Glistening, glis's'ning, sparkling with light. -Whate'er. From what derived? What does it im port? Thine own reflection, the image of thyself thrown back, or reflected. Wind, motion of the air, direction of the blast from a particular point. .Foam, agitated waters, froth, white substance which fermentation gathers on the surface of liquors. Nor less, &c. The power that produces the calmness of a summer's day is not less remarkable, than that which "rides on the whirlwind, and directs the storm." Noon of night. What time is intended by this expression? Whence its propriety? Read thy name, &c. Whose name? In what sense is this true ? Drinks. What figure is here used? Mercy's beaming car. Give the literal meaning of the words separately. Give the figurative meaning. Diadem, crown, mark of royalty worn on the head. This couplet implies that the invisible glory of God vastly transcends all that can be seen in the natural world. "How little a portion can be known of Him!" .Radiant, shining, emitting rays. What is meant by radiant orb ? Tipped, to cover the top, end, or extremities. With gold, golden color. -.Sight. Spell wearied, shrinks, bright. Shadow, imperfect and faint representation. In what sense may Deity be seen in all these objects ? be heard in the storm, wind, &c.? They are proofs of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness, such as belong only to God. What is an allegory? Does it often occur? See App. Who was Seneca? Did he teach the Christian mor ality? -Ripened, full, mellow, ready for use, mature. Reflections, thoughts, censures, throwing back. of man, the incessant fluctuation of his wishes, the gradual change of his disposition to all external objects, and the thoughtlessness with which he floats along the stream of time, I sunk into a slumber amidst my meditations, and, on a sudden, found my ears filled with the tumult of labor, the shouts of alacrity, the shrieks of alarm, the whistle of winds, and the dash of waters. My astonishment for a time repressed my curiosity; but soon recovering myself so far as to inquire whither we were going, and what was the cause of such clamor and confusion, I was told that we were launching into the ocean of life; that we had already passed the straits of infancy, in which multitudes have perished, some by the weakness and fragility of their vessels, and more by the folly, perverseness, or negligence, of those who undertook to steer them; and that we were now on the main sea, abandoned to the winds and billows, without any other means of security than the care of the pilot, whom it is always in our power to choose, among great numbers that offer their direction and assistance. I then looked round with anxious eagerness: and, first turning my eyes behind me, saw a stream flowing through flowery islands, which every one that sailed along seemed to behold with pleasure; but no sooner touched them, than the current, which though not noisy or turbulent, was yet irresistible, bore him away. Beyond these islands, all was darkness; nor could any of the passengers describe the shore at which he first embarked. Before me, and on each side, was an expanse of waters violently agitated, and covered with so thick a mist, that the most perspicacious eyes could see but a little way. It appeared to be full of rocks and whirlpools; for many sunk unexpectedly while they were courting the gale with full sails, and insulting those whom they had left behind. So numerous, indeed, were the dangers, and so thick the darkness, that no caution could confer security. Yet there were many, who, by false intelligence betrayed their followers into whirlpools, or by violence pushed those whom they found in their way against the rocks. The current was invariable and insurmountable: but Fluctuation, changes, motion of the waves. .Thoughtlessness, state of being without thought. Stream of time. From what object is the metaphor taken ? Alacrity, sprightly movement, cheerfulness, readiness. Shrieks, shrèèks, cries of anguish or horror. Repressed, silenced, crushed, put down. Launching, lånshing. Whence the figure? Straits, difficulties, narrow passages from one sea to another. Fragility, brittleness, easily broken. What is meant by the vessels? Spell perverseness, negligence, ocean. Billows, billos, waves swollen. Who is meant by the pilot ? Direction, dè-rèk'shun. Eagerness, earnestness. Through, thröð, from end to end. Islands. What are islands? Touched, came to, moved. Turbulent, violent, passionate, cross. .Current. What is intended by this? What is meant by the islands? Embarked, went on board the ship. Courting the gale, soliciting the wind. What period of life is here represented? Dangers, dane'jůrs, perils, hazards. Confer, kon-fer, bestow, compare, to discourse with one another. Betrayed, became faithless to, abandoned, delivered up. Followers. Change it into a verb. Which is the primitive ? Against, å-genst'. .Invariable, constant, unalterable. Insurmountable, not to be overcome, invincible. though it was impossible to sail against it, or to return to the place that was once passed, yet it was not so violent as to allow no opportunity for dexterity or courage; since though none could retreat back from danger, yet they might often avoid it by oblique direction. It was, however, not very common to steer with much care or prudence; for, by some universal infatuation, every man appeared to think himself safe, though he saw his consorts every moment sinking around him; and no sooner had the waves closed over them, than their fate and misconduct were forgotten; the voyage was pursued with the same jocund confidence; every man congratulated himself upon the soundness of his vessel, and believed himself able to stem the whirlpool in which his friend was swallowed, or glide over the rocks on which he was dashed; nor was it often observed that the sight of a wreck made any man change his course. If he turned aside for a moment, he soon forgot the rudder, and left himself again to the disposal of chance. This negligence did not proceed from indifference, or from weariness of their present condition; for not one of those who thus rushed upon destruction, failed, when he was sinking, to call loudly upon his associates for that help which could not now be given him: and many spent their last moments in cautioning others, against the folly by which they were intercepted in the midst of their course. Their benevolence was sometimes praised, but their admonitions were unregarded. The vessels in which we had embarked, being confessedly unequal to the turbulence of the stream of life, were visibly impaired in the course of the voyage, so that every passenger was certain, that how long soever he might, by favorable accidents, or by incessant vigilance, be preserved, he must sink at last. LESSON XVII. The same, concluded. This necessity of perishing might have been expected to sadden the gay, and intimidate the daring; at least Passed, påst. Spell opportunity, violent, courage, since. Dexterity, good management, nimbleness, cunning. None, nun, not any one. -.Oblique direction, ob-like', indirect course, not par allel. .Infatuation, madness, being struck with folly. Waves closed over them. What is here meant ? .Congratulated, wished joy to, complimented. -Dashed, driven upon, broken. Sight of a wreck. What does it mean? Chance, tshanse, fortune. Is there any such thing? Sinking. What is understood by this? Intercepted, stopped, interrupted. Had embarked. Are all mankind embarked ? Perishing. From what derived? Sadden. Change it into an adjective-into a nouninto an adverb. Intimidate, frighten, dishearten, deprive of courage. |