:-A.. mother. will : always , feeJ:.se{f:r~pi,·oach _·-.~.,_,.
for her indulgence towards 'a child who gr~ws. in. folly ahd.- wickedness as he grows in stature. i ! , : ·,· · :;i~r<· ·! '·,;:~:-"'~

·. 3Ri:> REAsoN.-The mother of •a wicked son :,JJilt.'i,'vex
herself wt th rregret.'f for a tlwusand fanCied · neglects or
· omissions, and a thousand things done for a child, whicbj
bad they been done otherwise, might have saved him
from folly and infamy.
• · .. · · ' · ' 1: ·

4TH REASON.-A foolish son is a great burthen on his
parents, whose grey hairs he ought to comfort, and ~ not
"bring down with sorrow to the grave."
'' 5Tn REASON.-A mother can never jorget a mother's
love, and that love will make her weep over the folly and
dishonour of a son.
•
· ~ ' ·;,,. ·i .·,F~ r..;If
'·

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LXIX.

A foolish Son is a Sorrow to hi,s
Mother.

. r r.~z

SrnILEs.-A sucker from a tree weakens . and defaces
the parent stock, without bearing fruit itself. . . , , ., ·,
Excrescences on a wick consume the tallow or oil, while
they detract from the brilliancy and beauty of the lamp or
candle.
·
,_ __
Ducks batched by a hen are a constant source of sorrow
and terror to her.· .
A drone in a bee-hive will cause trouble to ,the whole
community.
.t .;' ·/ ·; _..,,., '. .1•
' ' A foolish soii is like a thorn ' in the fl~sh. i. ' " I · ~ ' 'I :
I

rrHE:ME

·~ • -1 ~r

6rH REASON.-Even a wicked mother ' frembles . to see
he1·· son wicked;* and though she 'herself' fears ·hot ·the
wrath of an insulted Goa,· yet she fears it ·ror her child.
This "fearful looking forward : to judgment and fiery -ind,ignation " would weigh down the spirit of a righteous
mother with still greater sorrow, because she knows" that
every word of God is true," and . "·without holiness .. no
man shall see the Lord," no, not even':per :own son. '· " , ,-;·

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INTRODUCTION . . • . .

lsT REAsor<.-Because the folly of a child reflects disgrace on his parent~.

'*

Thus the Italians say, "II vltl eltrul dlsplncl, all! steesl vltlosf." : Tho
,Speniartls have a similar proverb, "Even a bad moth.e r ,wisnea her children to
be good." ·'
·
· ·
.. · · · ' · · ·
:"' " ' '\ . -. :

L* :

._,..,..

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250

TO SPARE THJI' GUILTY 18 CRUEL,

. l y:i.,'"'

THEME LXl:X:,

As in the body, if " one member su[er all the memhers
suffer with it ; or one member be honoured, all the
members rejoice with it;" so is it with a mother and her
offspring.
..
As a sculptor grieves who finds a flaw in a block of
marble on which he has been bestowing his time and
skill ; so a mother grieves for the folly of her chilu whom
she has borne and brought up.
HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS. . . . .

I

'l'

wink not at hls follies, ,' . · . lest he wax stubborn and be
disobedient unto thee; and so bring sorrow to · ~hi~e ·helirt.
-Eccles. xxx. 9. 11, 12. · ·
:•' : ·· ' 1_ 1· : " 7 •1 ... tH"
•'f '
· The mother suffers arid partake.s in the calamity 'of be~
son, because she is perhaps conscious that her indulgence
has spoiled him and depraved him.-Lord Bacon. :' 1 ~·
1
Dos est magna paren~ium virtus ..-O~id.. : · : .· , ::. ' ,' 1:;:: :
Sapiens filius lretificat patrem.
: . · \.
.

•

•

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CONCLUSION .•

- ! ..

.. ..

.,

. ·· QuoTATIONs.-A wise son make th a glad father ; but
a foolish man despiseth his mother.-Prov. xv. 20.
Who loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father.-Prov.
xxix. 3.
My son, be wise, nnd make my hen.rt glad, tluit I nmy
answer him that reproacheth mc.-Prnv. xxvii. 2.
My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice,
even mine.-Pruv. xxiii. 15.
. The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice, and
he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.
Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that
bare thee shall rejoice.-Prov. xxiii. 24, 25.
He that begetteth a fool doe th it to his sorrow; and
the father of a fool hath no joy.-Prov. xvii. 21.
A foolish son is a gdef to his father, and bittefoess to
her that bare him.-Prov. xvii. 25.
A foolish son is the calamity of his father.-Prav. xix.
13.
An evil nurtured son is the dishonour of bis father that
begat him; and a foolish daughter is born to his loss.Eccles. xxii. 4.
If children live honestly . . . they shall cover the
baseness of their parents; bnt chilllren being naughty ...
·do stain the nobility of their ki11drcd.-B'cc/es. xxii. 9, 10.
Cocker thy child, and he shall make thee afraid : ~ :·.

!

.,, '
'Tis Cruelty to spare the Guilty. .
..

;

THEME

LXX.

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INTRODUCTION ..••.
lsT REASON.-Because it encourages sin. by. the . hop~
of impunity.
,.·.- ,
· · 2Nn REASON.-lt lets loose the herd of evil~doer.s1 vp~ri
the innocent, making the guiltless suffer, tha~ tbe . guiJty
may be saved from punishment. _
": · '
· , , .,-.
3nn REASON.-lt discourages virtue :-i. by . ·giving
it. no protection; and, 2. by showing no root~d bo~tility to
vice.
4TH .REASON.~-It makes great severity a'nd bloodshed
ultimately necessary, in order to ;repress the 'increasing
evils, which a little judicious severity would. have " ·n ipped in the bud."
· .. ,; ,. ·' i. : :· · ·: rv =-=·
5TH ~EASON.-lt entails an unjust expense upon ~ a
community, for,
(• · "\
( 1.) . A larger a.nd · more expensive police · will ; ·be
needed;
·
. . "•fiVij .. : 11 ~ r
, . ( 2.) House;s _must be more securely gt n.rded, ; and : property more v1g1lantly defended· ·
· 1 • , • ·, , , • :/(3.) '!'he guilty will find no honest marters to employ
them, and must be provided for by public funds. \. · · 1 ~ • "
,/
I

~52

. :.253
..... . ,

TO · SPARE THE GUIL1'Y 18 CRUEL • .

THEME LX:X:.

'

nTH REASON.-It is very prejudicial to a government,
whose chief object is to protect its subjects from injury.
Immediately the public perceives its interest disregarued
by those in .power, it will raise up in rebellion rtgainst its
rulers. · ·
7TH REASON.-The infection of sin is proverbial; nnd
who can tell how deep and how wiue the infection of one
villain let loose upon a nation may spread ?
8TH REASON.-As the conseq11e11ces of sin do not cease
at death, many may be dra.wn into everlasting destruction
by the evil influence of one whose guilt bas been suffered
to pass unpunished, through the leniency of a mistaken
policy.
SrMILEs.-Those who neglect to take a small dose of
medicine at the beginning of a disease, will not only
suffer much pain, but also rernler more severe measures
necessary, in order to remove the complnint afterwards.
Cutting off lepers from all intercourse wit!~ man, was a
severe injunction of God to the J cws j but it was a less
evil by far than allowing them to cu.rry contagion to "all
the thousands of Israel."
A dead branch or tree is not only a "cumbrance" but
also a great evil. It harbours insect~, produces bli~ht,
screens off the sun
forms a bed for lJChens and vanous
., '
parasites, &c.
He who spares the wolf spoils the flock.
Ma.ny a patient has lost a limb and even lire, by refusing
to bear a slight surgical operation.
vVeeds in a wheat field g-reatly injure the corn, and nq
good husbandman will neglect to root them up with all
diligence.
It would be great folly to suffer rats, mice, and other
vermin to run ree, eith er fr om tl1e sentim ental sympathy
of Robert Bu :1s, * or the false religious notion, " that Goq
• See the bc:,utlfnl lyric of l~obcrt JJnrns, "On
was turnccl up QY a Plqni;hshn.re:" ·· ·

I\

Mouse wbose Nes~

made them, and, therefore, no man h~s . a righ~ ito. d.~.~~roy
them."
·
· · .'
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If water oozes into a ship through a leak, it must, be.
pumped out again, or the ship will sink ..' :r'. "''" · · :rJ.
t '.
. :. f
HISTORICAI, ILLUSTRATIONS. ' •. • •. •
\

I

I•

':,'•

Quol'ATIONS.- He that justifieth the wicked, and he
that condemneth the just, even they both a~~ - abomination
to the lord.-_Prov. xvii. 15.
/
He that saith unto the wicked, " thou art righteous,"
him shall the people curse, and . nations shall abhor him.
-Prov. xxiv. 24.
1
babella. Yet show ~ome pity'.
r;<, ·-,z:J :;ncrrr r
Angelo. I show it most of all, when I show justice,
For then I pity those I do not know1 · '~i i'.i , rr, ;,;'! d ..
Which a <lismissed offence.·would after gall ;'' .. · ;
And do him right, that answering,.one:foul wrong .!~:
Lives not to_act another.-Shakspeare. ·. . · . · • ;,, :i>.
l
•
We bid this be 'done; ;> · ~: 1 • , :.:
When evil deeds have their permissive~passi •; :: i :d'
.A.nd not the punishment.-· ShaksjJ(are> ;·.,': ·.. ~ ·'·;.:.J-". ·
.

- i

:

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·~ ,·,1·1 .'· ; •\ ,~J-.'(f'i"\ t ~j

Mercy is not itself that oft loo}rs so; .i:' ,
:· ~1 · :. ·;, :
Pardon is still the nurse of second woe.-ji-Shak_
speare.
.
.
.. , .. (.
'1

•

It is owing to justice tpat man to nian is a..god, a9~, ;not
a wolf.-Lord Bacon. ··
•

•

•

· : . : . .,· · . , . n'·',
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Cato the Elder used to say, " th.e public are .more .inter.e sted in the punishment of the wrong-doeri ~~an . ~e !tha.t
' receives the injury." ,
., .
: .: 1 11. • • n .-.~ ri
He that ohastiseth one, amendeth . many.i· Fielding's
proverbs.

.: "• .'.; ..•fJ •.. •;'.I ,.,,;i

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I',

Spes impunitatis maxima est
icero.

'O
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illecebra.
peccandi....:... .
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.. Detedores omnes sumus lice~t.ia.-:-::-?'~rc7J.c~.·. ~ ·: " ,.:}!.
J-.
• TT!
· · l .Al'
. itur v1't'mm, cresc1't que t egen. d. 0. ..;...::..
nr9i . ., 1 , , ji.. ~J·o&
; 1
22

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254

THEME LXXI.

Impunitas semper ad deteriora invitat.
Mors lupi, agnis vita.
Invitat culpam, qui peccatum prooterit.-Publius Syrus.
Bonis nocet, quisquis pepercerit malis.-Publius Syrus.
Reus loos~ majestatis punitur, et pereat unus, ne pereant
omnes.
CONCLUSION.

THEME

LXXI.

.LISTEN NOT TO

ALL

THAT 18 SPOKEN. ·

brings about evil which might- have been otber~ise
averted : 'l'hus the report that a bank, ·merchant, ·or
tradesman is insolvent, causes a "run upon them," which
brings them down; or prevents their adjusting matte~s, so
as to ride out an ephemeral difficulty.
·,1

5TH REASON.-The moral influence of gossip-hearing
and tattling is most pernicious : it fosters lying, slandering,
and ill-will ; idleness, inquisitiveness, and tale-bearing ;
meanness, distrust, and all uncharitablene~s.
Gru REASON. -The social evils are no less fatal.
Fa111ily feuds, violated friendships, constn,nt litign,tion with
neighbours, misanthropy, and r ecklessness, are amor::.;;st
tho baneful produce of this deadly upas tree.

Listen not to all that is spoken.

INTRODUCTION. . .
lsT REASON.-'l'hosc who give cn.r to eve ry idl e r11111onr
about themselves and others, will be constantly hearing
something to vex and a1inoy them.
2No REASON.-Diligence in gathering up the gossip of
the day can 1iever be of service to any one. It will not
serve to fortify the mind again st future calumni es nor
to make it more careful, nor to bring about amenclm'ent ;
neither will it relieve the distressed, assist the needy or
warn the impenitent.
'

3RD RF.ASON.-As perfidy and ingratitude are always
afloat on the tide of idle gossip, those who are most credulous will be constantly pe1ple~ced with evil s11spidons ;*
their friends, their relations, their ministers, their neighbours, even their husbands or wives, their children and
parents, will at times come under the cloncl, n11d en.use
their love to vacillate, their QQnfidence to lrnlt, and their
· sympathies to wax cold ;
4TH RE.ASON.-'l'he spread of an evil report very often

* For this reo so n Pompey the Great, with true mn gnanlmity burnt the
papers of Bertprius, and Julius Cresar thpse of Pprnney nftci: u;e battle of
Pharsalia.
· · · t.
·
·
·
"I .

SrMILEs.-N ot every wind that blows is a healthy
breeze.
Uc who shn,kcs every mn,n by the hand may be glad to
fee the doctor. ,
Jelle curiosity sometimes fills the mousetrap . .
Those who are too fond of tasting will often make a '
wry mouth.
He who plucks every flower must not mind pricking
his fingers.
The prick of a pin is enough to make an empire joyless
for a time.
He who ventures into the oven will smell of fire.
HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS. . . . •
QuoTATIONs.-Shun profane . and vain babblings.. 2

Tim. ii. 16.

.. .

The words of a tale-bearer are as wounds, and they go
down into the innermost parts of the belly.-?rov. xviii. 8.
Death and life a.re in the power of the tongue ; and
they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.-Pro'I!,
xviii. 21.
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256

THEME LXXI.
NEVER CONTEND WITH A FOOL,

· Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked
who whet tl~eir tongue like a sword, and bend thelr hows
to sho?t their arrows, even bitter words : That they may
s~oot m secret at tile p erfect : Suddenly do they shoot at
him, an<-~ fen.r I~~t . . . . . They search out iniquities ; they
. aecompl_1sh a d1hgent search ..... But God slmll shoot at
them with an arrow ; suddenly shall they be wounded ·
So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon them~
selves.-Ps. lxiv. 2-8.
Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment, and

a babbler is no better.-E'cclus. x. 11.
Psalm lviii. 3-6.

If a rulc1: hearken unto lies, nil his servants n.r~ wicked

- . Prm•. xx1x. 12.

--

·

Deuteronomy, xiii. 1-3.
li ~l'.l

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lL~IJ .,I

. !t 2J.
i;:; l'ULleucss of n illllH lv heark en at the dour -Eccles
. .
.
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.XXL

A whispncr ucfiletlt l1i."
iUiil

SOC\'CJ'

/i ( ;

i'<li!I,

OWll

i" li:itrd "·licrc -

:ttt<!

dw"ll . ·tl1.--- .l'cdcs. xxi. :2 .'.).

Li .s1enc rs llcur uo goud of them::;el ves.

Take heed you find not whn.t yon do not seek.
Tl11~ lo11gu~ will hr cak a bone 1
1 ,.
A I! l1ouolt it. <:t• !f 11 ,.,th 11 ·111C.
,,
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- /_, "U : 11!.t/i
.t/ .\' zn· r;; ierfjs.
.::::

i!l llil
lli!i I

,_.

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Be n.n Ar!!'ns at h0mr 11nt :i 1\'f ol " ·1l1r·r)'tt1
pruverbs.
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Por mad woros a deaf car.-Ruy's proverbs.
In casa argo, di fuori talpa.
Curiosus Iiemo est, quin sit malevolus.-Plautus.
I'ercontatorem fugito.-I£orace.
Garrula lingua nocet.-Ovid.
Multum peperit garrnla lingua maium.-1'ibullul!,
CONCLUSION.

'

111

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THEME

LXXII.

INTRODlTCTION. . . . .

'!1 .

;. 1./'JI

Never contend with a Fool.'?' :i
. )

lsT REASON.-Because it will be a waste of time and
labuur.
2ND REASON.-The matcli is not equ,al; and by contending with a fool yon lower yourself to his level.
31rn RRASON. -You expose yourself to abuse from
yom adversary, who will " turn again and rend you."·
4TH R~:AsoN.-A ll wi'.se men will condemn yon, whether
you prevail, or are conqucrc<l.
·
5TH REASON.-It will be no glory to conquer a fool in
ar.r11onenl; but a great flifigTaP,e to he P,Onqnerecl hy him .
GT!I J{r<:Asox. - - A fool is so empty-headed, sclf-opiniatcd,
nnrl nhstinntP, thnt hp nPitlwr 11·i fl 11nr ran hr prr.wadrd:
For ( :is Solomon snys) , "'l'hong·h thon sh o11 lds t l ll'ay a
fu() I in a lllO r1ar a11101 1.Q.· \\ht::d, \rith a pestle, yet will not
his fnolish1w<ls flf:'pnrt from him ."
;'
hH RFASnN .-Opposition only makes him the more
pertinrrcious and conceited.
f-.!1,11L F" -- -'l'l! nc:p who ronfrrnl wilh a fool, are like
c hildren silting in the markets, and calling unto their
fcllo\1 s, aml sayiug, " \ \ -c ha\c }Jipcd unto you , alHl ye
l1a\c not Ll:wccd; we have rno11rned unto you, and ye
L~ne uo t Iamcntcu."-.Mi.1 tt. xi. l G, 1 'r.
You cannot wash a blackamoor white, and no wise man
will attempt it.
It is unwise to play with pitch if you wish to keep
. clen,n hands.
The oak which resists the gale is broken or blown down.
He who contends with a fool, is like him who "casts
penrls before swine."
'
·
·
Slmlrnpen.re says, tlrnt Gratiano's "reasons are as two
grains of wheat hid in two bushels of chaff." . wµat wise
22*

258

THEME LXXII.

man will trouble himself about "such an infinite deal of
nothing?"
" You may as well go stand upon the beach,
And bid the nmin flood 'bate his u~ual height;
You may as well use question with the wolf,
vVhy he hath made the ewe bleat for the lamb;
You may as well forbid the mountain pines
To wag their high tops, and to make a noise,
When they are fretted with the gusts of heaven," ns
"seek to soften that (than which what's harder)," a foolish
heart.
llISTOIUCAL ILLUSTRATIONS. • . • •

QUOTATIONS. - rrJ1011 hast stricken them, hut they
have not grieved; thou hast co11s11111cd them, but they
have refused to r eceive correction : rrh cy lmvc nm<le
their faces harder than a ro ck; they have refused to
return.-Jer. v. 3.
If a wise man contcndeth with a foolish man, whether
he rage or laugh, there is no rest.-Prov. xxix. 9.
•Answer not a fool accordiiig to his folly, les t thou also
be like unto him.-Prov. xxvi. 4.

Ecclesia.stes, x . 12-15.
rralk not much with a fool, and go not to him that hath
no understanding: beware of him, lest thou have trouble,
and thou shalt never be defiled with his fool eri es : depart
from him, and thou shalt find r est, alH1 never be disquieted with his madness.-Eccles. xxii. 13.
If we strive with the worthless, what course soever
we take we a,re losers, and can never come hamlsomel
off.-Lord B acu n.
"
Quiel enim contenuat hirundo cycnis.-L11creti11s.
Impar congres~ns Achilli.- Virgil.
Prmlens in fimnrnarn ne manum injicito.
CoN0Lus10N ..

IMMODERATE .PRAISE OVERAC'l'.S' ITS PART, .; ·

THEME

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.. ""'- .~•.'. '

ri: '- j,

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LXXIII. ' To p;·aise one's Fri'end aloud, ri-sing .1 ~­

eq,rly,

/i.Wj

the .same

.

eff~ct as, cursing

him. : , t

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· lNTRoou.c rroN.-To be always · harping · on the praise
of a friend from morning till night~ will be of more injury
than benefit to him.
i . : · ·. ·.· ·'

' ls·r REASON..! Immoderate praise savours 'of unrea.'s~n­
aule partial·i ty ; and is regarded by those who hear it as

the hyperbole of blind ·adoration. ·
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2No RusoN.-Men are apt to think that the fulsome

flatterer · has some direct or indfrect inter~st . in puffing;
like the rhymers hired by some tradesmen to attract
notoriety.
· ·
'

3rw H..1usoN.-Motlest praise

1"

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arr~sts the attentio~ of :

,tho ~ic

who hear it, antl pretlisposes them to think favour- .
ably of the party recommended: But gross flattery offends '
. their .J 11tf:77nenl, and poisons their mind against . the object ..
of such injudicious praise.
'.
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4rn REASON.-Fulsome flattery provokes . envy and
· detraction.
·
·
5TH • l"tEASON. - It is an indirect insult to the public
genernU:;, and must be injurious both to the flatterer and
to the object of his encomium.
GTH REASON.-" To be over thankful for one favour
is, in f:ict , to ask for anoth er;" and, on the same principle, ·
extravagant praise looks li~e design upon the pocket.
·
7T11 REASON.-Every modest man will feel wretched
to he 11· his merits grossly e.raggerated to others. Conscious tlrnt he cannot realise the description. given, he
will feel perplexed, disappointed, and humbled. · .
8m l{EASON.-To the vain man immoderate praise
will be equrtlly injurious. It will fan his co1iceit into a
flame, 1111<1 lmry in a,rrogance and pride the merit he may
really possess.

SrnrLEs.-When all men praised the peacock 1 for his

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THEME LXXIII.
',

beautiful tail, the birds cried out with one consent, " Look
at his legs I and what a voice I"
It is prejudicial to fertility to manure a fteld too highly.
A light too intense is as bad as darkness.
A little medicine may benefit health, but immoderate
doses act like poison.
"'When the fox lauded with fulsome flattery the black
crow, praising the glossy brilliancy of her feathers, the
exquisite proportions of her form, the beanty of her eye,
and even the music of her voice, he only wanted to get
possession of a piece of cheese, which the crow let fall
immediately she opened her beak.-.../Esvp's fable.
Flattery, says Lord Bacon, is fowling with a bird-call.
'Vhen tributary rivers supply the main trnnk with a
moderate stream, it flows within its channel, "blessing
and ulessed;" but when the mountain torrents roll thither
their immoderate floods, the river overflows its banks,
carrying desolation wherever it goes.
·
H1sromcAL lLLUSTRATIONs.-2 Sam. xv. 2-7. 2 Sam.
xvi. 16-19, with xvii. 7--13. 1 Kings, xxii. 6. 13 .. Acts,
xii. 22, 23. Luke, xx. 20, 21.

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SUSPICION SHOUtD BE WELL-FOUNDED.

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.. Some m~n are praised maliciously to .their hurt, thereby
.to stir up envy and jealousy towards them: u pessimum
genus rnimieorum laudantium."-Lord Bacon• .· ·. ··.. · > ..
1.'oo much magnifying of man or matters doth irritate
contradiction and procure scorn.-·Lord Bac<;m.
An injudicious .friend is worse than a foe.
A fluttering friend is your worst enemy.-Maunder's
proverbs.
·
Modernte praise is wont to augment, but immoderate
'
praise to diminish, honour.-Theopompus.
. Men had need beware how they be too perfect in compliments ; for that enviers will give them that attribute
to the disadvantage of their virtues.-Lord Bacon. •
Beaucoup de bruit,
.
' 1· ·
Peu de fruit.
Si fastiditus non ero, laudatus, abunde;-Ovid. ·
.)
N olo esse laudator, ne videar adulator.-.Her~nnius.
Habendum est nullam in amicitiis pestem esse majorem,
quam adulationem, blanditias, assentationem.-.-. Cicero. ,J
· Viscus merus est blanditia.-Plautus. ·
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CONCLUSION •••••

QuoTATIONs.-A man that fl::tttercth his neighbour
spreadcth a net for his feet.-Prov. xxix. 5.
Meddle not with him that fiattcreth with his lips.Prov. xx. 19.·
A flattering mouth worketh ruin.-Prov. xxvi. 28.
Such as do wickedly against the covenant (God) shall
eormpt by flatterers.-Da11. xi. 32.
Immoderate praises procure envy to the pernon praised,
as all extravagant commendations seem to reproach others
that may be less dcserving.-Lord Bacon.
Ii'lftttcry is the var1tish of vice.-Lord Bacon.
Ijct the crwcliell lick ab's11rcl pnrnp,
A 1Hl crook tit~ prcp;11a11t l1i11µ;ce; of the lrnr,e,
'Vhere thrift may follow fn,wning.-Shuk.p c.are.

i,

· · 'rHEME.

S.uspect not without good Oa~~.'""'0= .

LXXIV.
,

INTRODUCTION;· .•' •• ; .

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lsr REAsoN.-Suspicion is ~lways ·indicative 'o f ·a w.eak

1;:'..;,;

· ,hi,·,_,., ..· .) ··:,!','".· :·.:\,f~
2ND REASON.-lt breaks the bonds of .trust, ~hereby /

mind.

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friends are lost and busi~es,s paralys~d: ; :, ~~ .: . , ,< ,: 1 ' / ;
·. 3nn REASON.-lt often suggests evil to designillg .men,
and lays the unwary open to their attacks.
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SUSPICION SHOULD BE WELL·FOUNDED.

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THEME LXXIV.

which greatly diminishes the image-of reflected .objects ':
but everything evil in a concave mirror, which tn~gnifies
the image of the object reflected. ·
·· .; · "
Suspicions are like dreams, which take their "colour
from the thoughts of the mind ; but are greatly distorted
because judgment is asleep.
.

. 4TH R~ASON.-It .~ou rs the temper and fills the heart
wit!i all b1tte1·'.iess: Disposes kings to tyranny, hu sbands
to Jealousy, wise men to irresolution, auJ. weak ones to
melancholy.
.
5TH REASON.-It greatly enihittcrs l~fe . A mrrn had ,
far better be deceived, than suspect without cause.
oTH REASON.-It betrays a very evil heart. Men
judge of others lJy themselves, autl those who are most
prone to plot mischief are always most ripe to suspect it
in others. Thus Cain thought every one he met would
prove a murderer (Gen. iv. 14.); and Saul, who wished
to e~1 co mrH1ss the life of David, suspect.eel David of like
p erfidy ( 1 Sam. xxiv. U, &c. ).
7-rn REASON.-Suspicion is totally inconsistent with
Christiu//, chan't!J, which "thiuketh no ev il," but "hopeth
all things."-1 Our. xiii. 5. 7.
8TI-I H.EASON.-It is a positive wrong a11d positive injury
to those who are the objects of suspicion.
9TI-I REASON.-lt leads to many sins: For lie who sus·
pects evil, hurries to avoid it ; antl, as his mind is blinded
by prejudice, he is reckless wbo suffers, if he can himself
esc~pe.
S everal illustrat~ons of this arc r ecorded in Holy
Scnpture for our warmng : For example, Ahrnham
through a false suspicion, twice brought vci1gcance o~
all the Egyptians (Gen. xii. 10- 20. and Gen . xx.)·
Isaac was guilty of similar injustice, while he dwelt i~
Gerar (Gen. xxvi. 6-9.); &c.
SnrrLEs.-Suspicion is like the jaundice which tinges
everything with a yellow hue.
'
A suspicious man looks through a "horn darkly."
. Suspicions amo~1gst thoughts (says Lord Bacon) are
like bats n.mong bmls.
Suspicion, like a cat, " is a green-eyed monster, that
doth mock the meat it feeds on."
It ma.y be likened to " an evil eye ·" and " if thine eye
be evil, thy whole body is full of dark:~ess."--Matt. vi. 23.
Suspicion beholds everything good in a convex mirror,
1

- HISTORICAJ,

•

ILLUSTRATIONS. • • •

QuorATIONs.-Many are deceived by their own vain
opinion ; antl an evil suspicion hath overthrown their
judgment.-Eccles. iii. 24.
Men of base natures, if they fiµd themselves suspected,
will never be true.-Lord Bacon.
Suspicion always haunts the guilty breast.
To be overrun with suspicion, if'w a kind of political
madness.-Lord Bacon .
Suspicion often breaks a frail integrity, says Lord Bacon.
How different is this to the spirit of God's "servant in
whom his soul delighteth," and of whom it is said, "A
bruised r eed shall he not break, and the smoking flax
.
shall he not quench."-Isa. xlii: 3.
Domitian used to say, " Such as give h eart to slanders,
are worse than slanderers themselves."
I do suspect the Moor .... the thought ·
Doth, like a poisoned min eral, gna.w my inwa.rds :
.... I know not if't be trne :
Yet I, for mere suspicion in that kind,
Will do, as if for surety.-Shakspeare.
Perchance I'm vicious in my guess,
As, I confess, it is my nature's plague
To spy into a.base ; and oft my Jealousy · ·
Shapes faults that are not.- Slwkspeare.
·where an equal poise of hope nnd fear
Doth arbitrate the event, my nature is
That I incline to hope rather than fen.r,
And gladly banish squint suspicion.-Milton.

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THEME

LXXV.

BE

Be no~ over-exquisite
To cast the fashion of uncertain evils ;
For, grant they be so, whiIC they rest unknown,
vVhat need a man forestall his date of grief,
And run to meet what he would most a.void?
Or, if they be but false alarms of fear,
How bitter is such self-delusion !-..Milton.
Your soul's above the baseness of distrust.-Dryden.
Sospetto licentia focle.
Te conscientia suspiciosum facicb::tt.-Cicero.
Bomilcar suspectus regi, et iiise emn suspiciens.Sal fost.

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LXXV.

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NOTH~NG.

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7TH REASON.-Carking anxiety makes a person over- ·
weeningly selfish; shuts up all the generous sympathies
of the heart ; and binds every thought .fo the wheel of
this despotic monomania.

SrnrLEs.-As great effeminacy of mind or body prod uces nervous~ss, and many 111oral evils, so great anxiety
debilitates the mental and physical powers.*
. i
Gnawing anxiety is like a tape-worm in a tree, which
makes it bleed profusely, but destroys its fruitfulness . .. ., ·•
AR pulmonary consumption wastes away the body, so
carking care consumes the mind.
. .<
·"
As iron is consumed by the canker tooth of the air, so ·
,.
the mind and body are rusted away by the canker tooth
'"
of anxiety.
" ·. 1 "
As a worm in the bud, so is care in the heart . .. ·, · ., ,-.
As a moth frets ~ garment, so . distressful. solicitude
preys upon the mind.
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· Anxiety muy be likened to the vulture which preyed ·· - ·-::1
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upon the liver . of Prometheus, while .h e was chained to
the Caucasian rock.
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HISTORICAL lLLUSTRATIONS.-Martha. . Luke, x. 40, · 41.
Dan. iii. 16, &c.. ·. .
. _ ..
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Be anxious for nothi'ng.

INTRODUCTION .....
l sT REASON.-Great solicitude about the future shows
a want of confidence in God, who has promi sed, saying, " I
will never leave thee, nor forsnJce thee."-lfeb. iii. 5.
2ND REASON.-·It keeps the mind in a state of constant
1tneasiness; and preys upon the temper, spirits, and
health.
3RD REASON.-It produces pe17Jlexity of purpose, disqualifies the mind from pursuing its ordinary du ties, and
often accelerates the very evils that are the objects of
dread.
4TH REASON.-It is a great temptation to sin.
5TI-I REASON.-It has a most pernicious ?noral inffoence,
as it leads to repining,· discontent, envy, peevishness,
prayerlessness, and infidelity.
6TH REASON.-Mn.n is so short-sighted, that the very
cloud he dreads may be replete with niercy; while the

FOR

object of bis desire may be · like the meat which · the ·
children of Israel craved in the wilderness, of which they
lrntl no sooner eaten than it became "loathsome," and
numbers died 11 with a very great plague:"-Num. xi. 4.
18, 19, 20. 33.
<:~

CONCLUSION.

THEME

ANXIOUS

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QuoTATIONs.-Take no thought for your life, what ye
shall eat or what. ye shall drink ; . nor yet .for your .body, '
what ye shall put on.-Matt. vi~ 25. .
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• St. Pnnl Anya, that no " (lfl'emlnate person shnlt inherit the kingdom ot
Goa. ;" nnd he classes the effeminate with tiJlevea drunkards idolaters and all
"the scum of the eartb."-1 ~oor. vi. 9.
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LXXV.

Take no thought for the morr~w ; for the. morrow
shall take thought for the things of ~tsclf. Sufficient unto
the day is the evil thereof.-1lfott. v1. U.
.
· Cast thy burden upon the Lorcl, ancl he shall sustam
thee.-Ps. lv. 22.
Cast all your care upon (Goel), for he careth for you.
-1 Pet. v. 7.
Be careful for nothing.-Phil. iv. 6.
can add one cubit to
W hich of you by takincr0 thouo-ht
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his stature? If ye then be not able to do that t Iimg
is least, why take ye thought for the rest ?-Luke, xu.
25, 26 . .
I would have you without carefnlness.-1 Cor. vii. 32.
vVatching care will not let a man slumber.-Eccles.
xxxi. 2.
Carefulness bringeth age before the time.-Eccles.
xxx. 24.
Can your solicitude alter the courRe, or unravel the intricacy, of human events?
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He bids danger advance who buckles agarnst it.Lord Bacon.
Be still sad heart, and cease repining,
Behind' the clouds the sun is shining.-Longfellow.
Bear up l
Yet still bear up l No bark did e'er,
By stooping to the storm of fear,
Escape the tempest wrath.-Beairnwnt.
The story of a man who grew grey in the space of one
njght's anxiety is very famous.-Sp ectator.
Cheer up, sad heart l God is where he was.
Content in a cot is better tban care on a throne.
Tilaw the bla' wind ne'er so fast,
Its bluster will abate at last.-Scotch proverb.
Si qnis est timidns in nrngnis p_criculosisque rebus,
semperque magis adversos rerum_ ex1tus mctuens, quam
sperans secundos, is ego snm.-C1cero.

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DOING EVIL THAT GOOD MAY COME.

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Degeneres animos timor arguit.· Virgil. .· --.1;· .,; 1v1L '7t.~·;"
Timid um nullius animi, nullius consilii · esse; confit~or." ·~~- · .,
Cicero.
·
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Animus otiosus est imperium.-Terence.
N eque semper arcum tendit Apollo.-H°!a.ce.
Post nubila Phrebus.
Non si male nunc, et olim sic erit.

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CONCLUSION. .

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LXXVI.

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~-THEME

_·.;w.

..."<";~;~i;:

It is not lawfui to do . Evil _that ~~:"
Good may come.
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INTRODUCTION. . . . .
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· 1sr REASON.-The commission of sin is like the letting :.
in of waters; he who once tolerates it from a virtuou~
motive, will soon indulge in it from mere concupiscence. ~.,.
2ND REASON.-No one evil can be committed alo,;,e. ,.' Sin•-',
is a large family, of which, if you marry one, y.ou. mus~ be :saddled with all its poor relations.
" '
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3Rn REASON.-The notion that "the end sanctifies the ~li'!·
means," is a sad delusion: So long as · conscience · feels °iJ.''.
sin to be sinful, its compunctions visitings will ser_ve as a ~'· :·
check to wickedness ; but immediately it is taught · to /:.~
believ.e that sin is justifiable, it will "run af~e~ _ err_o~-:~!t~
greedmess."
•
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4rH REASON.-" As the tree, so must the fruit ·be ;" - .
"No man can gather grapes from thorns, or figs from
thistles :" Even so no evil act can proceed from a good
heart
,
5TH REASON.-" What a man soweth that shall he
•'f;,"
also reap :" He that soweth brambles· must not expect to
·.
gather grapes ; and he who commits sin (no . matte~ - - '~· -

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'I'HEME Lxxvr.

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DOING EVIL TrIAT oooD :'MAY COME.

wha.t his motive may b e ), rnust not expect God's blessing
on his work. " He sows the storm, and he must reap the
whirlwind."

Cosmetics to improve the complexion 'are ' deleterio~s: .' ,; '.;!
1 · :, •' ;~~ :~:
both to the skin and to general health.

GrH REASON.-Whatever good may arise .from, an unlawjitl act in the overruling providence of God, yet it can
never balance the evil. 'l'he good is at least uncertain,
t~1e evil is actually committed.
7TH REASON.-It is a gt·eat encouragenient to the
wicked to continue in their evil ways, and a temptati<; .
to others to follow their example : All can sec the ev il,
but few will discern the motive. The sinful example is
open and palpable, but the secret object buried out of,
sight.

HISTORICAL lLLUSTRATIONs.-Aclam and Eve' ate bf the ~ ~
forbidden fruit that 11 they might be . as ·gods;" they \
gained the ''knowledge of gopd and evil" thereby,' it ·is '"·
true,
but entailed with it a curse on all their • posterity. ·71 •. ',, \,_.
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· When the Spaniards conquered America, and set the _"" ~ •
native population to work at the mines, the amount of '·· k
suffering en~l ured was most deplorable; d~ath carried off :
thousd.nds, disease and premature old age mvnded others,
the whole colony was dying on all sides, worn out with
fatigue and misfortune. In this extremity, Las Casas
proposed to .the Spanish government to transplant African
captives, in ord er to assist the colony in their labo?rs, ·
and snpply the place of the sick or dead. Tl~ough qardmal
Ximenes opposeu the measlire, it was earned by a great ,
majority, and from this npparently laudable and benevolent
suggestion, the traffic in man's blood began, and still remains in America, the badge of infamy.
' '.
Robin Hood became a robber in order to relieve the .
poor from the oppressions of the Norman barons, but the :
noble outlaw committed 11 most mischievous foul sin in
chiding sin;" for he taught thousands to be thieves for
the sake. of plunder, and raised np a gang of desperadoef!
which became a terror to the land.
The variou s persecuti ons both of ancient and modern
times lmve been set on foot, with a view of purging out
h eresy, and leaving- truth without "any mixture of error ;" .
bnt the blood of the saints and martyrs shall be a swift
witness a.gaim;t this lwrig h teo us proceeding" on the great
day of a ccounts."
The whole folly of pn pal deception rose from t he mistaken principle of "doing evil that good may come."
Anron made a calf of gold in Horeb, in order to pacify ,
the p cppl c, who '.Yere clamorous about. MoscR, who · had _
b r.r n nl,scnt fr om the camp for fort.y days a nd forty nights.
-;
H ad he not done so, they would have r evolted and killed

8rH REASON.-It is contrary to the law of God, and
" cannot coine of good."
. 9rH REASON.- I t is trusting to worldly wnnin_q, mi.r;M,
and power, rather than to Him "who tlisposeth all tltings.r'
SrMILEs.-It is like the old Roman custom of taking
boys to scenes of debauchery and drunkenness, in order to
make them avoid the same : The contag ion of evil examples is far too virulent to render such a plan justifiable.
He who uses acids to make his teeth white, will soon
destroy the enamel, and produce decay.
, A inan who commits forgery for a charitaule object,
does infinitely more harm than good.
The poets say, Prometheus stole fire from heaven. in
order to make man immortal; but he brong-ht everln,st.mg
punishment on himself, and inundated the world with
sorrow, sickness, and death.
If the stream be brackish, the fountain is salt also; hut
if the fountain be pure, the stream will not be otherwise.
They who pln,y with fire in onler to warm their fing cn:i,
must not be surprised if they burn them.
Those who take stimulauts to excite an appetite greatly
injure their digestion.

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'!'HEME LXXVl,

DOING EVIL- TCTA'f GOOD MAY COME.

!flay be a1~proved after the action, yet i~ ju~t~y con~e~ne4~~
ln the design.· Lord Bacon.
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By their fruits ye shall .know them.-Matt. vii. 20.
Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which
is good. He that doeth good is of God, but he ,that qoeth
evil hath not seen Gbd.-3 Jokn, 11. ·
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, vVho can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?- Job,
xiv. 4.
·
·
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Bassanio. To do a great right, do a little wrong....•
Portia.
· It must not be I ...
'~r 'vill Le l'Pcortlc(1 for a l'recedent,
A11<1 many au error Ly the same example
vVill rush into the state. It cannot be I

him: but neither man nor God justifies this act, which
brought a severe punishment upon Aaron and all the chilclren of Israel who induced him to it.
Wh en Jehu was anointed king over Israel, he compassed the death of Ahab in J ezreel, and all his kinsfolks,
priests, and nobles, and all the worshippers of Baal, in
order to purify the land from idolatry, and out of "zeal
for the Lord God of I srael:" But altho11gh Jehu was a
"scourge in the hand of God to execute vengen.nce," yet
bis con<luct is never justified, and God raisecl up an
avenger to "avenge the IJlood of J ezrcel up~n thq house
of J elm, and en.use it t o cease in Israel." - - ~ f{inps, x.
11. 2G. awl Jiu::; . i. 4.
.Almost all wars, all rebellions, all revolutio11s, all
national aggressions, and very many }_Jri vn.Le siu;;, such as
lying, dissimulation, deceit, &c., arc palliated with "the
flattering unction" that they h:we a righ tcomi ol>jcct,
although the means employed may be objectionaule.

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QuoTATIONs.-Abstain from all appearance of evil.I Thess. v. 22.
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not
unto thine own un<lerstanding; Jn all thy ·ways acknowled(J'e
Him, and he
shall 1.lirect thy paths: Be uot wise in
0
.
thine own eyes, but depart from evil; It shall Le health
to thv uavel, and marrow to thy bones.- Prov. iii. 5- 9.
vVoe unto th em that call evil gooc1, and good evil;
that put darkness for li ght, ancl li ght for darkness ; that
put bitter for sweet, ancl sweet for l>ittcr I 'Voe unto
them that are wise in their own eyes, and prucl ent in
their own sight I Which justify the wicked for r eward .
. . . As the fire devoureth the stubbl e, and the flame consnmeth the chaff; so their root shall be as rottenn ess, and
their blossom shall go up as dust.-Iiia. v. 20- 24.
Some men flatter U1cmsclvcs that, hy wlmt sinister
meaus soever their fortune be procm ed, they arc determined to use it well when oLtained: But let such men
know, that this recompensing of evil with goo<l, though it

Slw.kspeare.

•

Let mankind rest upon the corner-stone of Divinity and
Philosophy, both which nearly agree in the thing that
ougl1t first to be sought; For Divinity says, "Seek ye first
the )\ingdom of God, and all other things shall be added
unto yon;" and Philosophy directs us "to seek first the
goods of the mind, and the i;est will be not much wanted."

-Lord Bacon.
Pr~sent justice is in our power, but of future issues we
have no security.-Lord Bacon.

Good intentions can never justify evil actions.-Maun-

der's provetbs.
One Lad example spoils the best precepts.-Afannder's

proverbs.
Bad manners are bad morals.-Paley: ,
N eque est ulla fraus vitffi lucrosa.-Plautus. ·

,- '

Exitus non aeta probat.-Ovid.
In eadern re utilitas et turpitudo esse non potest.-:-Oic.
Damnum appellandum est cum inala fama lucrum.
Exemplo plus quam, ratione vivimus.·_ Seneca. ·' ' '
Ut sementem feceris, ita metes.-Oicero.
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CONCLUSION. . . . .

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THEl\rn

'fllEME

LXXVII. Study to ?nind your own Business.

INTRODUCTION. . • • •

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He who hunts one hare stands a good chance of catching
it; but he who hunts two at the same time will ce~~~inly_.
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lose both.
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While ·a ri;er k eeps within its ~h~nnel its waters are.
clear, . its progress to the sea steady, and its stream a
blessing, but immediately it overflows its banks it becomes
muduy, turbulent, and a great evil.
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Though, a cobbler ~an ~ake ~shoe,. let him n~t presum~·~­
to lecture A pell es.*

PART J.

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273 -· ~

MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS.
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LXXVII.

l sT REASON. - It will be more . pro,fita1Jle. A man
gets no profit by interforin rr with his neighbours, even
if hi s Ruggcstion s arc adopted and succeed .
r 21'.'D ltE'.\SON.- I t will b? mor e sati ~fi r clo l'y to th e mi11d.
fh e co nsc10nsness of luw mg d one one's du ty is always
agTc?alllc, and that of having neglected it always di~
tressrng·.
3Ro REAsoN.-Ily attending to yo nr own busincsR, n,nd
not g:ul<l_ing after the affairs of otherR, yo nr mind will ue
more stm d, n.ncl yo ur habits of life inore do111es ti c, sober,
nnd mo(lest.
, 4Tn REASON.-. You will av~id mu ch mischi ~fma ki11g.
'Ihosc who pry mto abuses, rn orclcr to r eform them
hrin g to lid1t many forgotten evils 011cn old rrrievances'
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h me er lrnsmess, a nd ure a constant annoyance.
5n-l H.EASON.- Thosc wl10 nrc diligent n.t th eir own
work ioin for themsel ves rf'spect and a ,r11·owi.11.rf rep11tntion;
but those who leuve their own business to interfere with
th at of others are al ways disliked nml di srespec ted.
(hn REASON.-If y ou d o not rnintl yo ur own bnsiness
who is to mind it? It must b e neglect ed, as "every
body's business" a lways is.
. 7TH REASON.-Miud your own business, for sucTi is the
will of God.

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HISTORICAL !LLUSTRATIONS.

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QuoTATIONs.-Let none of you suffer as a busy-body
in other men's matters.~1 Pet. iv. 15.
· '· · ; .. -=·
Seest thou a man diligent i.n business, he shall st~nd "
before kings.-· Prov. xxii. 29. .
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· Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and "
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1 k we 11 tot h y h er d s.- P rov. xx.vu.
Ile that tilleth his land shall have bread: but he that ,: ·::;
followeth after vain persons shall have poyerty enough:- ; . ,.
Prov. xxviii. 19.
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. Study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and :t<>·l '.:
work with your own hands, as we · commanded you.~:;· 1 Thes. iv. ll.
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We hear that there are some which walk among you " ·
disorderly, working not at all, ·but ·are busy-bodies. '
Now, them that are such we command and exhort by our
Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and :
eat their own bread.-2 Thes. iii. 11, 12.
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Let every tub stand on its own bottom.

Sm1LES. - A horse may carry one rider sn.fely, but
stnmbl e \vith two.
A r olling stone will gather 11 0 rn osR.
Yom own sl1 oe will not piu ch yon like tha.t of another
man 's.
If a bird would hatch her eggs she must not wander
from her nest .

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When Apelles oxposed his fine painting, cnlled " The Trojan BhP.phe~d," ~ .
to the public view, and soli cited tT1e opinion of the Greeks r eSJJC•ct!ng ' lt.8 ., •
merit, a certain shoemaker founcl fault with the sandal, which the artist .,
instantly corrected. Tho mnn, puffed pp with con ceit, n ext b egnn to pllll8 ·
his censure on the paintin g generally; wh en Apelles turned to him and .,,._
oiild, " K eep to the sandal, friend." This gave rise to the proverb, Ne au.tor' • ·'.·
11/tra crepidam.
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MIND NOT , A1:l0~HER'S BUSINESS.

THEME L:X:XVIII.

5TH REAso:N.-Intermeddlers are a . great hinderance

No man's pie is free from his ambitious finger.Shakspcare.
Do thine o\vn work and know tllysclf.- Maunder's
proverbs.
· Of little meddling comes great ease.- 1rfaunder's
proverbs.
He who doth his own business, defileth not his fingers.
-Fielding's proverbs.
Bcwnrc of tl1c man of one book.
Never meddle with that which llocs not concern yon.
llon homme, garde t::i. vache.
Qui fa le fatti suoi, non s' embratta le mani.
Tua quod nihil refert ne cures.
Suum cura negotium.
Is rerum suarum satagit.-Terence.

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lo others in their pursuits ; they are perpetually finding

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CONCLUSION.

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THEME

w mind you1· own Business
and not another's.

LXXVIII. Study

PART

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II.

INTRODUCTION. . . . .
lsT REASON. -Busy-bodies are nlwayfi hated and
despised.
2ND REASON.-Interfering with the business of others
instead of attending to one's own, is im1icative of a restless,
unsettled state of rnind.
3RD REASON.-By spending your time upon what does
not concern you, your OtVn business will s11;(j'er 11e,r1lect.
4TH REASON.-Every man lws troubl es enough <~f his
own, without incumbering 11imsclf with those of others to
no benevolent or useful purpose.

fault, proposing 'hew schemes, and wasting valuable time -.~~di
---"
in i<lle gossip.
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6-m REASON. - Gadding from place to place has a very
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evil moral i11jiuence; and hence Solomon says, "If thou
medclle much thou shalt not be innocent."-Eccles:xi. 10.
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7rn REASON.-It
is repugnant to the command of
Gud, and "cannot come of good."
Srn1LEs.-As a bird that wn,ndereth from her nest,
so is a man that wandereth from his place.-Prov. xxvii. 8.
A certain jay left her nest to advise and counsel her
neighbours; but while she was busying herself with the conccr.ns of others, her own eggs became addled, and the meddli11g bird was laughed at by all the inmates of the grove.
A man that wants to put "everybody to rights" is
like Procrustes the robber, who used to tie all travellers
" ·ho fell into his hands upon a bed: If they were shorter
than tl1e bed, he would stretch their limbs till .they measured the same length ; if they were longer, he would
cut off the parts which stretched beyond it.
A meddler is like a "turnspit dog," who is always
employed in turning the roast for others, but never tastes
it himself.*
The llomans called a busy-body 11 fly; hence Cicero's
caution, Puer, abige muscas.
.
vVheu an oak tree lends its trunk and branches to the
trailing ivy, the epiphytet flourishes, but the tree. itself'.
gradually decays.
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A perfume is exhausted by being poured from bottle t~
bottle.
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* The turn8plt dog WM a species of terrier, employed before the inven ~
tlon of "jack8" to turn a wheel, on which depen<led the spit for roar,tlng
meat In the kitchen. Burke said of a certain "creature" of Georg4' IIL1
'' Your lorclship is his majesty's turnspit."
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t An " epiphyte" ( em-tpvrov, on the planf) is any plant whtc.~ grows on , :
anntlte1·, as mosses, lichens, mistletoe, Ivy, &c.
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THEME LXXVIII.

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Tattlers and busy-bodies are the canker and rust of
idleness as idleness is the rust of time.-.1'aylor.
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As a pawnbroker's shop is full of other men's goods,
so a busy-body is full of other men's affairs ; but both
are equally disliked, and equally disesteemed.

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HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS.
QuoTATIONs.-Every fool will be meddling.-Prov.
xx. 3.
Strive not in a matter that concerneth thee not.Eccles. xi. 9.
rrhere is one that laboureth, and taketh pains, and
maketh haste, and is so much more behind.-Eccles. xi. 11.
A foolish man's foot is soon in his neighbour's house.Eccles. xxi. 22.
1-'hey learn to be idle, wandering about from house. to
house · and not only idle, but tattlers also and busy-bodies,
speaki~g things which they ought not.-1 Tim. v. 13.
Why shouldst thou meddle to thy hurt ?-2 If.ings,
xiv. 10.
No man C3in serve two masters.-Matt. vi. 24.
Too many cooks spoil the broth.-Scotr.h proverb.
Too many irons in the fire, some will burn.
Meddle not with that which concerns thee not.Maunder's proverbs.
Pry not into the affairs of other men.-Maunder's
proverbs.
Never scald your lips with other folks' porridge.Scotch proverb.
Busy-bodies and intermeddlers are a dangerous sort of
people to have to do withaI.-L'Estrange.
There's hardly a greater pest to a government or
family than an officious tale-bearer, or busy intermeddler.
-L' Estrange.
Assis entre deux selles le cul a terre.

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· · Alicna ricgotia 'curo', 'excussus propius.· Horace, "i ".":<'.'
Proprium est stultitire alioru~ vitia cernere, ol;>livisci
suorum.-Gicero.
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Tune quresiveris extra.-Horace.
Deformius nihil est ardelione.-Martial. ·
Curiosus _nemo est, quin sit llialevolus.-Pl~utus. · ·
S tul to rum est se alienis immiscere per~cuJis.
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grievous.

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INTRODUCTION. . • • •

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lsT REASON.-Because they are the, dictates of ~uprem¢.
goodness. They are not the mandates of a selfi~h ·4espN!; '.
but the injunction of a holy 'God.
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2Nn REASON.-They proceed no~ only, from . supr,eme
goodness, but also from supreme love. They are ,the
precepts of a father and friend, and . not the decretals .,?f "
a tyrant and a foe.
3.RD REASON.-They are in full accordance ·with . th~
soundest reason and wisdom. 1-,o adore · the highest, to
serve the greatest, to love the best, to trust the .~ise~t.
and most powerful, must commend itself to. every. mans.
conscience, as being " a most r~asonable ser_v1ce." 1
4TH REASON.-They have for thelr object the .happiness
and _qood of man ,even on eart!i. . .They tend to, prom.ote
health, reputation, a~d long hfe,-cheerfulness, seremty,
'; .·... t '·\\ ,_.f ' -, . ,' ;
and contentment.
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5TH REASON.-They have the · ·"promise of the life ,.
which is to come," when time shall be swallowed up of ··
~tern.ity, and corruption shall put on immortality. ·
6Ta: REASON.-Even if the commandments of God
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'rHEME

LXXIX.

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were far more rigoro1rn, they wonld not be grievous, for
God has "promised his lli1ly Spirit to them that ask
him/' who will give ''both the will and the power to do
after his good pleasure."

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SrMILEs.-Tlrnnder and lightning rnn,y appear dreadful
demonstrations of wrath, but the storm is sent in love, to
purify the air, and prevent pestiferous stagnation.
The members of the body, by obeying the dictates of
common instinct, thrive and arc happy ; and man would
be happy too, if he were to "walk in th,~ commandments
and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.
A hen seems constantly to restrain her young brood
"with false ·alarms of fear," but every cry she gives pro
ceeds from love and maternal vigilance.
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Pain mn,y be regarded by some as n, cruel cxn,ction, bnt
how much better is it that firn should p:ivc alarm of
danger by pain before the body is injured by a burn ;
that the eye should give warning of too great light before
vision is destroyed ; and that the bowels should cry out
l' n ao-ony before the ofotton or drunkard has overwhelmed
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them with excess, &c.
The knife, :md the probe of the surgeon are fearful
instruments to the patient, but not so fearful as the
disease from which he suffers.
Wise laws are looked upon by some as infringements
or restraints on natural liberty ; but, as Pope says,
What each one likes, if others like as well,
What serves one will, when many wills rebel,
How shall he keep what, sleeping or awake,
A weaker may surprise, a stronger take ?
His safety must his liberty restrain,
For all must guard what each desires to gain
Forced into virtue thus by self-defence,
E'en kings lcn,rn jnsticc and benevolence :
Self-love forsakes the p:ith it once pnrsncd,
And finds the pri vatc in the public good.
A wise vineclresser cuts off this and that 'cane,-hends

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GOD 8 COMMANDMENTS ARE NOT

in 'what is straggling:-:nips off every bud which w9ul.d ~,.;. §
·weaken the clusters be is nursing,-plucks off a leaf . · .:...: ~
here and a leaf there, and seems to reduce bis vine · to ~
poverty, and strip it of its luxuriance and beauty; ~lit
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knows wlrnt he is about, and every thing he does is die·~
fated by skill, and Jrns for its object the health and vigour
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9f his plant.
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HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS.

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QuoTATIONs.-He hath shewed thee, 0 man, what is
good; and what doth the Lord require of thee bu_t" to do
justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy
pou.-.J.l:ficah, vi. 8.
Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, . '. . . and ye
shall find rest unto your souls; for my yoke is easy and
my burden is light.-Matt. xi. 29, 30.
Stand ye in the ways, and see and ask for the old
paths, where is the good way, and walk' therein, and ye
shall find rest for yourselves.-Jer. vi. 16.
Length of days is in' her right hand, and in her left
hand riches and honour: Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace: She is '{1. tree of life
to them that lay hold upon her, and happy is every one
that retaineth her.-Prov. iii. 16-18.
My son forget' not my law, but let thine heart keep my
command~ents: For length of days, and long life, and
pcace,·shall they add to thee.-Prov. iii. 1, 2.
In that I command thee this day to love the Lord thy
God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments
and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live
and multiply; and the Lord thy God shall bless ,thee.Deut. xxx. 16.; see also verse 20. and viii. 1.
.
Great peace have· they which love thy law, and nothing
shall offend them.-Ps. cxix. 165.
Godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise
of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.I Tim. iv. 8.

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The fear of the Lord is honour, and glory, and gladness, and a crown of rejoicing. The fear of the Lord
maketh a merry h eart, and giveth joy, aud gladness, and
a long Iife.-.Eccles. i. 11, 12.
'I'he fear of the Lord is fnln css of wisdom, nnd fillcth
men with her fruit. She filleth nil their l1ouse with
things desirable, and their garners witli her increase. The
fear of the Lorrl iR n. crown of wisdom, making peace and
pefect health to f1011risb; and it enlarge th their rejoicing
that love God. -.Eccles. i. 16-18.
Blessed is the nmn thn,t fcarcth the Lord, that d elighteth
greatly in His commandments; His seed sltnJI be mighty
upon earth . ; . Wealth and riches shall be in bis house.
-Ps. cxii. 1-3.
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Submit.-In this or any other sphere,
Sccnre to be as blessed as th on cn.nst bear ;
Safe in the hand of one disposing Power,
Or in the natal or the mortal hour:
For spite of pride, in erring R eason's spite,
One truth is clear, 'VHATEVER IS, IS RIGHT.-Pope.
Lex est ratio summa insita in natura, qme jubet ea
qme facienda sunt, prohibetque contraria.-Uicero.
Na tune ratio est Lex divina.-Cicero.
CONCLUSION.

SET NOT YOUR AFFECTiONS

?'dtion will be but transient; for the "world p·a sseth away, ......~
11nd the lust thereof.''-1 John, ii. 17.
· '· ;
4TII REASON .-'l'he best of worldly delights is "?nt a · ·
rnin(l'lcd yarn of good and ill tog ether;" and, even .m the '
swc~tcst cnp " there is a poison drop at the bottom."
5nr R1usoN.-J ust in proportion as the ~vorlu and the
· things of the world become. oldects of lov.e, God and the
things of God hecome oluects of aversion; for ( as St.
,John 8nys), ~ 'If any man love th.~ world, the love of the
Father is not in him."- 1 John, ii. 5.
frrn HEAsoN .- As no man "can serve both 0 od and
]\ /farnrnon " who would be so infatuated as to barter "the
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etcr11ol weight of glm·y " for " the vanity of vanities . .
7TH REASON.-He who sets his affections on things
below is certoin of sorrow, disappointment, and temptutio11 · hnt "the biessing- of the Lord, it maketh rich, and
U c a(ldeth no sorrow with it."-P1'0v. x. 22.
8TH REASON.-He who loves the world mu~t lea~e
- his idul behind when he dies; but he who has s~t his
n[foctions on thincrs above has "not only the promise of
the li fe that no\v
but also of that which is .to c,o pie."1 Tim. iv. 8.
\lrn REA So N.-.Tesus Christ died upon the cross "to
delii'er us .fi'om this present evil world."-Gal. i. 4.

G,

f\ rnrr.r.s .~J uno and the Peac~clc-.LEsop's fable.

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'I,HEl\fE

LXXX.

Set not your .Affections on Things
below.

INTRODUCTION. • • . •

lsT REASON.-Ilecause no sublmrnry joy can satisfy

the mind.

2Nn R.EASON.-Every thing below is unr:ertain of attain-

ment.
3RD

The desire may never be gratified.
REASON.-Even if possession be obtained, its du-

fool!sh boy who cried for the moo11. · ·
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'l'hc plcnsures of the world are but "castles in the air."
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The t hing-s of the world may be com~ared to the berries . ;:~
of Lli o aconite, ·which indeed look beautiful to the eye, but
·-.,~
ure a deadly poison to those who taste th~m.
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Th e !o·His fa tu us resembles a friendly taper, ~ut those
·-~
w110 tr11~ t to its guidance fall into a snarei
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Th e pl easures of tltc world resemble thohse fltohwers wth~chd _ .~~
1lic J~onwn captives had to warn over w en. ey en ere . ,·:
i li e capital of their conquerors ; the savour might be sweet, .
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"l}n t it \VaR a 8avour of rleath unto death." ,
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THEME ·Lxxx.

ANGER IS TEMPORARY' MADNESS. ·'

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As a moth, attracted by the glare of a lighted candle,
burns its wing in the flame ; so he who "sets his affections
on things below" will assuredly receive injury, and perhaps
destruction.
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HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS .....
QuoTATIONs.-Love not the world, neither the things
that are in the world.-1 John , ii. 15.
Be not conformed to this world.-Roin. xii. 2.
What is a man profited if ho gain the whole world and
lose his own soul.-J.lfatt. xvi. 2G.
Rring earthly blessings to a strict account,
Mako fair <l.e<l.uctious ; see Lo what tL.ey lllouut.
How much of other each is snre to cost,IIow each for other oft is wholly lost,How inconsistent greater goods with these,How sometimes life is risk ed, and always ease :
'l'hink, and if still the things thy envy call,
Say, wouldst thou be the man to whom they foll ?
To sigh for 1·ibands, if thou art so silly ?
Mark how they grace Lord Umbra or Sir Billy.
Is yellow dirt the passion of thy life ?
Look but on Gripus, or on Gripns' wife.
If p art:s allure th ee ? think how Bacon shined,
The wisest, brightest, meanest of mankiud.
If all united thy ambition call ?
From ancient story learn to scorn them all.
'fh ere in the rich, the honoured, antl the great,
See the false scale of happiness complete I
Mark by what wretched steps their glory grows,
From dirt and sen,-weecl , as proud Venice rose ;
In each how guilt and gren,tness eqnal ran,
And all tlrnt raised the hero suuk the ma n.
Alas I 11ot dazzled with their noo1did c rn.y,
Compute the morn n.nd cvc11fog to Lhc day ;
The whole amount bf that enormous fa.me,
A tale that blends their glory with their shame.
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One self-a~pr.ovinp; hour whole ·years ouhveighs .. ,H... : ··.
Of stupid starers and of loud huzzas 1 ·: 1;. ' ·· ' 1 :;Jt .;;;..{.:
And more true joy Marcellus exiled feels,
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'l'han Cresar with a senate at his heels.-Pope: i ·;
The friemlshtp of the world is enmity with God..Jumes, iv. 4.
.
He that hatetb his life in this world, shall keep it unto
life eternal.-John, xii. 25.
·
Demas hath forsaken me, hn,ving loved this present
>vorld (2 'l'im. iv. 10.), in conformity with our Lord's
warning in the pn,rnble of the sower. See Matt. xiii. 22.
This world is full of unrighteousness.-2 Esdras, iv. 27.
The whole world lieth in wickedness .- 1 John, v. 19.
Infra lunam nihil est nisi mortale.
Mortalis mundus.-Cicero.
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CONCLUSION.

rrnEME

LXXXI.

Anger is temporary Madness.

INTRODUCTION .....
lsT R.EASON.-Because the mind in anger is beyond the
· ' ·
control of reason and Jur!gment.
2:-m R.EASON.-lt is infatuated with an insane passion.
3rrn R.EASON.-Many unreasonable things are done, ·and
words spoken in ang.et, which can be referred only to the
ballucinution of temporary derangement.~
4TH R.EASON.-The world, and even the law, in some
measure, deals with a man in anger as if he were non ·
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compos mentis.
frrn H,gAsoN.-Even the angry mun himself will consider it sufficient apology for the most unseemly blow or
word to sa.y, " He did not mean it; it was done or said
in a passion." .

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THEME LXXXI.

ANGER IS. .TEMPORARY ,MADNESS.

A passionate man rides a horse that runs away1with •
him.-.ilfaunder'8 proverbs.
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Anger begins with folly, and · ends with repentance.Maunder's pro·iJerbs.
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; l'c .An angry man opens · his mouth and shuts his eyes.-

6TH REASON.-Both the augry and th~ insane exhibit
the following symptoms, which prove the two diseases to
be analogous : (1.) A pulse high and feverish.
(2.) Eyes restl ess, staring, and glistening.
n '
( i.). ) Skin hot and drv.
( 4.) 1-fair bristling a~1d clishcvcllccl.

Ca to.

Hage is the maniac of the mind.-.J-launder's proverbs.
A passionate ,man scourgeth himself with his own
seorpious.- Ray's proverbs.
'J' lte nrn xim wh ich Pcr iaml er of Cor inth, one of the
seven sag:cs of Greece, left ns a memorial of his knowledge
n!Hl benevolence, was xoA,ov 1rpant (Be master of t hy
n.ng-er).-Dr. Johnson.
Anger is certainly a kind of baseness, as it appears well
in the wen.kness of t11ose subjects in whom it reigns, chil<lren, old folks, sick folks. - Lord Bacon.
A passionate man is a downright drunkard.-Spanisli
proverb.
\Vhen passion enters at the foregate, wisdom goes out
at the postern.-Fielding's proverbs .
· Anger and haste hinder good counsel.-Fielding's pro·verbs.
No man is free who does not . command himself.-

( !J. ) Speceh r ;ipid , i11a1·tie11bte, nnd irrelevan t.
( G_) Fa11 C'y co11cTi!P(l , nnd lin1111 ! P1l liy 0 111~ idea.
( 7.) j\l 11 sc!P s ri g·id ~ rnil of 111tl w:il 1liy c11 crµ;y.
Uait rflpid a1Hl striding .
Hands unquiet and contracted .
Colour sanguine and cl1ang-eable.
Breath deep, qnick, and 'st.ron g.
(12.) 'l'eeth gnashing aud eompressed.

( 8.)
( 9.)
( 10.)
( 11.)

SrntLEs.-A rnu.11 in n11gcr is likn ~t cl1:1riot wiLliout 11
driver; or a ship in a storm witl1ont tL pilot.
Auger is like a mill, \rhid1 lJreaks iLsell' npu11 what it

falls.-Seneca.
.An angry man may be compared to a tornaclo ;
Or to a mountain torrent ;
Or to a co11nagration.
Passionate men, like fleet hounds, overrun the scent.
An angry man may be likened to a scorpion, 1Yhich
stings itself ns well as others ;
Or to a raging fever, in which the mind of the paticilt
wanders, and his limbs are convulsed.
Anger, like a wild horse, overthrows its ricler.
HISTORICAL

ILLUSTRATIONS. . . . .

QuoTATIONs.-\.Vrath i8 crnc1, and anger is outrageous.

- Prov. xxvii. 4.

I

An angry urnn i8 bcsitlc himself.
Anger is the weakness of the understanding.-Maundcr's
proverbs.

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Pythagoras:
Au angry man is again angry with himself when he
retitrns to reason.-Publius Syrus.
These shall the fury Passions tear,
The vultures of the mind.-Gray.
-'°'-'' :
Iratus ab insano non nisi tempore distat.-Cato the
Elder.
.,
Insania omnes nos habet, cum irascimur~-:-Philemon.
Quidam a sapientibus viris iram dixerunt brevem insaniam: reque enim impotens sui est, decoris oblita, necessitudinnm immemor, .in quod coopit pertinax et intenta,
ratione cosniliisque prreclusa, vanis agitata causis, ad di- '
spectnm requi veriqu~ inhabilis, ruinis simillima, qure super
id quod oppressere franguntur.-Seneca..
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THEME LXXXII.

· Ut furentium certa indici::i sunt, audnx et rninax vultus,
tristis frous, torva facies, citatus gradus, iuquict::e manns,
color versm;, crebra ct vehemcns acta suspiria· ita irascentium eadem signa sunt .... Flagrnnt et mic~nt oculi,
mu1tus ore toto rubor, exrestnantc ab imis pr::ecordiis sanguine, labia quati11ntur, dentcs comprimunt.ur, horrcnt ac
snbriguntur capilli, spiritus coactns nc stri11cns, articulornm se ipRos torqnentinm Ronns, gcmitns, mugitusqnc:
et parum explanatis vocibus scnno pnernpf,11s, r.t ~omplosrn
s::epins m:rnns, ct pnl snta h11111w; i•c<lilin s, et !0!11111 conatum corpus, magnasquc 111i11as a!2.'c11s, f'wLla. visu et
horrenda facies depravantinm sc atquc intmnc sccntirnn.Senccu.
Pnc irncnndia non snm apnd me.
Ira furor Lrcvis est.

mercy: 11 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father .also is
mP-rciful."-Luke, vi. 36. .
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hH REASON._:_Every good and righ-teous man _is m~cijitl.-Ps. xxxvii. 21. 26.
·'
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8TH

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LXXXII.

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REASON.-Iniquity is purged by mercy.-Prou.

Snnr,r.s .-:Mercy is like the sunshine it cheers wherever
it shines, and "is glorious everywhere."
It uroppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blesse~:
It blcsseth him that gives, and him that takes.

S!wkspeare.

Be merciful.

INTRODUCTION .....
lsT REASON.-Tiecause we have all sinned, and come
short of the glory of God.-Roin. iii. 23. See also I's.
xiv. 1-3.
2Nn REASON.-We all stand in daily 11eed of mercy,
and (as the Psalmist says), "If thou, Lord, shouklst
mark iniquities, 0 Lord, who shall stand ?"-Ps. cxxx. 3.
31rn REASON.-With the merciful, God also will show
himself rnerciful.-2 Sam. xxii. 26.
4TH REASON. -They shall have juc~17ment without
rnercy that have showed no m,erc}.-James, ii. 13
5TH REASON. Mercy has a fine moral i1~/foence:
Solomon says, "'l'he merciful man tlocth good to his own
soul.'(__ Prov. xi. 17.
.
6rH REASON.-Man is most like God when he shows

~

xvi. 6.
9rH H.EAsoN.-He that followeth mercy findeth life.Prov. xxi. 21.

CONCLUSION ... ..

THEME

MERCIFUL,

'\

As the oil and wine of the good Samaritan emolliated.
. the wound8 of the mo,n from J cricho who fell among
thieves; so mercy is an oil of gladness, and as "wine to
them that are of a heavy heart."-Luke, x. 33, 34.
Mercy to the guilty is like the return of spring after a
bleak winter.
The parable of the prodigal son.-Lnke, xv. 11-24.
Mercy may be called the royal purple of the heart.'
As rain is to the thirsty earth, as dawn to him that
watcheth for the morning, as a sail to a shipwrecked
mariner, as health to the sick, or life to the condemned,
even so grateful and so gracious is the voice of mercy.
HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS .. , . ,

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QuoTATIONs.-With what measure ye rµete, it shall be
measured to you again.--Matt. vii. ~·
1
Blessed are the merciful, for th.ey shall obtain mercy..Afatt. v. 7.
Forgive, and ye sh~ll be forgiven.
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If ye foq~ive men their trespasses, your hea"\"{enly Father,
will also forgive you.-Matt. -vi. 14.
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THEME LXXXIJ.

Forgive thy neighbour the hurt that he hath uone unto
t hee, so shall thy sins also be forgiven when thou prayest.
Eccles. xxviii. 2.
Be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving
one another, even as G_od, for Christ's sake, hath forgiven
you.-Ep!tes. iv. 32.
Pnt on, a~ the elect of God, holy anll belovell, bowels
of m~rcy, kmdne.ss, humbleness of ruiml, meekness, longsuffen~g, forbearmg one another, and forgiving- 011e anotlwr, if any man h ave a (1uarrcl ag ainst a11 y .-Cul. iii.
12, 13.
'l'he wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to Le entreateu of, full of mercy.James, iii. 17.

.,

Charity shall cover the multitude of sins.-1 Pet. iv. 8.
The quali ty of mercy is not strainetl;
It droppeth as the gentle rain from he:wen
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blessed :
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.
'Tis mightiest in the migh tiest; it becomes
'l'he throned monarch better than his crown . . ..
It is an attribnte to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likest God's,
When mercy seasons justice . . .. We do pray for mercy,
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
T he deeds of mercy.- Shakspeare .

-

BE MERCIFUL •

.i

W ilt t hou draw near t h e nature of t he Gods? ,;. ·
Draw· near them then in being mer ciful : ·
·1
Sweet mercy is nobility's true badge.- Shakspeare.
Good Beaven, whdse darling attribute we find
Is boundless grafE( ,ang.p;ierc.y to mankind,
Abhors the merciless.-Dryden.
. Ignos.c ito. srepe
alii~, nu_nquam _tibi.-J?u9_ljus S!j_ru_s,. .,
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Obsecro 1 adhibeatis
in
homines
fortunis
misericordiam.
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- Cicero.
P ectus est fo ns misericordire benignum.
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Clementiam, mansuetudinem orimes boni prrestabunt.-

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Clemens agricolas bon,os imitabi.t ur, qtii non tQ.p~um
rcctas proceru.sque : arpores colunt, ~ed ,ill.i~ quoque, ,qu~s
aliqua tlepravavit causa, a:<J.m inicula qui bus F,~ganti.ir ~ppli­
cant : Alias circumcidunt, ne procerita.~eJU rain,i premah.t :
quasdam infirmas vitio loci, nutriunt : quibusdam, aliena
umbra vitio loci, nutriunt : quibusdam, alie_n_a umbr_a la~o-­
rantibus, crelum aperiunt.- Seneca_.
'

Q oNCLUSION.

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.As ye are stout be merciful.

,~

To err is human, to forgive divine.- Addison.

END OF PART II.

...

Mercy to him that shows it, is the rule
By which Heaven moves in pardon ing guilty man.
And he that shows none, being ripe in years,
And conscious of the outrage he commits,
Shall seek it and not find it in his turn. - Cowper.
Examples of justice must be made for terror to some,
but examples of mercy should not be wanting as a comfort
to others; the one procures fear, and the other love.~

Lord Bacon.

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HUNGER THE , BEST SAUCE.

plea.sure to the hungry, independent of the nature or quality ··
of the food eaten.

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SIMILES ••• ; •
HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS.

PART III.

QuoTATIONs.-The full soul loatheth an honeycomb ;
but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.Prov. xxvii. 7.
The things that my soul refusetb to touch are as sorrowful mea.t..-.Job, vi. 7.
\.Vhen Da.rius in his flight from Greece drank from a
ditch defiled with dead carcasses, he declared "he had
never drunk so pleasantly before," because he never before
1
drank thirsting.
·
·
' 1 f
f.J1:· . i ' .-.,d, ;(}' ·
When bread is wanting, ofl,ten cakes are excellent.~faunder's proverbs.
. ,,'
It mnst be a delicate dish to tempt the overgorged epicure.-Southey.
·
A man who is not .hungry is a fastidious eater.Spanish proverb.
. . · '·
· · 1.
Plenty makes d.ainty.-Fielding's p~~verbs'.'"." · ~i· ·~·: :"' '!

THEMES IN WHICH ONLY THE REASONS .AND
QUOTATIONS ARE SUGGESTED.

THEME

LL'CXIII.

i1·
!

Hunger i·s the best Suuce.

.]

•

INTRODUCTION. • • • •

lsT REASON.-Because it gives a relish even to t!te most
fvods. . In sieges and famines, the most <lisgustmg ..and revo~tmg foods are eaten, even with greediness. See Jer. xix. 9. Isa. ix. 20.
unp~!atable

2N~ REAS~N .-It brings an appetite to table to enjoy
what is provided.
T h1s lddea differs from the preceding, because food may have an gxcellent
reI1s 11, an yet ti.e eater ha ve no ap petite.

1

• 3RD ~EASON.-The hun gry man is not fastidious. Foon
is th? tln~g required ; its quality or delicacy are matters
of mmor importance.
·

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~TH RE~soN.-A craving appetite has a gr>0d digestion,
which culmary sauces and rich condiments frequently
destroy.
~TH REASON.- Self-preservation and selflove make food
deligh{fnl to the lwngry, and r1istn.stP.fu l to tliP. saJ.in.ter1,
The hungry bo~y preys upon itse?f, and the gloated body
loathes food, bemg already oppressed with a su rfeit.

'!

• 6TH .REASON.-F?od eaten by the hungry relieves positwe parn an~ organic derangernen t; and what sauce is so
sw~et as rel.1ef from pain, and a healthy action of the
ammal functwns.

7TH

....

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Hungry dogs will eat dirty puddings.-Ray's proverbs• .
Hunger makes hard bones sweet · beans.-Ray's pro·
verb.'J.
. '..
Jl n'y a sauce que d'appetit.
" ' ~· .,
En mangeant l'appetit se perd.
· '· · -~,= ,
A la faim il n'y a point de mauvais pain.
.Appetito non vuol salsa.
L'asino chi ha fame mangia d'ogni strame. ; .: , , , ,.,
A ventre affame, tout est bon.
Ventre affame n'a point d' oreilles.'
La fame e il miglior intingolo. ·
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J ejunus raro stomachus vulgaria temnit:~H~race.
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REASON.-The very act of mastication i~ a positipe
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THEME LXXXIV.

MIRTH GIVES . BEAUTY.

O'ptimum condhnentum fames.-Socrates .
Constat parvo fames.
Optimum tibi condimentum est fames potionis sitis.Cicero.
'
Manet hodieque vulgo tritum proverbium Famem efficere ut crndai etiam fabai saccharum sapi110t.-Erasmus.
Praiter seipsam; cretera edulcat fames.-Antiplrnnes
apud Stoba:um,

SIMILES •••••
HISTORICAL !LLUSTRATIONS.

'\

CONCLUSION • • • • •

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rriiEME

LXXXIV. A bWhe Heart rnalces a blooming
Vi"sage.

Mirth of heart will bestow a more excellent grac~, ·
Than perfection of feat mes, or ~e~u~y , of f~ce: \ · \,.:~
A sorrowing bairn was never sleek.-.-flcotch pro~e~~~ '. J:

INTRODUCTION. • • • •
·,·1

lsT REASON., A cheerful temper promotes digestion •
and, . tlrn~ which promotes digestion is good fur liealth. '
2N~ REASON.-.It gives. a sunsliine to tl1e .face more
pleasmg than delicacy of tints or regularity of features.
• 3R? REASON.-lt wards off tlie wrinkles of care, the
51ckly hue of fretfulness, the muscular contortions of illtemper1 ahd the haggard expression of discontent.
4TH REASON .-It <~(fee ts the muscles of the /ace in a most
agreeable manner, disposing them into tliat wreathed
and dimpled expression which is so pleasing to every
beholder.
. 5T:1 REASON.-A _blithe heart is contagious ; and by
mfusmg good-nature mto the spectator, causes him to see
everything tinted 'tith what the French call a " couleur
de rose."
6TH REASON.-.E.Tpi:ession is for more captivating than.
beauty ; an~ 11 Lltthe heart gives an expression of innocence, li.aP_pui~s.r; 1 and health, which makes any visage
appear bloommg.

. QuoTATioNs.-A merry heart maketh a cheerful con~·
tenance.-Prov. xv. 13.
.
"
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A merry heart doe th good like a. !11edicine, but a brok~n .
spirit drieth the bones.-Prov. xvn. 22.
He that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.Prov. xv. 15.
The heart of a man changeth his c(;mntenanc~, wbet~er
it be for good or evil : . . . . A cheerful counte.~:i-nceis a. .
token of a heart that is in prosperity.-Eccles. X:lll. 25,, 26..
Why should a man .. . creep into the jaundice . ' .. ·
By being peevish.-Shakspeare.
·
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The face re fleets the mind.
, ·
.. ··
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Cheerfulness keeps up a kind of ~aylight i~ the h~art, .
which is reflected in · the face.-SerJ. Palmer s aphorisrn_s
. ._. t;
and maxirns.
When thou with rebukes dost chasten man for sin, thou ·
makest his beauty to consume aw.ay, like as it w:ere .~
moth fretting a garment.-Ps. xxx1x. 2. P. B. ver_~~?n· ·;
Mine eye is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my mem~
,
,
\
bers are as a shadow.-Job, xv,ii. 7. 1 ·
ri.11ey are bec~me great and waxen rich; 1 they are wa.xe~ .
.
,:
fat, they shine.-Jer. v. 28.
Vitiant artus regrai contagia mentis. "\ '. ·" · · · , . , ,
1

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Heu 1 quam difficile est criinen no~

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CoNCLUSION •

proder.~ yultu t.''
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· Ovid.
t• '-l
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THEME LXXXV.

THEME

LXXXV.

BLAN~ER ,-, LEAVES

Dirt shows most upon clean Iinen.-Fielding's proverbs. ·

Slander always leaves a Slur.

I NTRODUCTION .....
lsT REASON.-1.'here is generally som.e foundation of
truth in every calumny.
. 2ND REASON.-There i~ so m~ch malice and malignity
in the human heart, that it retarns the savour of a cal- umny, as a cask r etains the savour of a liquor it has once
received.
·
. 3uo REASON.-Few persons have the means 1 even if
tbej hav{) the desi1'e, ?f scd~·cliing into the truth 0,f pu_blic
rutnours: Every one 1s obliged to take many Wings on
trust,· and to act accordingly.
.4TH REAsor-:.-Many are too glad to lielieve and rr?port
evd of others, m order to flatter their own vanity and selfrighte'ousness.
'
5TH REASON.-rth,ere is so much gossip and tattle so
many busy-b~dies nnd news-venders, that a slander is ra;ely
allowed. to die or sleep.
. 6T~ l~EASON.-'l'here is so mm.: h j11st cause of suspicion
~ven a9a1nst the most exemplu1'.71, that no degree of calumny
is beyond the pale of probability. After we know a
Judas betrayed, and a Peter denied his .Master who can
. standeth sure ?" '
,
say " my mountam
Srn1r,E:s ....• .

HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS .....
.·•.QuoTATIONs:-. A backbiting tongue hath disq1ijeted
many, and dnven them from nation to nation.-Eccles
xxviii. 14.
·
.l\Iany have
man,.y; as have
XXVlll. 18.
There is no
Give a dog

fallen by the edge of the Rword, but not so
fallen by the edge of the to11gue.-Eccles.
smoke without some fire.
an ill name and hang him.

•Ai BLUR.

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Throw plenty of dirt and ·some' will stick, ·
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He mixes truth · with falsehobd, and bas not forgotten
the rule of calumniating strongly, that some may remain.
-Dryden.
· ': .·. ·
Slander lives upon succession;
' ·
·
··
For ever housed where it once gets possession.
· Shakspea:re;
I see the jewel, best enamelled,
·wm lose its beauty ; and though gold 'bides still
, .,
1-'hat qth(;)rs touch, yet often touching will
· vVeilFkold : and so, 116 tniln that J1atli a name ' '
But falsehood atld cofruption doth it shame.

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· Shakspeare!
One is not so so·on healed as hurt;-·Fielding's proverbs.
A false accusation is worse than death.-Eccles. x~vi. 5,' ,
There ts
sufficient court ot judicature against the .
venom of slander; for, though you punis~ the author, yet
you cannot wipe off the calumny.-Serj. Palmer's aph<?- .·
risms and maxim:?.
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8lanuers are like .fleas, a pitiful, sneaking sort i of
vermin, which bite in .the dark, and :always leave a sore
bchind.-Serj. Palmer's aphorisms and maxims.
•'-'
Slander is like a slug, which leaves a trajl ·on every ·
thiilg it touches,
·
If yon wa.nt to whip a dog, it is enough to say he .eat up
the frying-pan.-Fielding's proverbs.
·
He that lrnth an ill name is half hanged.-Fielding's ·
'
, -. .loroverh.~. ,
A · blow from a frying-pan, though it ~oes not lltirt,:. ·.
suilies.-Spanish proverb.
Sl11nder always leaves a sore behind it.·- Ray's

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Emissum volat irrevocabile verbum.--Horace.
A maledicentia temperato.-Ad ~er~_~n."_ 1
Obtrectatio plerosque lacerat.
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iTs REWARD.

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whit tsdev~f things' '1<3re wri tteti-~fb~etirrie wer~{ w~ftt;;-~~

THEME LXXXVI.

1

/or our· learning.-Rom.

Calumniare fortiter aliquid adhrerebit.
Non est fumus absque igne.
Emmisso in nos jaculo, fugiturum te credis ?-Erasmus.
V re . miser. I Dente Theonino qui circumroditur. _
Erasmi adagia..
Morsus aspidis immedicabilis est.-Erasmi adagia.

:ifr. 4 . .. :

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These things we~e our example, to the intent we should
not lust after evil , things, as they. alsq lusted, . &~..-:-'.::" _

1Cor.X.6.

CONCLUSION • • • •

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LXXXVI. By others' Faults wise Men
correct thei"r own.

INTRODUCTION . •

4TH REAS?N. -. rnieJ:' ?elieve that similar faults in
t!iei;iselves will bring similar shame; and that they will
be Judged as others are.
fr!'~ REASON.-A wise man can learn by example, a
foolish man can be taught only by experience.
~TH REA~ON.-Tr.iey a1:e not · so foolish as to believe
their. superior sanctity, .wisdom, character, or wealth, w£ll
~anct~f!I the same fault in themselves, which is condemned
m others.

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THEME

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QuoTATIONs.-All these things happened unto them
for ensamples; and they are written for our admonition.
-1 Car. x. 11.

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1NTRODUCTib~ ...

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lsT R~AsoN.-Because the poor are God's. children;
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And he that horiottreth the cliild honoureth· the Father also.
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LXXXyII. . He that hath pi'ty ,on the Poot•
. · lendeth to the Lord. : . . . .

ILLUSTRATIONS.

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SnnLES • . • • •

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lsT H.EASON.-Uccausc thoy arc wise enough to see
the fully of them in others.
2Nn ~EA~oN._-.They have. sufficient self-knowledge not
to be blind w sunilar faults in themselves.
3Rn REASON.-They see the disgrace which others
suffer, and are wise enough to associate disgrace to sin
as cause and effect.

~

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Be sure your sin will find· you oµt ....:.=.Mtmb, xxxii, 23. '
vVise men learn by others' harm, fools' by their own . ~
Fielding's proverbs.
·
Learn wisdom by the folly of' others.· . Italian proverb.
Let another's shipwreck be your sea-mark.
Learn by the vices of others
detestable your own
are.-·- ·Maunde1''s proverbs.
·
'
· '.'
·• ··· · .r
.
..
Errors of predecessors are landmarks to post~rity. 7,
Maunder's proverbs.
.
' .
\
Ily marking the bias of othets we may learn to, ~orrect.
our own.-Maundet's proverbs.
.
. .I
One man's fault is another man's less<:?n,_....Ray's proverbs.
. -~
Bonum est tugierida aspicere in alieno malo. , , : ...·. ,
Aliena o'p timnm frui insania. '
'nt
Sci tum est periculuni ex aliis facel'e tibi quod ex usu· sietl
- Terence.
.- ,, : '· ~
Felix quern faciunt aliena pericula cautum.
, "" ·..
Proprium est Stultitiw aliorum vitia cernere, oblivisCi '
suorum.- Cicero.
·
'1
Quod oderis jn alteri ne feceris.
.
'·
.,
CoNcwsrn.N: J • • • •

how

THEME

)f'

·;:..;:v...: ,,__,.__

·' .

298

THEME

LXXXVIJ.

P'OOLS MAKE A

2ND RE~SON.-As the heart of a parent is knit to a
lzelpless child more firmly because of its helplessness, and
feels more grateful to those who notice it than to those
who pay attention to the more attractive and strong; so
God regards with more favour those who love the poor
than those who honour the rich.
'
3RD REASON.-Those who honour the rich do so from
a selfish motive, those who honour the poor are disinteret1ted in their kindness.
~TH ~EAs.oN.-G~d in his infinite love bas been pleased
to iden~i(y lmnself with tlie poor, and has delegated them
to receive the bounty meant for hirnself.-Jmnes, ii. 5.
frrn REASON.-lle who gives to the poor lends to God,
bec~use l~e d?es not expect to be paid again by them who
receive-his gift.
6TH REASON.-As God hath promise<1 that a qood
deed." shall in no wise lose its rewa rd," a11d deeds of
charity cannot be rewarded by the poor, therefore God
must take the fulfilment of this promise on himself
7TH REASON.-lle who gives to the poor does ipso
facto lend to the Lord; for since God has been pleased
t? appoint this way of receiving man's bounty, the charitable are enabled to send through the poor their royalties
to the King of kings and Lord of lords.

MocR'. ' AT

SIN.

soever I send, receiveth me; ' and he that re~~ivethrtne,
receive th him that sent me.-John, xiii. 20. ·
· ' ' l.
Give alms of thy substance; . '. . neither 'turn '"thy
face from any poor man, and the face of God shall .not · .
be turned away from thee. If thou bast abundance, give ·
alms accordingly; if thou have little, be not afraid to
give according to that little; for so thou layest 11p a good .
treamre for thyself against the day of necessity.-Tobit,
iv. 7-9.
. "
, '
You make a great purchase when you relieve the· necessitous.-Fielding's proverbs.
.1
CONCLUSION. . . . .

SmILEs. . . . •
HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS.
QuoTATI?Ns.-Verily, I say unto you, inasmuch as ye
have ?one it unto the least of these my brethern, ye have
done it unto me.-Matt. xxv. 40.
Blessed is h.e tlrn~ co.nsidere~h the poor and needy, the
Lord shall deliver him m the time of trouble.-Ps. xli. 1.
God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour
of love, which ye have show ed toward his name, in that
ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.-Jfeb.
vi. 10.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that receiveth whom-

i;,.'f

1·

.,

1

·,~ i '
' ,:. t ~

l

THEME

LXXXVIII.

1

'i
j

Fools make,a~ mock at Sin.,

INTRODUCTION. . . . .
. . ; ,· \
lsT REASON.-Because they are not conscious of its
danger.
2ND REASON.-They do not see its sinfulness and
malignity.
3RD REASON.-They have no regard /or God and for"/'
his Ghrist.
, ' . .
·
4TH RF.ASON.-They ar9 too wise in their own con~eit
to think themselves in peril from temptation.
· ' - ·~I
·· 5TH REASON.- They have no ._real hatred to ·sin, ·but
secretly approve, or at least tolerate it. · ·
•l
6TH REASON.-They do · not nssociate "with it 'those . .
fatal consequences; Fhich God has pronounced against it' ,;
in the world to come.
' r .;, : ; ,. ;-.·Pi\.\ • , . \ ' ·: ., ·n ' '.. ·.
1

: •,

'•

'. ':~

SIMILES. . . • •
RlS'.J'OJ.tJC,+.)'., ILI,USTRATIONS.

...
.. ,,

r-:
.

I

~

.

- --

llll

-~ -

--

· ::'•"">1··'•1.t'..1!:' .:;z~-''·'.';",.;<_~_c__ '•-" ~~~~-~~~~~~~~~~~
~

·-tr. ~.q;
th~ ,mor~ . J

PROSPERITY MORE. TRYING THAN ADVERSITY.
.

THEME

3.0 0

LXXXIX.

QuoTATIONs.-It is sport to a fool to .do mischief.Prov. x. 23.
Folly (i. e. wickedness) is joy to him that is desti~ute of
wisdom· but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.
'
-Prov. xv. 21.
As a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows and
death so is the man that deceiveth his n~igh\Jour, and
i:;aith, '" Am not I in sport ?"-Prov. xxvi. 18, 19.
But . . . all uncleanness let it not be ~nee na~ed
among you, as becometh saints,. neither foolish ~°:llnng,
nor jesting, which are not convement.-Ephes. v. o, 4. .
It is dangerous to play with edged tools.
The Arabians have a saying, " It is not good to jest
with God Death or Satan: rrhe first will not be mocked;
t he second mock~ all men· and the third will join hands
with any one who is willing to play with him."
He who plays with pitch must defile his fingers.
Tresca con i fanti, et lascia star i santi.
.

•

"" ••

~-

.1

.

I

I

· 6TH REASON.· The thoughts of the ' prospero~~ are. ·
how t~ enjoy their wealth, to 11 stow away their goods,"
and 11 mcrease their store:" The thoughts of · the stricken, °' ::
heart are, 11 Why hath God thus dealt with me?" ' '. · ' ..., · "
7TH REASON.- God . is esp~~~~zz!/ 'present' :' with .'ti1e ';' ·~
affticted.
He calls himself II the .Father or the fatherless
,;1 ,; ',!
•
'
'
J
"the Husband of'the widow," the "Con1fort". and '11 Con- ,
11
sola.tion" of those that mourn: · He is also ; said to dwelP ·. ='
in the broken heart," to "remember the afflicted ' ati,dt;,, ;;
them that suffer adversity:" . . . air which expressidn~' ·
indicate that_ adversity is more favourable to godlin.e'ss1
than prosperity. ·
,.. ;• · ·, "
d·i· • iJ/ "
't'

SIMILES. . . . .

CoNCLUSION .....

'

\
t

Prosperity is a stronger Trial of
Virtue than Adversi'ty.

INTRODUCTION .....
lsT REASON. -Because the mind in prosperity is
thrown off its guard, but in adversity is watchful.
2ND REASON.-The spirit is elated an~ se(fr;on/i,dent
in . prosperity, but modest and humble m afihction.P.rov. xvi. 18. and xviii. 12.
3RD ltEASON.-Temptations are more nwnerou.s in prosperity " from the lust of the eyes, t~ie lust o.f the flesh,
and the pride of life/' than they are m adversity.
4TH RF.ASON.-Sorrow draw.~ the heart more closely

~

.'>.; t.~i .
I

•• ;.

iJJ·~~i ~
:.:;':-'11.>·

· ·· ,: ' : ,~,r~:j~~.,.

QuorATIONs.-Rejoice with th~ trembling..
iCiL:;~
H,,·.J
·
. ,
Why then, you princes,
'
.i .;·;~
Do you with cheeks abashed behold our works· · ·I' · ,
And think them shames, which are, indeed, naught ,ele~ .· :
But the protractive trials of great Jove
· · ' · '·, ~ ~x ·
1'o find persistive constancy iii men?
.;.:;~
rrhe,. fineness of which metal is not found
In Fortune's love: Fm:, the bold and coward~.,. J .:
The wise and fool, the artist' arid unread 11 • wi:. •ft:j:f.
The hard and soft, s.eem all ·affined:and kin: : 'i' · <·.'~?'f ·
But in the mind and tempest oLher frown, ,]. ,. ";>1 ·.
Distinction with. a broad an~ powerful. f!l:n, :~:i :\ ;~: : i.~}i;r
Puffing at all, wmnows the hght away: •. i;•. ,:.• ;, .·.: ,\{, '
A.nd ~ha~ ha~h mass or m~tter, by.itself , ! · .ff ,-,~i.L
Lies r!ch m virtue and unmmgled.-Slwkspeare. ?·.: ,. ·tf;, ·
Satan now is wiser than of yore,
·
.'". '"' ·
And tempts by making .rich,. not making 1poor........Eop;.~; .
26
.

LXXXIX.

;.~;·:""..:.

to God; and the nearer . the . heart i~ to God,
secure is it against if the world, the flesh, and ,the devil.'',
. 5TH RF.AsoN.-As "the world lie th . in wickedness," or , ·~
the "Wicked One," those who have the most of it ~ay- -~
understand why our Lord said, , 11 Woe . to . you tl~. at · ar.e · ,
• 1 ,,,
A
··'
ricrl
. - L u k e, VI.. 2 '±.
, • ..
·~

HrsTomcAL ILLUSTRATIONS;

THEME

•30h:

"'/.

Et!.

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,/

'~

J

}

-,

302

-.

THEME LXXXIX.

'"

._· - ~.tt..~. '

I

...:·~

i
i

I
!

Sweet are the uses of adversity,
\Vhich, like the toad, ugly and venomous,
Wears yet a precious jewel in his head. *-Shalcspeare.
Prosperity doth best discover vice, but Adversity doth
- best discover virtue.-Lord Bucon.
They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare.
-1 Tim. vi. 9.
Before I was afflicted I went astray, but _now b:we I
·kept thy word.-Ps. cxix. 67.
It is p;ood for me that I have been affiicted, that I
might learn r_t'hy statutes.-Ps. cxix. 71.
\Vhom the Lord loveth he chastcneth, and sco1.;rgeth
every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening
God dealeth with you as with sons; . . . but if ye be
without chastisement, .. . then are ye bastards and not
sons.-1Ieh. xii. G-8.
No chastening .for the present scemeth to be joyous,
but grievous: nevertheless, afterwards it yielueth the
peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them that are exercised thereby.-1/eb. xii. 11.
I will bring them through the fire, and will refine
them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is
tricd.-Zech. xiii. 9.
I have chosen thee in the furnace of affiiction.-Isa.
xlviii. 10.
The trial of your faith is much more precious than of
gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire.-1 Pet. i. 7.
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers
temptat!ons.-James, i. 2.
See Psalm lxxiii. 12:......20.
J eshurnn waxed fat and kicked. rrhou art waxen fat,
thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then
be forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed
the Rock of his salvation.-Deut. xxxii. 15.; see 1Veh.
ix. 25-28.
• It was anciently believed that a certain stone was to be found ln tho toad's
bend, which was an antidote to its venom.

1
J

l

\

They are waxe~ fat, ' they shine '; . ye~,':~ they,; overPBB
thedeedsof.the .wicked.-Jer. v. 28: ... ,.:; . ;.. ~ ;.: , ·>--:·
· : ,According to th~ir pasture so were t~ey fille~fi ~ they ..:_were filled, and their heart was exalted : · therefore · have ,...·,. ~
they forgotten me.-I1o.'!. xiii. 6.
'
· ' , -· i
~
Give 11 man luck and throw him into the sea.· Fieldi~la ~;::~3~
proverbs.
.
· - :
.::3
. Virtue itren_gthens in prosperity.-Serj. Palmer's .apho- . ~~
-risms and maxims.
. . .
· . ·
·- .! ··-'-·"'~~
__ _: ~
.
.Prosperity hath alway~ been th~ ' c.ause of far gr_ea.t er ~. :.- - ~
evils to men than adversity; and it is easier for a - man ;;;;;;,,-'±:!!
to bear the latte~ patiently; · than not to forget himself in' :: ~
the form.er.-Ser;. Palmer's aphorisms and maxims. : ~;,,:--:::--.-:~ ..'.::
Cor~ is cleansed with the wind, and . the soul with -~ :-.;§
advers1ty.-Ray's prove'rbs.
. ,, . •..
,.,,--~
Crosses are ladders that lead to heaven.-Ray's " -:~~
proverbs.
- : _, _ · '.:~.- ·.
.~
When the danger is past God is forgotten.- · Ray's ~ : ..;
proverbs.
· · • · _.
,
. 1 .. ,
~
Th~ chamber of sorrow is the house of God.- .. Ray'
'~
proverbs.
·
,
·
. s
,.
Vent au visage rend un homme sage . . ;,_
1
Vexatio dat intellectum.
,, .
· ·1. ' .
. !3ona rerum secundarum optabilia, aidversarum mire.· b1ha.-Seneca. .

~~-j
·

~'i
;,·~-:

•

.1

- ......,.ilj

'"''9
CONCLUSION. • •

THEME

XC.

INTRODUCTION.

I

~

Envy i"s Rottenness of the Bones;
• • • :-

. }

.

;

"

;

(\

. lsr 1:lEASON.-Because it wastes ~way ~ . man's health,·
· hke a diseased bone
·
2ND REASON~· It. breaks do~n· his .~nergy a,n d stre~gth . .
r

-/

/

THEME

. ..

XC.

'

REASON.-lt is as painful as a rotten bone.
4TH REASON.- l t is beyond the skill of man to cure.
5TH liEASON.- l t .is concealed from s·ight, like a di~
eased bone.
6TH REASON.-'l'he disease of envy spreads, like caries
·
in a bone.
hn REASON.-lt is both tlie eause and ~(j'ect of its
own torment.
.,.

.

A

SI.MILES. . . . .
HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS. . . .

!i .

•

QuoTATIONs.-Wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy
slay;eth the silly one,- Job, v. 2.
Envy and wrath shorten life.-Eccles. xxx. 24.
The envious man hath a wicked eye ... and the iniquity
of the wicked drieth up his sonl.- Eccles. xiv. 8. 9.
1f envy, like anger, did not burn itself in its own fire,
and consume and destroy those persons it possesses, before
it can destroy those it wishes worst to, it wonld set the
whole world on fire, and leave the most excellent persons
the most miserable.-Clarendon.
Envy shoots at others and wounc;l.s herself.-Fielding's.
proverbs.
Envy, like ·a vulture, preyeth on itself.-.Afaundm·'s
proverbs.
Envy is the rack of the soul, and the torture of the
body.-Maiinder's proverbs.
Excess and envy waste both the flesh and spirit. Mattnder's proverbs.

!'>

I

\
I

'

.HIS BEAST,
..
,
'

· 3RD

. 8TH REASON.- l t is no accidental malady, but a radical
or organic disease.
9TH REASoN.-lts torment is not recurrent or periodical, but chronic and inveterate.

~lOlt'fEOUS MAN REGARDEl'H

~305~~
..

-

Envy; which 'the Scriptures call ~ ,; ~n · evil eye," flia*"·-- ~something in it of witchcraft.-Lord Bacon.
' ~ ... ~ ~. ~
"'
. Envy is a disease like an infection, which spreadeth
"1
upon that which is sound, and tainteth it . . . it is also
·
noted that love and envy do make men pine away.~
Lord Ba<!on.
Envious people are doubly miserable ; they are first
afilicted with others' prosperity, and next with their own
ad versity.-Serj. Pa lrner' s aphorisms and maxims .
I have seen Envy , described 11 as defiled with blood ;
stretched in a dark dungeon ; shut fr~m the light of
. ,i
heaven ; groaning at the sight of heavenly cheerfulness;
:i
pini.ng and sickening at another's merit ; and unable to --.:;
refrain from tears when no object can be found on which
··..;
.,"
to light."-Jonas Hanwell, E:sq.
Invidia festos dies non agit.
Invidia Siculi non invenere tyranni tormentlim majus.
Invidus alterius macrescit rebus optimis.-Horace. , ·1 1
· Edentulus vescentium dentibus invidet.-I/'ieronymys.
CONCLUSION, ••••

THEME

XOI. A ri"ghteous Man regardeth the Life
of lii"s Beast.
,
.

INTRODUCTION. • • • •

lsT REAsoN.-Because he is merciful, 11 as his Father
in heaven is merciful."
· 2ND REASON.-He feels that the "lov~ ~f God is over
all his works;" and if the Creator takes so great an interest
in his creation, as 11 . to number 't he hairs of our head"·
and notice " ~he fall of a sparrow," a righteous man wouid
feel he · was 11 reproaching his 'Maker" by 'abusing his
•
-'
creatures.
· ·•· .1 . ·
26*

•

306

THEME XCI.
_;. ~

I

'J

SIMILES . • • • •
HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS.

QuoTATiONS.-rrhou shalt not muzzle the ox that
treadeth out the corn.-Deut. xxv. 4.
JV.far. Alas, my lord, I have hut killed a fly.
.
Tit. But how. if that fly had a father and mother ?
How wo~ltl be hang his slender gild ed wings,
And buzz lamenting doings in the ~ir ?
Poor h armless fly I
That with his pretty buzzing melody
Came h ere to make us merry : And thou hast
killed him.-Shakspcare.
rrhe Governor of all, himself to all
So bountiful in whose attentive ear
The unfledg~tl nwen and tl.1e lio1'.'s whelp
Plead not in vain for pity m thell" pangs
Of hmwer unassuaged, has interposed ,
Not seldom, his avenging arm to smite
'fhe injurious trampler upon N utnre's law,
rl'lrnt claims forbearance even for a l>rnte.
lle hates the ha.rd11ess of it Balaam's heart ;
Aud, prophet as he was, he might not strike
The blameless animal, without rebuke,
On which he rode.-C1Jwper.

· ·. The poor' beetle'.that.: we tread;upon / . ~: ·: ~·. ~-~ ·~
In corporal sufferance finds a pang as great 1 ·,. • :~ -::::
.A.s when a giant dies.-.Shakspeare.
. · · -~ff::~ -~
I would not entei- on my list of friends ·· ' 1 · · ~ •
(Tho' graced with polished manners and fine sense/
Yet wanting sensibility) the man
' · · <--<·Y
Who needlessly sets foot upon a worm.
. .
An inadvertent step may crush the snail
·.-<;'
rrhat crawls at evening in t.he public path;
! '.!
But he that has humanity, forewarned,
.···~"'
Will tread aside and let the reptile live. . . . . .. , .':'·
Ye who love mercy, teach your sons
.. . .. , .'.,;~.
,
To love it too.- Cowper.
~ · ,;i; '-'=:'
The Turks are very kind to · all · dumb animals, ' ·So 1
much that they give alms to dogs and birds. Busbechius
makes mention of a Christian lad in Constantinople,'·Who
gaggetl in boyish sport a long-billetl fowl, and :was st.oned
to death.
Shakspeare seems to refer to this contrariety J,'
of character in the Duke's speech to · Shylock, who ~olled
Antonio a dog. If Antonio be a dog, argues the D~k_e~
his prescn t losses and misfortunes are ,enough to . . . "
" Pluck commiseration of his state .· ·.
. "!.!;
From brassy bosoms and rongh hearts of flint ; · ; <
From stubborn 1'urks and Tartars, never trained "·
To offices of tender courtesy." . ' ··
· '
1

ltEASON.-1'he temper of a righteous man is ttnde1·
liis control, because he has learned by grace " to k eep l•t
under."
4TH REASON.-Righteousness has a humanising influence for " the fruit of the Spirit is love, J_Jeace, long-suffering, 'gentleness, goodness, meekness."-Gul. v. 22.
.
5TH REASON.-A man of God woultl be aslwmed of Ins
inco11sisteJ1cy, were he to profess love, and practise cruelty.
6TI-I HEASON.-rflie same God th.at made man antl made
him righteous, made the bir~s of the air m:d the beasts of
the ji'eld: A ri<rbteous man 1s aware of tlus, although an0
other " may not
well cons1"d er I•t"
.
3RD

J

I

•

in

;

,· "\!.

CONCLUSION.

..

.'

' j ~ -:.\,

1!f'.:
I '

THEME

XCII. · lie that oppressetli the Poor· reproach. eth hi"s JJ£a1cer. ·' 1·
··.'

INTRODUCTION • • • , •

,. ..

• '.

·· " '

· . • •!

·~:i(

=

'

Ji ·

lsT REASON.-Because God made the .poor as well as
the rich.
~1· 1.
,, ·
2ND REASON.-He

inscrutable wisdom.

designed them to bf3. ~ P<!.or, in , his
1

·

THEME

308

XCll.

3 1io ltEAsoN.-lle that oppresseth the poor nets as i~
God who made them had no "regard for the· work of Ins
own hand."-1 Slon. ii. 7.
4TH REASON ..-God hath an especial regard for the
poor, " whom he h~s ch~sen on the, eartl~ ;" and to oppress
God's chosen ones is to insult Gods choice.
.5TH REASON.-To oppress the poor is cowardly as
well as cruel ; and cowards have their lot iu the lake of
fire, where 011ly the enemies of God are congregated.
-R(;v. xxi. 8.
Grn REASON.-To oppress a man because he is poor,
is to e;valt Jlfammon above God; to make wealth the
tandard of merit and the honours of the present world
S
<
'
the "golden
calf which
men ought to worsh'ip. "
SnnLES . . . . .
HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS.

II '

!i

QuoTATIONs.-Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth
his Maker.-Prov. xvii. 5.
Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it
unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have <lone
it unto me.-.Afatt. xxv. 34-45.
Saul I Saul I why persecutcst thou .Afe ?-Acts, ix. 4.
Go-to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your
mi~eries that shall come upon you : . . .. behold, the
hire of the labourers who have rcnpe<1 do~vn your fields,
which is of you kept back by fraud, cricth : .and the
cries of them which ha.ve reaped . a.re entered mto the
ears of the Lord or Sabaoth.-James, V. 1-4.
Make not an hungry soul sorrowful, neither prov:oke a
nmn in his distress : . . . for if he curse thee m t!1e
bitterne 8 s of his soul, his prayer shall be heard of Him
that nmdc him.-ICccles. iv. 2-G.
rl'lle cries of orplm11R and the oppressor's rage
Doth reach the stars.-Dryden.
CoNCLUSION . . .

.

THEME

.

.'

I '

"I

" .:

: . . .. ·--"

XCIJI. · . A fault ·oonfesse~ is half redressed. _ .
.-l·}•i .., ..;

I . ", ,,,: ,,

I

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·1
J
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INTRODUCTION ... .... ' •
i
'! " ' · .. ,. •
lsT REASON.-Because ..the ·mind has become , conscio.tts :
of its delinquency.
·- .!~?,~f , ·
2Nn RE.asoN'.,··-The 1.heart 1is ·sorry for . •having : committed it.
-, ..
3Rn REAsoN.-A man's pride m1ist have 'been · broken .
down, before he will stoop to acknowledge his error.
·
4TH REASON.-Confession is one mm·k of repentance,
and repentance is the beginning of amendment. ·
·<
~ · 5rH RE-tsoN.-If the heart is so grieved · and broken ·= ·
1
1
as to conf~ss 'ifa:i faults, it will w1.sh to '· avoid thetn' in ·
future ; and those who desire to avoid error,,make error , ·
" flee from them."
·
·
·. ·, ...
£TH REAsoN.-He who .confesses bis error makes:· an
atonement for i~, and fa .willin.f!, if nyedful, t9 give,. f.ur,~h;r :·;'
redress.
.
'
· . " _: 1 . ·~-- .

.

SI.MILES • • • • •

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,~-5,J~.~
·~

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HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS. •

. ·;'1 --~~.·~;~-~

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QuoTATIONs.- He that confesseth''hisfault sh~ll be'· ~re-';. ·
served ·from burt.-EcCles. xx. 2. · ' ' ·' · · ·' · .... >.'tf\J< ·.. ~
If a man acknowledge not his sin, 'he maketh
offence.-EcCles. xxiii: 11
" . :', .
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I acknowledged my sin .unto thee, and min,e · iniq'µit)r '.- ·
have I not hid.,, I sai.d, "I will cqnfe~s my.'t:an.sgr_~~sio,n.s ..:
u.nto the Lor~!' a~d thou forgav;es~ the m1qmty ofJmy: \
.sm.-Ps. xxxu .. 5.
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I~ we confes~ our sms ( G?d) 1 i~ ; f~ithfuJ .a!1~ '. .j~~.ttj to ::
forgive us our sms.-1 John, i. 9.
"
" ·, ,.~": "·
He that covereth his sin shall not pr~sper: , but· ;whos~ :.·.
con~~~seth and forsaketh them shall hav~ mercy.-Prov.·.,:
xxvm. 13.
1
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~ ....
,;-.

THEME xctv.

310 .

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SIMILES . • • . .

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HISTORICAL ·ILLUSTRATIONS.

Tt-:-~

• Charity shall cover the multitude of " sins.~1.i P,~~~ ~
lV. 8.
'· , ......,c.;c.,~ 4& ~, ~
Charity rejoiceth not in iniquity, but 1 · • ~ beareth': ~1f ·. ·
things .. ~· hopeth all things, endureth all things.-1 Cor( · ,
xiii 6 7
·
·
·
- ,._~.
~.
~ "~
Pure in her airn, and in her temper rnild,
'·'-'ii
Iler wisdom seems the weakness of a child:
She makes excuses where she might condemn,
Reviled by those that hate her, prays for them;
Suspicion lurks not in her artless breast,
The worst suggested, she believes the best; ·
Not soon provoked, however stung and teased,.1,, , '}
And, if perhaps made angry, soon appeased;
.""' She rather waives than will dispute her right;
···\
i
And, injured, makes forgiveness her delight.
,,
Cowper,. ·,
Charity is the scope of all ·God's commands.-St~. .:;
.Cjt1·ys1Jstom.
,
: . "- ~ ·--,
.."
Be you to others kind ~nd true,
, ·. ·', '. ,; ,~.r
. As you'd l1ave others be to you; .
:. !1~1 .·i .-:t
.'.,
And neither do nor say to men~
:..,, \ ... ;. :f.'f.:
'\Vhate'er you would not take again.
: ,. Hi 1:
This, of all virtues and dignities of the mind, is , the· .,.~
greatest, being the character of the Deity · and without: · _.:;
it man is a busy, mischievous, wretched thing, _nQ_better .
than a kind of vermin.-Lord Bacon.
! .- ••"' ~!·
The desire of power in excess, caused' the ·angels
fall ; the desire of knowledge in excess, caused man to
fall ; but in charity there is no excess ; neither angel nor: · ,,
man can come in danger of it.-Lord Bacon . . .. , i:· .rrl
St. Austin says, that charity is the ·mo~t comprehensiv~ ·. · '};
of all virtue ; for charity suffers long,' and then · it·; is' : :
meekness ; it is,, kind, and then it is courtesy ; it envies
not, an~ t_hen it is p~a~ea?leness ; it vaunteth not itself, ::;
and so it is modesty ; it is not . p1tjfed. up, and does not ·_
0

Charity hopeth ,all things, and is
lcind.

INTRODUCTION . . . • .
lsT REASON.-Because it is "not p1~tfed up," and has
no desire to aggrandise itself by another's fall.
2ND REASON.-Charity is love to God, " And he that
loveth God will love his neighbour also."
3RD REASON.-lt is free from envy or malignity; and,
therefore, "Love worketh no ill to his neighbour."-Rom.
xiii. l 0.
4TH REASON .-It always looks at every action in the best
light, and puts the best construction on every motive.
5TH REASON.-Charity knows the "riches of God's
grace" and feels that none are too bad to repent, and
none 'too vile to become "chosen vessels of honour."
6TH REASON.-The heart where Christian charity
abides, feels that though it has become " a bright and
burning light," it is only "a brand pluck.ed from the burning;" and is, therefore, modest, merciful, humble, and
" not easily provoked."

8

.j

CoNCLUSION. . • • .

XCIV.

.. __ ..
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.- -.•r..y-_ A

QuoTATIONS.-Love covereth all sins.. ,Prov. X. 12. · i:.~~ ""
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Love worketh no ill to his neighbour.;
Rom:
xiii.'
10.~>·.~
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___..;hr
,. ;"...,,,....;;.
..

He who by repentance is not satisfied,
Is not of heaven nor earth.-Shakspeare,
He who confesses his fault resolves to amend, and he
who resolves to amend has God on his side.-.illuunder.
A fault denied is twice committed.-Maunder's pro1Jerbs.
Alitur vitium, crescitque tegendo.-Virgil.

THEME

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CHARITY. :·.,

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312

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THEME XCV.

behave itself itnseemly, and then it is decency ; it seeketh
not her own, and is therefore public-spirited ; beareth all
things, and so is Christian fortitude ; believeth all thi11gs, .
and so is Christian faith ; lwpeth all things, and so it is
assurance ; endureth all things, and becomes thus true
magnanimity ; and as it never .fhils, it is perseverance.
In a word, it is all philosophy, an ethics, and all wisdom.
U t quisque est vir optimus, ita difficillime esse aJios
improbos suspicatur.-Cicero.
Quo nihil majus me1iusve terris
Fata donavere, bonique divi ;
N ec dabunt, quamvis redeant in aurum
Tempora priscum.-H~orace.
CoNCLUSION. • •
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NECEBBIT'Y
6TH REASON.-"

{,;.~ 'J

HAS NO LAW.

.

but ~here C!J.n be no obedience or disobedience to law.~ in .1
cases of necessity.
·
· ·
· ; ;;. .: · :1
7TH !~EASON.-.-" .An act of
~njures no man
but notlung could be a greater mJustice than to hold 1a. -~·:
man amenable for actions over which he ·has no control. ;~ · ·

;nt.·;

Srn1LES . • • • •

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HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS.

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.A · necessary act incurs no blame.,· Ir :
Oowiper'
·
There is no virtue like iiccessity.-Shakspeare. . . /) _ ··
QuoTATIONs. -

?-'here is noth~n.g older th~ God, gr.e ater than spa~e,
than spmt, .more lawless than necessity, or wiSer
than time, which discovers all things, and makes thbse
wise who observe it.- Serj. Palmer'$ aphorisms and
-~
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maxims.
.l
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. ~ ecessity, that great refuge and excuse for .hutb.~tl
frailty, br~aks through all laws; . and he is ' tiot t<f·~be ·
accounted m fault, whose crime is not the effect of cholM ·.
but force.-""'Serj. Palmer's aphorisnis and maXims; ·, : ,;~·~ ,~.
Necessity will have its way.-Ray's proverbs. · ·' :,:~"
Necessity is coal-black.-Ray's proverbs.
· ·: 1 .~ (., ; ,
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Necessity makes unlawful things lawful.-Seneca: ~ · ''.' •:· ·'
1
La nec~ssita non ha legge.
·- - ~~ ~ . · :::~\.-. _
N ecessitas non habet legem1 '
·
. . .. ·'.~r. ,_.
Ultimmn et maximum teluili.: necessitas est.-:--'Liv!J;
Durum tel um necessitas.-Harace.
.. : ."._!'!;·:, , :
. . Adversum ~ecessitatem .ne . Dii quidem resisturit:'·:{r"
Homer upud Etasmum. .
·· . ·
'."
. ·· ,. ~: d:~ :~-~-~.& '- ,.>
, N\hil 11.ecessitate dira fortius~..-..Euripides . apud :Er~:;::: i::
qmcke~

•• ;

THEME

XCV.

Necessity has no Law.

INTRODUCTION • • • • •

lsT REASON.-Because no legislato1· would be so foolish
as to subject necessary actions to penal enactments.
2ND REASON.-Even if a law were made, yet necessity
would be a superior law ; and an inferior statute is abrogated by a superior.
3nn 'REASON.-" An act which I am compelled to do
is not my act;"* but law professes to punish a criminal
only for his own acts and deeds.
4rH REASON .- " The law is the dictate of reason ;"t
and where it militates against reason is null and void.
5TH REASON.-" The mind, not the act, makes a man
guilty;"t and, therefore, when a man acts from necessity
he is not guilty, even if he violates tm csta.Llished law.

* Actus me lnYito factns, non est meus' nctus.

t Lex est dictamen rationls.

i Actns non facit reum, nisi mens sit rea.

313 ·;~j

Obedien~e is th~ essence of 'the lmii.};~~<)

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* Obedfent!a est Le~s essentla.

,t Actus legls nulll faclt lnjurlam.
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' THEME

314

xcvt.

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A

GUILTY CONSCIENCE
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Ingens telum necessitas.-Oicero.
Figit adamantinos
.
Sumrnis verticilms dira necess1tas
Clavos.-lforace.
Crimen necessitatis non est criminosum.-Oicero •
Lex neminem cogit ad impossibilia.
CONCLUSION . . . . .

THEME

XCVI.

A guilty Conscience is the worst
Accuser.

JN'rIWDUCTION. . . .
cannot be invali·
lsT REASON.- B ccause l·ts ev,;·lence
•c
dated or gainsaid.
2ND REASON. -The voi_ce of conscience cannot be
silenced.
3RD REASON.-Conscience is the :worst 3:ccuser, be·
cause it knows more than any other witness; it bas been
privy to the whole. transaction, nnu has even seen the
'' animus," as well as the overt act.
both Acwser, J1tdge, and
4TH REASON.-Conscience is
Turmenlor
· relen.tless and un fl"mel.nngl Y severe.
' ON -The witness of conscience is within the
5TH R EAS 1 •
"
b
,,
heart; there is, therefore, no ?eed ~f a su pama, . no
ossibility of " shoving by" its evidence; no cunnmg
~evice can outwit its testimony; and there can be no
"riding off" upon some erroneous or exaggerated state·
ment.
.
6TH REASON.- It allows no excuse, no palliative, no
extenuation, no compromise. Every thought. an~l word
is weighed in the even balance, and pronounce~ right or
wrong accortling to its exact measure. There is no mean
between these two awards,-nothing but right or wrong
in the court of conscience.

THE

•

tJ f-•.~;==
. =--~
WORST ACCUSER," ~ s r5-=-K~:~
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7rn REASON. - It is ever present to . give the'' lie t(r '-- .':J
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every unfaithful witness, and fills the heart with ·sleepless
terror and distress. ·· · ·
SIMILES. . . . •

.· ....

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HISTORICAL . ILLUSTRATIONS.
QuoTATIONs.-Though no terrible thing did .fear .the~
(i.e. the Egyptians), yet being, scared, , . . they died for
fear: . . . for wickedness, condemned by her own witness;·
is very timorous, 11nd being · pressed with conscience,
always forecastetb grievous things.- Wisdom, xvii. 9-11.
Whether it were a whistling wind, or a melodious
noise of birds among the spreading branches, or a pleasing fall of water running violenJ;ly, or a terrible s.<;mnd 1of
stones cast down, or a running that could not be seen"of
skipping bensts, . . . or a rebounding echo from ,- the
hollow mountains,-these things made · them (i. e. ' tM ~
E._qyptians) to swoon for fear . . . . Over theni was spread ·
a heavy darkness: . . . . yet were they unto themselves
more grievous than the darkness.- Wisdom, xvii.;- 18-21.
Give me nny plague but the plagge of the heart._;,,i.
Eccles. XXY . · 13.
"
n i ' i , ' , , ' i ;; '
/.
0, it is monstrous I monstrous I
.
Methought the billows spoke and told me of it; ·';
The winds did sing it to me; and 1 the thunder, · · !.-' ·
'!'hat deep and dreadful organ-pipe, pronounced .,,:,
The name of Prosper.-Shakspeare. · ' ', ·1 .:._.~. :f .. ,'(';
Better be with the dead,
"" ·' " ; ·
·· .,,. ': nut
Whom we, to gain our place, have sent to peace; .'.
Than on the torture of the mind to lie · ' · L 1 • f\t'
In restless ecstasy; . . .
. , · · ·· ·
· ~ i::tr
0, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife f, : ' t. I .
.
: ~i Shakspeare. ,; ,f
A guilty conscience needs no accuser, and · a cl~ar onEt,
',' .... .: ... 1 , 1_,•jfa
fears none.-Maunder' s proverbs. : . ·. .·
An evil conscience is the most unquiet .companion.-·-· ·.
Mr.1under's proverbs,

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THEME

316

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XCVII, '
SWEAR

A guilty conscience is a perpetual torment.
It is always term time in the court of conscience.
Close pent-up guilts
Rive their concealing continent, and ask
The dreadful summoner grace.-Slwkspeare.
There is no man that is knowingly wicked but is guilty
to himself· and there is no man that carries guilt about
him, but he receives a sting into his sonl.-Tillutson.
An evil conscience breaks many a man's neck.-Ray's
proverbs.
Magna vis est conscientire.- Cicero.
Mea mihi conscientire plenis est, quam omnium sermo.
-Cicero.
Animus conscius se remordet.
Maxima peccantium pama est, peccavisse.-Seneca.
CoNCLUSION.

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AT . ,ALL.
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.hoods, impious , cu1·ses, unmeaning , non~e~ise, · or· p_refat!'e"~_;.,- -:~
prayers.
· _ ·
. ·
. · ..
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6TH REASON.-The common swea~er shows a defi'f~ce
·~
of God, a degraded /iefl,rt, and an utter contempt,; for
'
religion.
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7TH REASON.-Oaths are indicative of bad taste, they - . ;·'.'
are an insult to tlie !tearer, and . a grief to every right- .ithinking mind..
.. 1
8ru HEASON.-They are. a violation of the la.w of the ,.·:
land, which authorises any magistrate to fine the profane " . :
swearer a crown for the first offence, and i mprisonm~nt
·!
for future delinquencies.
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SnnLES. . . . . ./
HISTORICAL lLLUSTRATIONS.

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QuoTATIONs.-Swear not at all; neither by hea-ven, '
. '
for it is God's throne; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool. .... Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because ' . .
thou canst not make one hair white or black.-Matt. · y, :~ 'r
34-36.
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· Let your communication ' be yea, yea; nay,.'nay; for . ·..o,
wliatoever is more than these1 cometh of evil.-Matt; ,:
v. 37. .
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THEME

XCVII.

Swear not at all.

INTRODUCTION . . . . .
lsT REASON.-lt is contrary to God's most holy law.
2Nn REASON.-It shows a want of self-respect; as if
the hearer doubted your veracity, and could not believe
your word till confirmed by an oath.
3RD REASON.-Swearing is never a solitary vice, but
one of a battalion; and he who opens the gate to profanity
will not be able to exclude its companions in sin.
4ru REASON.-The consequences are most fatal. God
has declared the swearer "shall not be held guiltless;"
and the prophet Zechariah adds, "Every one that sweareth
shall be cut off."-Zech. v. 3.
5TH REASON.-Ordinary oaths are either direct fal,'le-

lle that shall swear "Ily Heaven I'' r sweareth by 'the ..
throne of God, and by HIM that sitteth thereon.---'Ma~t. .
'
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xxiii. 22. ' '
But above all things, my brethren, swear not, ·neither :( .,
"by heaven," . . .. neither by any . other oath, .. .. .' lest ye .·:1 ~ .~
fall into condemnation.-James, v. 12. 1 ;· ;J, ., : ·, ".;iJ" .r• 0 . :~·
Le.t your. speech be always with 'gra. c~,- seasone.d ;WJ.'.th., {.~.· . 'l
Ralt-Co/ JV 6
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I sa.y unto you, That every idle word 1~hat men shall 1: · :;;
speak, they shall give account thereof 'in the day ofll. :"'~

judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and ir> ·-!f:
by thy · words thou shalt' be · condemned.· ;.1..lfatt. xii .. .;: :;;;
36, 37.
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318

LEARNING:.:Bllll".l"ER: 'l'll4N

'l'HEME XCVII.

Swearing shows that a man distrusts Qis. ~.wµ. r.eP.qt~t,~on. •
-Italian proverb.
- :. :";,
·
Procul, o procul este profani, conclamat: vates.~ l{irgil.

If a soul sin, and liear the voice of swearing, and is a
witness .... if he do not utter it, then he shall. bear his
iniquity.-Lev. v. 1.

,

Because of swearing, the land,,mourneth.-Jer. xxiii. 10.

CoNCLUSiON. . . •

Accustom not thy mouth to swearing; neither use thyself to the naming of the Holy One; for as a servant
that is continually beaten shall not be withoot a blue mark,
so he that sweareth and nameth God continually, shall
not be blameless.-Eccles. xxiii. 9, 10.

I

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rrHE:ME

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XCVIII.

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Learning is better than House and
· · Land. · '" ..
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Common swearing is an acknowledgment that a man
thinks his bare word unworthy of credit.-Serj. Palmer's
aphorisms and maxirns.

It is common with many, upon every trivial matter,
to pawn their honour, their truth, or their reputation:
But what is so often pawned, or is lent to every one,
cannot but lose much of its value.-Se1j. Palmer's aphorisms and maxims.
An honest man is believed without an oath, for his reputation swears for him; thus the Athenians were so
fully persuaded of the truth and fidelity of Xenocrates,
that they passed a law, " That t!ie evidence of Xenocrates
should be admitted without an oath."
None are so nearly disposed to scoffing at religion, 11s
those who accustom themselves to swear on every trifling
occasion.-Tillotson.

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INTRODUCTION. . .
,.,
lsT REASON.-It is more enduring; seeing it is subject
to fewer vicissitudes. ,
, ·,. ...
· , = 1' ~ •
2Nn REASON.-'It is more ennobling; •"rank is but
the guinea's stamp,'' but wisdom "is more precious :than
rubies, and all the things thou canst desire are not , to _be
compared unto it."
· 3RD REASON.-It is more potential. d KnowJedg~ is
power," says Lord Bacon ; " but as for we,a lth,'' adds the
same philosppher, "it is useful as baggage, but y~ry;__ ct?-J:Ubersome."
··
•; · .; · · ·'' · ·'
4TH REASON.-Le11rning affords more lasting.and v.aried
delight than houses and lands.
·
·
5TH REASON.-It is a better companion; inasmuch as
it stays with us in our homes, goes with us in our travels,.
is the friend of our bosom, our ornament in prosperity,
and solace in distress.
=1 ,
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6TH REASON.-It is · intrinsicalJy a better· gift. ·' 'Both
lea.ming and wealth ~re t11lents committed to us
"stewards of God's bounty ';" but of the two, wisdom is 'certainly
a better and more valuable bestowment, than · a -J~rge
1
·
house with broad acres.
7m 'llEASoN.-It is more our own than any externals
can possibly be.
8TH REASON.-It is better, inasmuch as mind is better
·
than matti1·.
I

1'oo much asseveration gives ground for susp1c1011.
Truth and honesty have no need for vehement protestatit>ris.-· Se1j. Palmer's aphorisms and maxims.

The fashion of oaths has no temptation to excuse it, for
no man can say he was born with a swearing constitution.
-Se1j. Palmer's aphorism,s and maxim,s.

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iniqu,ity, and the plague shall never depart from his
house. If he offend, his sin shall be upon him: ... if he
swear in vain he shall not be innocent, but his house
shall be full of calamities.-Eccles. xxiii. 11.

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A man that useth much swearing shall be filled with

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RICHES.

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KEEP THE SABBATH HOLY.

320

THEME XCVIII.

SIMILES.
HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS.

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QuoTATIONs.-How mu ch better is it to ge t wisdom
than gold ; and to get understanding rather to be chosen
than silver I-Pr ov. xvi. lG.
Wisdom is better t han rubies, .... its fn~it is better
than gold, yea than fin e gold ; and its revenue t han choice
silver.-Prov. viii. 11. 19.; see also iii. 13-17.
vVher(' shall wisdom bo found ? aJl(l wh ere is the place
of understanding ? M an knoweth not the price thereof,
neith er is it found in t he land of the living . . . It cannot
be valuerl with the gold of Ophir, with t he precious onyx,
or the snppbire : The golt1 nml t.h c cry st.:tl <·n1111ot equn.1
it . .. .. rrhe topaz of Bthiopi:t shall not cq11:il it., neither
shall it be valued with pure gold.-Jub, xxviii. 12- 19.
vVisdom is the principal thin g, ther efore get "·isdom ;
and with all th y getting get nnderstanding.- Prnv . iv. 7.
Solomon sn,ys, "I called upon God, and the spirit of
wisdom came to me. I preferred her before sceptres and
thrones, and esteemed i'ichcs nothing in comparison of
her . .... all gold in respect of her is as little sand, and
silver shall be counted as clay before her."- JVisd01n, vii.

.
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7-9.
Wisdom is snbtl e, lively, clear, UJHlefil e<.1, plain, not
subject to hnrt, loving the thing that is gooc1, qnick, which
cannot b e lette(l , kind to man, steadfn st, sure, fr ee from
ca re, hav in g all power, overseeing all t hin µ:H, . ... the
brea th of the power of God, ... . the brig ht ness of the
. everlasting light, ... . more beautiful t han the sun, and
above all the order of stars.-lVisdom, vii. 22-29.
No tyrant can tr. kc from you learni11g.-Fieldi11g's
provcr1Js.

Tru e philosophy is a very great possession.- .L11aundcr's
pru-ver/Js.

A wise man is a great monarch ; he ha s an empire
within himself ; reaso n commands in chief, and possesses

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the throne and sceptre ; all bis passions, like obt3dient
subjects, do obey ; though the territories 'seem but ·small
and narrow, yet the command is great, and reaches further '
than the sultan, who wears the moon for his crest, or than
the other that has the sun for his helmet.-Serj. Palmer's
aphorisms and maxims.
Scienza in ogni stato e un grande tesoro.
Ingenium pretiosius auro.-Ovid. ·
Saphmtia est possessio pretiosior divitiis. ·
Litene semper jucundre et utiles.
_
Felix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causa~.-. Virgil.
..
Victrix fortunre sapientia.-Juvenal. ,
·
CONCLUSION . • . . .

. THEME

XOIX. . Keep f!ie .&Wbath lw.ly.

INTRODUCTION. . . . .
warrants
. it.~
lsT REASON.-The example of 'God
.:
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Gen. ii. 2.
·
2ND REASON.-The goodness of · Qod ' ple~ds for it;~·· "Mark, ii. 27.
. .'J' ; I .
3RD REASON.-The aut/writy of G.od demands. it.~
Ex. xx. 8.
4TH REASON.-The blessing of God rewards it.__;
Ex. xx. 11.
:· ·
· .· · ·
5TH REASON.-..A. day of rest once a week · i~ needjut
for health.
• ·• I . '· , •
6TH REASON.-It is actually p1·0.fit<tble i~ ·~ worldly
point of view: for every one is one seventh
richer than .he
. ' •:
would be if the sabbath were abolished. . · .
7TH REASON.-It is essential for spir~tua! instruction
and the soul's health.

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THEME

XCIX.

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HISTORICAL lLLUSTRATIONs.-See Numb. xv. 32-36. Neh.
xiii. 15-20. Ez. xx. 13. &c~

Jonas 1£anwell, Esq.

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Were the sabbath not commanded to be. kept ~oly, ,yet ·
~ould it be highly necessary to ·our ~~ll~b~in~(~<>:.~on,tiJ?.~~ its observanc.e.-fonas J£anwell, Esq. "
1· ., . • ~_; ,,
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The neglect of the sabbath bas pr.oved the. grea~ 1 ~~let ·
to all mauner of wickedness.-Jonds
Han well,
Esq.
. : ., . ,.
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He who profanes the sabbath is guilty .of sac~ilege. :>.z' ; .
Lor<l Chief Justice . Hale observed . th1t, according to ;
his care in observing the Lord's day, he ' commo~ly pi:os;
pered in his undertakings .the week following.·,1' 1; "'r.r ~.,ih..
N efastis die bus nihil cum populo agi utile.· ·Livy.' ·•,l :: -i

SIMILES.

QuoTATIONs.-:My sabbaths ye shall keep . . . for it
is holy unto you : Every oue that dc!ileth it shall surely
be put to death :. for whosoever doeth any work therein,
that soul shall be cut off from amollg his people.-Ex.
xxx. 13, 14. 18.
Six days shall work he done, lmt on the seventh day
there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the
Lord : Whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to
death.-Ex. xxxv. 2.
To-morro\Y is the rest of tl1e holy snl>lmth nnto the
Lord : Bake that which ye will b:ike to-<hy, n11!l seethe
that ye will seethe ; and tlmt which rc111air1ctlt over lay
up for you to be kept until the mornil1g.-H:r. xvi. 23.
Ye shall keep my sabbatlrn, and reverence my sanctuary ; I am the Lord.-Lev. xxvi. 2.
Blessed is the man . . . that keepcth the sablmth from
polluting it.-Isa. lvi. 2.
· If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from
doing thy pleasure on my holy day ; nnd call the sabbath
a delight, the h.oly of the Lord, houournlJlc ; and shall
honour Him, not doing thine own wn.ys, nor finding
thine own plea.sure, nor speaking thine own words : Then
shalt thou delight thyself in the LorLl ; and I will cause
thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed
thee with the heritage of .focob t11y father; for the mouth
of the Lord hath spoken it.-Lw. !viii. 13, 14.
Also the sons of the stranger (i.e. the Gentile) that
join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him . . . every one
tlrnt kecpeth the sabbath from polluting it ... even them
will I bring to my holy rnotmtnill, and make them joyful
in my house of pra.yer.-I~a. !vi. G, 7.
He that forsakes the' sabbath forsakes his Maker.-

TltIFLE~.

NEVER CONTEND ,ABOUT

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Festo die si . quid prodegeris, profesto egere licea,t - t "
Plautus.
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CONCLUSION . . . . .

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THEME

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C. Never contend about ·Tri.fies: ··: · · · ·
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INTRODUCTION.', . . .

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lsT REASON.-lt is not wo1'th contending abo.ut .a· straw.
"

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2ND REASON.-As crotchets and trifles take their colour
from persons' tempers, whims, or opinions, much more
than matters of. great moment do, it is no .use .contending
about them ; because "a man conv.i nced ag~inst h.is will,
is of the same opinion still."
, .
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3RD REASON.-A quarrel about a trifle generally produces a greater breach than a contention about some
grave and important matter . . ·When subjects of serious
consequence are under dehate, the.. par~ies ar~r willing to
hen.r reason and appeal to truth ;. but when · matters of
fancy are under dispute, each maintains bis opinion .by
preconceived notions or rooted prejudice; and, · after ·'. all
has been said, each party may exclaim, '' De gustibus non

est disputandum."

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324

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C.

CHRISTIANS

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THE qGHT . OF THE
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4TH REASON.-To contend about trifles shows a little
and weak mind, " pleased with a rattle, and tickled with
a straw."
·

SIMILES ..•..

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: .:" .. :· ~ ., .:·~ ·~~"; , ! t ~ .rr i · ·r; t11·
.; !. ,. ·. · ... . .. ~ ;o· · 1'·Jl
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?= ~
INTRODUCTION
tt ; .. : ...
!' !
.·--'=
1ST REASON.-··r:i~ht' is ~ri: enibt~~ . b./JJu~ity '_ii'. thu~" otl~:· .~.fti
1
divine Redeemer calls himself the: ti .t ight of , th~ Wbfld l.'~. . :=-;.~
and Christians are to be . '·' blameless a11d. harmless,'.' th~
sons of God, without rebuke, .in the midst of a crooked .and
perverse nation amqng whom ;th.eY: •shine'. lJ.s lights: in : tha
world."-Pliil. ii. 15. 1 ' -i- · '' ·• '< " . . . ,.. .1 · t"• .:< · • 1 ~ ·
2ND REASON.-Light ,is vefy conspibt<?f:lS. , . Shakspea~e.
says, " how far the little, candle throws his _beams I" .. If 1~.
be so with the little candle, muc!J. l~ss earl a Chri~tian }ie·
·,
· hid from observation. · Every pfofoS'.sor of"the · go~pel · is.
.·
11
a marked character; he iS · like a c~ty set ori a hill 'whieh
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cannot be hid."-Matt. 'v. 14.·
ri : . : "::.• '.'°':: ' ; ,·, 11 ·1 .:: ·: J:•:t
3nn RE~SON.-Ligbt serves .to: •direct th.e ~ w~n·a~·rer
~
his way. "If any man walk in th.e night be st~rribleth,'
,.;
because there is no light in hii:n; but · if any' mah wa.l~ .
'
in the day be stumbleth not,, because he seet~ the light of .
the world." (John, xi. 9, 10.) Christians are .to be a'.' ligh ~
to the feet, and a lamp to the ' path'' of those ; amongst
whom 11 they live, and move, and have their beiog.:'... .; ,
·''
4TH REASON.-Light purifies. Places ke.p t in the dark
"'
.~
very soon becoqrn dank and unhealthy; but light· keeps
them pure.. and sweet. So Chdstians are the medium in
God's hand of purifying the world from its widely-di~u~ed
- :~
moral corruption.
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5TH REASON.-Light invests objects with their proper
.. "1'I
s!iape and colour. In the dark no· shape is discel'hible, ho
i
colour reflected; the most beautifu~ things are 11 without
J
form and void." - So also the heart of man,· in its natural
· .,
state is a chaos; in .which ,is no beautyi ~ no outline:·of
..
"the' image of God" ' can be distinguished i :no reflection:
in all his actions of the "Sun; of righteousness" Js.
visible: But Christians are so to shine, "that men may
..,,
see their good works, and glor.ify ~heir ~a~her which :is in1
heaven."-Matt. v. 16.
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QooTATIONs.-A fool's lips enter into' contention.Prov. xviii. 6.
.

CONCLUSION ......

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HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS .....

~void foolish questions, genealogies and contentions,
•... for they are unprofitable and vain.-Tit. iii: 9.
The en? of the commandment is charity, . .. from which
some havmg swe~ved h~ve turned aside unto vain jangling,
. .... understandmg neither what they say nor whereof
they affirm.-1 Tim. i. 5-7.
'
. Foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that
they do gender strifes : and the servant of the Lord must
not strive, but be gentle to all men.-2 Tim. ii. 23, 24.
They that are vainglorious must needs be factious •
and must needs be violent to make good their vaunts.-'
Lord Bacon.
Never fight for a straw.
Alter rixatur de lana srepe caprina,
Propugnatque nugis armatus.-Horace.

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CL.·; : re.'.(cJiii'sti'a~8-) ¢~e', the,l;iglit ;bf.~t~-:~ ~ =.~~~==
· . · - . \ ." '.' ;. Worl~· . ':'·.'::·, ,':' .~·~·: · :~ ;; ,~ij~.';1·~~:.§ -~=~=~

THEME

5TH REASON.-It is an evidence of a litigiowr obstinate
dogmatical temper, which requires every o~e to se~
exactly eye to eye with itself.
. 6TH REASON ..-It is a contention/01· the sake of contentt.on; a. quarrel merely for the triumph of a victory ; a
dispute m order to pave one's own way ; and not for the
sake of truth.

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THE RIGHTEOUS ONLY

326

THEME CI.

gives to plants both health and
vigour. Without light the healthiest plant would soon
blanch, and ·dwindle, and die; it is ·the same with the
mind without the light of the gospel. rnie ignorance of
the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans upon what
Solomon calls " the very beginning of wisdom," was most
awful; and that of modern heathen nations is no better.
Christians are the missionaries who carry the light of
truth to these 11 dark places of the earth," and wherever
the gospel enters 11 it giveth wisdom to the simple."
7TH REASON.-When light is reflected, it makes even
opaque objects luminous. So Christians are a glory to
any land, for " righteousness exalteth a nation."
8TH REASON.-Light is an emblem, of Joy: thus the
Psalmist says, "Light is sown for the righ tcottR, n.ml gladness for the upright in hea.rt." If there had Leen only
ten righteous men in Sodom, God would have preserved
it from destruction for their sa.ke. Again; all the crew in
which Paul sailed were saved from shipwreck for Paul's
sake; and all Egypt from famine for Joseph's sake. Who
can tell, therefore, how many blessings come upon a nation
for the sake of the people of God that dwell therein?
6TH REASON.-Light

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SI.MILES . . . . .

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EXCELLEN~

I have set thee to be a light to the Gentile~, that thou
shouldst be for salvation unto the ends of the eart~.~
Acts, xiii. 4 7.; see, also Lsa. xlii. .6, 7. · ·
., .
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But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an
holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth
.t he praises of Him who hath call~.d you out . of darkness
into his marvellous light.-1 Pet. n. 9.
He ( i. e. John the Baptist) was a burning and a shining
light.-John, v. 35. ·
·
·
·' '
Ye are the children of light, and the children .of the
day; we are not of the night nor of darkness.-1 Thess.
v. 5.
• t ·,

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Ti tu.s, iii. 3-8.
Colossians, i. 10-13.
Ephesians, iv. 11'-24.
,
I will give him the morning star.-Rev. ii. 28.; s.ee
also 2 Pet. i. 19.
.~
God who commanded the light to shine out of darknes8 h~th shined in our hearts, to give the light of the
kno~vledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
-2 Gor. iv. 6.
' , ·r· . . ,
CoNCLUSION .....
.

:'

HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS.
QuoTATIONs.-Ye are the salt of the earth.-Matt.
v. 13.
The path of the just is as the shining light, that
shineth more and more unto the perfect day.-Prov. iv. 18.
Ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light iQ.
the .Lord: walk as cbildren of light.-Eph. v. 8.
rrhe people that walked in darkness have seen a great
light; they that dwell in the land of the slw.dow of death,
upon them hath the light shined.-Isa. ix. 2.
I send th~e unto the Gentiles, to open their eyes, and
to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power
of Satan ·u nto God.-Acts, xxvi. 18.
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THEME

err.

The Righteous is more excellent than his
Neighbour.
.
. ·: .
·! '

INTRODUCTION .....
ls-r REASON.-He is rnore exalted in his birth: ,, The
righteous man is born of God, to whorn he is a, son; and
by whom he has been constituted a "king and \priest for
ever." c ·hrist is his elder broth~r; angels and spirits ,his
kinsmen in the Lord. Where is the monarch,. can · show
a parentage like that? · ~Vhere is tl~e 1:1oble . can ,. bo~st
· such a lineage? Where is the 1"'orldh~g
.w?.o , can ~lau:n
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THEME

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a father so transcendent, a brother so exalted, a family
so noble?
2ND REASON.-He is more excellent in his works.
The works of the flesh are, "adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance emulation, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings drunkenness, revelling·s, and such like:" but the
righteous are redeeme_?- from these, a11d. Lcing " gr~f.ted
into the true vine," brmg forth "the frmt of the Spmt,"
'. Which is "love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; and they that arc
Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and
lusts."-Gal. v. 19-24:.
3Rn REASON.-Tlie righteous man is more excellent
in his education. The masters of the worldly man are
"the world, the flesh, and the devil:" lJllt the righteous
man "is taught of God," anu is the disciple of him who
" spake as never man spake."
· .• 4TH REASON.-He is more excellent in his state. He
is ·" blessed in his basket and his store," while the other
is ·accursed· He is rich in his poverty, while the other is
poor in his' wealth· He can rejoice in tribuhtion, while
the man of the w~rld "knowcth no peace;" He " has
washed his robes and made them white in the Llood of
the Lamb," while his ungodly neighbour is "wretche.d
and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked;" He IS
redeemed from sin, to which the other "is in Londage ;"
" All things a.re working together for good" to the one,
but the other "is dead while he liveth."
fon REASON.-The righteous is more excellent than
his neighbour in his death. 'l'he wicked man "is driven
away in his wickedness," but the righteous i.s gathere~,as
a foll shock of corn into the garner of l11s God. lhc
righ teons man never dies; he only " sleeps in the Losom
Qf good old AbrahaT:? t~ll the resurrection mo~·n." " Ille~s~d
· are the dead that dte m the Loru: Yea, saith the Spmt,
for they rest from their labours."-Rev. xiv. 13.
· 6TH REASON.-He is more excellent in liis resurrection. " When the Son of man shall come in his glory,

THE RIGHtEOUS ONLY EXCELLENT.
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and all the holy angels with Him; theri"shali. He .sit'~ upon ·. :
the throne of his glory, and before Him shall be gatpete'd ~.
all nations; and He shall separate them one from another ·,.
as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the · goats: 1'And .
He shall set the sheep on the right hand, but the · goats ,,' ·~
on the left. Then shall the King say unto them o,n his , ;~
right hand, "Come,· ye blessed of my Father, inhed~ r the ··
kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the
world:" but to those on his left hand, " Depart from
me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the
devil and his angels." ... .And these shall go away into
everlasting punishment, but the righteous into. •life
eternal.· Matt. xxv. 31-4:6.
,,.
· · · ··
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SIMILES • • • • •

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HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS.
QuoTATIONs.-See Psalm i.
· ; ' ' · . '·,; ;, '::' \·
Let me die the death of the righteous,' andlet". my. last
end be like his.-Numb. xxiii. 10.
·
'
'rhe foolish ( i. e. the wicked) shall not stand in thy
sight: Thou hatest all workers of iniquity; •.. but
let all those that put their trust in Thee rejoice; let
them ever shout for joy, . .. for Thon, Lord, wilt bless
the righteous: with favour wilt Thou compass him as
with a shield.-Ps. v. 5. 12.
'
.
Mftny are the affiictions of the righteous, but the Lord
delivercth him out of them all. He keepeth all his bones,
not one of them is broken. (But) evil shall slay the
wicked, and they that hate the Lord shall be . desolate.P8. xxxiv. 19-21.
.. :·
.f .
See Psalms xxxvii. 9-25. .
· ·, ' i . ' · The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree; they
shall grow like a cedar in · Lebanon.·.'' : < ' They ·' shall
bring forth fruit in old age ·;. they shall be fat' and flourishing . -P~. xcii. 12. 14. ' · · :; · · · _., · ~ '
':, r : '. . , ' · ! :· ,,
In the house of the righteous is much 'treasure, but in
the revenues of the wicked is trouble.-· Prov. xv. 6. · ··
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'!'HEME CIII.

OUR · DEST · FRIEN D.

As the whirlwind passcth, so is the wicked no more;
hut the righteous is an everlasting foundation. - Prov.
x. 25.
The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and
· the transgressor for the upright.- Prov. xxi. 18.
Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him.
( But) . .. Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with
him . -L~a. iii. 10, 11 .
B lessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the carth..ftfa tt. v. 5.
Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteous.ness,
and all these thin<TS
shall be added unto you.- Jlfatt. v1. 33.
0
Godliness is profitable unto a ll thillgR, Jrnving the
promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to
come.- 1 Tim. iv. 8.
A ll things are yours, whether Paul, or Apollos, or
Cephas or tlrn world, 01.· life, or death, or things present,
or thi1~gs to come; all are yours: and ye are Christ's;
and Chr ist is God's.- 1 Cu r. iii. 22, 23.

" ·:2ND :REASON'.-.No other fr.iend knows s.6 well oitf. rteces:
sities. "We have not "an high priest · which 1:cannot
be touched with the feelings of onr infirmities, but was in
all points tempted like as we are:" He .can see into ·the
heart und read its bitterness: He can see into the chamber
of sickness and death . when the door is 'shut to, ahd 'ho
other CJ.e i~ fifed upon it; "He knoweth whereof we. are
1nade, He 'remeinbereth we are but dust."-·- Heb. iv. 15.
and P:1. ciii. 14.
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5TH R1usoN.-He never changes; but is the 11 same
yesterdn.y, to-day, and for ever." Whatever our dangers,
whatever the number of our enemies, whatever our .weakness, whatever our provocation, whatever our unworthiness, "He will never leave us nor forsake us;" "For I am
persuaded that neithei; death, nor life, nor angels, nor
principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things
to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature,
shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is
in Christ Jesus
our Lord."-Heb."
xiii: 8.. ; ! and
Rom. viii.
..
' . .' .
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88, 39. .
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6TH REAsoN.-His interest is more ~loseiy united to
ours than that of any earthly friend can be . . This 'union
· is represented under the figure of a "vine and its branches,"
· "a foundation and its superstructure," "a body a.nd its
memberi:;," 11 a i:;pouse and her bridegroom;" yea, we are
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4TH REASON.- He is not o_nly more willing and 'r eady,
but mq7'e powerful than any other friend. His _' power
is infinite both mora.lly and physically . . He has · satisfied
the justice of the Almighty; "All power is given unto
Him in heaven and earth;" and in that "'He himself hath
suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that
are tempted."- .Afutt. xxviii. 18. and Heb. ii. 18. ·
-

CIII. }{o Friend lilce tlze Friend of Publi'cans

JNTIWDUCTION .
1sT REAsoN;-Becatrne no other friend luu; done so
rru rth for 11.<1. "He made himself of no repntntion,. and
took on Him t he form of a servant, and was made rn the
. likeness of men: And being found in fashion as n man, He
humbled Himself, and became obedient nnto death, even
the death of the cross:" and t hus were we redeemed, "not
with corruptible things, as silver and gold, . . . . hut with
.the precious blood of Christ, as of a Iamb "'ithont blemish
and without spot."-Phil. ii. 7, 8. f\.n<l 1 Pet. i. 18,

·~

. 3no RE;\i~o~. · ·H~ not only kno~s , froin . experi~nce
our necessities, I£e is also ever ready to assist 11s. 11 Behold I Rtand at the door and knock;"· and as He knocks
He sa,ith, , II Come m~to me, all ye that labour and are
·heavy laden, and I will give ye rest !"· Rev. iii. 20: and
.Llfatt. x i. ' 28.
'
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\ CONCLUSION. . . . .

THEME

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PROSPERITY

TH.EME CIII.

332

said 'to be, " one with Christ, even as Christ himself is
one with God."-Jolin, xv. 13.
SIMILES. . . . .

.GA.INS.

FRIENDS.

.· Hereby perceive 'we the' love of Godi because •He ' Ial.d .
down his life for us.-1 Jolin 1 'iii: 16. · 1 · : , . :: : .r:1 1 ·1 •
Oh unexampled love I .
.
Love nowhere to · be found lesif than divine ......_.Milton.
· ,

CONCLUSION~

HISTORIC.AL ILLUSTRATIONS.

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QuoTATIONs.-There is a friend that sticketh closer than
a brother.-Prov. xviii. 24.
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay
down his life for his friends.-John, xv. 13.
Scarcely for a righteous man will one die, yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die: But
God commendeth his love towards us, in tcyat while we
were yet sinners, Christ died for us.-Bom. v. 7, 8.
The noblest friendship ever shown,
'l'he Saviour's history ma,kes known,
rrhough some have turned and turned it:
And whether being crazed or blind,
Or seeking with a biassed mind,
Have not, it seems, diRcerned it.-Cowper.
To look at Him, who formed us and redeemed,
So glorious now, though ouce so disesteemed;
To see a God stretch forth his human hand,
rro uphold the boundless scenes of his command;
rro recollect that in a form like ours,
He bruised beneath his feet the infernal powers,
Captivity leq captive, rose to claim
'l'he wreath He won so dearly in our name;
That, throned above all height, He condescends
rro cu.U the few who trust in Hirn his friends;
'l'hat, in the heaven of heavens, that space he deems
'foo scanty for the exertion of his beams,
And shines, as if impatient to bestow
Life and a kingdom upon worms below;
rrhat sight imparts a never-dying flame,
Though feeble in degree, in kind the same;
'l'o .mount the cross He left the realms of bliss;
'Vas ever woe, was ever love like this?-Cowper.
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crv."' ' 'Prosperity
gains Friend'8.
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INTRODUCTION .. ' .
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lsT. REASON.-Worldly friend~hip.s are. ''for ' th~ most
part formed from motives of self-interest and policy. ·, ·
2No REASON.-Friends are sought . to add to. our liappines.~, and not to increase our sorrow.
' · · 1. '
3RD ltEASON.-Many' are urged into friendly intimacy
with others, merely because they would flow in the stream
of fashion a.nd populat favour; · ·
· i · ' ·; •, ·
4TH REASON.-Rising talent and prosperity are : courted
by many merely to gratify vanity, and to aggrandise
themselves by the boast of intimacy with: the great and
noted.
. 5TH REASON.· The prospeforis ' ~eek. out friendst and
are glad to be attended with ' a host'df intimates ( but the
wretched see_k solitude, a~d shun the .e xpense. of numerous
,·. '
·: " .. · ; , .. 1 ,
guests; ·
·
·' ~ 1 • ·' : • " ' ·
6rn REASON ~-Prosperity is gen~ralif aii indicdtiori ~j
worldly 11ierit, and ad v.ersi.t y Of ~orl91y imprudence. _:
· .7rn REAsoN:- ·:Probably ;.a : ·spepfr.~ 'of :i~s.ti;!ct .h'a ~. much
to do with the matter, and friends desert .those in ' adversity, as rats instindtively quit a sinking 'ship, ahd (l()gs flee
i · · , .. .
.'i ;··iv. t'l :--i'!\ ..!~·~
from a house ready . to fall. !: .. .:
' 8TH RuspN.~Coip.mon , ,prudence' urges man;(tp leave
the unfortunate, lest . they should themselves be ·drawn
into ruin by thefr : ,e ndeavour _to prop the falling . ." The
same prudential motive would urge them to gather' round
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vVe~lth ruaketh many friends, bu(the poor is sep~iat~d~ -:· .::.-· _i

THEME CIV.

:the prosperous, under an undefined hope of
crumbs from the rich man's table."

PROSPERITY '

11

gathering

SrMILEs.-Trees are full of leaves in summer, but are
left bare in winter.
Flies crowd to the brimming milk-pail, but pass by
when it is empty.
Insects of every kind swarm in the hot sunbeam ; but
when the wintry cold sets in, where arc th e thousand
forms of life which enlivened every bank, arnl fluttered
from flower to flower ? All gone I and .the dreary wind
is left to whistle through the naked branches of the leafless and tenantless grove.
Where the carcase is, there the eagles will be gathered
together.-.Jl;fatt. xxiv. 28.
While it is snmmer there will be many swallows, but
at the approach of winter they all fly away.
I-Iorrea formicre tendunt ad inania nunquam ;
N ullus ad amissas ibit amicus opes.- Ovid.
Ubi mel, ibi apes.
HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS.
QuoTATIONs.-My lovers and my friends stand aloof
from my sore, and my kinsmen stand afar off.-Psalm
xxxviii. 11.
'l'he poor is hated even of his own neighbour, but the
rich hath many friends.-Prov. xiv. 20.
Many will entreat the favour of the prince, and every
man i~ a friend to him that giveth gifts ; (But) all the
brethren of the poor do hate him ; how much more do his
friends go far from him.?-Prov. xix. 6, 7.
Some friend is a companion at the table, and will not
continue in th e day of thy affiictio11. In thy prosperity
he will be as thyself, and will be bold over thy servants :
(Bnt) if thou be brought low, he will be against thee, and
will hide himself from thy face.-Eccles. vi. 10-12.

cui:Ns · ·FRIENDS.

from his neighbour.-Prov. xix. 4.

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~o~e man is a friend for his own occasion, and will ~ot ;
abide rn the day of thy trouble.-Eccles. · vi. 8; · '
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A friend cannot be known in prosperity, and an enemi
'cannot be hidden in adversity. In the prosperity of a:
m.an ene~nies will be grieved, but in his adversity even a
friend will depart.-Eccles. xii. 8, 9. · .. ·
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The~·e is a co~npanion which rejoiceth in the prosperity
of a friend, but m tlie time of trouble will be against him.
'l'here is a companion which helpeth his friend for the
belly, and taketh up the buckler against the enemy.Eccles. xxxvii. 4, 5.
'
Lord.
poor sequestered stag,
.
·
That from the hunter's aim had ta' en a hurt, : :
Did come tq languish ; and indeed, my lord, ,
~he wre~che? animal heaved forth such groans,
'I hat their d1seharge did stretch his leathern .coat
Almost to bursting ; and the big round tears .
Coursed one another down his innocent nose :
In piteous chase. . . . .
'·
JJuke. But what said Jacques?
,. . ' : :
'~
Did he not moralise this spectacle ?.
1 rrd. Oh, yes I into a thousand similes :
..
First for his weeping in the needless stream.. ~ •
Then being alone,
. ·
Left and abandoned of his velvet friends ·
"'Tis right I (quoth he,) thus misery doth part -:.
The flux of company I" Anon, a careless hei:d,
Full of the pasture, jumps along by him,
,
.A.nd nJever s~a)ys to greet him ; ':, !J:~J. g.~~1~ ,·
acques ,
· . ·"
.1 :
Sweep on, you fat and greasy citizen
'Tis just the fashion ; wherefore do y~u ·look ·'
Upon that poor and broken bankrupt there ?"

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' ' · Sliakspeare.
, " ,{•
Men used to worship the rising sun. ·· ·1
Wealth makes worship.· Ray's proverbs. · ·' ·;:.

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UNREMlTTED .APPLIOATION lNJURIOUS.

· Friends are the shadow on a dial, which appears in
clear weather, but vanishes as s~on as th~ sun is clouded
over.-Se1j. Palmer's aphorisms and maxims.
If a merchant miscarry, courtiers will say of him, ~e is
a pitiful cat, a sneaking trader, an<l a coxcomb ; if h?
thrive, they will court hi~ for his daughter. - Ser;.
Palmer's aplwrisnis and m.axims.
Jn times of prosperity friends will be plenty,
Ju timc8 of a<lvcrsity not one in twenty.
Ray's proverbs.

Plures adorant solem orientem quam occidentem.
Felicium multi cognati.
Ubi opes ibi amici.-Erasmus.
Cum Fortnnu ma11et vultum servatis n,mici,
Cum cedit, turpi vertitis ora fuga.-Ovid.
Dorree eris felix multos numerabis amicos,
Tempora si fuerint nubih1., solns eris.-Ovid.

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amici tantum boni appa.rent.
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aurum igne, sic benevolentia ti.delis' periculO ·aliquo·.:. ~--::::::::
perspici solet.. Cicero.
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CoNCLUBION.

THEME

On connait l'ami au besoin.
Amicus certus in re incerta cernitur.-Oicero.

.rt_,;:J37.

);- ::-~ -..._.-;--

~-~·

I wot well how the world wags,
rrhey are most loved who lrnve most bags.
Ray's proverbs.
Prosperity gains friends, adversity tries them.-Pacu·
vi us.
"Is the sable warrior fled?"
Thy son is gone. He rests among the den.cl.
The swarm, that in thy noontide beam were born,
Gone to salute the rising morn.
Fair laughs the morn, and so~t the zephyr blows,
While proudly riding o'er theu· a.znre realm,
In gallant trim the gilded vessel goes,
Youth on the prow, and Pleasure at the helm ;
Regardless of the sweeping ·whirlwind's sway,.
That, hushed in grim repose, expects the evenmg prey.
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CV. · All Work an<i no P'lay makes Jack a
, . dull Boy. . . . . . , .
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lsT. REASON.-Because the mind becomes jaded and
weary. As land must so~etimes lie fallow, so the' mind
must have rest, or both will be exhausted.. ; . ;, l . .
2ND REASON.-The body becomes burthened with secretions, which oppress the brain.
': - ··
3RD R~ASO~.-.A surfeit ' of study, "Hke . ~ . surfeit .- of
food, spoils di!!esli~n .' · and, with~ut digestion, ' neither
mental nor bodily viands can serve any healthy purpose.
4TH REASON. -The mind rese~bles a .t ree ; if it grow~ .
slowly the grain is close and the timber sturdy ·. · : but if
for~e?, the grain i~ coarse, and the wood soft, fli~sy," and
unsolid. If the mm~ has no time to meditate, the memory
may be crammed mth other me11's ideas but the mind
will not have time to make those ideas its own a·n d' to
incorporate them with reflection and judgment. . ' · ' .'.
• 5TH REA~ON.~When the mind .is compelled.-to·' work '
rncessantly it. w~rks mechanically . . _The appointed, task is
done, and dism1f?setl. from though~ 3;.s SO<?D as pqssiblc: ·
How then can the mmd be otherwise than 1du11? ''• 'Jr
6nr REASON.-; He ,who' is never"~ll~hfed: 'tb
h.ates . . ~
his employment; and it is 'needless to· h:dd,1'that' he who ~~
loath~s learning can never make , any g~eat ) profide.ncy =:-__::_.::~
therem.
·
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THE FACE

SIMILES.

QuoTATIONs.-As God has not dcv~ted our bodies to
toil but that he allows us some relaxat10n ; so, doubtless,
he 'indulges the same relaxation to the mind.-Guvernment of the Tongue.
Too much labour a.nd study weaken and impaii· both
the body and the mind.-J. Bay, F. I-t. S.
A bow lon(J"0 bent waxeth weak.-Ray's proverbs.
Knowledge is as food, a~ ~ceds no less
Her temperance over appetite to know
In measure what the miud may well contain ;
Oppresses else with surfe~t, and soon ~urns
Wisdom to folly, as nounshment to wmd.-Cowper.
Even God has appointed one day of rest in every seven,
Laden but not encumbered with her spoil ;
Laborious, yet unconscious of her toil ;
When copiously supplied, then most enlarged ;
Still to be fed, and not to be surcharged.-Cowper.
Necessity and the e~ample of St. J ~lrn, who recreated
himself with sporting with a tame partndge, teach. us, that
it is lawful to relax our bow, but not to suffer it to be
unstrung.-Jer. Taylor.
The mind on work for aye intent,
Is like a bow that's always bent.
Too too will in two.- Cheshire proverb.
Assez y a si trop n'y a.
L'ahondanza delle cose ingenera fastidio.
L'arco si rompe se sta troppo t eso.
Arcnm intensio frangit.-Pu.blins Mi1nnermus.
Lusus anirno debcnt aliquando dnri
Ad cogitandum ruelior, ut redeat sibi.-Pha'drus.
Quiescenti agendum est, et agenti quiescendnm est.-

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INDEX OF THE MINDl .

Se neca.

Arens nimis intensus rumpitur.
! .... ~ I I. >·~ f~;~~
Ne te quresiveris extra.-Horace.
, .cl
Ludo et joco uti licet cum gravibus serii~que ._rebus · · ·.
satisfecerimus.-Cicero.
. ., .~ '-Otia corpus alunt, animus quoque pascitur illis, ·
,
Immodicus contra carpit utrumque labor.-Ovid. ,' :
Detur aliquando otium quiesque fessis. ' .
' ': .'
Dulcis est desipere in loco.-Horace. ·
. ·;h r
Est modus in rebus; sunt certi denique fir{es; ! ':.' I
IS
Quos ultra citraque nequit consistere rectum.-·Ho.race. .
"

HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS. . . • .

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fHEME CV.

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1. ·;·~:,·~•._;-'; '() _ · -:::.

.,'.•H, · .. , · ~-; ; :

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INTRODUCTION.....
;.. ; <:·"!~"-~~. ·, :ur fr
lsT REASON.-The connection between the mind "'a nd
body is somewhat similar to that between the dial-hands
and works of a comriwn watch . .. · "' i ;-'_; 1, .;;. ,._ . •,,:Jf
2No REASON .-The mind moves the ··will,>ahd ': the"'ioilt - --~1;
moves tlie muscles; by which means it telegraphs on the . - --~
face its mandates, wishes, and aversions . . •,•.\;. -1wr .... 11J . ~>~,.
. 3RD REASON.-Over many natural impulses, emotions,
and affections of mind, the will has no control, " and
especially over conscience, which is called "the moral
sense:" All these domonstrate their operations involuntarily, and affect the motion of the blood, the vibration of
the pulses, the colour of the cheeks, the ' contour 'of the
face, and the general frame of 'the body;' but ' especially
the more delicate parts of the physiognomy. ·,\ :i•,, ·
4TH REA~ON.-Copstant habit has so powerful an influence on the mind and body, that it has been termed
"a second.nature." And. the constant habit of cheerfulness, piety, benevolence, satire, licentiousness, ill-temper,
.>

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TlIElliE CVI.

THE FACE AN

care, and so on, are all stereotyped by habit so strongly
in the face, that no effort of mind can remove the
characters.
frrn REASON.-Tbe body was designed by God to be
the mind's interpreter o,nd visib le representative. The
hands execute its commissions, the feet pm;t on its
errands, the mouth heralds its ideas, the eye is its electric
telegraph: so that the body may be called the sensible
antitype, or histrionic impersonator of the mind.
6TH . REASON.-The science of physiognomy and phrenology corroborate the remark, that " the face is an index
of the mind."

urnu:x

OF THE MIND.
~

From the features of a rna1~'s face we may draw pretty;i:..:;. - -:.:
accurate conjectures of bis temper and inclinations :-r but .) ~
his looks and countenanre distinctly declare the ad van- ~-~ ~
tages of fortune; and we may read iu them, in unmis- _::.:,c~
takeable characters, how: many thousands per annum a. ~~;=~
man is worth.-Se1j. Palmer's aphorisms and maxims. . : _'_, ·~

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His Grace looks cheerfully and .smooth . this
~
morning;
,
·
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There's some conceit or other likes him well, · ____ ::::;:!
When he doth bid good morrow with ,such .
·
spirit.. ... .
j
Ely.
What of his heart perceive you in his face?
_. ~ ~
Ifastings. Why that. with no man here he is offended; · . , ·;..
For were he, he had shown it jn his looks.*
Shaksp~ar~. · ··
.·
rl'he colour of the King doth come and go,
·
!
Between his purpose and his conscience,
Like heralds 'twixt two dreadful battles set.
.;J
. Slwkspeare.
As the clapper strikes the bell vibrates.
: ; ",1
Hastings.

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SIMILES . . • .
HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS . . .

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QuorATIONS. -Wickedness changeth the face, and
dn,rkeneth the countenance like sn,ckcloth.-E'ccles. xxv. 17.
, A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance.-Prov.
xv. 13.
Many men by every muscle in the face discover what
thoughts their mind is fixed npon.-Se1j. Palmer's aphorisms and nwxinis.
In the forehead and the eye,
The lecture of the mind doth lie.-Ray's proverbs.
I have marked
A thousand blushing apparitions start
Into her face; a thousand innocent shames
In angel \vhiteness bear away those blushes;
And in her eye there hath appeared a fire,
r_ro burn the errors that these princes hold
. Against her"trnth.-S!wkspeare.
rl'hi8 i8 the man shoul!l <lo the Llnody cleeu;
The image of a wicke<l heinous fault
Lives in his eye: Thnt close aspect of his
Doth •show the mood of a mueh-trouLled brenst.
Shakspeare.

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A.good countenance is a silent commendation: for the
mys of the soul passing through · it discover what degree
of brightness is within, so that the aspect seems designed ·
1
not olUy for ornamept but information. For what can ,
.J
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be more significaut than the sudden flushing aud con~
fusion of a IJlush, the sparklings of rage, or the lightnings
. J\
of a smile.-Se1j. Palmer':; aphorisms and maxi1ns. i '~ .
I
V ultus index animi.
. . . . '..:i
Frons est animi janua.. Cicero. ,
Heu ! quam difficile est, crimen non prodere vultu I
;,,·
Ovid. Vitiant artus rogrm contagia men tis.
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"' A !though Jln.~tlngs was deceived In his conject nre respectlna Gloster who
nl ways "scemi;rl 11 s:tint when most h e played the devil," yet the"'correctn~ss of
the. rule Is not lnvnlldnted by tlils exception, but rather corroborated: For had
not" tho face been getH'rnll,v an lnrl ex of th~ mln<I," Hastings woul<l not have
trusted tho cnnniug luoks uf tho artful Rkhard . . "
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342

r_i_iHEME

'J'HEME -CV1I.

OVII.

SCIEt\CE THE ' HA'.NDMAlD

INTRODUCTION .
lsT REASON.-By the ART OF PnINTING ignorance is
put to flight, knowledge diffused, and error compelled to
submit to truth.
Without the aid of printing the Reformation could never
have been achieved, because the influence of bribery and
power would have been sufficient to arrest the propagation
of Bibles· but now that they are issued by thousm1ds and
tens of thousands, no artifice of )Jl'iestcrnft, no rescript of
princes, no arm of man, can prevent their diffusio_n.
By printing · four things are secured: 1. speed1 ness of
execution; 2. quantity; 3. cheapness.; ::111<1, 4. n.ccur~.ey;
and without it an extensive propagation of the doetrmes
of the Bible seems morally impossible.

This Invention was brought into Europe by the Crusaders in the early part
of the fourteenth century.
·
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4ni REASON.-The application of STEAM to mechanica.l
purposes \especially to the art of printiug, the manufactures, and for purposes of locomotion) serves to cheapen, .
as well as expedite, the task of transporting the volume
of inspiration to "all the ends· of the ~ earth." By the
power of steam a vessel can now pass from the shores of
Britain to the coast of Americ::!, in less time than a stage
coach could have travelled from London to Glasgow ,onJy a .
century ago.*
. . .
.. .
..
By the intercourse of nations, brought about by :the
·agency . of steam, the bonds of , p1:o~~rnrh_ood , a!Ilo~g t~e
great families of mankind will , be .•strength~ned; ~heir .
hostile feelings removed; the spiritof" warfare erad~cated; . ,
civilisation advanced; knowledg~ ,extended; the )~ wilderness and solitary places'' of the. globe will be c,ult1vated, ;,
and peopled; and all shall be "taught to, know and fea.,r t~e
Lord, from the least even unto the greatest."
'
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Printing was invented about 14-30, by one Laurentlns Koster, a native of
Haerlem, a town in Holland.

Supposed to J11wo been lnvent:e<l by Flavlo Gioia, of Amnlll, in Campanla,
about 1-302, I.Jut not used commonly for navigation till A. D. 1420.
3RD R.~ASON.-'l'he invention of PAPER Fj'lO?II HAGS is
almost as important as the two inventions already mentioned. Before paper was made, the bark of a ree<l

RELIGION • .

growing on the banks of the :N"ile, and th~ skins of a~i~als, '::,· .
were its best substitutes; •but bow unsmted would ,either .-::.. , ·
of these have been to supply even the present d~n111nd, for _ .
books I and how utterly inadequate to meet ~he enorm?us · · ~S:ii.'
demand, when all the world shall be filled with a readmg 1~.
people, and Bibles will be required to " cover the e~r~b ~s
'~
the waters cover the seas I"
·
· · "i" .

Scienc~ the 1Iandniaid of Rel£gion.

2ND REASON.-By the MARINER'S CO~IPASS ships are
conducted securely from one port to another; and without it the boldest seaman can only creep cautiously along
11 co~st without ventnring hcyonu sight of lnnd; L11t with
it the i:10st distant voyages can he umlertakc11, and intercourse carried on between the remotest continen_ts and
islands of the globe.
\Vithout the help of the mariner 7s compass, America,
New Hollaml, to()'ether with all the islands in the Iudian
and Pacific O ce~us, would probably be still unknown to
the Bas tern world: so that, although the art of printing
had been discovered, thongh millions of Bibles hnJ been
prepared, though fleets of ships. had been equipped, and
thousands of missionaries had been reatly to cm hark, yet
all wonld be of no avnil without the mariner's compass to
guide their course tl1ro11gh th e trnckless ocean.

OF

I

St.earn navigation was not known till the present . oentnry. The , Great
lVe8te1·n was amongst the first steam vessels wli!ch crossed the Atlantic,
A. o. 1838.
' . , . • . ' ' ' r.-·--·. ' . ;
.

-~·.'

5TH REASON.--Some are apt to imagine that arithmetic,
.,
geometry, trigonometry, and other branches · of MATHE- ..
~IATics can have no relation to the leading objects of
relicrio~1
· but if these sciences had never been cultivated,
0
·'
' '
'
.-:·.
the most important discoveries of astronomy, geography,
chemistry, nnd natural philosophy, would .never have :been
made. Ships could not have navigated across the ·ocean ; .,
distant continents and the isles of the sea would have re~r 1

_,

• ,. .: ' l

. I

*Two centuries ngo It took tw elve months to make a .yoyag~ to .A.~etj_ca and .
back, bnt now It can bo done In three and a half .weeks. ·· . '
,.- · ·-~ ;,. · ,,, ;

->:

.

SCIENCE THE HANDMAID · OF RELIGION.

·..

344

THEME CVU.

mained unexplored; and many inventions of incalculable
use would never have been made.
· 6TH REASON.--Some are apt to imagine there can ue
no connection between the grinding of an optic gln.ss and
religion; but the TELESCOPE has been like a new revelation to man of the "eternal power and godhead." It
unfolds the grnndeur and nrn,gnificence of the works of the
AlmiO'hty· and he must Lc<levoid of reason who can" say
thereis n~ God," and yet" lift up his eyes on high ," and
" consider the heavens, the work of his fingers, the moon
and the stars ~vhich he hath ordained I" all these declare
"the glory of God" too plainly to be gainsaid; all these
speak trumpet-tongued " of the glory of bis kingc1om, and
talk of his power I"
Tile telescope WllS discovered accidentally by John Jnnsen, tl1e
epectucle mak.er, of Middleburg, in Holland, A. D. 1591.

BOil

of

8

7TH REASON.-rrhe MICROSCOPE renders a similar service to natural religion. If the telesco1:>c car.rics our
vision to objects beyond the range of unassisted s1.g h t, the
microscope discovers objects in our immecfotte neighbour-·
hood no Jess invisible to · the naked eye. If the former
shows us that the heavens are crowded with a, host of
worlds larger and more important than our own, the latter
reveals no less "manifold wisdom" in every spore of
flour, or drop of wn.ter, or mote of dust, or grain of s.anJ.
If the form er speaks of the grandeur. an~1 power.ot the
Almighty, the latter t ells as plainly of ~us wisdom, lus lov?,
his providence, his omnipresence, Ins a.gency, and lns
eternal truth.*
Tnvlltion nscrlhes the Inve ntion of the microscope to Cornelius Drebel, a
Dntch chemist, about the year lti21.

:

..

F~

... ~ ..

~ _.::.· 345 ~
;~ ;-~-£;':i~

QuorATIONs. -The mechanical . and. philosophical in· ~· · ·
ventions of genius are .:worthy. of the .attentive consider~ ·_
a.tion of the . enlightened . Christian; · parti_cularly . in the ._.;..._::
relation they may have to the acqornplishment of . religion~ . ·~
objects.-lJr.·Dic!c.
· ., ' ··· , ;.... · · . · .· .:. · •,• ·"' · ----:]
I first endeavoured from the works of God to know my·
. '.
self, and afterwards, by. the same means, to show him to
others; to inform them ho~ gre~t Js, J;Ii~: w~s~9m, ;His good·
ness, His power.-Galen. • .·
· ,
Acquaint thyself with God, if thou .wouldst taste
His works. Admitted once to , His embrace : ;
'l'hou sh.alt perceive that thou wast blind before:
Thine eye shall be instructed, .and thine heart ,:;. ;
(Made pure) sh•au relish with ' divine. ¢lelight, ',:,
Till then unfe1t, what hands divine have wrought.
Brutes graze the mounta,i n-top with fa:~es p~on~,
And eyes intent upon the scanty herb · .
;'
It yields them; heedless of tQ.e scene outsprea:d .
Beneath, beyond, and s.tretching far away . · .,
·'
From'. inland regions to the distant main .... .·· / ·
Not so the mind that has been touched. from heaven;
And in the school of s~cred wisdom ta right ' '. , ' ' ·, "
To read His wonders; in whos·e· thought the world,'~
Fair as it is, existed ere it ·was.
) ; ,,
:.:• Ill!
Not for his own sake merely, but'for His ' ',,. , 1ll''
·Much more who fashioned it; he gives it praise; · ,., ,
Praise that from earth resulting, as it ought, ·.. ' .: ,
To earth's acknowledged Sovereign, finds at once .. ·,
Its only just proprietor in Him I
· · .
.~:~-::. ..~.
The soul that sees Him, or receives sublimed
'i
New faculties, or learns at least to employ · ·
More worthily the powers she owned before,
('•· H
Discerns in all things what, with stupid gaze
Of ignorance, till then she overlooked,
.. ,
A ray of heavenly light gilding all forms
Terrestrial in the vast and the minute; ·
'l'he unambiguous footsteps of the God
i·
Who gives its lustre to an insect's wing,
.
And wheels his throne upon the rolling worlds. · '· ' · ·
r*
· ' ·:....
· · ' Cowper. T
I

r

..-·

: •

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Sr.MILES . . . . .
HISTORICAL

J

'

-

ILLUSTRATIONS.

*These seven illustrations mny s;1fflee to prove thnt "Sct:.nce !s .the hnntlmnld
n 1· I
" htit thn number can be increased alm ost rncl cft111tcly, nn<l the
of .. e 1g on,
t I b '"J'I , ('I ristinn
llelection vnrierl at rliscrctiou. This subject wn.s sugges ec . Y . . 1<· , 1 •
Plill~sophcr, " by Th o man D ick, LL. D., to whom mucll of its detail Is abo <lw).
0

·

.c

'

•

"·"

: I

34()

•
THEME

cvn.

· Tlrn MORE WE HAVE THE MORE WE DESIRE.
.

"

• · :i,

, -.

-

.

·.347
(·\ ~I'
. ·- .,,_...
,,.

,,

·~~ ~

in~ight into it will lead him back agaJn tq .God, ~the , grea~ ;;1 • V-·
First- Cause ;" for (he adds) II th_e ... very-)ir~t. prin~ipie .
of right reason is religion." , ',· ',.; '. · 1' , ..,, .. ··.:' ' 1 • ·f '' ' ; ·.'
Na tune vero rerum vis atque majestas' in omnibus momentis fide caret, si quis modo partes ejus ac non totam
cornplectatur animo.-Pliny.
'

Devotion I daughter of astronomy;
An undevout astronomer is mad.
True; all things speak a God; but in the small
Men trace out Him; in great He seizes man;
Seizes, and elevates, and wraps, and fiJis,
V\Tith new inquiries.-Dr. Yonng.
Whom Nature's works can charm, with God himself
~old converse, grow familiar day by day
With his conceptions, act upon his plnn,
And form to His the relish of their souls.-Cowper;
How sweet to muse upon His skill displayedInfinitc skill I in all that He hath made;
To trace in Nature's most minute design
The signature and stamp of power Di vine;
Contrivance exquisite, expressed with ease,
Where unassisted sight no beauty sees; . .
Th' Invisible in things scarce seen, revealed,
To whom an atom is an ample field .- Cowpe1·.
The Christian should consider the experiments of the
scientific not as a waste of time, or the gratification of
mere idle curiosity, but as embodying the germs of those
improvements by which · civilisation, domestic comfort,
kno.wledge, and divine truth, may be diffused among the
nations of the earth.-Dr. Dick.
He who does not find in the various, beautiful, sublime,
awful, and astonishing objects presented to us in creation
and science, irresistible and glorious reasous for admiring,
·adoring, loving, and praising his Creator, has not a claim
' to eva11golical piety.-Dr. Dwight.
Astronomy and anatomy are studies which present us
with the most striking view of the wonderful attributes of
the Supreme Being: the former tills the mind with an idea
of his immensity, the latter astonishes us with his intelligence and art.-Dr I-Iunter.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.Prnv. i. 7.
Lord Bacon used to sny, " that a little Rmn.ttcring of philosophy would lead a nutn to atheism, hut a thorough

·q·1~·

~,w • ~r •;:i

CONCLUSION.....

THEME

CVIII.

The more you have the more you

desire.
INTRODUCTION. . . • .

r

•

J

,.,:

. ~sr REASON.-Because much-having makes a man ~mbitwus.
. · '..
RE4soN.-Success is always sanguine, and full of
.. · . .
· 3nn REASON.- Wants actually increase in the same
proportion as the means of gratfrying them increase. "
4rn REASON.-There is somewhat of the · huntsman's
and gnrnbler's spirit in the successful speculator · the ex~
citement of the chase or hazard is loved indepe~dent of
any consideration of gain to be deriv~d t.herefrom. · , , ·
5rn REASON.~Attainment of much is in reality .an
earnest and promise of rnore; and few :i;nen would conclude harvest, when they have gathered in the first-fruits.
. 6r~ REASON.-As the mind is immortal, its desires are
infi111te: Although they begin from an almost invisible
point, they, ever afterwards proceed in diverging lines as
long as they are suffered to continue. '·
'·
·· . '
. 7T~ REASON.-. ~e who has the mea~s of ·gratifying
imag-mary necessities never can be s.atisfied, because. no .
supply can be so complete that even imagination' cannot
e:rceerl it; and, until this be the case tt1ere will always be ' .
something to excite desires.
· · '
· '
·
8~H REA~o.N.-The impo~sibility of satisfying d~sire is
a unse provision of the Alrm.ghty, to teach ·man the vanity

.!

,,·•

2Nn

h~~

1>1

"

,,

•
348

THEME

CVIJI.

of all sublunary possessions ; and to induce him to seek
"more abiding and substantial treasures laid up in
heaven," where none shall covet or want, but where even
hope is swallowed up of joy.
SIMILES .. . . .
HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS.

'

QuoTATIONs.-The covetous always want.
Much is wanting where much is desired~
Poverty craves many things, plenty more.
Plenty is the father of wai1t, for he who hath much will
need more.-Jlfannder's proverbs.
He lacks most that longs most.-1lfliunde1·'s proverbs.
My more-having wou\u be a source
'fo make me hunger more.-Slzakspeare.
Thou shalt not covet.-Rom,, vii. 7.
A covetous man's eye is not satisfied with his portion.
-Eccles. xiv. 9.
He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver;
nor he that loveth abundance, with increase. 'l'his is also
vanity.-Ecc. v. 9.
Hell and destruction are never full, so the eyes of man
are never satisfied.-Prov. xxvii. 20.
The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ea,r filled
with hearing.-Ecc. i. 8.
All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.-Ecc. vi. 7.
Though fortune our coffers to bursting mity stuff,
'l'oo much we may have, but can ne'er have enough.
After lifartial.
Much would have more.-Ray's proverbs.
Who riches covet, he will scarce conceive
God gives enough while he has more to give;
Immense the power, immense is the demand;
Say, at what goal their greediness will stand?
·
Pope.

YOUR BIN WILL FIND

YOU

OUT.

} . ~... ,..J ~f
Crescentem sequitur cura pecuniam
· Majorumque fames. Multa petentibus
Desunt multa.· Horace.
Crescit amor nummi quantum ipsa pecunia crescit •.
Semper avarus eget.
.'
· Parthi quo plus bibunt, eo plus sitiunt.
Fortuna multis dat nimis, satis nulli.-Martia~.
Crescit indulgens sibi dirus bydrops.-Horace.
Creverunt et spes et opt1m fnriosa cupido,
Ut quo possideant plnrima plura petant.
Sic qnibus intumuit suffusa venter ab ·unda,
Quo plus sunt potre plus sitiuntur aqure.-· Ovid. "
l

\

.

I'

.

l

CONCLUSION.
: ·.' . !"
•-\I

THEME

1,

• Be sure yoiir Sin will find you out. ·

CIX.

'

'

INTRODUCTION.
.~ . "
lsT REASON.-'l,he proverb says, "Give a rogue but
rope enough, and he will bang himself ;" for success will ;
make h-ini careless and ve11 turesome, so that he will
rush heedlessly into danger, from which there is no
.
' ./
escape.
· _
2ND REASON.-God often discovers foul sins in a most ..
marvellous and unaccountable rnanner : thus, Solomon '·
tmith of treason, " Curse not the king, no not in thy
thought ; for a bird in the air shall carry the voice,
.-and that which hath wings shall tell the matter."-Ecc. ·
:x:. 20.
.
.

.

3RD REASON.-Very often sin is brought to light by
:a n appa.r,ent accident: the villain reveals his secret in
the vain b@asting of intoxication, or in the ramblings of
:delirium, or ill a troubled dream. · . · : .. · /· .. · .
~TH REASO.N~-The face is an index of the .minci ; .the ·

,89

350

voice, the gait, the "temper, every action, anu every word
of a wicked man bear marks of the "serpent's trail," and
are " swift witnesses against him."
5rH REASON.-Sometirnes God lets loose a man's own
conscience upon him , and drives him to confess his guilt,
in order to quiet the compunctions and ngony of remorse.
Indeed very few can die till tlicy have disbnrthened their
hearts by a full confession of their sins.
6TH REASON.-Sometime8 Guel takes the case i11to his
own hands, and strikes the simier dead in the mitlst of
his sin, as He did Ananias and Saphira (Acts, v. 5. 10.);
or sends some loathsome disease into his bones, as in the
case of Gehazi, the servant of Elisha (2 I{i11gs, v. 27.);
or blasts his child, as in the case of David ( 2 Sarn.
xii. 14. ).
7'fII IlEASON.-If, however, the secn~ t sin be never
divul(J'ed
on earth ' there is a •1'1.1dnme11t
to come, when
0
J
every sin shall be made manifest, and the secrets of all
hearts shall be revealed.-Rorn. ii. 16. ,j-'ccles. xii. 14.
SIMILES. . .
HISTORICAL ILI.USTRATIONS.
QuorATIONs.-If thou doest not well (thy) sin lie th at
the door.*-Gen. iv. 7.
Wha~ shall we say nnto my lord? What shall we
speak ? or how shall we clear ourselves ? ~ od hath
found out the iniquity of thy servants.-Gen. xhv. 16.
Our sins testify against ns.-Isa.Jix. 12.
vVhose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness
shall be showed before the whole congregation.-Pruv.
xxvi. 26.
Though hand join in lrnnd the wicked shall not be unpunished.-Prov. xi. 2L

*

YOUR SIN

'fHEME ClX.

Some commentators think the word "sin" In this verse me.ans "s sinoffering or atonement, but the comn;1on "geforenc.e Bibles" very pr?perly consider the verse to contain a parallelism to tho snbJect-malter of tins theme.See Nwrnb. xxxli. 28.

WILL

FIND YOt.J OUT.

Surely the darkness shall cover me,'~ :- eten __
the night shall be Jight about me . . Yea, the darkness -··-.~
hideth not from 'l'hee ; but the night sbineth as the qay; ·· . -~
the darkness and the night are both alike to Thee.~Ps. ,
·=j
cxxxix. 11, 12.
·~
:;,
Thou hast set our iniquities before rrhee, our secret sins
in the light of thy countenance.-Ps. xc. 8.
Mine eyes are. upon all their ways ; they are not hid
·from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from mine
eyes.-Jer. xvi. 17.
J
Psalm civ. 3-11.
.~
[ 7'/ie sinner] saith thus in his heart, "Who seeth me?
I am compassed about with darkness, the walls cover me
and nobody seeth me ; what need I to fear ?" ... Such a
man only feareth the eyes of men, and knoweth not that
the eyes of the Lord are ten thousantl times brighter
.i
than the sun, beholding all the ways of men, and considering the most secret parts. . . . This man shall bepuuished in the streets of the city, and where he suspected it not he shall be taken.-E'ccles. xxiii. 18-21.
,
The Spirit of the Lord filleth the world ; .. · . · therefore, h e that speaketh unrighteous things cannot be hid ~
neither shall vengeance, when it· punisheth, pass by him:
For inquisition shall be made into the counsels of . the
ungodly, and the sound of his words sha11 come unto the
Lord for the manifestation of his wicked deeds.- Wisdom, i. 7-9.
' .
It will have blood : They say, blood will ha-ve blood,:
Stones have been known to move, and trees to speak ;_
Augurs, and understood relations, have
·
By maggot-pies, and choughs, and rooks, brought forth
The secret'st man of blood.-S!wkspeare.
· ··' ·: "'
'l'he tra!1sgressor shall be taken in his ?W.~ wickedness._ ,·
.
,·
-Prov. XI. 6.
. 1
·.•
1
Murder will out.
Foul deeds will rise,
Though all the world o'erwhelm them to men's eyes . ..,,

If I say,

11

'-~··

,\.1

.

·

"Hamlet, '·""·

352

·, -

FORTUNE
.

God knoweth your inventions, and what ye think in
~our hearts, even them that siu, and would hide their
sm, · ·.. and He will put you all to shame. And when
your sms are brought forth, ye shall be ashamed before
men, and your own sins shall be your accusers in that
day.-2 Esdras, xiv. 63-65.
The fire of your breath shall devour you .-Lm. xxxiii.11.
Res occultissimas in lucem tempus proferet.-Cicero.
N ec latuere doli fratrem .- Virgil.
CONCLUSION. • • . .

THEME

ex.

··-

.-:

'l'HEME ex.
FAVOURS THE BRAVE.
.

'..

.

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-:

353•,";;"'." ~:

~ . ~·,·~

'
'

l~ ' .~~:

1 . .,.

j ·.

I ~;;.~.

. .

1TH REASON.-The fool-hardy rush into danger · heed- ;-:
lessly, the over-cautious delay till the opportunity passes , :
by him, but the truly brave know -their strength, choose .··
their time deliberately; and seem to be Fortune's favour-"
ites, because they wait for the flood, and then " ride upo~
the tide."

SrnILEs.
HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS.

Fortune jaVOU1'8 the Brave.

l N TliODCCTIOX . • • ,

lsT REASON.-Because tltey are
daunted by d~tficulties.
·

not cfo::mayed or

2Nn. REASON.-Being sanguine of success, they persevere with a good courage.
3RD RE~s.oN.-Opponents
man, unw1lhng to enter into
4TH .REASON.-The brave
accord mg to the proverb,
have."

.flee froni a brrrne and bold
antagonism with him.
are very venturesome ; and,
"Nothing venture nothing
'

5TH REASON.-They will often carry an enterprise
through by a "coup de main," or " coup d'e tat" before
oppon.ents h.ave had time to bethink themsel~es, and
orgamse their plan of opposition.
. 6nr ~EA.soN.--Successfol bravery is seldom a solitm·y
virtue; it .1s• generally accompanied with originality of
thought, vigour ~f intellect, physical prowess, and other
endowments of mmd and body favourable to success.*

* Virgil s11ys "Dcgcnercs 11nimos tlm or nruuft."-..d?n iv 13 The reverse
· · ·
is no less true, "Nol>iles animos fortitudo arg~lt."

QuoTATIONs.- When the carter prayed to Hercules for
help, been.use his waggon had stuck fast in the mire, the
god told him, 11 To put his shoulder to the wheel, for Jove
never helped those that did not help themselves."-.LEsop's
j(dJ!es.
But screw your courage to qie sticking-place,
And we'll not fail.-Shak speare.
'rhe timid are stung by a nettle, but the bold grasp it
firmly and escape its venom.
Resist [even J the devil, and he will flee from you.Jame<, iv. 7.
Be strong and quit yourselves lilfo men, that ye be not
servants unto [your enemies].-1 Sam. iv. 9.
Those who are resolutely minded in a good cause, sel·
dom fail in their endeavours.-Pfotarch.
Seneca expresses the same sentiment, when he says,
11
Fortune dreads the brave, and is terrible only to the
coward."
Wonderful is the case of boldness in civil business :
What first ? boldness. What second and third ? bold-

ness.-Lord Bacon.

·. •

' .·.,

I

.<
Our doubts are traitors ; ·
And make us lose the good we oft might win,
By fearing to attempt it.--Shakspeare.
To him who wills, 'ways are seldom wanting.-. Maunder's proverbs.
.
80*

. ...·.·.~· ·
-~

·~~)
,.·

:·~·

354

•

THEME

cxr .

FOLLOW NOT A MtJLTITUDE TO DO EVIL,

:.;<

Where there's a will there's a way.
He who resolves, has God on his side.-Fielding;s

proverbs.

bq,t individually and independently; every one :must{gl; e
an account of himself, and by his own ac~~ must.~e sta~d . , _;_
or fall.
· ·..,' ·11··"' ~- ·, ',6TH REASON.-Punishment for sin will not be ,zess se· · :: ,.
1Jere, because many have deserved it, but rather the con··i
"trariwise ; the king will think greater severity needful, ·
since so many have dared to rebel ag~inst hir1:J.. .,.. r •; ~<.;!~.; ~7TH REASON.--Multitudes pun.ished by the same sen- .
tence will not relieve the pain which each individual must .
personally suffer under sentence of conde~nat~on. ', '. ·;r~ ~ ·; ·

·

.

Nothing is impossible

proverbs. -

to a willing mind.-Ray's

God helps those who help themselves.
Faint heart never won fair lady.
J a couard n'aura belle amie.
Audaces Fortuna juvat, timidosque repellit.
Fata volentem ducunt, nolentem trahunt.-Horace.
Ignavis precibus Fortuna repugnat.
In re mala, animo si bono utare, juvat.
Fortes Fortuna ju vat.
Timidi nuuquam statuere tropffium.-Suidas ex Eu-

.

SIMILES . . . . .

. /,

..

....-:!:·

., l

H1sToRICAL lLLUSTRATIONs.-See Gen. vii:·· i;·xix. ·4. · ~.
xxxii. 1, 2. Josh. xxiv. 15. 1 Kings, xix . .10." Matt. xxvii.
24-26. Acts, xxiv. 27.

polide.

'

CONCLUSION . . . . .

QuoTATIONs.-In matters of practice walk by rule and
not by example. Look at truth and not at numbers.
Regard not what is done, but what ought to,' .~e _p.gn~.:7

~-

Jer. Taylor.
THEME

oxr.

Follow riot a Multitude to do Evil.

INTRODUCTION ..
lsT. ~EASON.-Beca~se no evil is sanctified or rendeted
less su~/11l by the sanctwn of many transgressors.
2ND ~EASON.-. Multitudes cannot ward ojf" the remorse
of conscience, wluch accompanies every evil deed.

11'
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I.

1

i::

'J

1i:

"l

i.11,i
'I·'
I

3RD REASON.-Compa.nions in iniquity cannot wash
away the stu.in of sin.
.4TH REASON:-A multitude may entice others into
evil b.y per~uas10n or exa.mple, but cannot r<'dcem a sin.qle
soul fl'Om its feaiful consequences, or ward off retributive
vengeance.
5TH REASON.-Follow not a muHitude to do evil for
we shall not be judged hereafter in companies or ma~ses,

A slender comfort it would be for the felon going to ·
execution, to see many followers going with him,,· to ,t he
same punishment.-T. Bur,qess.
· . ' ... . : -.~ ' '.
Walk with the most, and perish with the most.· · Jer.
Taylor.
·
·
~ ~1
Undivided companies in sin cannot be divided in · t~e.~:.
punishment thereof.-Jer. Taylor.
: ' · ~, . ··, ·. ·
If the blind lead the blind, both. shall ' fal~ . into .the ...
ditch.-Ma.tt. xv. 14.
· , :>:,i· \., · '·J~
My son, if sinners entice thee, consent i.tholi not.- r
Prov. i. 10.
·
· A " ';·r-J,'.~·-:-· ·:n.':"'$ : '· ·
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the. counsel
the ungodly, nor standeth in the way .of : sinners! nor sitteth in ·the seat of the scornful.-Ps. i. : l ; • . ', c ' 1 ) '\" 1 •ii1.1-·r'< ., .
Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works ' ofl dark· .. ,
ness, but rather reprove them.-·Eph. v .. IL· ~·· .. /.1 .~:1f-..:·I · ·
•

1
.

or·

•,

I

I

356

RELIGION

THEME CXII.

, See Jeremiah, xliv. 2 l, 22.

-~

.

QuoTATIONs.-Her ways are w.ays of pleasantness, and
all her paths are peace.-Prov. iii,. 1 'i'.
·
rrake my yoke upon you and learn of me ; for I am
meek and lowly in heart : and ye shall _find rest unto
your souls ; for my yoke is easy and my ,burqen is light.
-Matt. xi. 29, 30.
' ·- '
.. .
It is a great disgrace to religion to imitgine, that it is
an enemy to mirth and cheerfulness, and a severe exacter
of pensive Jooks and solemn faces.-Se1j . Palmer's aphorisms and maxims.
His commandments are not grievous.-1 John, v. 3.
The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that
make peace.-James, iii. 18.
·
·_
Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for. the
upright in heart.-Ps. xcvii. 11.
· ·· ' ·: •
Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the
time that their corn and their wine increased. ··. I wi.ll both
lay me down in peace and sleep ; for thou, . Lord~ only
makest me dwell in safety.-Ps. iv. 8.
Rejoice in the Lord alway; and again I say, -Rejoicel .·--Phil. iv. 4. .
,
.
.

OXII. Religion malces the Jfind cheerful and
happy.

INTRODUCTION. . . . .
lsT REASON.-Because it makes the mind contented.
2ND 11REASON.-It "brings under" the boisterous passions, and unruly lusts of the flesh.
3RD .REASON.-It sets b~for~ the mind an object capable
of attamment, and worthy its hif7liest reganls.
4TH. ~E~soN.-It assures the sinner of God's pe1fect
reconciliation.

I·,

1

HISTORICAL hLUSTRATIONS .....

CoNcLus!oN. . . .

5TH REASON.-It is the joy of pardon to the sinner,
health to the diseased, and life to the dying.
6TH IlEASON.--~he communion of God, the fellowskip
of a11gefs, and the Joy of tlte ]Joly Ghost, add unspeakable
comfort to the truly religious mind.
.'1TH REASON.-rl'he sure promises of God, that "all
thmgs shall work together for the good of those that love

.. ·.

Sr.MILES.....

So Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus to be crucified..J.lfark, xv. 15.

.,

SOURCE OF

,

l would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
·-1 Cur. x. 20.
·
See 2 Corinthians, vi. 1 l-18.
Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our
l1ord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from
e' ery brother that walketh disorderly.-2 T!tes. iii. 6.
Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in
~he way of evil men. A void it, pass not by it, turn from
it, and pass away.~Prov. iv. 14, 15.

THEME

THE

,)

i '

IJ
;

'

f'i

Rejoice evermore.-1 Thes. v. 16. ; see also 2 . <Jor.
vi. 10.
.
.,
__ . _ , .: .•.
1
\\Therefore lift up the hands which hang down; and the
feeble knees, (for:) ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto .
the city of the living God, the heavenly ,Jerusalem, and .
to the innumerable company of angels, to ,the general
assembly and church of the first-born, which are written ·
in heaven, and
to God the judge of all,
,and . to t~e spirits
.
.
--:; .
''
.'

·,

' \

358

.
THEME CXIII,

MAN

~i

just men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of
e new covenant, and to the blood of sprinklin that
speaketh better things than the blood of Abel
12, and 22-24.
·
e · x11.

-Ifb

..

of rel'ig1on
· cI1ecis,
. as wcJI as composes
ti The Itrue spirit
.
t~e sou . It is n?t the business of tlie gospel to extiqmte
e·'~atu/.ra1 .affect10ns, but to regulate them.-Se1j. Palme1 s ap wnsms and maxims.
Religion never w::is designed
'"""
. 1'o make our pleasures Jess.-Dr. iVatts.
l:::iome degree. of comfort follows every good action as
heat accompames fire.-Jer . Toufor
' ·

lj

~rec est pax cp1re
datnr in tc1;·a l;omiuil , L
I
tatis et hre
·
ms onre vo unAustin.
c via consumrnati perfcctiquc sapientis.-

11~ n""' p

~!iiU1Jii

I
I

'

;

I

/

CoNcLusrnN.....

:Are ye not niuch better than the
e. than the Birds of tlze Air and the Bea ts ,.rt, y

Field)?

s

oJ ae

INTRODUCTION

ls/ REASON.~!~ ~~TURAL GIFTS.
d' ( 1.) Man alone possesses reason, wisdom judgment
iscourse, and knowledge.
'
,
(2.) Dumb animals have no knowledge of tl .
gifts · the horse(~
1e1r own
)
h.
1 • . o~· examp1e 1rnows not llis strength nor
can e m~ ce it se~v1ceable without the guidance of ~an .
~ut man is conscwus of liis gijts reioicctl1 · ti .. ' '
giveth God thanks.
' "
m iem, and
. ( 3.) Birds, . hens ts, reptiles, a11d in sects arc wholl
t
f t y
sensual, and without consideration of the
but ma ·
t· l
<
· pas
or u nre ·
.
. n is a ra iona being and his work is a "
bl '
service."
'
.
reasona e
( 4.) 'l'he spirit of man is immortal, and at death will
-

- ---~

- ·----

.

CHIEF <?F GOD'S _WORKS~,~,.:·<~.:;:· .. ·: ~59

.

' .

: ...... : . :"'

-,.~'1. . . ..:_~·.':

return to God .who gave it; but ·the "spirit':' 9f beast~ ~-~T~ •..
goeth downward," and pefisheth with their ~ead carcase: ·
2ND REASON.-lN SUPERNATURAL GIFTS.
( 1.) Man alone is rnade in God's image, and although
by the fall the likeness is nearly effaced, yet by regeneration it is renewed agr;i.in after the same similitude. -.Eph.
iv. 24.
( 2.) 'rhe seed of the woman have been redeemed by
the blood of Christ, and are thus made " a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar _,
people; that they may show forth the praises of Him
who hath called them out of darkness into his marvellous
light."-1 Pet. ii. 9.
,
( 3.) Man alone of all the dwellers .upon earth is sane. tified by the Holy Gh?st, and being sanctified becomes a
temple for Goel himself to dwell in. ·
.
( 4.) The redeemed and sanctified shall behold the face
of the High and I-Joly One on the throne of his glory .
. 3Rn REASON. -To man has been given power to
"subdue the earth," and dominion over the fish of the sea,
and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing
that moveth upon the earth.-Gen. i. 28.

TH~ME CXIII.
( l.

THE

(~'1' ~·~~~~~!

)

i·

/·
J

I

J,

.

4TH REASON.-The end for which man was created
is more glorious than that for which other animals were
made.
( 1.) He was made to glorify God " in his mind and
in his spirit, which are God's."
r,
·
( 2.) He was made· to love, to fear, and to trust God,
to render Him reasonable service, and to obey his commandments.
( 3.) He was made to be glorified by God, and to enjoy
Him for ever in heaven.
,
.·
5rn- REASON.-The Son of God " took our nature
on Him," and has thus given it a dignitf beyond that
even of angels.
6rH REASON.-Having been purchased by the blood
of the Redeemer we are no longer " ow· own," but belong
" to the King of saints"-and (unless we have divorced

:'~""·
,··(:;,

·.\.;

•
,.

360

THEME CXIII.

THE PURSUIT oF wEALTII uNsATISFYING.
•

ourselves) are married to the Lamb and are "one with
Christ, as Christ is one with God." '
SIMILES• • • • •
HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS.

QuorATIONs.-Of earthly things are four kinds, every
one excelling the other:
I. To some God only gave to be; as the sun, the
· moon, and stars.
2. Some have life, as well as being; as the flowers of
the field and the trees of the forest.
·
. 3. Some have befog, life, and senses; as the birds of the
air and beasts of the field.
~· But mau has being, life, senses, reason, and immortality; and therefore, in his kind, is far more excellent
than they all.-Jer. Taylor.
·
Thou bast made him ( i. e. man) a little lower than the
angels, and ha~t crowned him with g lory nwl honour.
Thou madest him to ha.ve dominio11 over tl10 works of
thy hands;. Tbou hast put all things under his feet:all sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of tho field the
fowl of the air, and tl1e fish of the sea, and whats;evcr
passeth through the paths of the sca. -Ps. viii : 5-8.
An~_ God said, lot. us nrnke man in our imago, after
.our hJ\cness. . . . So God• created man in his own
Jtnil.ge, in the imag e of God ereated He him; male and
female created He them.- Gen. i. 2G, 27.
There's not~1ing sitm:te under IIca.ven's eye
But bath !us hound m earth, in sea., in sky:
Th~ he~sts, the, fis he.R, .and the winged fowl,
Are thell" males suh.Ject, and at their control·
Men, more divine, the masters of all these ·
~ords of
:vitle world, anu wild watery 'seas,
Endued with mtellectual sense ancl sou Is
Ar~ m,.ore pre-eminent than fish and fowl~.
·
Sliakspeare.

t!10

\

)

•

:

~,:

-'!t

·s.61::.,..- ..... ~
~:~ ·",/

•

>i-~

There wanted yet .the· master-work, the
en.1 ,· . ........,{:~·.,. ..
1
Of all yet done·' ' a"cr'e~tur~ wh~' rtot p.1tone~r-!h:',;..
~,l· ~
,., ., _,·\l ''l'u
A~d brute flS .c.>.ther ., creat1.ff~~' hnt eq~Jl~d .i_: t · ;~ ·~. '!~
\V1th f!itnctity of .r(!P,SOn, :might er~ct ., .. ; : •:) n <· ~rt . • ·,
. His statqre, ·a.nd ~pright wit};l fr9~t Bflrnne .. ,,; f it... , .
Govern the rest, -self-knowing,· and from hencef,,.,
:·i· ".· 'I~;··
'·' _
i
Magnanimous to .c0,rrespond wit4 Q.eaven, ." ' . ;:··, :•'r ·..
But grateful to acknowledge wheµce pis good .". · :·, .. ~ __
Descends"• thither w.ith heart, fJlnd
v9ice, •.r.
and I ....
~y~s,' · ·;.· .._,.....
o
......
al.ti,
•
..
Directed m devotion, to adore ·
·
· .· . ; . 1 ;,,_ ~-:;,':...--:
And worship G9q supreme, wbo ma~e h.im c~.i~.f. .' "''ti"~ ."·i~:
Of all his works .. ,· ip his own image ):I~ .:; ··~ _·, ... ._,;:{ :~.~
Created thee, in 'the jmage of God
. · .. . , ~ . t
Expressed; and map bec~me a. li ying ~ou~.. , ¥.iltori,
Say why was man so eminently r!}ised
(.,. · · ,
Amid the vast creation; why ordained
·• ,·,:r
rrhrough life and death to dart his. piercing ere: .. "
. With thoughts beyond the limit of hjs frame.; . · ; ·;
But that the Almighty might sepd him forth ,• · . ·.• .~
To hold his course unfaltering, w hHe .the voi~e ~-,: , ; .:
Of Truth and Virtue, up the steep ascent .
bf Nature, calls him to his hig)l reward- ·. . .. ,·
The approving smile of Heaven ?-Akenside.
No man· can think too highly of liht lf~Wre; .or too
meanly of himself.-Dr. Young.

..

-~·

J.

_I

t

~

.\}

J,. ....,

.. .
~_ .

..

CoNCLUSION ..

· '-

"

<

.

.'
'

THEME

CXIV.

Tlzose who covet earnestly the .best '
' : · · · ··/.
Gifts, will not covet Riches, ·
... ;~·,

: l"'

INTRODUCTION. • • • .

l

lsT REASON.-RICHES CANNOT BE · CALLFm
or suMMUM BONU:lrl.

•;, 1' !

'~

..

'•

:'

/~~

~ lt .

"BEST GIFT,''
1·

'~

· ( 1.) A "best gift" must belong to tAe best part of man :
It must ennoble and make happy the ~olfl; .bu.t riches, so .31

.

Q*
I

..

.!

.~

•
362

THEME

•.Y :".~-:~

.

1~~r·~~-.1:~'~ ~~:~f.:· '!\!:

THE PURSUIT ~: WEALTH · UNSATISFYING,

CXIV.

'.( 363 "
)~n '!It-;

far from benefitting the soul, do not even make the body
more perfect.
( 2.) .A "best gift" must satisfy desire; but the rich
man is like the horse-leach, which cries " Give I give!"
and every accession serves only to irritate and increase
,.cupidity.
(3.) .A "best gift" must be permanent 01· stable: No
man is really happy that may, at some future time, . be
miserable; as one of the ancient philosophers usctl to say
"a happy man is like a solid square or cube; en.st it whicl~
way. Y.o~ will, aml it lies even:" No cha.nee, no change,
no vicissitude, can affect the value of that which is essen·
tially good: b.u t riches are proverbially fleeting and un·
substantial; they are here . to-day and to-morrow may
" ma k e to themselves wings and fly
'
away, as an eagle
towards heaven."-Prov. xxiii. 5.
2ND RF.ASON.-RICHES ARE NOT AN ABSOLUTE GOOD.
( 1.) That which is an "absolute good" would make its
possessor the better for its attaimnent: Thus Virtue Piety
G race, a.re ",~.so
b l ute goods," because a man who possesses
'
'
these gifts
is more excellent than his neirrhbour." _
Prov. xii. 26. But riches ma·y be a puuisbme1~t, or even a
curse, and those who most abound in them may be the
worse for their abundance.
(2.) An "absolute good" is incapable of abuse · it must
be good in its fruits, its attributes, and its uses. )Thus no
man can put Virtue, Piety, or Grace, to an abuse: The
ar:tions of Virtue :ire alwan virtuous, the operations of
Piety are always pious. But riches have 110 such worth·
they may be abused most sinfully, and are often " kept t~
the owner's hnrt."~E'ccles. v. 13.
(3.) An "absolute good" (as Faith, Grace, Sanctification,
&c.) is a pledge of God's love: a man who enjoys "the
good things of God" may be sure they ure tokens of Jove
and not of wrath: But God gives not wealth in token of
love, nor poverty in token of displeasure.
3Ro REASON.-lhcHES ARE NOT ALWAYS EVEN IN·
STRUi\IENTALLY GOOD. A thing may not be essentially qr
!~l_>s9lutely good, and yet may be the means of doing go,qd;

As the summum bonum is the highest, so the instrum,e,,,~al ,
is the lowest in the order of goodness: But riches cannot , ,;
even be reckoned "bona unde j'acias bon.u.rn," much:Jess \,
"b ona ·w 1 d e sis
. honus. "
,. ' ~. , .
.. ' r
-;-·. 1.r· · . '1, ,'t,•V ·;:·
( 1. ~ Riches cannot ' purchase tQ.e :fav.out: . of.;tf!o~ l!f .r;.
Zeph. i. 8.
. ·. : : ~- ·.i r~J;, · .,.
. ( 2.) 'l'hey will not assist the possessor in his pilgr§~,a~· '.::
to heaven.
·
· ,- ",. · ... .• :.1·1
¥".
.
( 3.) 'l'hey will avail nothing against many tempqr~l · _
calamities; they cannot ensure life, ,:or health, or freedom · ·~·
from pain, or mitigation of sorrow, ~r ease'. of mind ·;".but,:..<
godl.iuess is p~ofit~ble for all thin?s, l!Ot , O!!l~, ~n ..~h}~L~f~; ;.'.'.-~
butmthatwh1ch1stocome.
") ; .:.··· · ~ 1 i:.•·!• 1d : it. ··
. " ;i , ~;1i.t -i1.1 ~u.-1./
SIMILES . . . . .
. •.• :....i .,.i :~ -.:J~ hit\J..l11'f;ir
; ,.' !" J i ..\'.:1rl; Pi~~tihMLf
HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS.
~
t' ''l'"'/.'.

11

1

'

•

-

•

•

'

I

;:...

l

•

'

.,

• I~

•

, -, •

•••

f_

~

I

••

1 1)(·{~\.;\

QuoTATIONs.-Woe unto you th8it' are~ richl' 'i~uke; ,,
24
vi.s . L k
· 19 23 "n· · '.. d'. L :;: ·:.,.,': · , ?-;?;·~-, ;f~')'.';·
ee u e, xvi.
- .
ives an
azarus~ . 1.,, ... '., f.,:, :.
~ good nflme is rathe~ .to be chosen th11n riches,: :~~~ ;f:
lovmg favour rather than silver and, gold.-Prov. XXlli >l. ·
Princes havEf but their titles for th~ir glories,· ·;·L-~b:~JiL:·
An outward honour for an inward toil;
",,i;·;·'.; lh' !~
And, for unf~lt itnaginations, · · · · · · · '.'· ·. "i"''Hf.•<.;.rf:' r.·
rrhey often feel a world of restless cares. · 1 • t~\ ,. ~t't'A:.
·
·
· · · •· ·:$hakspeare. tr.~ ~:
. ..· • .j l•t.l-f !-9~.r" :Mock not fl esh an d bl oo d "
'':'\Ji.t:·r:.' "
With solemn reverence: throw away respect, · L~.:.~-...~~..'.:·
~
d
• .d .
. . " · H~ . >' .
••
T rad1t10n,
iorm, an ceremomous uty, .· : ·::; '-.' !t .,_ :.-"
For you, have but mistook me
this while: ·:. _;Jlr~·,(' . '.
I live with bread like you, feel want,~ taste grief, iT1<
Need friend~, like you.-Shakspeare ):1'; ·:J :_" :i:r..h;:(.~:f;r
T?ou do?t pmch thy bear~r, and doth · s1J 1'· .: ~· 1 :l :Y;'~1~~z·"
Like a rich armour worn m heat of day;'-: · ·,· _! ~:~-k\ '1
That scalds with safety.-Shaks'Yleare,. ':" r/·:· ~ '~ G':~/i .'•'.~,-,

all

.

: ' :r.

r ' •

• , ! ;If• ··O :

As baggage is to an a~my, . so .i~ . r,ich~~ ~tR, .~~t~~r~- '·
Lord Bacon.
..'~ . r..•.. \,1,I..,. • f· """;t,(,
FJ\,
·\,,•:tgrJ'
.t ~:,
• •
i
. ~ -.~ ·. f ~: \;: ~
t

.; ·•

364

.. _,
7
:'. =
;Jl.6
./_

'lTIEME CXIV.
THE

What infinite heart's ease must king's neglect
That private meii enjoy?
And what have kings that privates have not too,
Save ceremony, save g eneral ceremony?
And what art thou, thou idol Ceremony?
What kind of god art thou, that snffer'st more
Of mortal grief than do thy worshippers ?
What are thy rents? What are thy comiugs-in?
0 Ceremony, show me but thy worth I
What is the solll of Adoration ?
Art thou aught else Lut µlace, deg ree, and form,
Creating awe and fear in other n1 en?
Wherein thou nrt less happy being feared
'l'han they in fearing I ... 0 be sick, great Greatness,
And bid thy ceremony give thee cure I
Think'st thou the fwry fever will go out
'Vith titles blown from Adulation ?
Will it give place to flexure and low bending?
Canst thou, when thou commaud 'st the beggar's knee,
Command the health of it? No, thou proud dream,
').'hat play'st so subtly with a king's repose;
I li.in a king that find thee, and I know
'Tis Hot the balm, the sceptre, and the ball,
The sword, the mace, the crown imperial,
The. inter-tisslled robe of gold and pearl,
'l'he farced title running 'fore the king,
'l'h e throne he sits on; nor the tide of pomp
That hents ll~)on the high shore of this world,
No, not all these, thrice gorgeous Ceren10ny,
Not all these, laid in bed 11iajestical,
Can sleep so soundly as the wretch ed slave·
.
vVho, with a body
filled and vacnnt mind, '
Gets him to bed, crammed with distressful bread·
Never sees horrid night, the child of hell,
'
nut, like a lackey, from the rise to set
Sweats in the eye of Pltcebu s, and all Hight
SlePps in Elysinm; 11cxt day, nl'tt·r dn.wn,
.Doth rise and help Hyperion to his horse ;
And followR so the ever-running year
vVith profitable labour to his gTavc.-Shakspeare.

P~Rsun·

oF· ,~E~~·.r11" uNsAT~sFYING.
!-

•

_..

:. .•"(

'I'he personal fruition in any man cann~t rea~h: td.! t;eL~~
great riches; there m~ be a custody of . them, .but .no solid ·~:::.::~
use to the owner.-Lord Bacon.
- .- ---:-:a

.

'--:-:-.-~~

Solomon excellently sai.th, " Rich~s ~re a str.on~ bol~ m :-ti ~
the imagination of the rICh man;" it IS only m imagma- : . -~ dl
· tion; for certainly they have sold more men to dangers -~5"'1
and troubles, than they have bought olit.-Lord Bacon.
-~~
Seek not proud ri.ches, for if you leave them to a~ heir,
J
they are but as a lure to all the birds of prey round a?o~t ~-""''~
to seize on him; and if for glorious gifts and fo.undat10ns~ ~-"':--~
you are liberal of another man's rath~r t .h,an of yo~r ;.o.~~·."~.,.:~i;l
-Lord Bacon.*
· -- ·
· _· ~ . . -.~ ~:: ~ -·~=!
·...-=_c:;;:g
What riches give us, let us then inquire: - ~· : . "'- ·-:-~ .< "'." =&i
Meat, fire, and clothes. What m_Qre? .Meat, .~lgt)?.~~' __:_~~
and fire.
·
' : · ,r ' · · - · · r
_:::(~·~
Is this too little. ? Would you more than live ? " :·: • _- ·:::=::=:;;
Alas I 'tis more than Turner finds they give. · ·_
.
-~
· What can they give? To dying Hopkins, hei~~. ? ;~ ,
-~
To Cartres, vigour ? J aphet, nose and ears ? · . .
Can they in gems bid p"allid Hippia glow ?
·
In Fulvia's buckle ease the throbs below? .. ; .
Then fool to think God hates the worthy mind, .'
,
'l'he lover and the love of human kind,
·.
·: ' • .-·~
vVhos.e life is healthful, and whose conscience clear, ·
Because he wants a thousand poundR a year .. ·.'. ~ · ·
What uothing earthly gives or can destroy · ' " ·
rrhe soul's calm sunshine, and the heart-felt joy, . • '
Is Virtue's prize: a better would you fix ? .
.·'
rrhen give Humility a coach and six.-Pope. L •
Effodiun.tur opes irritamenta' malorum.· Ovid. .. i

•

'

•

.... ..

·

• · ...... -...t::.. :;-~~

F>>

,~

'

'

Aurum non satiat sed irritat appetitum. ·
.Amor pecunhe est radix omnium malorum.
'

CONCLUSION • • • • •

I

L ~ 1

\:

·'
i,'

·;:--!I ';:

* This is n very wise and just remark. for as inon~y belongs to the nm hMr
he who wills away his money at death in charities, does not give his oion
/
money but that of his succooeor.
·
·
31*

366

THEME CXV.

THEME

·1.

1:

'1
1,

.!'
I' ·

LOVE . THY NEIGHDOUJ1 AS THYSELF.

( 1.) "If God so loved us we ought also to 'love one.
anotl1er."-I Joh~n, iv. ·11.
··
(2.) If you love Christ "who begat, you will love him
.'
that is begotten bf Him."-1 John, v. 1.
( 3.) " If you love not yom· brother whom ye have seen,
lww can ye love God whom. ye have not seen ?"-1 John,
iv. 20.

CXV. Love thy Nclt;hbon1· as thyself.

INTRODUCTION. . .
lsr REASON.-Ilecause thy neighbour is of oNE AND
THE SAME BLOOD as thyself.
( 1.) Thy neighbour is a hwnan being like thyself.
(2.) Seed of the same common parent.
(3.) Included in the same federal covenant in Adam.I Car. xv. 22.
2ND REASON.-He is of the SAME ADOPTED FAMILY.
( 1.) Redeemed by the same Saviour.
(2.) Sanctified by the same Spirit.
(3.). Member of the same mystical body. -1 Car.
·
xii. 2f.
(4.) Joint heir of the same inl1er£tance.
3uo REAsnN.-Love to man involves the Jl!OST MOMENTOUS CONSEQUENCES.
(1.) It coveretli a multitude <~lsins.-1 Pet. iv. 8.
( 2.) It indicates the 11e10 birth 1111 to righteousness.
"Let us love one anoth er (Raith St. John), because love
is of God, a nd he that loveth iR born of God:" on the
other hand, "he that loveth Hot knowcth uot Gou, for
God is love."-1 John, iv. 7, 8.
(3.) It insures the i11dwelli11g of t11e Jio l:~ Ghost, for
"if we love oue another Go<l dwcllcth in us, and lli s love
is perfected in us;" and again, "He that love th c1 welleth
in GoJ, and God iu him:" but "he t ha,t lov cth not abideth
in death."-1 John, iv. 12. lG. 1 Jo!~n, iii. 14.
4TH REASON.-lT IS HlPERATIVE.
(1.) IT is the second table of the law.-.Afatt. xxii.
39, 40.
(2.) It is the new comma.ndment of the Gospel; "a
new commandment give I unto you, that ye love one
another."-Joh11, xiii. 34 .
(3.) It is the fullilli11g of every natural oVligation
·b etwixt nrn.n and man.-Roin. xiii. 10.
5nr REASON.-lt rs MOST nEASONAULE.

367

SIMILES.

•

,. ,
lIISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS.

QuoTATIONs.-I say unto you, "Love your enemies,
lJ1ess them that curse you, do good to them ),hat hate you,
nnd pray for them that despitefully use you and pe~ecute
yon; That ye may be the children of your Father which
is in hcn.veu."-Matt. v. 44, 45.
rro love God with all the heart, and with all the .understanding, and with all the soul, and with all .the strength;
and to love his neighbour as himself, ·is more than all
whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.-·-Jforlc, xii.. 33.
He that loveth another hath fulfilled the law: for this,
"Thou shalt not commit adultery,"" Thou .shalt not kill,"
"Thon shalt not steal," "Thou shalt · not bear false ,
witness," "Thou shalt not covet;" and if there be any
other commandment, it is briefly comprehended ·in this
saying, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as · tbyself."Rom.. xiii. 8, 9.; see also Gal. v. 14. · '
, : , ' · '.
.. ,
If ye fulfil the royal law according 'to the. Scripture, .
"thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself,'' Y~ . do _ well.Jam es, ii. 8.
· '
This is my commandment, "That ye love one another,
as I have loved you."-Jolin, xv. 12. 17. '. "· ' ,
• •
As touching brotherly love ye need not that I write
unto yon: for ye yourselves are taught of God to ~ove
one a.nother.-1 Thes. iv. 9.
Above all things have fervent charity among yourselves.
/
-1 Pet. iv. 8.

.•. ~"' -~- """~
~

368

'f'IIEME CXV.

See Luke, x. 29-31. "Who is my neighbour?"
This is th e message that ye heard from the beginning,
that we should love one another... Whosoever hateth his
brother is a murderer; and ye know that no murderer
hath eternal life abiding in him.-1 John, iii. 11. 15.
This commandment have we from Him, "That he who
loveth God love his brother nlso.-1 John, iv. 21.
Behold I how good and how pleasant it is for brethren
to dwell together in unity! It is like the pr_ecious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even
.Aaron's beard, that wen.t down to the skirts of his garments: As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that
descended upon the mountains of Zion.-Ps. cxxxiii.
I was born of woman, and drew milk,
.As sweet as charity, from human breasts.
I think, articulate, I laugh, and weep,
And exercise all fnnctions of a man.
How then should I and any man that lives
Be strangers to each other? Pierce my veins,
Take of the crimson stream meandering there
And catechise it well; apply thy glass,
Search it, and prove now if it be not blood
Congenial with thine own: and, if it be,
\Vhat edge of subtlety canst thou suppose
Keen enough (wise and skilful as thou art)
'l'o cut the link of brotherhood, by which
Our common Maker bound me to the kind ?
'frue, I am not proficient, I confess,
In arts like yours: I cannot call the swift
And perilous lightnings from the angry clouds,
And bid them hide thernsel ves in earth beneath;
I cannot analyse the air, nor catch
'l'he parallax of yonder luminous point, .
That seems half <1ucnchcd in the immense abyss:
Such powers I boast not; n0ither can I rest
A silent witness of the headlong rage,
Or heedless folly, Ly which thousands die,
Bi:me of my bone, and kindred souls to mine.
Cowper.

369. ·.

LOVE THY NEIOIIBOUtt .AS THYSELF.

.

!

>

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Lands intersected by 'a narrow frith ,
· _ . ::.~~
Abhot each other. · Motmtliins iht~rpo~ed :.; ~ -1_1'~-~~-_.__~:_ ~ ~
Make enemies of nations, who had else,
·· ·
·:;
Ijike kindred drops,. been mingled in~o one . .. , , .' ,_ _
~~
'l'hus man devotes his brother and desttoys; · "1 '
And worse than all, and most to 1 be deplored, ' · ·;i
As human nature's broadest, foulest blot,
- ·-~~ . 1·1\."1
Chains him, and tasks him,' and exacts his sweat· ··t•_, ·
With striptis, that Mercy, with a bleeding heart, .· 1•
"'
Weeps, when she sees inflicted on a brute:
i-. ·· 1 '<
!·
rrhen what is man ? and what man seeing this,
.And having human feelings,.does not blush · , .;,. f't
And hang his head to think himself a man ?
· ' .•:'!!1' .
Cowper. ;t·r · .
Man, like the generous vine,· supported lives;
' :1 :·:
'l'he strength he· gains is from the embrace he gives .
On their own axis as the planets run, · . ' .. ·.. ' , .. n
Yet make at once· their circle round the sun, . I,. ;,t 1.
~
So two consistent motions act the soul,
, , 1 ' , . ...~:
And one regards itself, and one the whole. 7 ~·« : '. :
rrhns God and Nature link the general frame, ;,,. ,..i,
And bid self-love and social be the same.-P9pe. ' . '. ·
Hath not a Jew eyes? hath not a Jew hands, ·organs,
•ditpensions, senses,. affections, passions? ,.-_ Fe? with .the
sar'ne food, hurt with ' the same weapons, subject to the
same diseases, healed by the sam~ means, warme~ and
cooled by the same winter and su.m mer a~ ~ Christian is?
If you prick us, do we not bleed-? if you tickle us, ·.d.<? we
-~
not laugh ? If you poison us, do we
not.
die
?-Shakspeare.
'
. I'
Seneca says, however mean or wretched a fellow, mortal _
may Le, he is still a member of our common species. , , .
St. Ambrose saith, that brethren should be ·like the
coat of Jesus, which had no seam in it.
1,
1 ,,·1 · - <
St. Chrysostom saith, ~ " Charity is the ·scope ...of ' all
God's comlnandments."
' · ! ;. ··
·1/
, '
1

r,.; , .

.Aunque J;legros, somos gente.

1

I

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CoNCLUSION • • • • •

~· :. : · ·'/ ..: .

,1·

, , '·

.'

.. .,, . ·;·

.· ;. .
370

THEME

'-;

•

.

•. ,.

.

·,

.

EXAMPLE BETTER"'THAN
· PRECEPT, -~.~.,
.

CXVI.

·. ..

... . .

.

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. fl>

.f~

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371" ;•'
It·,~ .. ~·

-

.. -.

THEME

CXVI. Example more powerful than

r

Precept.

•·'..'
~

I

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•,

INTRODUCTION. . . . .
lsT REASON.-Man is a creature of imitation, both by
education and habit: walking, language, writing, handicrafts, etiquette, and all the courtesies of society, 11re
handed down from generation to generation by the agency
of example.
2ND REASON.-Imitation is a sympathetic h?.stinct:
1-'hus our countenances involuntarily reflect the passion or
emotion expressed in the face we look at; and hence arises
the strong resemblance in voice, features, and habits of
all members of the same family.
3Ro REASON.-There is an invisible and inse1rniule
constraint in exa,mple, al1t1ost independent of will. 'l'hus,
where one sheep leads, all the flock will follow; when one
person gapes, a similar desire constrains those who notice
it to the same act; and when one person weeps or laughs,
the contagion spreads through a whole theatre of sp~c­
tators.
4Tii REASON.-Example is a practical illustration both
of the possibility of doing what is enjoined, and of the·
manner how the task is to be performed.
5TH REASON.-Example speaks to the eyes, precept to
the ears: but we all learn more readily from sight than
hearing.
6TH REASON.-Example interests the spectator; and
this interest excites attention, rouses the mind, and impresses the memory far more vividly than any description: The one is a living reality, the other a caput
mortuwn.
7TH REASON.-A precept is too rapidly communicated
to nrnke a Rolid impression; performance is more slow;
the snceessi vc parts arc kept more dis ti net, nntl the mind
of the spectator is not harassed with a confused crowd of
undigested ideas.

·-~'Z

<·

8TH REAso:N.-·.Almost· ··~n persohs have ' ~~ ,degree o(. ...
'' mauvais honte,''- which impels them to follow; ~what;"tliey -:•.'. l
see others do, to escape the banter and ridicule · inc~rred ~.
by singnlarity.
: ··,i ;~ "i 1•1:: :, , -,.
9TH RE.ASON.-~he love ~f praise and emulation :is a.:,,_:, ·f.
powerful impulse m man: Thus, whe.n any feat of dex- · :. .~ ..
terity is performed, an intuitive ' desire or emulation seizes
the spcctn,tor; and ' creates in him a longing .to attemp~ the
same tl1ing.
·\ · ~ ~-.~·'.'·.
-"-= ..
IOTH REAsoN.-As man is in the flesii, · corporeal things :;.:;
affect him more powerfully ' than abstract ideas; hence it ,
is that man " walks more by sight than he does by faith,",
1

i

ti

"

:.

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SIMILES . • • • •
' HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS.

.·.·~

l~J,.
i~~1\

p

'l

;

.~ ~ _l), _1-

1 .· 1: 11!1 .,

...

QuoTATIONs.-·-Examples has a secret power and infl.u- .
.
ence upon those with whom we hold convevse,' to · fo~m . .
them into the same disposition and manners. It 1 is· a ' , J.·
livin(J' rule that teaches without trouble ~ to the 1·learner/ _. ' , ·~
and lets him see his faults without open reproof and' up-''.', t · ~
braiding. Besides, it adds great weight · to counsel, when' '·:
hEf who gives·the advice exacts only what he hims_elf1 ~o~~· ·,>, ·
-fSe1j. Palrner's apluvisms and rnaxim1J. '-' 11 ,\ ·1~.-\ \·~•Xi\ ~~· .)
Example works more than precept; fol'., )VOrq~ witqout_· ' } ':
practice are but , counsels without effect .. , ~utw~en;.we ~;:i
do as :ve say w~ illustra~e and· c?nfirm the ru~e .w.f.~PR-~. Yf;~,,_~ <
prescribe.-SerJ ...Palmer s aphorisms a.1!d nwx!m~1 , ; ~, ~ ·, ••: 1,,,:·; ..
Nothing is so infectious as example. '' :Wh~t is good we.":'.:'::. :1
imitate from emulation, .what is .· bad , we !,1mit11:te ,....from __ k·\
natural cor~uption and malignity, which bei~g , ~~P,.t ,clqs~J../: ..,.
by shame, is u.nlocked and ~et loose by e:ca~~l~.·:.~~?.;-l :;, .:.!-;.,
})a liner's aplwrisms and rnaxuns.
: . 1 " . , • t - : ,1 '
There is a happy contagion in goodness; which '. kindles 1:;;1,:"~· ·
goodoess in others, as wood is kindled by a neighbouri~g :i;._-.'.,'
Jtame.~Se1j. Palmer's pahorisms and 1haxims. .,· . \ 1). . it;. ~..r,
.)?recepts lead examples draw.-Maunder's proverbs. :•; ·

/-

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372

THEME

THE PERtEpTlON

CXVI, •

We do not want precepts (says Pliny) but patterns,
for example is the softest and lea.st invidionR way of com·
mantling.

THEME

One Lael example will spoil many precepts.- .LYiannder's
prove1·bs.

~

Examples, by a secret and lively incentive, urge to
imitation. We are touchecl in another manner by the
visibl.e practice of saints, which reproaches our defects,
and obliges us to the same zeal, than by l::tws though holy
and good.-A. Cruden.

Homines amplius oculis quam auribus credunt.-Seneca.
Longum iter est per pra:icepta, breve et efficax per ex.
empln,.-Seneca.
CONCLUSION ..

Every Orec~tu.re of God i's good: t;_~

·c·;3

General precepts form abstract itlcns of virtue; but, in
examples, virt11e8 nre 11uttle visible in nll their circuru·
stances.-A. ()rwlen.

Exernplo plus quaii1 ratione vivimus.-Seneca.

,,

3RD REASON.-Every creature of God is ·good EX'." -~
cwsrvELY. Noth~ng is good that was not made by God, :""' ~ :;!

Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example that we
should follmv his steps.-1 Pet. ii. 21.

Sep;nius irritant animos demissa per aurem,
Quam qme sunt oculis subjecta fidclibns, et qure
Ipse sibi tradit spectn,tor.-llorace.

worms.

':..:---.d'J

The example of good men is visible philosophy.Fielding's proverbs.

Pluris est oculatus testis unus, qun,m aur"iti decem.Plautus.
,,.

.

INTRODUCTION. . .
.
. : : ·' '.,, ...: ·z~=
lsr REASON.·. Every creature · of God ' is ·good :ABSO.;'."
LUTRLV .
As God himself is absoluw goodness;' ·every __ _
work which ptoceeds from Him must be good, ·without =~~
mixture of evil.
·
- - - ··--:"~
2Nn REASON.-Every creature of God is good DECLA- -~-:.
RATOinLY. After the six days spent upon creation were ~;;;:
ended, God took a surve~ of every ·thing · u U:e haq..
created and mqde, and, behold, it was very good."-Ge~~ :
i. 31.
. ~- ·.. :,~~

Every art is best taught by example.-Maunder's
proverbs.

I have given you an example, that ye should do as I
have done to you.-Jolin, xiii. 15.

CXVII.

OF ~,on 's

J

as, for example, Sm and Death .. " · ., ... ,.,
. -~ :,._..,.,..,- =4nr H.F.ASON.-Every creature of God is go~d . o~JEG-i "..f'i
TIVELY; namely, to show forth the glory of God.
., .. - --- ~
5rH REASON.-Every cren,ture of God is good ·coN• . ·.:_-- .::.:.
STRUCTIVELY. Every thing possesses every property re.. '~
quisite for its perfectibility, and nothing can .be .added to ·
or taken away from any without injury. ...The eye .of.man;
for example, was made for vision, and the ear for hefJ,_ring; -·=··-·
their organic coi1struction is perfectly adapt~d . to ._ these :,;~;..,_.
purposes, nor can any conceivable altomtion be made in --- --~
them, without marring their respective excellen?.Y· . ·
. , . ,~
Grn REAsoN.-Every creature of God is - good RELA• ~".'.t.:~~
TIVELY. 'l'bus, in the animal and vegetable world, plants ·~_,., _i
1·eqllire carbonic acid, which is their principal food, and '·:'.'=· .:
all n,nimals exhale this very gas from their lungs: on the· -~~j
other hand, animals require oxygen to keep them alive, ~->:::,~
and the leaves of plants give out oxygen, so as to supply ;:;;.:;:i
the n,ir with the very gas required by tlie.: n,nimal .wqrld: .~ ~
Agn,in, the hand prepares food for the use .of man·,. the '
teeth frrnsticate it,-the saliva mixes with ' it, ' both -me·}_
clia11icrtlly 11ncl chemic11lly,-the stomach .digests it,-the ~~~~
lactea18, lymphatics, veins, and arteries appropriate .it, -~-::':~
diffuse it throughout the body, and convert it into " .bo:i;ie ~_. ·
of our bone, and flesh of our flesh." Every1part. i~.; 119~.32

-

.

·--·~~
-~

',~
374

only perfect in its kind, but is also relatively pr,rfect;
no two perform the same function; there is no ednndancy,
and no defectiveness.
7TH REASON.-Every creature of God is good ELEMENTALLY: The works of God are eminently qnn.lilied for
analysis and reconstruction into a thousand new co1nbi1rntions, without loss or detriment. 'l'hus the solid rocks
crumble and form the i11organic soil; plrrntR arc supported mechanically, and derive certain earLlily n111l
mineral substances from m1-orgnniscd m:tttcr essential !'or
their life and development: some of these pbnts (as corn
for example) form food for man; others, as grnss, supply
foou for cattle; the corn or grass is not only divided nml
subdivided into fragments by the teeth, bnt is entirely decomposed in the stomach, and forms blood, bon e, flesh,
and muscle; the animal dies, a.ncl dccCT,ys, and forrns
or,qanic soil, and several gases, which again pass through
other combinations, still without loss, and without, detriment. Such is the case with the crcatnrcs of God used
elementally by the God of 1rnturc for new combinations;
and a similar use is made of them by man in constructing
his myriad works of art.
·
8TH REASON.-Every work of God is good JUDICIALLY.
Thorns and thistles were brought forth from the earth as
a jitdgment fur disobedience). serpents and savage beasts
became evil to man, or to each other, for the same cause:
Every hour reminds us of our fallen condition; but Goel
has so tempered mercy with judgment, that even tlie
natural world calls the sinner to repentance, but not to
despair.
SnnLEs.
HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS.
QuoTATIONs.~ 'rl1ere

•

THEME CXVU.

is nothing unclean of itself.-

Boni. xiv. '
0 Lord; how manifold are thy works I in wisdom hast
'l'hou nrnfle them all: the earth is full of thy riches, so is
the great and wide sea.-Ps. civ. 24, 25.

l:J

THE

T-'

1J;,,~ r:~:~;)f:'~~>.

PE~FJWTiON OF ·'GOn's
WORKs. ·"<;,;':\ 3
• •
•
. • ,.._ •"'-'
' 112;
T:Jt'"I!.-

.

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•

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All things are · lawful fo:r me, but . ~11 .t~i~g~ -~~~fn
expedient.-1 -Oor. x. 23.
; . . _ ~. ,L· . ; . ,., : .::;'-""~;~~'~/. . _
.
.
.
··:·
All the works of the Lord are exceeding good; · . ~ .,,: a;._.. .;.;
man need not say, "What is this?" . ~' Wherefore ~d~ , ·.
that?" for He hath ma.d e all things · for ' ~hE'.ir
Eccles. xxxix. 16. 21..
-~-: .j~ t r:-~-·
All the works of the Lord are good; ... to the · sin.net:_~
they are turned into evil. .. . Fire, and hail, and famme, -~
and death all these were created for .vengeance; teeth of _ ~
wild beast~, and scorpions, serpents, and the sword, pun-·~
ishing the wicked to destruction.-Eccles. xxxix. 27. 29;~~
30 • 33 •
.
. '··· , , . ·:~
_:+Ji
( .,.~

· -.:. ~

By the greatness and beauty of the creatures propor--.~-4
tionably the Maker of tl~em is seen.- Wisdom, xiii: 5. , __ ,.:]
Aristotle makes ens and bonitas convertible.-1Ethics,6. - -~
.. ~<..:::.ill

As is the workman, such also ,is th_e _cha~ac,ter . ~~ ~ ~i~~,;..
work.-Bp. Sa.nderson.
. ·
· ·' · '.,, . .,. ,_ . ,. ..........:. ___ :_,,,
...

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/

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- ~.-• .':.4'...., ~ ..::::~

"'

Every good gift and ·every perfect gift is from . above, ·-~~
and cometh down from the Father.of lights, with w,h9ru, i~ - -J
no variableness, neither shadow of . turning._ James,i.) 7. "-.. ~
These are thy glorious works, Parent of' good _t ·::1:fEl~
Almighty I Thine this universal frame, · · , ., · ! , i;;.~! 0~::i
Thus wondrous fair: Thyself how wondrous then I ·, ', ·.;,';]
Unspeakable I who sitt'st above these-heavens,
- .1
To us invisible, or dimly seen
-~
In these thy lower works; yet these declare
,
Thy goodness beyond thought, and power divine. ~
Milton .._-- · - ;93
~
A ray of heavenly light gildeth aU·forms
.. ~ ...;:··-~
'l'errestrial in the vast and the minute;
'~
'l'he unambiguous footsteps of the God
, . ~ . ~-~~~
Who gives its lustre to an insect's wing,
:-,.,,,···
And wheels his throne upon the :rolling woi:Ids:~ r. _ ._....~
~'hese worlds had never been hadst Thon in :1 streµgth· ~ Been less, or less benevolent than strong;;fa,j_c'{~:l;.i~
'l'hey are thy wituesses, who speak thy power :\t~'~·- <'II
And goodness infinite.-Oowper, '.j/~~; ';~ .l~~,i~5.,__·~~

J

•

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/

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'!'' · ~-

- -.-.
-

_"'££!!' _

__,.--,

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.o--..~

· ="""I
-·=~-..,,,-. ~

i

81'6.

.. '"·; >· >' . 0:1;.',;.:;~;,c~;<~lt,...
THEME CXVIII.

•

These as they change, Almig-hty Father, these
Are but the varied God. The rollino- year
Is full of 1'hee. Forth in the pleasir~~ Spring
':l1h.f beauty walks, thy tenderness and 'iove.
'\iV 1de flush the fields; the softcni ng air is halm;
Echo the mountains round; the forests smile:
And every sense and every heart is joy.
Th.en c.omes thy glory in the summer months,
With light and heat refulgent. Then thy snn
Shoots full per~ecti?n through the swelling year... ~
Thy bounty shmes m Autumn unconfined,
And spreads a common feast for all that Jives.
In 'iVinter, awful 1'hou! with clouds tt1rd storms ·
Ar~un? 1'hee thrown, tempest o'er tempest rolled,
~D:J.estic da~·kness! on the whirlwind's wing
Ridmg sublime, Thou bidd'st the world adore.
1'/wmson.
Errat si quis pntet deos noc:ere velle, qui non possunt,
•... nee dant malum; nee habent.-Seneca.
. ~~li . anctor non est. qni omninm qum sunt auctor est,
quia m quantum sunt, m tan tum bona sunt.-St...d us tin.
. ~'ant.a hrec formar~!11 v::irfo.tas in rebus conditis, quid
ms1 qmdam. s~nt mdu deitah8? Derno11strantes quidem
quod vere s1t m quo sunt; non tamen quid sit prorsus
definientes.-St. Bernard.
'

·

r1 11El\lE CXV III. A g~~d Nrune i:s better than predous
(Ja1 tmcn t.
I Nino Dueno N. . . . .
1

Lrr TI,EA:SON.- Prceiow; ointment is vr1r11 11al11a/Jle:
Hezekiah showed 11is "precions oi11tmcnts" Lo the princes
of Hal1ylo11 ns n part ~f his royal trcrisurrs (ha. xxxix. 2.);
St 1\lark makes mention of ~t hox of spikcnarcl ponre<l on
the feet of our Hcdecmer, wliicli cost more than 9l. ; ::rnd

·oF

A.

ooon NAME.
•

..

•

.., ... ~,,

-

:':. <li,. 37

..

iJll"f'\•

~

-l't;,.,,._...,~
,.,,..

Pliny speak& of ointments used amo~g th,e Rom~ns~:.;?~th
above 121. sterling: But a good . name is more , precwus
than the most costly ointment; it is ," rather to be ~h~sen
than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver
und gold."-Prov. xxii. 1.
' · . ' . 'T;H «·
2Nn REASON.~Ointment is an article of luxury .a nd
plea~ure, and therefore is called by the Psalmist " oil .of ·
gladness:" But no ointment can penetrate below the skm;
whereas a good name -brings joy to the heart, yea; "to ·
the heart of hearts," and " maketh the very bones fat.";7"
Prov. xv. 13.
.
... ~ ~·· <::,:)~

,
j

J
IP.i\1 1. 1

vAt tJE

'

Coxcu;sroN.

;;::;;:

THE

1

3RD REASON.-Ointment is used as an ~mollient rnedi- ,t
cine (.l~a . .i. .6.): Hence the good Sam~ri~an pour~d ointr·t~;,,
ment or 011 mto the wounds of the man who fell among · :
thieves (Luke, x. 34.): But rio medicine can cheer the .'
afilicted like a good name; no precious balm can restore ·-~ ·
the fallen to their lost condition so well as an unblemished
reputation. ,
'
,..- ·
4TH REAsoN.-The odour of precious ointment diffuses
itself throtwh the whole house (John; xii. 3.): Bu.t the
incense of ~· good name " spreads fat abroad;" yea, it
"goeth far into the islands."-2 Ohron. xxvi. 15. and
Eccles: xl vii. 16.
5TH REASON.-Ointments were used by the ' ancient
A tliletrc in the sncrcd games, to mrrke their limbs and
muscles more sulJtile: But a goorl name is a far better
preparation f!r /;u.,iness than anointing the bouy with
1
ointment or oil: If a man has acqnired .-a good _name, / :j
every thing he sr1ys or does is recei vcd with favour; if,
:jf
on the other hand, his _name has an ill· savour, it taints
,
his best counsels, and casts a slur upon his most meri·
torions actions .
•
6TH HEASON.-'r11e dead were formerly anointed with
oil to preserve them f1orn corruption; but the effect was »
very temporal'y, for the decaying carcase soon contami- . ; ~
nated the most precious balms: How much longer does '. -.,;;
a goorl name perpetuate the memory of the deceased;
'.\
''though his body be burned, yet his name liveth for
·,···j11
·...·

32*

•·

~3'1 8

TH E .ME CXVIII.

SELF-l'HAISE

cv.ermorc, unJ his glory shall not be blotted o.ut."-Eccles.
xhv. 13, 14.

HIST ORI CAL I LLUSTRATION S.

tl.u orAn~l' s .-Ha v e r egard Lu Lliy mtmc, fo r Uw t shali
!'Olltmnr Wl th th rr :ih o n~ :1 t hons:111<1 grr:lt 1rr:F11lrl'''

or

x1i. 12.
..
_,\ g uuc1 li fe l1atl1 l>1d fc11· 1l :1 r". lJ11L a (! 1H1 r l 11:111iD
endureth for e Ye r.- Hcc!r.:s. xti. 10 .·
'
PraiRP iR thP l'f:'!i f'ct ed r ay of vi rt nr. - -l>JJ·d l?rwm .
· · A good name is the proper effect n.ud reward of goodness.-Bis/iop Sanderson.
'l'he memory of thP- j1rnt iR hlPRRerl , bnt. th f' name of th e
wick ed slrnll rot.-Prov . x. 7.
rrhe worthier 8ort among the l1cnthem; wo11l<l !1:1,ve
chosen mt.her to hn. ve died the mos t cruel deaths, than
to have lived infamous with th e wealth of Cr ms ns ;
and .st. P a nl says, he would r ather die, than be depri ved
of his honoura ble b oast (1 Ca r. ix. 1 5. ) . ~Bislwp Sa nderson.
A _good 11 a rne is bet t er tha n a golden girc1Ic. - Gallic.
Good name in mnn or woman, dear, my lord
Is th e immedia t e j ewel of t heir souls :
'
·who s teals my purse, steals trash· 'tis sou1 ethiug
'
'
l. ;
.not1mg
'Twa s my1 e, 'tis his, and has been slave t o th ousnrnls·
But h e who fil ches fr on1 me ·11l J g'OOU IHLDle
'
Robs me of that which not enriches him '
And makes me poor indced .-Slial.:spear~.
Th e purci:; t treasure, rnort n.l times afford
'
I s- sp otless r eputr1.ti on: That ii.way,
.M.en a re but gikled loam, or painted clay.
S hakspea1·e.
Life every nrn,n h old s 1lcar; but th e tlenr 111 r1.11
Holds honour far moro }J recious deal' t han life.
Sht1 ksp em;e.

00.M ME NDATlON.

.

. 379

'

Ilouour is the touchstone of virtuc.-Lord B acon.
Bonne renommee va ut mieux que ceintm~ e <loree.
A b eau sc lever ta.rd qui a bruit de Re lever matin .' ' "''
Mors tum requissimo a nimo appctitur, cum suis se
lirn d il HlS vit R occ ide nR COI LS l)lfl.J'(\ puLL:8L. - Ci aru.
G lori n, 11mhr1t virtnt.is .-Seneca.
•
D11rn cx is!irnnl io est intcgr~, fac il e consolatm honcstas
egr'sl :t lct11. - Ciccr1>.
E g o, si bon am fomam mihi i:;enasso, sa.t ero ui ves.Ph11t t11 s.
.
N ec vero negligenda est fama, nee mediocre · t el um ad
r es p;erandas existimare oportet benevolentiurn civium.Cicero.
.·
·

SrnrLEs..

g-o l <l . ~1'.'('(' fr''! .

NO

, ~

"'; 1

'

I~1 homine virtutis opinio valet plurimum .-Oice;o.
E st demum ver11 felicitas, felicitate dignum videri.=',
Pliny.
·
't ' . · · .. ,, 1! :.
, .'
, --r-.•.•,
CONCLUSION.
., .
. '1
t.

O•

'TH EME

\

CXIX.

•

f!

•.·

~

I

• ..,.

Sel:(-praise 't's no Commendatio_,;,:~

INTRODUCTION . • ,v , •

·'

'

l s-r ~ E A SON .-Boa s ting is a mixture of vice and f olly,·
th e vi ce is pride and · self-conceit ; the folly, ignorance of
on eself and others.
.
•
.'· -:'.· --·- · ,l;t
.. .
2 ND REAS ON.-It is a moral sacrile,qe to arroga.te that '. '.·i..
prai se which belongs to the "Giver of ·all good things· ;';
as St. Paul su.ys to the Corinthi ans, "vVho maketh thee
to · diftrr from anot her? ·and what hast thou 1tha.t thou
didst not receive ? . Now if thou didst receive it, why dost
thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?"-. 11,Uor. iv. 7 ~
311n REASON.-Sclf-praise alwn.ys undermines ·it'I , O)Jm , "·
.c011111wufotio11: It seeks glory, and .gains contempt/; ' it ·
seeks applau se, a nd g a ins ridi cule ; for every body k'nows
tfia.t an inflated bladder is puffed up with empty wind .
.

. . .·

I. .

aso

...._...,...._

'!'HEME CXIX.

REASoN.-A boaster is a prey to .flatterers, who
have their own turn to serve in pandering to his "swelling
words," or in administering their flattering unction.
5TII R .EASON. -Sclf-conccit prccl1tdeg imprm•em cnt.
( 1.) The braggart i8 too self-satisfie11 to learn j1·om,
4TH

c,th erx,

( 2.) He is too vain to receive admonition, and ascribes
the most judiCions reproof to envy or stupidity.
(3.) As himself is his only object of thouµ;ltt or conversation , he prcycnts atl inll'rclwnyc rf ideas :rnrl illnmina.tion of knowleL1ge gained by communion with the
wise a.ml lcurneu.
( 4.) 'l'he boaster iR '!lever a man of nbscrration; he
cares for no one but himself, and has no eyeR to sec merit
in another.
6TH Ht•cASoN.-Self-prnise is no com111e111htio11, hecn11sc
no man is permitted to be the jurlve <f liis uwn uctions. 1u
short, " service is not service so being done, but being so
allowed."
7TH REASON.-lt indicates that a man's merits are so ,
obscure or ill-appreciated, that no 011e will commend
them, or has yet discovered them, but the Lraggart himself.
8Tn REASON .-Boasting always invites the company to ·
detraction; for as every one is flu.ttered Ly the humility of
a modest man, so every one feels himself insulted by the
conceit of an arrogant one.

SrnrLES. . . . .
llrsTomcAL

____________

__

,,,,_.:.__

-·~·-- - ~-~-

ILLUSTI~ATIONS.

QuoTATIONs.-J ack Brag is the worst man. in the
r
scrviee.
Better trnst an 11nbrillled horse, than an unbridled

to11gne.-Theophrast11s.

The empLiest tub will always make the loudest Boise. ·
Yonr ti um peter is dead.

'

_381

SELF-PRAISE NO COMMENDATION.

Humility is the foundation of every virtue.-Maimder's
proverbs.
Barking dogs will never bite.
Modesty is not only an ornament but a shield.
Empty coi'n holds its head erect; when the ears are full
of grain they droop.
,
A man without modesty is lost to all sense of honour
and virtue.-Maunder's proverbs. ·
·
"Antl what says all the world of me ?" (i.e. the Cuckoo.)
'Of thee, as far as I ha Ye hcurd , .
They· never speak a single ·w ord .'
" Not hear them talk of me ? that's clever I
.For I talk of myself for ever."-Oowper,,
Men's merit rise in proportion to their mod~sty.Jlfaunder's proverbs.
·
.
Sccst thou 11 man wise in his own conceit, there is more
· P1·ov. xxvi. 12.
hope of a fool than of him.Be not wise in your own conceit.-Rom. xii. 16. and ·
Prov. iii. 7.
. . __ \
Woe unto them that are wise in their · own _eyes, ,and
prudent in their own sight.-lsa. v. 21. ·· ' · · · · ,·- · -~Let another man praise thee and not thine own morith,
{a stranger and not thine own Iips .-Pr~:>V ., - ~xvi~. ~· -:,;; . •
It is not good to eat much honey : so
men to search
their own glory is not good.-Prov. xxv. ·27, .
' · ' · · .·
t ,, ·
Boast not of thy clothing and raiment, and exait not ,·
thyself in the day df honours.-Eccles. xi. 4.. · . ·' .';;::::-· -· .

for

1

.

;

•

•.

'.I •

vVhosoever shall exalt himself shall b~ abased and he ·
that humbleth himself shall be exalted.-Malt. :ir~iiL 12. '.
1
. A man's pride shall bring him low, but honour·. shaU··: '
uphold the humble in spirit.-Prov. xxix. 23. ~\ . .. -. ~.:;;: 1._. •. ·_
Be .clothed with humility: for God resistet4 , th~ pr~ud, < <".
and giveth grace to the humble.-1 Pet.
v. 5. ' •· '.·.f(•J~a·
·' f ?•_ •.'4--;.:~
. -, . . '
H e who knows himself 'best, esteems himself le,st.-2.:. :
,-/ ... \/ .Jl ·}
Maunder's proverbs.
/

/

I

I

·::~

•·':$

-.(,·.,z;
~

N .
,._.fo

· ;,/

1

.-.-~

I

::A

I

i

'382

Know thyself.-Chilo.
Who knows himself a braggart
Let him fear this; for it shall come to pass
'l'hat every braggart shall be found an ass.
Shakspcare.
It was prettily devised by 1Esop: the Fly sat upon the
axle-tree of the chariot wheel, and said, "\'Vhn.t a dust
do I raise I" So are there some vaiu persons, that, whatsoever goeth alone, or movcth upon greater means, if they
have never so little hand in it, they think it is they that
carry it.-Lord Bacon .
Great cry, little wool.
Braggarts must needs be factious, for all bravery stands
upon comparisons. They must needs be violent to make
good their own vaunts. Neither can they be secret, and
therefore not effectual.-Lord Bacon.
Great boast, little roast.
Grands vantenrs petits fa.iseurs.
Beaucoup de bruit, peu de fruit.
Tout chien qui aboie ne mord pas.
Cane chi abbaia non morde.
Briareus esse apparet cum sit lepus.
Cave tibi a cane muto, et aqua silente.
Aliud est ventilare, aliud pugnare.
Canes timidi vehementius latrant quam mordent.
Magna minaris, extricas nihil.-Phmdrus.
Qnid <lignum tanto feret hie promissor hiatu ?
Parturiunt montes; nascetur ridiculus mus.-1-forace.
Nee'" stloppo tumidas in tend is rnmpere buccas.-Persius.
Parturiehat mons, formirlabnt .Jupiter; illc vcro mllfem
pcpcri t.--Lacccla?nwn ian prol'crb.
Co~cLm:iION.

383

MERCIES SUPERABOUND.

'!'HEME CXIX,

THEME

,'· ~··." ;,

CXX1 · The B'lessings of God outweigh the
Pe1ialties of Sin. · · / · ·

INTRODUCTION.
lsT REASON.-JN THE NATURAL WORLD.

( 1.) Deserts bear a very smnll proportion to o~her lands ;
and even in the wildest desert some green Oasis may be
.
found to relieve its desolu,tion.
(2.) The time of light exceeds that of darkness ; ~nd ,
even in the deepest midnight, the moon or stars alleviate
th e gloom .
(3.) Fine days are few more numerous tha n cloudy
skies ; and even the most rainy serve " to water the earth,
and niake it bring forth and bud." .
.
( 4.) Noxious weeds, thorns, and thistles are but thinly
scattered around, compared to the laughing corn, and. verdn.11 t grass, a,nd beautiful flowers, and fruitful trees, and
forests of useful timber; and, even amongst weeds, some
are nseful as medicine, some afford food for various,
animals, some arc employed in manufactures, and many
have so large a" mixture of good," that they can f\Carcely
be ranked ·' amidst things evil."
·-:.

2ND REAS~.-JN THE SENSITIVE WORLD. 1' ·

( 1.) The sick hea1;s a very small proportion !o ·the
general family of man; and even "when all their. bo1,1es
( arc out of join~," God giveth them "songs in the mg ht."
(2.) A man who has lost a limb, his ·sight, hi.s teeth,
bis hearing, or his palate, has more left . than is taken , ·
away; and his loss is alleviated either by the art of man,
or by some compensating provision : So that bad as -'a n
afiliction may be, it i~ never so bad as it might be. ;_ :l :.
( 3.) Sickness is generally ephemei·al, or if chronic it is
not severe ; so that suffe.ring in few cases, if any, equals
the amount of health, ease, and enjoyment. '
..
I
( 4.) Birds, fishes, and other animals that fall lt p1·ey _
(especially in the family of man). are very fef in c~m­
parison ~o those that live out their stated term of !ifei- "
Cattle killed for food can scarcely form an . exception; . ~ 1
seeing that such is the legitimate object \or whl.c)1' . ~q_ey

·;'.

/~

-~=="=
-......
=

38,1

'i!-2~t.:91 ·~;-&1121 ""

. . . . , , .. v

MERCIES

THEME CXX.

were designed ; but even here the print of mercy may
be seen ; for he who slays
Doth feast the animal he deems his feast
And till he kills the creature makes it bl~st.
. 3no REASON.--IN THE MORAL WORLD.
( 1.) r~'hicv es , murderers~ vn9abo1ll~s and beggars are
no.t. t.he 1 ulP but tlie f;1·,·cptions m society; :rnd e\'Cll the
thief and murderer 11o ten thousand lawful acts for every
felonious one.
. (2.) 1\Inch thu,t, the world calls su[eri11µ;, is nut sufferrng, as poverty to the poor, and a mean condition to those
horn in humble circumstances : Doubtless there is suffering in the cottage, so also there is su{forin<r in the
palace ; but poverty arnl humility are not per ~e to be
called "sufferi~1g ;" and it is probable that the poor and
mea n lrnve theu· full tale of eHJOymcnt as well as th e rich
and mighty.
'
(3.) Sym~wthy, charity, resignation, and hope, arc a
moral sunshme to the affiicted : and where is that man
living who cannot recount a thousand blessings for every
affliction ?
4TH REASON.-IN THE CHRISTIAN WORLD.
(1.) Though a Christian could say with St. P aul
"Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned thric~
I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in
the. deep ; In journeyings often, in peril~ of water, in
per~ls of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in
penls by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the ·
wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils a morw
false
0
brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in watchiiws often·
in hunger and thirst, in fas tings often; in cokl antl uaked:
ness;" Y?t would he call them but "li,q!tt ajjlict-iow;" conipared with the blessings of salvatio n.
(2.) 1'he sorrowing Christian knows, that God affiicts
not willin!J.ly, but "~elights in showing mercy;" and that,
wh~1~ he rs ylaced m "the fnrnaee," God f'its by as a
. pu~·1her .of silver, to remove the precio trn ore in11ncdiately
it is bright enough to reflect the refiner's inrno·e.-Mal.

... 3 •

lll.

~,._

""'·'"'"'- - - -.....- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - -.......

b

SUPERADOUND.

'385 . ' /

• (3.) .After all, what are , three score years :and ten ['. of '
suffering; to a whole _eternity of happy d_a ys ?~ '. ': · 'J d mil
5TH REASON.· The mercies of God 'are-superabundant,
whether we consider man: V INDIVIDUALLY. " l 2. RELA"'
'l'IVELY. 3. SocIALLY.
.,
·~~
(1.) His physical bless.i ngs are more numerous' than his
·~ · , ·~
physical defects.
' (2.). His moral blessin,qs are more numerous than his
moral privations.
·
( 3.) His spiritual blessi rigs outbalance bis entailed
corruptions ; for where " sin abounded, grace , has much
· ,
,;
· - · ::
more abounded."--Rom. v. 20.
~)

•

\.
r ; ...

,.

.'

SIMILES. . • • • .

~ ,.

HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS.

.

l

·~ ' '

j.

!"'. ;. ; :;..:.

!

'.

... ~ f ~~ {{ ·

.; l . :>.

,h· ,) "'·1'.

'>f;'

•. , h~'>~/

.t6 ..

{

QuoTATIONs.-God tempers the wind ..
the.t' sh;o m
Iamb.-Sterne.
, 'f; .,' .·..,mJ.; :i1H ... ,
It is January. . . . Where are now the t4ousana" forms ~-. , .·
of human life which enlivened ,,ev.ery bank;1,anf fluttered · : .'
from flower to flower .? Alas I 1. sunny . ban~s; 1and gay · ~;
flowers, and · verdant_· turf ' a~e - gone : 1; 1 } Tn~ ~ deeit snQW :· ~ ;
clothes the whole surface of' lthe · gi'~und; qovering \ very ::.' '.
smaller plant,. and · Tising around the ' naked trunks .of the »·· ~,
tall trees ..... and w.h ere is that happy home "ap10ng the :·_··__
branches of the tree, where lately the · unfledg~d sparrows ''. <
were ·lying · together, ; .. ·. the leaves w.hich'-~ islieltered it '.'''.·
are gone, and a mass · of drifting sn'ow niarks: the·'·spo_t ~- '~
where the· desolate and forsaken habitation 1 remains. ~··" •• And has God left all these millibI1s of his creatures. to be ', .
overwhelmed with . destruction? · No I: scai;9~!y.; ~ .':s~ngle ",:,
one; he has secured and protected them .all.' , 1 .. Even the .
,'a,h ,.safe~· ; . .~.';" 7 and·
--~:
insect tribes;: so ·delicate and frail, ,Me
,.! d : t U: · .J ....., ·t . • · •
· ..
'i_

.

83

,

'

.

.-·' ' . · · -~,.~r l\ i'Y·

~,.

"'j!f'J 1i ·~• .. ' ~: _
•This part of th1fsubject Is capable of great eitpanslon, b rtt 'many lde88 ' ;
which wlll suggest themselves Instantly to the ;Christian,' pertain more to a ·.::;_
theological treatise. than to a theme. However, each of th~ f911J; ,Cb\ef d\;r{sions . ,.
would make a separate subject, and othllr subdivisions may be very eBBllf added .:: ·
to those already suggested. ., .-, , ;,. 1
. . . ; , ,,. ;1" ' 1 .; Ohf 1(_fit)i.
~H ; , .-f.

·

'

.

J. ·.

386

Tirn~rn

.

when the first wintry storm roars through the forest, it
finds everything prepared for it, .... even the little ants
are carefully housed in their warm aud sheltered and
plentiful home.-Rev. J Abbott.
Take your stand upon the sea-shore on a summer morning, and observe the expression of the face of nature. It
is, as it were, the expression of the conn tcnance of God.
Observe the serene sky, the mild balmy air, the smooth
e~panse of water before you, reflecting, as in a polished
mirror, every rocky crng, a11d smooth islrwtl, ntHl sa11dy
shore, and even every spar and rope of the vessel which
seems to sleep upon its bosom ..... He who has a soul
capable of understanding it, will sit for hours on the green
bank, at a time like this, receiving an indescribable pleaIt is
sure from the l!;eneral expression of snch a scene.
an expression of Divine benevolence beaming from the
works of God.-Rev. J Abbott.
Not a flower
But show's some touch, in freckle, streak or stain,
Of God's unrivalled pencil. He inspires
Their balmy odours, and imparts their hues,
And bathes their eyes with nectar, and inclfdes ·
(In grains as countless as the sea-side sands)
rrhe forms with which he sprinkles all the earth ....
'rhough earth be punished for its tenant's sake
Yet not in vengeance ; us tl1is smiling sky,
'
So soon succeeding such an ugly night,
And these dissolving snows, and this clear stream
Recovering fast its liquid music, prove.-Oowper.

I
' 1I

I

Should fate command me to the farthest verge
Of the green earth, . . .. 'tiF< no1w h t to me
Since God is ever present, ever f~lt, .... '
And where He vital breathes there must be joy .
. . . . . I cannot go
vVhere universal Love not smiles around .....
From seeming evil still educing good,
And better thence again, and better still
In infinite progression.-Thomson.
'

387'

MERCIES SUl'ERADOUND.
'

cxx.

•

l

Na tu re we see endowed
:. ",;.- • · i ,: _: ·,11t.:; ,
"liVith all that ,life requires, not unadorned
\f·i-:<
With true enchantment. Wherefore then. her.form .
So exquisitely .fair? her breath perfumed ; '·'· ···,;Hj
vVith such ethereal sweetness? Whence per _voi?e
Informed at will to raise or to depress · . , ..
ri'he impassioned soul? . And 'whence. the robes of light,
vVhich thus invest her with more lo.vely pomp
,
rfhan fancy can describe ? · Whence' but from f'hee,, ., ·
0 source divine of ever-flowing. love,· ·
: , , ..
.,'<. I
A ncl thy unmeasured goodness ? Not content
.·
vVith every food of life to nourish man, . . . .
:\
rnwu mak'st all nature beauty to his eye, (
. .
Or music to his ear, . . . to brighten ·the dull glo~m~ . ·
Of care, and make the destined road of life
·. ·
Delightful to his feet.-Akenside.
Siner unto the Lord, 0 ye saints of his,· and give thanks
at the~emembrance of bis holiness I for his anger endureth
lJut a moment, .... weeping may endure for a night, but
joy cometh in the morning.-Ps. xxx. 4, 5. · · ~-- , 1 ~·- • · .
''-:1
He bath not dealt with us after ·ou1;_- sins,' nor ·rewarded
11s according to our iniquities.... Like as a father.pi~ieth '
liis children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear ·him; for .
He knoweth our frame, He remempereth that we are dust. .
-Ps. 'ciii. 10-14. ·
' .
! · • ·
.
For a little moment have I forsaken thee, but with great
mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my
face from thee for a moment, but with everlasting kind-,..
ness will I have mercy 01i thee, saith the Lord _ thy- ~e­
lleemer.-Isa. liv. 7, 8.; see also verses 9-13.
. .
,
Our light afiliction, which is but for a moi;ient, worketh ·
..c
fo r us a fa r more exceeding and etern al we1ght of glory.
~"°'
··~--- ·. ~
.
_ • .
-2 Cor. iv. 17. '
.
.
;
~
· · · : -~~~~-e!
1
1 reckon :that the sufferings of this present,time are not: i~
worthy to be comP,~red with the glo~y . which( shall b~ ; !~-~. ~~ ~~
vealed in us.-Rom. viii. 18. .
·
, <. · 1
,"'AT-1 '!:.,,-.,.. . - ~
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days - :: -~~
. - p s. xxn1.
... 6.
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of my life
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888

THEME

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See Psalm cxxxvi.

NO PLACE LIKE · HOME.

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:J- ~·
74 .·:·~
Aristippus, being bemoaned for . the 1 loss ~ o( a ffarm,f r~~··
plied with some sharpness upon his condoler,. 'r you ; have ···.
but one field, and I have still three left 1 : wpy : should ; n,o~i l -· :7
rather grieve ~or
you?"
: : . · . .I ;. ,
1 • ! .. ·• ' " •. .. .....~~: • ~.~
1
/7

. Who is a God like unto thee that
.1
. . .
· · · · . He retaineth not h.
pare oneth m1qmty.
delighteth in mercy_
. lr· is ..an g er for ever, because He
•
-1.Y.L lC. VU, 1 3
God is Love.-1 Jolin, iv. 8. ·
Hereby perceive we the love of G
down his life for us 1 r , ...
od, because He laid
•uOrm m 1 6
He that spared not his ow~1 s~n j t l . . .
.
for us nll, how shall Ile not with II'." c cln ~I cd Il1m up
nll tlihws? R
... 3 , . . trn also f l'l~cly o·i ve l!S
a· .· - om. nu . . 2.; sec also verses 38, 3u·'-> . .
lrnrnedrntely Adam recPivcd ll
. .
.
gression the Lord gave 1 .° th ic penalty of ltis . trans" tI· iu t tl· ie seed
· Hm · e promise
'
o f t Irn woman shall brnise th
·,
to .•Jesus Christ, who destro r~d s~rpcnt s .li:ad," refening18
dyrng· on the cross.
}
}JO\' c1 of Satan Ly
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How prccions arc thy thotwhL
.
"1
great is the sum of them I Il' I s luutlo me, 0 bod I how
are more in number tha.n ti
s iou count. tl1crn they
1
IC sane.-/
s. CXXX IX 11 18
W e. challenge th e rnost mis ,, LI . .
. '
.
man hvinO' to- 111·odi1ce
. era, fc, o1 the most querulous
causes o
I ·
portionable to those of tl k · . . comp amt at all progreatest stock of cala ·rian sgivmg. ~fe ~hat hus the
.
< 'mi ,1es can never vie with tl
I
o f b ene f1ts. The dispro ·f
.
1e ieaps
armies of Ahab and Benh~~ IOln ishgreater tlian that of the
little flocks of kids ,, and
act~ ~~·eof one was " like two
try."-Dr. Allesb·;e's W/. le oD er filled the whole counT
w e ut!/ of Man.
TI
h~
v1a5Iley of Achor is not without a door
.aos. II.
.
of hope.-

•

Perhaps you may have · d
but what is that to a twef1sse ~lo;ne fe.w nights' sleep,
'Tis possible your stomach an~e:on Is enJoyment of it?
ready together, but how much b~~t havle not always been
your delirrht ?
B t h
. ~ner iavc th ey met to
a
· · · ·
u ow cn t1cally ai l · l 1
..
'
ic n~ ce y co we
observe every little adver 8
tide of blcssinO' fl
~ cncumstance, whde n whole
I 'Id.
, :"'s ow by w1tliont our uoti cc I ik' l'ttl
cl! ren, our frngers are never off tl
. .
, c. i , c
have picked every light scratch . t ie soie place till we
tree's JV/wle Duty of Kan.
Ill o an ulcer.-./Jr. Alles-

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CONCLUSION ... :..

'l1HEME

OXX t.

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No Place like ]Jome.

lNTIWDUCTION •• : ••

lsT REAso·N.-N o place like home to ·humanise the
temper and d£sposition.
If any thing can soothe the
tulllnlt.nous passions of the soul, or calm that turbulence
of fccli11g which the din and. bustle of the world. excite, it
is the soothing influence of a beloved and cheerful . home.
2ND ltEAsoN. -No place like home to develop the
pure.~t ajfections of the heart.
There alone yon will find
warm sympathy; and overflowing kind.ness, love withou.t
dissimulation, and benevolence without selfishness. ( . ; '
3RD Rr<:ASON.-N o place like home for virtue , and
goodness.
·•
., · ·
( 1.) Negatively. The state of mind · unavoidably
cherished by the influences of dotnestic life is totally at
variance with the envyings, jealousies, · ambition, and
covetousness of the gay and busy world. · ·
,. ; .
(2.) Cu!iibitively. The wisdom of God is most manifestly exhibited in the restraint which home almost· in~
evitably exercises. You can hardly find an abandoned
man who has not abandoned the joys of domestic life.
There is something ill ·the very atmosphere of. the . family
hearth which will not allow vice to luxuriate there.' / ,... ;;
( 3.) Positively. "Love is of God," homG is the house
of love, and ,' '. he that dwelleth in love dwelicth in .God.'!
rrhere is no . mere earthly influence . so calculated . to
preserve from sin and to build up , tlie. .~ear.t ~n ·purity
,.

* Some

:

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portions of this Theme are borrowed from a·work published by tho
Rev. J. Abbott, of America, entitled "Love of Holl)e."; · , .,! ~ / , , , . ! < .• i , " 1

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'l'HEME

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cxxr.

and virtue as that of home If
the noblest specimens of l .
' therefore, you would find
blended with unyieldin . •~ma? nature, love harmoniously
you must seek them in ~~r:u:~~~~i~:d manly independence
. 4TH REASON.-N o place like horn~ for tl
.
ments. The excitement of ·11 •
ie pu1·est en1oynight clubs and of traveir I ~r:imated ball-rooms, of midtra.nsient, a'nd always lea~~~ b\ o~ place to pln:ce, is most
Our own fireside is our onl
ac nes~ and grief behind.
the storms of life. If ther~ tanct~a1y and covert from
must be found at home. ·r . e . kmdness any where, it
mnst be found n,t home.
I 'obedience to. every wish, it
which render life sweet t1~!1c tlionsaud delicate at ten tious
true sympathy if a r 1'·
yf i:iust be found at home. if
"f . .
'
iee uw o rndep 1
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I liberty without restraii~t th
enc ence and security,
except they be fom1d at l '
ey cau be found nowhere
iome.
5nr HEASON.-No place like h
.
.
gorate tlic jaded mind 'l'I er
on!e to 1 est and znvisolace, the weary a re~reat~~n i sa~)pomted find there a
home the more labour he will . 'Ihe more a man loves
the more his spirit will be . be e~abled to perform, and
fresh efforts and achieveme~~s~ewe from clay to day for
6n-r REASON.-N o place l"k h
and t!ie duties of tlie san;t . ' et o~ne for lw~11 communion
temptation, and to pre1Ja;~a/o-; o tolrt1fy the spirit against
ano ier and better world.
SnnLEs.-Home is like
b I.
much toil, there must be muc~ orJe; Hve; there . may be
be a honeyed sweetness.
e ' but there will al ways
As a plant thrives best in its n . f
.
being transplanted into
fi . . a iv~ soil, and suffers by
more health
·
a 01 eign chme, so the mind is
c
y, vigorous and "f.1 "tf 1 •
work" at horn tl
· •
m u Ill every good
' e ian m t 11C gay and giddy world.
A N
s oah s dove could find no
t fi
foot except in the Ark 8
res or the sole of lier
spirit from the trouble; 0 ~ man ~~n find no ~est for his
to a peaceful and pious home~ wo1 l and of busmcss equal

if

71

A man who has no home i n
I
no nest, or the butterfly h"s I Ihre tie cu?koo which lrn,s
w le 1 as no In ve; the one is

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proverbial :ror <selfishness "aµa:·f91Iy,·~
<,.
and worldly-niindedriess." '.' ·'.1 · ·: · ; ' ·;, 1·1.: mo~ . tt~~~~t:)j~!~lJt :1~•t)!.tr ).
~
ch~erru~ '. ~orne~tic 'rheart,
·:w~~· · .~ : ~4I~t~?~ciot>()~~:~ r.~ x~;
1
evedryb thmtg w1th1~ its ?.~n ~~aU 1 arcf, a~~~~~,e-~ :~~~?.~~fi.~fit ·· ·'.~
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eau y. •, , .' .'1···1'•'. ..~ .'(i.~...
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N 0 clothes fit the body ;So.,agree!Lbly .,a nd ITTa9efulJy ;a.s,,
those made for ~~s . daily, use, . 1J.p.d 1 no.1,>l_ac~ ·becol!).es_ Arpiah' ' .-·.
1
· · ·• ·i.'. ... ~ '~ '·
or woman so well as the domestic fireside!
-i·· n·J· · ., 1 ._.. f
1
'rhe heart is · like .·a' par~siti~ plant ·:which '1 can >ne;Vett''
grow and thrive except ·it has something : constant.ly~ ~g 1 ·
1
cling to, and round which it may freely ..u~fql~ it~~lf.,;,11 110 <7 ,
rrhe domestic . heart may be· likened ;!to ·!the·, parent .
hen or insect bee ; the one emblema~ical of affectiOPf: andr "
the ·other of frugal industry and the s6cial,,virtues. ~~n1 L.!£>ct
the·•nt~~r:\tof) 1l~yity .?

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HISTORICAL I~iusTRATIONS.-By fa~ . the · ~~st '~irt·~~~~~­
and illustrious of the ancient Roman ·, helftls .: were 1re-; · .
m::trkable for their domestic habits and :Jove :-: of : home, ~ as f. .
Cincinnatus, Denta~us, Fabf icius, and 1._old 1 ·cato. ·1 Soon;< ..
after the Punic wars, when the Romans lostJheiridomestic., .
character, women as well · as men lost . tneir.• singleness ·~
of m.ind, and became ultimately so . dis~ipated and d_emo-r: .
ralised, that few can believe the first chapter of.St,. Paul's
Epistle to the 1-tomans can re~er to the . ' ~, city_ o( . t~.~P!~(
. of k"mgs."
".
l nation
an d tie
· ·'
· .· .. , , ·;; ; , . ,; : :i:--r•:t
Look at the homeless, heartless Byron.1;, His imagination woultl bear him upon a wing like that of an ·eagle's•\;
He was formed with capacities to drink .in unbounded,._"
delio-ht. Ile might have made his :home ." one , of· the:
brigl1test and happiest on earth-but in,bis early life :he:~
bad an unhappy home ; became dissatisfied with' domestic;:
scenes ; sought pleasure in excitement ; plunged ; into;
vice ; and bas gone from the world . like a . ~ery f,co~et
which leaves desolation and corruption bel:iin~ • .A; i-"iP•:Hl k
Wilberforce· was a remarkable instance! ~-.the i ameliQ:-i~
rating influence of · a ' love of . home. '.' One: ·.aay.,'YheA:
George III: called · for · a paper which Wilberforc~ ;, had
mislaid, wbile he was busily engaged : searching .for .the
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NO PI.1QE; LIKE .noME •

392

THEME CXXI.

lost document one of his children began to cry ; the king,
tu ming to Pi t t, remarked, 11 Now we shall see our friend
vVmiarn in an ill temper ;" but almost at the same
moment Wilberforce exclaimed in an udjoiuing room
loud enough to be overheanl, " Bless thn.t dear sweet
voice, had it not been for that, I should be out of temper
at this untoward circumstance I"
Look at Napoleon, heading the armies of Europe,
gigantic in intellect, impetuous in passion, yet a man
·without a heart and without a home. A cheerful home
might have given him a wa.rm heart, and a warm heart
would have led him to fleck for a cheerful home.
rrhe weather-beaten snilor, the child of da.nger and of
storms, is proverbially dissolute. Anu why? Because
he has no home. He is surrounded by 110 inflnences to
foster virtue and elicit affection. " ' hen he return s to
shore he has no wife and children to hi<l hilll wcl<' o111 c,
no fri ends to meet him with joyful faces. He is fri e11dless, homeless, and alone, cut off from every r estrai nt
which might preserve him from dissipation , and plunges
into vice from the very desolat ion of his heart.
'l'he poet Cowper shows iu his poem, called 11 'l'he
T ask," that his heart m1s warm with the reli sh of dom estic
joys. 'l'h e delicacy of mind, the fervonr of foeli11g-, the
expansion of b encvol e11 cc, \rhich chnrnetcrise that interesting poem, could only ha ve Leen cherished uncler the
influence of fire-side scenes. Cowper was co 11stit.11tio11ally
sad, and it was only the domestic rctrent wl1ich co nld
soothe his nervous exc itement : there and there only
lmd he comfort ·, and had it not hec n for the soothi1w
,..,
influence of his pcnce ful ·home, Co,rpcr, the be[rntiful
poet of dom estic affections, would probably l1ave heen a
frantic innrn t e chain ed in the con fi nemeu t of a madhou se.
George JII. was one day galloping- ahont t he room upon
all-fours with one child upon his back, and chnsi11g- nnother who was laughing at tl1e top of her l1111µ:s n t the
gambols of lier royal fath er. "\Vhile t hus enp;agccl, one of
his ministers was announced, " Come in (said the kin g-)
you also are a' father I" and he continued his sport 11u-

. more . real heart~felt :joy .ii;i tli~t
·•
interrupted. There,,WQ:s 1 ·
11 the pageantry of J:ns
undignified parlour fro~1c thand~dn. a rt ~: "' ; -~· ;. :: ... - :·. ~ .
t· f h splen t cou . ·
throne, and pomp o ~s 1 ted of Louis the Magnifi~en
A similar anecdote is re a
.\·. , . 1_
of France.
,
·.
·
.
t Burke says he " would not
QuOTATIONS.-The greah t for ,all .that, is .~alle~ _fame
give one peck of refuse w . ea ' , . . , i ' "'. ,, 1 .. . . . .
· th world."
·
· "
'"
·
m
e
.
.
th
nly bliss · · ' ' · ' 1
Domestic .happ~n~s~, st ~~r~i ved the Fall t . • •
Of Paradise, t a a f Virtue in thine arms
0
· t'. th she is) , · , . -·
Thou art the nurs~
·1
ppearmg (as m rn
.
She sm1 es, a
d t' ed to the skies agam ..' , .
Heaven-born, an
es ihn e Pleasure is adored, ,
rt not known w er
· t
'I,t.
11ou a .
oddess with .the zoneless ,wa1s .. .
That reelmg. g
fll leaning on the. arm . ! , , ~
And wandermg eyes, s i .
ort . .
Of Novelty, her fi~klefr:~~=~~rft-. 11a'ting change, ·
For thon. art.m~~ anlm of truth-tried love ',, · . · · '
And findmg
e ca raptures never yield. •.. •. • ~ .. '.
Joys that her s ormy 'lt man restore . . ;_ .. r '
Y
·
·It cann ot ' true ' to gm1 follies
past...
. ". ..
Lost innocence, or crceuch secures the, min~ , :i
But it has peace, an ~
Gow er . . , .
From all assaults of evil..
'P ., : 1 ; . • ._ , 1 !
. the secret refuge of our life., .. . D
. . d ! .,( .. ,,
Horne is
. hes but a wife.- ry en.
Secured from all appioac
. .
.,
' . '.
.
. which we are to select our
Home is the citadel m
r which shall fortify .us
d
'rd
on
our
armou
· .·~s
· w~'th
weapons, an gi
. . of the world; and .1t
. the
.
againflt t~e ternpta~10f
y one can .acquire Qr. retam
utmost difficulty t a ~F enerosity, ' and · of enlarged
feelingR of sy~pathy,
the influence .. of, ,h.o~e~ to
philanthropy! if tbe~e tbe nurture them int()l ac~~~~ty.O'ive them birth,. ~n
o .
, ' . .. ·~ ·h' ' .. ,
0
·
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II
1> J Abbott. · ·
i.ev. .
.
t h me and says to us, 1'i '
;l.'he finger of God p01fintsd o uroea~thlv J1or 1'~-Jf,e?h
. th lace to n yo
., · · , .- L ·I t . .
"There l~
eP . ·· '
. ·· · .; · ·q ~ :" ;:-'!o{{ -;
Ahbott.
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'!'HEME

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395 ·

NO PLACE LIKE ' HOME. . . ,,.

If you find a young man who does not Jove home,
whose taste is formed for other joys, who can see no
happiness in the serene enjoyment of the domestic circle,
you may depend upon it he is not to be trusted.-Rev. J.
Abbott.

I.

II :

'Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam,
Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home;
A charm from the sky seems to hallow us there,
vVhich, wherever we rove, is not met with elsewhere.
Home l home l sweet, sweet home l
There's no place like home, there's no place like home I
B. Cornwall.
Lord 13yron declared, after he had llrni11cd tl1c cup of
earthly pleasure to its dregs, that "his life had been
passed in almost unmitigated wretchedness, and that he
often longed to rush into the thickest of the battle, in orcler
to terminate his miserable existence by a s11dde11 death.
Lord Chesterfield with rm1k, wealth, talent, polish, mill
power, after having stood for half a centmy the brigl1test
luminary of all Europe, has recorded his opinion that
"all the joys he so eagerly sought were heartless and
empty."
Home is home, be it never so homely.
Wife and children are a healtliy discipline; but the
unmarried are morose and selfish.-Lord Bacon.
At length his lonely cot appears in view
Beneath the shelter of an aged free.
The expectant "wee things" t~cldling, stagger through
To meet their dad, .with flutt ering noise n,nd g'lee.
His clean hearth stone, hi8 thrifty wifie's smile,
The lisp i11g infant prn.ttling on l1is knee,
Does all his weary curking cares beguile, ·
And makes him quite forget bis labour and his toil.
Robert Burns.
0 friendly to the l>est pnnrnit:8 of mnn,
Friendly to thought, to virtue, null to poace,
Domestic life in sweet seclusion passed l-Cowpe1·.

.

Home is the resort ·
·
·
d
plenty
where
Of love, of joy, of peace, an lished friends·
Supporting and snpp~rteld poto bliss -Thomson.
And dear relations mmg e m
·
d
· st meat abroa. ·-=Dry bread at home i~ betterlt!h an ~oa
.
Ray'& proverbs.
·I '
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Dom us amica, domus optima. '
J urn publi~a .favent privato domus.
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Bos alienus subinde prospectat foras.

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CqNCLUBION.

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END OF p ART III.

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PART IV.
SUBJECTS FOR THEMES.

THEME CXXII.-Extreme rigour is oppressive cruelty.
a ~xtr~me rigour (says Burke) is sure to arm everything
gamst it, and at length to relax into supreme neglect.
Summum jus srepe summa est malitia.-Terence.
Cavendum est ne major pcena, quam culpa sit.-Cicero.
1-,HEME CXXIII.-With what measure you mete it shall
be measured to you again.-Mutt. vii. 2.
'
Do unto others as you would be done by.
Ab alio expectes, alteri qnod feceris.

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Every man either makes or mars his own lot.
Chacun est artisan de sa fortune.
Sure quisque fortunre faber.-Sallust.
THEME CXXV.-Many men, many minds.
Every one to his liking.
Chacun a son g<;mt.
Tant de gens, tant de guises.
Autaut de testes, autant d'opinions.
Autant d'hommes 1 autant d'avis.

,~ ··~'.1 JH r_ f1 ~-fi ·r I~

THEME cxxyr< , : i:El~;v,p~~~- , 1?.~~~o;ry'e.~; tm~?P,J:11l}F~ d,?pbly
we1come.
··
·
·
·
Favours long waited for are sold, not given. .
He loses bis tbahks whose proniis~s ·are'. deiayedt'r :;1 n'l1
Qui donne tot, donne d,euxfois.:11101!ti:•,y ~ei '.:r;.r·: h11qi'.::~1
Dono molto aspettato, e venduto n6tFdoiiato! Jwi ;U f-:u
Bis dat 1 qui sito' da't i· 11 • i·i 1 ,,,., ,,,Jf: i i· r")Wt i'i' '"'/~i
Bis est gra.tum quod. o~~s~ e~t, si -~it!'o~ off~f~~.J ·y ~~ ;.;of.;
Gratia ab officio, 'quod tri.ora~-'tardatFabest.-1 rrc:. ir.-1 .
?r.:1 . r.! ~::o.J IJJ S~~ _-cf: f:~l·src: i ·1 ~.:·fJ.;·~ :·.t
1

• • • :.: •

THEME cxxvn.-Td ! th~ ' j1turid1d~a; ~yefH~ty£ib:itig%oks
, ' ye·llo'w .· , .,.. . ,, ...... ,,.,.
r· ·''-"'"" . ""'r'J j<v,Jrn
~1r1 r:V:
• · .. .
The mind measures other men's corn by its own bushel.
.T he drunkard, thinks every,1lla.n l~::intg;~c#~g. · :-r~.:Tri'e
Insanire me aiunt ultro cum ipsi insaniunt.*Plautus.
Insanus omnis furer.e credit creteros/ .; ::Fi: ~:) .toq cidT
Ut quisque est vir optiinus, ita . difficilJifue ::esse:._bJios __
improbos suspica.tu~;T-;-Gicero. if! •: " -,:1 :,. :::; [1 i;r"; thr~ Itiv fJ
.
Quisque alios sui ~imile13 pu_tat;.1,;:H rs '::'.::-.''Iii :-1t~;hot'.J
Qui sibi male conscii, alios suspicantur.
Malum consci~i;itia, i;iusp~c,iosu,m , frtci~.-fJi~,e'.,o• ) ~; tci rrT
Metiri se quemque s:u.~ . Jl;lj:>dulo, ~~ . . peqe,: ~~r.~ ~~t.I-Iorace.
· .: . '· :
. ,! ,'{ . 'rr:::;:'.J oO
Omnia bona bonis~.
Mala tnens, m~l~~ a-n~~~s:,;.
. : :.·,; "' .'._.' . :'/,. ,~~ i;:}rr
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THEME CXXIV.-Every man is the architect of his own
fortune.

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SUBJECTS FOR THEMES. ,..

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SUBJECTS FOR THEMES.

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CXXXII.-Opportunity mak~s the thief.. . ..,. ;
How oft the sight of ~eans to. do ill de_e~
Makes deeds ill done.-Shakspeare.
Alrnnclon fait larron . ·
La comodita fa l'uomo ladro.
Ad area apcrta il giusto pecca.
J>uerta abierta al santo tiento.
Occasio facit furem.

'J.'HEUE

THEME CXXVIII.-Ill got, ill spent.
Treasures of wickedness profit nothing.-Prov. x. 2.
De mal e venn l'agneau et a mal retourne le peau.
Acquerir mechamment <lepenser sottement.
Vien presto consumato l'ingiustamente acquisato.
Male parta, male dilabuntur.-Plautus.
Mala lucra requalia damnis.
De male qnresitis, vix gaudet tertius hrercs.-Juvenal.

rr m~~rn

f1XXXTTT .-What can't be cured,. must be endured.
Make the Lest of a bad job.
Ln. patience est amere, mais le fruit en est doux. ·
"../
l1eve fit quod beue fertur onus.- Ovid.
Levins fit patientia quid corrigere nefas.-Horace.
In re mala ani~o si bono utare, juvat.

THEME CXXIX.-Experience is the best master.
Experience without learning is wiser than learning
without experience.
Experience teaches foois ; and he is a fool indeed that
does not profit by it.
Las experiencia es madre de la sciencia.
Experientia stultos docet.
Experientia optimus est magister.
Minus valent prrecepta quam experimen ta.- Quintilian.

'

THEME CXXXI.-Adversity tries friends.
A friend is known in adversity.
On connait l'ami au besoin.
Amicus certus in re incerta cernitur.-Oicero:
In angustis amici boni apparent.

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CXXXIV.-Cut you~ coat '" a c~ording to Y?ur
cloth. ·
Stretch your arm no fm:ther thu,n your sleeve will reach.
Little barks must keep near shore,
..
Larger ones may venture more. ·
'
Selon le pain ii faut le couteau.
,.
- Selan ta bourse gouverne ta bouche. .
Fou est, qui plus depend que sa rente ne vant. ,. .-• '.. ,
·
.;
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N oi facciamo la spese secondo 1' entrata.
Rapiamus occasionem de die.
Ex quovis ligno non fit Mercurius.
,
Parvum parva .decent.-. Horace.
, , , - ·n 'i ,.1, 1 '\':'t /". ,
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Messe ten us propria vive.-Persius. . • · :_ ·. t.-;1, ·t:; ;~, ~
Cui multum est ·piperis, etia~ ~l~~ih~? :~~~,~ c~~.
·~;
THEME

THEME CXXX.-Even the wicked hate wickedness in
others.
The pot calls the kettle " black-face."
Le renard preche aux ponies.
II viti altrui dispiace alli stessi vitiosi.
Clodius accusat mrnchos.-Cicero.

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SUBJECTS FOR THEMES,

Sump~~~. cens~m ne superat.-Plautus.

Si non possis quod velis, velis id quod possis.
Ne te qmesiveris extra.-I-Iorace.

SUBJECTS FOR THEME_S\ l

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THEME cxxxv.-· Strength is increased by concord.
The fast faggot is not easily broken.
Auxilia humilia firma consensus facit.
Concordia parvro res crescunt, discordia maximm clilabuntur.-Salfost.
:i U nius dissentione totus consensionis globus clisjectus

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Qm tout conv01te, toutperd . ... ... ~ t ; .. tfdl_. 1 ;1>~~<J , (i <
Qui trop embrasse, mal etreint.
' .;. ·" 1• ;· •rn'i '::.
Chi tutto abbraccia, nulla stringa. ..:, :.,(., i·lt 1 '" " 1 ~ ·A
Camelus desiderans cornua etiam aures perdidit. ' ·
:'\
Qui totum vult, totum perdit.-Pu.bl. Syrus:
THEME CXL.-Kiridness begets kindness. ·
A kind action is never lost.
One good turn deserves another. _,,, · · . •. ,.

sit.-Nepos.

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Un bienfait n'est jamais perdu.
Gratia gratiam parit.-Seneca.

THEME CXXXVI.-rro receive gratuities is to lose independence.
Be1~~ficiu~ accipere libertatcm vendere est.

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THEME CXLI.-The crow thinks her own bird the fa~est •.
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Every child is beautiful in a mother's eyes. ' - ii · :/ :
A tons oiseaux leur nids sont beaux. "
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THEME CXXXVII.-At a great bargain pause awhile.
Great bargains are great pickpockets.
~r.;· l3bn"h1a1:che ti;e l'argent hors de la bourse.
.1.Q uanti quanti male emitur quocl non necesse est I
io.l.: , , . J

A ogni grolla paion' belli i ~uoi grollatini..~ .
Ad ogni uccello, suo nido e bello . . ' . 1'

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THEME CXLII.-N ew brooms sweep clean. ,..
C'est un balai neuf.

-Pliny.

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Asinus asino, sus sui, pulcher.
Sua cuique res est carissima.

THEME CXXXVIII.· .Where honour ceases, knowledge
decreases.
Honos alit artes.-O~cero.
Quis ~µin;L virtutem amplectitnr ipsarn pr:mma si
tollas ?
·
.•.
Prremia bonorum 1~alorumqne bonos ac maJos fociunt.

THEME CXXXIX.-Grasp all, lose all.
Covetousness always comes home empty-handed.
Qui trop em poignc rien ne' trcint.

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SUBJEC'fS FOR THEMES.

THEME CXLIV.-The sweetest wine makes the tartest
vinegar.
A soured friend is your bittel'est foe.
Fort.e ~H'· a,ceto di vin dulce • .
Corruptio optimi, est pessima.
THEME CXL V.-We readily believe what we wish.
Our wishes are fathers to our thoughts.
Fere libenter homines id quod volunt, credunt.Ccesar.

Quod volnmus, facile credimns.
Non facile credimus, qu::e nolumns.

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THEME CXLVI.-Prudence will thrive where genius
would starve.
'An ounce of .discretion is better than tt pound of wit.
Vis consilii expers mole ruit sua.
N ullurn N umen a best, si sit Prudentia.
Gutta prudenti::e pr::e dolio sapienti::e.
Robori prudentia pr::estat.
Auriga virtutum Prudentia.
I

THEME CXL VIL-Flattery is a honeyed sting.
;'The ' first act of flattery is Comedy ; the last, rrragedy.
Chi te fa pin carezza che non vuole,
.. 0 inga?nato t' ha, o ingannar te vuole.
P~ssimU:ni genus inimicorum laud.antes.
N ullam in amicitiis pestem esse majorcm qrntm adulationem, mihi vidctur.-Oicero. ·
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THEME .CLI.-E.very. grai~ h~th i~s . bran'.
E~ery ]Jean hathi~s black. : ,' ; · ,
; ,
Every black must have its white, ~nd every sweet its .
. r ;_ ,.
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sour.
Ogni grano ha la sua semola.
Vitiis
nemo
sine
nascitur.. Horac~.· . ,' .,.i ..
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Non est alaud~ ~ii;tf3 ~ri.st.a. . : .·

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SUDJECTS FOR THEMES.

Upstarts are always arrogant.
Forget the dunghill whence they grew,
And think themselves they know not who.-Gay.
II n'est. orgueil que de pauvre enrichi.
Il villan nobilitado non conosce il parentado.
Asperius nihil est humili cum surgit in altum.Olaudian.

'l'HEME CLIII.-A bird in the hand is worth two in the
bush.
.A. pound in the pocket is worth two in the book.
He who leaves what's sure for chance,
\:\Then the fool pipes may go and dance.
Mieux vaut un tencz que dcux vous l'aurez.
E meglio aver oggi un uovo che dimani una gallina.
Prreseutem mulgeas, quid fugientem insequeris?
Spem pretio non emam.-Terence.

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It ~ay : chan~e it1: , a1;1 4our, ,what would not come.~m . .
an age~
.· · ·
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. Accas~~ in un .pu~to quel che ~cm a,~casca in cento anru. >!
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THEME

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~a~Y.. a ,s~.i~ '.tw,~~ ~q~--~.uP, •~n~ jh,e -YJ?~~ ·. -~

Thoug~ ~PE) bird;~, ~t ~:~_e .1n~:~r.>~ . , .. ,'

Itmaygetawayy ·,,. :,,, 1:, _ , _ , "
De la main a la bo~c~e . ~~ ·P, e.~rEl~µy~~t)~ ..~o~pe., ; -1· i ,
Entre la boucJ_ie et l~.cuillier, ~ : ; n;;1i-r·F.-:'L
<: -Vient 'souvent grand qestour~1.er,
.. , ·".:· r
Multa cadunt int~r ·c~licein ~uprehla~ue ' labra.~ '... . .

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Inter os atque escam multa mtervenmnt.' . ·.- "" ,. ,...T]•
:; . ::·F\r:f r·- J~ ';c".~n :.1·;;. ;'o[ L"::1'..1·\s~·r'i · ·..
'"~- '. ~1.~,:.;<,,' ' .H.l..

THEME CL V.-The laziest people take the most trouble.

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He who's too lazy his scythe to wlict,
Must spend for nought both strength and sweat.
Nihil gravius audenti, quarn ignavo patiendum.Tacitus.
Srepe Iaboriosior est negligentia, quam diligentia.-

Oicero.

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. . : · Plus enim fa ti ,v alet hora .bemgru, '· ~ · ; · : ; - ·
. Qua~ site Ven~r~~. cou1mm;1.det epistola, Ma,rti.-_,Horaqe.

Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let
the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man
glory in his riches.-Jer. ix. 23.
Cursus non est levis.

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There is a tide in the affairs of men,
Which taken _at the flood leads on to fortune.

THEME CL1V.-The race is not to the swift, nor tho
battle to the strong.-Eccles. ix. 11.

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THEME ' CL VII . .:.

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Cl1IX.-He 'v,~19 .~a,nts ~9:'. ·~:e11t,,rW~Aog , ~~'~4~~~!.~~ -~
·
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- '+~·.r-i" c..;.·-=;=:·_
go f ar, f or a Stick ." '" " ' , .J... ' ,,'""'.,
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c.:..;.:£;~l fu" v ·•h) , -="-"-He wh.~ w~~ts to .thrpw ·a sta~~~~:iu~,];:~~
May .pick' one ·up m unco lane. - : ,. · - -~. ~-.··:-:=;::...:..~

THEME

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SUBJECTS FOR THEMES.
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recko~ingi ~ake'io~~:~n;j~f~::~

Qui veut battre son chien trouve assez de batons.

. THEME CLXIV.-Short
'l'onch my pocket and our friendship ends.
, . , .' "'\.:~
Les hons comptes font les hons amis: :~
'·
A vieux cornptes, nouvelles disputes. ' ·
. '"
Qonto speSSO e amicizie lunga.
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Amicitiam tuetor qui ~ecte rationes supputat.-Plautus_.
.£qua lanx requum facit amicum.

Male facere qui vult nusquam non causam invenit.-·

Publ. Mirnnermus.

THEME CLX.-Economy is the philo§pphcr's stone.
This is of growing rich the art,
Of every penny save a part.
Magnum est vectigal parsimonia.-Gicero.

. THEME
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'I IIEME CLXI.-Forgiveness is the noblest revenge.
Revenge your wrongs as Christians do,
Forgive them and forget them, too.
Delle ingiurie il remedio e le scordarsi.
Infirmi est animi exig uique voluptas Ultio.-Juvenal.
Omnem memoriam discordiarum oblivione sempiterna
_delendam censui.- Cice1·0.
Ignoscito alteri srepe alteri, nunquam tibi.-Publ. Syrus.
Nihil obli viscere nisi inj urias.- Cicero.

TttE¥:1lls: .

CLXV.-G~od win~ needs no ~ush.

Where merit is empty the ven~or must puff, , ~·
Where merit is plenty the merit's enough. ' . '
Vino bono non opus est hedera . . ' . ; :.... -, .:''i,

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THEME OLXIII.-Practical jokes are the follies of a
vulgar mind.
Iforlar do rnanos, burlar de villanos.
Gico di mano, gico villano.
V appre, ·ludos aliquem facere.-Plautus.

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THE1>r'E CLXVI ..-Variety is charmin?. . ·. 1 • <:.·~ ·~~ •
Pleasure alwnys hunts for novelty. ; '.... ·~ r~·; .. •,.
Di novello tutto par bello. ·
·' ·'·'
· . . . ·· · ·: '. :?:1' :.
Est natura · hominum riovitatis avida.-._Pliny• .· ,,, .i\.
Optat ephippia bos'.-1101:ac~:

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THEME OLXII.-The offender never pardons.
'l'he wronger you may plainly see,
•
Because most angry he will be.
Obi t' ha o:ffeso non ti perdona mai.
Proprium humani ingenii est odisse quern Ireseris.
Vultu offensionem conjectaverat.-Tacitus.

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THEME CLXVII.-Honour to w~o~ ;·. h~n~u~•.~s .d~e. ;
Rom. xiii. 7. 1; · •1: · T ·
· · •
· ' '
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• When a horse has won the cup, .
• Let the umpire give it up. ,· ; , ·.·
A chaque saint sa chandelle. .
,. ,. . ·;1 1 • • r
Palmam qui meruit, ferat.
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Bene meritos honora. 1
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THEME CLXVIII.· Time brings all things to_the light. .
Time is a great tell-tale.
· . . . . , .,. \\ i
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La verita e figlia 'del t~mpo.
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'//L Tempus omnia .revelat. ' · . . . . . .. • ·· : '· • •
Quicquid · sub terra sit, ·~n ·, a~ri.~.~!11;,,~P~,~-~~f~e}~~ ~!~~·:Horace.
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CLXIX.-N ever wear a brown hat in Friesland.
At Rome do as they do at Rome.
'l'o ape a singularity,
Is proof of great vulgarity.
Bisogna urlar co' lupi.
, Nihil odiosius atfectatione.-Quintilian.

THEME

THEME CLXXIII.-No man is always wise.
.
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The .bench would think it very. odd, ·~ .; ;~ J.:.:::~ ;.z~
. "'' If judg'es ~ight: b.ot sometilnes 'nod. . '' " ·~~ ... ···. :=:-~
The le.~rriecf' c&u~sef ko~~ti~es. h~ngs hfa ,w ig .upon the
'>
block. jc :::;>;" :.'.' ., <J: ' '. :.;:,:!,'..· ":;' ' , .:~ :~\'; ' ~'.'.~ ~· r ' . ~ .~
N emo mortalium sapit' omnibus b9,ris.~Horace. - .-" F ~~ :
Dulce est desipere in loco,.~H~rate: '·'-.-. J. . : . _
.~:·e;.,~~- ~
Quandoque bonus dorrriita~ ~~~er~s~~Hora,ce. -~
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THEME CLXX.-Train up a child in the way he should
go, and when he is old he will not depart from it Prov. xxii. 6.
'
As the twig is bent the tree's inclined.
Ce qui poulain prend en jeunesse,
II le continue en vieillesse.
Adeo in teneris consucsccrc multnm est.
Argilla quidvis imitaberis uda.-1-Iorace.
Tune formandi mores cum adhuc mtas · tune optimis
assuescendum cum ad quidvis cereum e~t ingenium.Erasmus.
Qum prmbet lmtas arbor spatiantibus umbras
Quo posita est primum tempore virga fuit :
Tune poterat manibus summa tellure revelli
Nunc stat in immensum viribus acta suis.~Ovid.

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THEME CL:XXIV:,:..:......Look '. before ~you l~ap;:;j;: .:: " ~r ! :' •"1 · · --·=:::.~
Never buy a pig in a poke.
"; ~; 1 1.:Li ,,,: i t: ;-·; li::il !_
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Drop the candle first to show,
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If you may~rust yourse,l f bel9w. , ..: : • , " .,,r•• · .1
· :· -Ne i ~~tfa ' tori'Clbigt ~titieati:'tr6p-· etrpi(';~· :.;:(':: . i..._ .. ... ·• ...- ~

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Meli~sr:e~t,; cai-y;~~~\se~p.~r;,_q~~ffiiPll:ti~L~~~~(:~~:-yr --:-·

--·- · ·~
Galeatu:o:i:. s,ero , ~u,~1~1 pre,.m~e,t ..l ,~ . f~pe~al.,1 :: ~ '.~rn) L
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. ~ ; ~ ·: ~ ;-f ""J • }o ''.f 1I:· :·i· .I r:-i l \~ r rr ~· 1 :'~;) li.ud' LL!·:. d :l-!·:rfJ t:'.~:~_'. ("l '.~ ·:·qf"r
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. :T;Bi~.M.E. CL:X~Y~r'.""7,R,e,J F,~() ,. tl'i~s1 ~·ple,a~e. ~very:'Qody __ _
"" .r ,' ; pl.~;~~rs1P???~d~~. ) r:: c. ·H1 ~:/r1 (!<""') [, , ... ,/ 'l 1 :~_h'I' . · -----_··~
· ' · 'Who wbuld please alf and p1ease himself, too; 0s;;•rff$~
A task undertakes that no, vcreature
,can do., (r.::- ~c:.•,!
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Ftust'ra laborat.,1.'.•.,qW
pi;nniq,u,$ ~1.a ,'*-.r~: .s~p.q~t,. :.-.i··:~:
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THEME CLXXI.-Out of debt out of danger.
Would you be free as England's king?
Then, owe no mortal any thing.
Qui nihil debet lictores non timet.
Intra fortunam q~isque debet manere suam.-Ovid.
THEME CLXXII.-As you sow so must you reap.
As yon brew so must you bake.
As .you make your bed. so you must lie on it.
Qui hon l'achete hon le boit.

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THEME CLXXVI.-Be not a penny w_is~ . a,nd. a pound · - l
foolish. j J :(:,a m l '.i nrwl·;~ '<:.) m/ [Jb ·--:-J( ,l,_!..._~ .:~.i:. ·~~ ; __.· ·~
That penny?s_s0:\r~'dt'.,for jworse' 'thafi~.n~gbt,
· ::-- ~
Which wouldi:H1 us~ · have earned!a :fgrpat.
_ _--~::~
Bonne la ma.ille qui sauve'L M ;denier.ir -:tN\'t :l'F'" , ;:,;1j/~..,2..~-- ·-~:-:::-~
N ecesse est facere sumptum, · qui»t:qtlrorit J' lucnmt.-:_~~~
.•,
,, ;,_>' " ' ' ' n~¥'- 4~ £\ • ~
Plau t.us. " [{ ••'; ':' :"" 1·"t •J' f'.,.f 'l"_, ' 'l')iH
'J f FJ '.1 ;_ 17 ~')'1 G::.I:J.l".!r0!) ]'' ....~ -~\..!.-;:;:;-~-~!
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,Ad mensuram aquam :l?i}Jit;: citra ,mensuram;v).num•'f -~-~- ~
.
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S.UBJE CTS FOR THE MEB. J

SUBJECTS FOR THEMES.

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THEME CLXXVII.-He who shuns his trial acknowledges himself guilty.
!::ij
!

F atetur facinus is qui judiciurn fugit.

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eo111c noL single ~pies
j

D uL iu LtLLLuJious. -S lwl.:spea•re.
U n mnl attire l'an tre.
.A pres perrl re perrl on bien.
Malheur ne vient jamais seul.
Fortuna nulli obesse contenta est semel.
ALiud ex alio malum .

T rrn;\IE CL X XIX.- It is good to have two strings to
your bow.
With two good anchors yonr ship sl1ould ride,
If one slioulJ Lrcak, the oLL.er may liic.le.
The mouse that hath but one hole is easily caught.
La som:is qui n'a qu'une entree est incontinent happee.
Tris~o e quel topo che non ha ch' un sol pertuggio per
salvarsi.
Mus non uni :fidit antro.
Duabus anchoris sis fultus.-Plautus.
HEME CLXXX.-Silence gives consent.
He who does not say " N ay,' 7
We presume to mean " .Aye. 77
Assez consent qui ne dit mot.
Chi tace confessa.
Qui tacet consentire videtur, inquiunt jurisconsulti.
Tacent, satis Iaudant.-Terence.

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rfHKME CLXXXII.-One good turn deserves another. )
Claw we l will claw thee.-Scotch.
Q ui plaisir fai t plaisir requiert.
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:B-,ricantern refri ca.
Pro Delo Calaurium.
Da mihi mutm.J-m testimonium.
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THEME CL~XXI.~Money makes the tiiate .t o ·go. : :·•: ::Jii./J, > ::J:
Didi us bought Rome:for gold;: t:"'..-; ti~i~ ·:; - H
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Contra lucrµni ~il ,valet . ,L . .
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• Pecuniffi obediunt omnia: ·: ·
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THEME CLXX.YIII.-Jt nPver m i n ~ hn t it ponrs.

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'l'1IEME CL X X X III.. B etween two stools one comes to
tlrn gronnrl .

Yo.ur work will be fin ished, if trusted to one;
lf entrusted to two, it will never be doHe.
Tout est foit negligcmment Et ou l'un l'autre s'attend. ,
Assis entre denx selles le cul terre;
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Dum geminis
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SUBJECTS FOR THEMES.

CLXXXV.-Make a virtue of necessity.
What must be done, if not a dunce,
You'll do untasked, and do at once .
. II savio fa della necessita virtu.
Chi non puo fare come voglia faccia come puo.
Chi non puo quel che vuol, quel che puo voglia
Quoniam id fieri quod ' vis non potest, velis id quod
possis.-· Terence.
Persuasione cape, non vi.
THEME

CLXXXVI.-Either say something better than
silence, or keep silent.
Be checked for silence, never taxed for .speech.-

THEME

S!wlcspeare .

.Audito multa, sed loquere pauca.
Silentium est quandoque eligibilius sermone.
Vir sapit qui pauca loquitur.
Eximia est virtus prrestare silentia.-· Ovid.

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CLXXXVII.-One swallow does not make a
summer.
You cannot fell a giant oak
By giving it a single stroke.
Una hirundo non facit ver.

· Tm°!ME

CLXXXVIII.-.A worg to the wise .
.A nod is as good as a wink to a blind horse .
.A bon entendeur il ne faut que clemie parole .
.A buon intenclitor poche parole.·
Dictum sapienti sat est.-Terence.
Verbum sat sn,pienti.

THEME

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SUBJECTS FOR THEMES.

THEME CXCIV~-Praise is the hire of virtue.
Fame is the perfume of good actions.-Socrates.
Virtus eRt per se ipsa laudabilis, et sine qua nihil
laudari potest.'- Cicero.

TnEME CXCV.-How beautiful upon the mountains are
. the feet of him that bringeth good tidings.-Isa. Iii. 7.
Good news docth good like rneL1icinc.
Bonnes nouvelles adoucissent le sang.
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THEME CXCVI.-Live within yoiir means.
Intra fortunam quisque debet nrnnerc suam.-Ovid.
THEME CXCVII.-The useful and the beautiful are
never apart.-Periander.
Venus, the goddess of beauty, was the wife of Vulcan,
the artist of every excellent work.

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In eadam re, utilitas et turpitudo esse non potest.Cicero.
TH E~IE

CXCVIII.-Poor and conten t is rid1
· enmigh.-Shakspeare.

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Is maxime divitiis utitnr, qni minime divitiis indiget.
-Seneca.

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THEME CXCIX.
Worth makes the man, and "want of it the fellow;
1.'he rest is all but len.ther and prunella.-Pope.
Magnos homines virtutc mctimur non. fortuna.-Nepos.

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