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النشر الإلكتروني

SUGGESTIONS TO INSTRUCTORS, &c. 57

The scriptures ought frequently to be resorted to by teachers, not only for the purpose of laying a foundation for the future well-doing of those committed to them, but as affording some of the most admirable and sublime passages within the scope of human observation.

The writer fully coincides in opinion with Mr. Thomas Sheridan, that the art of elocution should be taught separately from other branches of learning, for it is not to be expected that those who have to instil into the minds of the rising generation information so various, can be always masters of an art, which, to arrive at any thing like perfection in it, requires, independently of natural abilities, the study of many years. It was partly with a view to lighten the labours of teachers in the United States, that this work has met the public eye.

SELECT SENTENCES.

The whole universe is your library; conversation living studies; and remarks upon them are your best tutors.

Learning is the temperance of youth, the comfort of old age, and the only sure guide to honor and preferment.

Quintilian recommends to all parents the timely education of their children, advising to train them up in learning, good manners, and virtuous exercises, since we commonly retain those things in age, which we entertained in our youth.

The great business of a man is to improve his mind and govern his manners.

Aristotle says, that to become an able man in any profession whatever, three things are necessary, which are, nature, study, and practice.

To endure present evils with patience, and wait for expected good with long suffering, is equally the part of the christian and the hero.

Rise from table with an appetite, and you will not be like to sit down without one.

He that covereth a trangression, procureth love; but he that repeateth a matter, separateth very

friends.

It is virtue that makes the mind invincible, and places us out of the reach of fortune, though not out

of the malice of it. When Zeno was told that all his goods were destroyed, why then, said he, fortune hath a mind to make me a philosopher: nothing can be above him that is above fortune; no infelicity can make a wise man quit his ground.

Adversity, overcome, is the highest glory; and willingly undergone, the greatest virtue; sufferings are but the trials of gallant spirits.

If you will have a constant vigorous health, a perpetual spring of youth, use temperance.

It is the glory of a man that hath abundance, to live as reason, not as appetite directs.

It is a Spanish maxim-he who loseth wealth, loseth much; he who loseth a friend, loseth more; but he who loseth his spirits, loseth all.

The discretion of a man deferreth his anger, and it is his glory to pass by a transgression.

Of all passions there is none so extravagant and outrageous as that of anger; other passions solicit and mislead us, but this runs away with us by force, hurries us, as well to our own, as to another's ruin : it falls many times upon the wrong person, and discharges itself upon the innocent instead of the guilty. It spares neither friend nor foe, but tears all to pieces, and casts human nature into a perpetual state of warfare.

Anger may glance into the breast of a wise man, but rests only in the bosom of fools.

Pride is an abomination in the sight of God, and the judgment is just upon us, when the subject of our vanity becomes the occasion of our ruin.

There is no passion so universal, or steals into the heart more imperceptibly, and covers itself under more disguises, than pride; and yet at the same time, there is not any single view of human nature, under its present condition, which is not sufficient to extinguish in us all the secret seeds of pride, and, on the contrary, to sink the soul into the lowest state of humility.

A wise man will desire no more than what he may get justly, use soberly, distribute cheerfully, and live contentedly with.

Nature bids me love myself, and hate all that hurt me; reason bids me love my friend, and hate those that envy me: religion bids me love all, and hate none, and overcome evil with good.

There is no man so contemptible, but who in distress, requires pity. It is inhuman to be altogether insensible of another's misery.

Envy is fixed only on merit; and like a sore eye, is offended with every thing that is bright.

If we knew how little others enjoy, it would rescue the world from one sin-there would be no such thing as envy upon earth.

Never employ yourself to discern the faults of others, but be careful to mend and prevent your

own.

There is an odious spirit in many persons, who are better pleased to detect a fault, than commend a virtue.

The worthiest people are most injured by slanderers; as we usually find that to be the best fruit, which the birds have been pecking at.

A wise man, said Seneca, is provided for occurrences of any kind; the good he manages, the bad he vanquishes; in prosperity he betrays no presumption, in adversity he feels no despondency.

A man cannot be truly happy here, without a well grounded hope of being happy hereafter.

If some are refined, like gold, in the furnace of affliction, there are many more, that, like chaff, are consumed in it. Sorrow, when it is excessive, takes away fervour from piety, vigour from action, health from the body, light from reason. and repose from the conscience

The expectation of future happiness is the best relief of anxious thoughts, the most perfect cure of

melancholy, the guide of life, and the comfort of death.

Fear unruly passions more than the arrows of an enemy, and the slavery of them more than the fetters of a conqueror.

If you be naturally disposed to anger, frequent the company of the patient; by this means, without any labour, you will attain a fit temper; for conversation is of great moment; manners, humours, nay opinions, are thereby insensibly communi

cated.

It is more prudent to pass by trivial offences, than to quarrel for them; by the last you are even with your adversary, but by the first above him.

Passion is a sort of fever in the mind, which always leaves us weaker than it found us.

Conquer your passions: It will be more glorious for you to triumph over your own heart, than it would be to take a citadel.

Defile not your mouth with swearing; neither use yourself to the naming of the Holy One.

He is wealthy enough that wanteth not-he is great enough that is his own master---he is happy enough that lives, to die well. Other things I will not care for, says Judge Hale, nor too much for these, save only for the last, which alone can admit of no immoderation.

Restrain yourself from being too fiery and flaming in matters of argument. Truth often suffers more from the heat of its defenders, than from the argument of its opposers. And nothing does reason more right, than the coolness of those that offer it.

True quietness of heart is got by resisting our passions, not by obeying them.

The love of God and of the world are two different things; if the love of this world dwell in you, the love of God forsakes you; renounce that, and

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