er's burdens; to rejoice with those who rejoice, and to weep with those who weep; to please every oue his neighbor for his good; to be kind and tender hearted; to be pitiful and courteous; to support the weak, and to be patient towards all men. BLAIR CHAPTER VI. PATHETIC PIECES. SECTION I. TRIAL AND EXECUTION OF THE EARL OF STRAFFORD, WHÒ THE Earl of Strafford defended himself against the accusations of the house of Commons, with all the presence of mind, judgment, and sagacity, that could be expected from innocence and ability. His children were placed be side him, as he was thus defending his life, and the cause of his royal master. After he had, in a long and eloquent speech, delivered without premeditation, confuted all the accusations of his enemies, he thus drew to a conclusion :"But, my Lords, I have troubled you too long: longer than I should have done, but for the sake of these dear pledges which a saint in heaven has left me." Upon this he paused; dropped a tear; and looked upon his children; and preceeded.- "What I forfeit for myself is a trifle; that my indiscretions should reach my posterity, wounds me to the heart Pardon my infirmity. Something I should have added, but I am not able: and therefore 1 let it pass. And now my Lords, for myself. I have long been taught, that the afflictions of this life are overpaid by that eternal weight of glory, which awaits the innocent. And so, my Lords, even so, with the utmost tranquillity, I submit myself to your Judgment, whether that judgment be life or death, not my will, but thine, O God, be done!" His eloquence and innocence induced those judges te He pity, who were, the most zealous to condemn him. The king himself went to the house of Lords, and spoke for some time in his defence; but the spirit of vengeance, which had been chained for eleven years, was now roused; and noth ing but his blood could give the people sat satisfaction. was condemued by both houses of parliament; and nothing remained but for the king to give his consent to the bill of attainder. But in the present commotions, the cousent of the king would very easily be dispensed with; an imminent danger night attend his refusal. Charles however, who loved Strafford tenderly, hesitated, and seemed reluctant; trying every expedient to put off so dreadful an office, as that of signing the warrant for his execution. While he continued in this agitation of mind and state of suspense. his doubts were at last silenced by an act of great magnauimity in the condemned lord. He received a letter from that unfortunate nobleman, desiring that his life might be made a sacrifice to obtain reconciliation between the king and his people: adding that he was prepared to die; and that to a willing mind there could be no injury. This instance of noble generosity was but ill repaid by his master, who complied with his reHe consented to sign the fatal bill by commission quest. and Strafford was beheaded on Tower hill; behaving with all that composed dignity of resolution, which was expected from his character. SECTION II. GOLDSMITH AN EMINENT INSTANCE OF TRUE FORTITUDE OF MIND, ALL who have been distinguished as servants of God, or benefactors of men; all who, in perilous situations, have acted their part with such honor as to render their names illustrious through succeeding ages, have been eminent for fortitude of mind. Of this we have one conspicuous example in the apostle Paul, whom it will be instructive for us to view in a remarkable occurrence of his life. After hav ing long acted as the apostle of the Gentiles, his mission called him to go to Jerusalem, where he knew that he was to encounter the utmost violence of his enemies. Just before he set sail be called together the elders of his favorite church at Ephesus; and, in a pathetic speech, which does great honor to his character, gave them his last farewell Deeply affected by their knowledge of the certain dangers to which he was exposing himself, all the assembly were filled with distress, and melted into tears. The circumstances were such, as might have conveyed dejection even into a resolute mind; and would have totally overwhelmed the feeble. "They all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, aud kissed him; sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they should see his face no more." What were then the sentiments, what was the language of this great and good man? Hear the words which spoke his firm and undaunted mind. "Behold, I go bound in the spirit, to Jeru salem, not knowing the things that shall befal me there; save that the Holy Spirit witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me; neither count I my life dear to myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God." There was uttered the voice, there breathed the spirit, of a brave and a virtuous man. Such a man knows not what it is to shrink from danger when conscience points out his path. In that path he is determined to walk, let the consequences be what they may. This was the magnanimous behavior of that great apostle, when he had persecution and distresses full in view. Attend now to the sentiments of the same excellent man, when the time of his last suffering approached; and remark the majesty, and the ease with which he looked on death. "I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith. Hence forth there is Jaid up for me a crown of righteousness." How many years of life does such a dying moment overbalance; who would not choose, in this manner, to go off the stage, with such a song of triumph in his mouth, rather than prolong his existence through a wretched old age, stained with sin and shame. SECTION III. BLAIR. THE GOOD MAN'S COMFORT IN AFFLICTION. THE religion of Christ not only arms us with fortitude against the approach of evil; but supposing evils to fall upon us with their heaviest pressure, it lightens the load by many consolations to which others are strangers. While bad men trace, in the calamities with which they are visit ed, the hand of an offended sovereign, christians are taught to view them as the well intended chastisements of a mer, citul father. They hear amidst them, that still voice which a good conscience brings to their ear: "Fear not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God." They apply to themselves the comfortable promises with which the gospel abounds. They discover in these the happy issue. decreed to their troubles; and wait with patience till prov idence shall have accomplished its great and good designs.-In the mean time, devotion opens to them its blessed and ho ly sanctuary; that sanctuary in which the wounded heart is healed, and the weary mind is at rest; where the cares of the world are forgotten, where its tumults are hushed, and its miseries disappear; where greater objects open to our view than any which the world presents; where a more serene sky shines, and a sweeter and calmer light beams on the afflicted heart. In those moments of devotion, a pious man, pouring out his wants and sorrows to an almighty supporter, feels that he is not left solitary and forsaken in a vale of woe. God is with him; Christ and the Holy Spirit are with him; and, though he should be bereaved of every friend on earth, he can look up in heaven to a friend that will never desert him. SECTION IV. BLAIR THE CLOSE OF LIFE. WHEN We contemplate the close of life; the termination of man's designs and hopes; the silence that now reigos among those who, a little while ago, were so busy or so gay; whe can avoid being touched with sensations at once awal and tender? What heart but then warms with the glow of humanity? In whose eyes does not the tear gather on revolving the fate of passing and short lived man? Behold the poor man who lays down at last the burden of his wearisome life. No more shall he groan under the load of poverty and toil. No more shall he hear the insolent calls of the master from whom he received his scanty wages. No more shall be be raised from needful slumbe time renew those ancient connections with virtuous friends, which had been dissolved by death. The prospect of this awakens in the heart, the most pleasing and tender sentiment that perhaps can fill it. in this mortal state. For of all the sorrow which we are here doomed to endure. none is so bitter as that occasioued by the fatal stroke which separates us, in appearance for ever, from those to whom either nature or friendship had intimately joined our hearts.Memory, from time to time, renews the anguish, opens the would which seemed once to have been closed; and by recalling joys that are past and gone, touches.every spring of painful sensibility. In these agonizing moments, how reliev ing the thought, that the separation is only temporary, not eternal; that there is a time to come of reunion with those with whom our happiest days were spent; whose joys and sorrows once were ours; whose piety and virtue cheered and encouraged us; and from whom, after we shall have landed on the peaceful shore where they dwell, no revolutions of nature shall ever be able to part us more? Such is the society of the blessed above. Of such are the multitude composed, who "stand before the throne." SECTION VI. BLAIR THE CLEMENCY AND AMIABLE CHARACTER OF THE No human character exhibited in the records of Scrip ture, is more remarkable or instructive than that of the patriarch Joseph. He is one whom we behold tried in all the vicissitudes of fortune; from the condition of a slave, rising to the ruler of the land of Egypt; and in every station acquiring by his virtue and wisdom, favor with God and man. When overseer of Potiphar's house, his fidelity was proved by strong temptations, which he honorably resisted. When thrown into prison by the artifice of a false woman, bis integrity and prudence soon rendered him conspicuous even in that dark mansion. When called into the presence of Pharaoh, the wise and extensive plan which he formed for Baving the kingdom from the miseries of impending famine, justly raised him to a high station, wherein his abilities were eminently displayed in the public service. But in his whole L |