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35

to consider himself as insignificant in the or. In our several stations, we are all sent ers in the vineyard of our heavenly Father. s work allotted,his talent committed to him; ovement of which he may, in one way or promote virtue, and be useful in the world. ise should be preserved under proper subprinciple of duty. In itself, it is a useful

but when allowed to extend its influence s the whole character, and produces guilt, ery. To be entirely destitute of it, is a derned by it, is depravity. The proper adveral principles of action in human nature deserves our highest attention. For when becomes either too weak or too strong, it fr virtue and our happiness.

d passions of a vicious man, having once ited sway, trample him under their feet. feel that he is subject to various, contraerious masters, who often pull him differsoul is rendered the receptacle of many rering dispositions; and resembles some barcantoned out into different principalities, ually waging war on one another.

werty, disappointment, and shame are far every instance, the unavoidable doom of man. more frequently the offspring of his own ce. Intemperance engenders disease, sloth ty, pride ereates disappointments, and diss to shame. The ungoverned passions of em into a thousand follies; their follies into heir crimes into misfortunes.

eflect on the many distresses which abound in on the scanty proportion of happiness which ere allowed to enjoy on the small difference versity of fortune makes on that scauty proporrprising, that envy should ever have been a ssion among men, much more that it should led among Christians. Where so much is sufumon, little room is left for envy. There is ion for pity and sympathy, and inclination to as

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first setting out in life, when yet unacquainted, world and its snares, when every pleasure enchant smile, and every shines with the gloss

novelty; let us beware of the seducing appearances whi surround us; and recollect what others have suffered fr the power of headstrong desire. If we allow any passi even though it be esteemed innocent, to acquire an absol ascendant, our inward peace will be impaired. But if i which has the taint of guilt, take early possession of anind, we may date, from that moment, the ruin of ourtn quillity.

Every man has some darling passion, which gener affords the first introduction, to vice. The irregular g ifications into which it occasionally seduces him, appeare der the form of venial weaknesses; and are indulged, in beginning, with scrupulousness and reserve. But, by lo practice, these restraints weaken, and the power of h grows. One vice brings in another to its aid. By a sort of ural affinity they connect and entwine themselves together their roots come to be spread wide and deep over all the s

SECTION X.

WHENCE arises the misery of this present world? I not owing to our cloudy atmosphere, our changing seas and inclement skies. It is not owing to the debility of bodies, or to the unequal distribution of the goods of fort Amidst all disadvantages of this kind, a pure, a stedfast enlightened mind, possessed of strong virtue, could enjoy self in peace, and smile at the impotent assaults of fort and the elements. It is within ourselves that misery fixed its seat. Our disordered hearts, our guilty passi our violent prejudices, and misplaced, desires, are the struments of the trouble which we endure. These shar the darts which adversity would otherwise point in against us.

While the vain and the licentious are revelling int midst of extravagance and riot, how little do they think those scenes of sore distress, which are passing at that ment throughout the world! multitudes struggling for poor subsistence, to support the wife and the children whe they love, and who look up to them with, eager eyes for th bread which they can hardly procure; multitudes groan under sickness in desolate cottages, untended and unmo ed; many apparently in a better situation of life pini away in secret with concealed griefs; families weeping the beloved friends whom they have lost, or in all the ness of anguish, bidding those who are just expiring th adieu.

Never adventule hastens to an approach to what is evil. Familiarize not yourselves with it, in the slightest instances. without fear. Listen with reverence to every reprehension of conscience; and preserve the most quick and accurate sensibility to right and wrong. If ever your moral impressions begin to decay, and your natural abhorrence of guilt to lessen, you have ground to dread that the ruin of virtue is fast approaching.

By disappointments and trials the violence of our passions. is tamed, and our minds are formed to sobriety and reflection. In the varieties of life, occasioned by the vicissitudes of worldly fortune, we are inured to habits both of the active and the suffering virtues. How much soever we con plain of the vanity of the world, facts plainly show, that if its vanity were less, it could not answer the purpose of salutary discipline. Unsatisfactory as it is, its pleasures are still too apt to corrupt our hearts. How fatal then must the conscnences have been,had it yielded us more complete enjoyment? If, with all its troubles, we are in danger of being too much attached to it, how entirely would it have seduced our affections, if no troubles had been mingled with its pleasures? In seasons of distress or difficulty, to abandon ourselves to dejection, carries no mark of a great or a worthy mind. Instead of sinking under trouble, and declaring "that his soul is weary of life," it becomes a wise and a good man, in the evil y with firmness to maintain his post; to bear up against the storm; to have recourse to those advantages which, in the worst of times, are always left to integrity and virtue; and never to give up the hope that better days may yet arise.

How many young persons have at first set out in the world with excellent dispositions of heart; generous,. charitable, and humane; kind to their friends, and amiable among all with whom they had intercourse! And yet, how often have we seen all those fair appearances unhappily blasted in the progress of life, merely through the influence of loose and corrupting pleasures; and those very persons, who promised once to be blessings to the world, sunk down, in the end, to be the burden and nuisance of society.

The most common propensity of mankind, is, to store. futurity with whatever is agreeable to them; especially in those periods of life, when imagination is lively, and hope is ardent. Looking forward to the year now beginning, they are ready to promise themselves much, from the foundations prosperity which they have laid; from the friendships

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; and from the

and connexions which they sh Reader. plans of conduct which they have formed. Alas! how deceitful do all these dreams of happiness often prove! While many are saying in secret to their hearts, "To-morrow shall be as this day, and more abundantly," we are obliged in return to say to them; "Boast not yourselves of to-morrow: for you know not what a day may bring forth!"

CHAP. II.

NARRATIVE PIECES.

SECTION 1.

No Rank or Possessions can make the guilty Mind happy. DIONYSIUS, the tyrant of Sicily, was far from being hap py, though he possessed great richies, and all the pleasures which wealth and power could procure. Damocles, one of his flatterers, deceived by those specious appearances of happiness, took occasion to compliment him on the extent of his power, his treasures, and royal magnificence and declared that no monarch had ever been greater or happier than Dionysius. Hast thou a mind, Damocles," says the king, "to taste this happiness; and to know, by experience, what the enjoyments are, of which thou hast so high an idea ?" Damocles, with joy, accepted the offer. The king ordered that a royal banquet should be prepared, and a gilded sofa, covered with rich embroidery, placed for his favourite. Side boards, loaded with gold and silver plate of immense value, were arranged in the apartment. Pages of extraordinary beauty were ordered to attend his table, and to obey his com mands with the utmost readiness, and the most profound submission. Fragrant ointments, chaplets of flowers, and rich perfumes, were added to the entertainment... The table was loaded with the most exquisite delicacies of every kind. Damocles, intoxicated with pleasure, fancied himself among superior beings. But in the midst of all this happiness, as he lay indulging himself in state, he sees let down from the ceiling, exactly over his head, a glittering sword hung by a single hair. The sight of impending destruction put a speedy end to his joy and revelling. The pomp of his attendance, the glitter of the carved plate, and the delicacy of the viands, cease to afford him any pleasure. He dreads to stretch forth his hand to the table. He throws off the gar

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