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does man disquiet himself in vain by it—he oftener does so in trusting the issue of his commotions to reason only-I can safely say for myself, I was never able to conquer any one single bad sensation in my heart so decisively, as by beating up as fast as I could for some kindly and gentle sensation to fight it upon its own ground.

JOURNEY.

INDOLENCE.

INCONSISTENT soul that man is !-languishing under wounds which he has the power to heal!-his whole life a contradiction to his knowledge !—his reason, that precious gift of God to him-(instead of pouring in oil) serving but to sharpen his sensibilities, to multiply his pains, and render him more `melancholy and uneasy under them!-Poor unhappy creature, that he should do so!-are not the necessary causes of misery in this life enow, but he must add voluntary ones to his stock of sorJow ;-struggle against evils which cannot be avoided, and submit to others, which a tenth part of the trouble they create him, would remove from his heart for ever?

T. SHANDY.

MAN.

WHEN I reflect upon man; and take a view of that dark side of him which represents his life as open to so many causes of trouble-when I consi

der how oft we eat the bread of affliction, and that we are born to it, as to the portion of our inheritance--when one runs over the catalogue of all the cross reckonings and sorrowful items with which the heart of man is overcharged, 'tis wonderful by what hidden resources the mind is enabled to stand it out, and bear itself up as it does, against the impositions laid upon our nature.

T. SHANDY.

OBSERVATION AND STUDY.

WHAT a large volume of adventures may be grasped within this little span of life, by him who interests his heart in every thing, and who, having eyes to see what time and chance are perpetually holding out to him as he journeyeth on his way, misses nothing he can fairly lay his hands on!

-If this won't turn out something-another will- -no matter-'tis an essay upon human nature-I get my labour for my pains-'tis enough— the pleasure of the experiment has kept my senses and the best part of my blood awake, and laid the grass to sleep.

I pity the man who can travel from Dan to Beersheba, and cry, 'Tis all barren-And so it is; and so is all the world to him who will not cultivate the fruits it offers. I declare, said I, clapping my hands cheerily together, that were 1 in a desert, I would find out where with in it to call forth my af fections-If I could do no better, I would fasten them upon some sweet myrtle, or seek some melancholy cypress to connect myself to-I would

court their shade, and greet them kindly for their protection-I would cut my name upon them, and swear they were the loveliest trees throughout the desert: if their leaves withered, I would teach myself to mourn, and when they rejoiced, I would rejoice along with them.

JOURNEY.

POWER OF SLIGHT INCIDENTS.

IT is curious to observe the triumph of slight incidents over the mind:-and what incredible weight they have in forming and governing our opinions, both of men and things-that trifles light as air, shall waft a belief into the soul, and plant it so immoveable within it, that Euclid's demonstrations, could they be brought to batter it in breach, should not all have power to overthrow it.

T. SHANDY.

SEDUCTION.

How abandoned is that heart which bulges the tear of innocence, and is the cause-the fatal cause of overwhelming the spotless soul, and plunging the yet untainted mind into a sea of sorrow and repentance!-Though born to protect the fair, does not man act the part of a demon-first alluring by his temptations, and then triumphing in his victory ?-When villany gets the ascendancy, it seldom leaves the wretch till it has thoroughly polluted him.

LETTER CXXIX.

SOLITUDE.

CROWDED towns, and busy societies, may delight the unthinking, and the gay-but solitude is the best nurse of wisdom.

In solitude the mind gains strength, and learns to lean upon herself: in the world it seeks or accepts of a few treacherous supports—the feigned compassion of one-the flattery of a second-the civilities of a third-the friendship of a fourth— they all deceive, and bring the mind back to retirement, reflection, and books.

LETTER LXXXII.

TIME.

TIME wastes too fast; every letter I trace tells me with what rapidity life follows my pen; the days and hours of it, more precious, my dear Jenny! than the rubies about thy neck, are flying over our heads like light clouds of a windy day, never to return more-every thing presses on-whilst thou art twisting that lock,-see! it grows grey; and every time I kiss thy hand to bid adieu, and every absence which follows it, are preludes to that eternal separation which we are shortly to make.

T. SHANDY.

SELECTIONS

FROM

MR. STERNE'S SERMONS.

APPLICATION OF RICHES.

How GOD did intend them,-may as well be known from an appeal to your own hearts, and the inscription you shall read there,-as from any chapter and verse I might cite upon the subject. Let us then for a moment turn our eyes that way, and consider the traces which even the most insensible man may have proof of, from what we my perceive springing up within him from some casual act of generosity; and though this is a pleasure which properly belongs to the good, yet let him try the experiment ;-let him comfort the captive, or cover the naked with a garment, and he will feel what is meant by that moral delight arising in the mind from the conscience of a humane action.

But to know it right we must call upon the compassionate; cruelty gives evidence unwillingly, and feels the pleasure but imperfectly; for this," like all other pleasures, is of a relative nature, and consequently the enjoyment of it requires some qualification in the faculty, as much as the enjoyment of any other good does :-there must be something antecedent in the disposition and tem

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