ourselves with clothing, while every animal receives theirs directly from nature? We may answer this question by saying, that it is for our good. It is, on the one hand, useful to our health, and, on the other, adapted to our way of life. We may, by these means, suit our dress to the different seasons of the year, the climate we live in, the situation and profession we have chosen. Our clothes promote insensible perspiration, so essential to the preservation of life. The necessity of obtaining them for ourselves, exercises the human mind, and has given rise to the invention of many arts; and the labour it requires furnishes subsistence for a number of persons. We have, therefore, great reason to be content with this plan of Providence: let us only take care not to frustrate the designs proposed by it. A good man ought never to glory in the outward ornaments of his body, but rather in the inward qualities of his mind. Pride assumes many different forms. It glories inwardly in the most trifling advantages. And, in regard to the outside, some show their pride under the splendour of silks, gold, and jewels, whilst others hide and nourish it under rags. The good man will equally avoid either extreme. LESSON CXLII. Comparison of Men and Animals. In respect to the happiness resulting from sensual pleasures, animals have many advantages over us. They do not require the clothes, defence, and conveniences we want; nor are they obliged to invent, to learn, and exercise the arts necessary for these purposes. At their birth they bring with them every thing they want, or at least have only to follow the N 3 instinct which is innate in them, to obtain all that can make them happy. This instinct never deceives them: it is a constant sure guide; and as soon as their appetites are satisfied, they are perfectly content, they desire no more. In all these circumstances they have the advantage of man, who must reflect, invent, labour, exercise, and receive instructions, or he would remain in perpetual childhood, and could scarcely procure himself the necessaries of life. His instinct and passions are not sure guides to him. He would be wretched were che to give way to them. Reason alone, and its consequences, make the essential difference between him and the brutes; it supplies all deficiencies; and, in other respects, gives a supe riority to which they can never attain. By means of this faculty, he obtains every necessary convenience, and multiplies the pleasures of sense it ennobles them, and makes them so much the more sensibly enjoyed, as he can render his desires subservient to reason. His soul is capable of pleasures entirely unknown to animals: pleasures which spring from wisdom, science, order, religion, and virtue,sand which infinitely surpass all those of which the senses are the organs. He makes continually new discoveries, acquires further lights, and makes boundless progress in the road.etonperfection and happiness;} whereas the beasts are always confined within their narrow dimits/zonever invent or improve, nor ever rise above other animals of their species. It is reason alone that gives us the superiority over the brute, and it is in this that the excellence of human nature mostly consistsoadTovmake use of our reason in order to en-t noble the pleasures of sense, and to enjoy more and more those that areqintellectual, sodas to improve daily in wisdom and virtue, this is what distinguishes man this is the end for which he was created. Let it then be our constant study to answer this purpose; for we can only beshappy in proportion as we fol low that which reason points out tons as useful and rightest to zondeow bus yılient nuo to arsite gu raz seda lla mentio „modi n. sznai ei doidw somiten. zavispak neve yqqad madı olar *£ (1072 36 $3 LESSON CXLIII. gunstig 956 post by Wu 916 HOT, 5498 1290* hot sa Calculation of Human Life, wird parts THE approaching close of the year leads me to reflections, which, however important they may be, do not always occupy me as they ought. In order to feel more sensibly how short the date of life is, I will examine now the use I have made of the past days; though I have reason to believe it will prove a subject of humiliation to me. I first recal to myself those days it was not in my power to command. How many hours then employed in mere bodily wants? How many more have passed in trifling occupations of no service to the mind? Thus, in slightly looking over the use made of these years, I discover a number of days lost to the immortal soul, which inhabits this body of clay; and, after these deductions, what will remain which I may justly say have been employed for real use bow to 9201 ils easque plouinilai doda Out of 365 days, it is plain that I can scarcely reckon on fifty which I can call my own, as having promoted my eternal happiness. And the little that remains of time, how much do I lose of it by my own fault and weakness? With some, how many days have been sacrificed to vice and folly Perhaps many of those days granted me for reflection, haves been devoted to the world, to vanity, to idleness, and false pleasures. Perhaps they may have been pros? faned by envy, jealousy, slander, and other vices, which betray a heart void of respect for our Maker, and charity to our neighbour Even since God bas made me better, and inspired me with a desire to wallen in his paths, how much time has been irrecoverably}{ lost in thoughtlessness, indifference, doubts, anxiety want of temper, and all those infirmities which are the effects of our frailty and weakness of reason, /* 3 How swiftly does the little space of time we can dispose of fly away! A year passes almost insensibly, and yet a year is of great consequence to a being whose life is reckoned by hours. When we recollect how little of it we may have spent suitably to the purposes of our creation, we might well wish to recal those hours which were ill employed: but it would be in vain. The year, with the good and bad actions which have marked it, are swallowed up for ever in eternity. Forgive us, then, O merciful Father, the faults we have committed; and grant us thy grace in the hour of death, in the day of judgment, and to all eternity. THE END. Printed by Harvey, Darton, & l'a. |