fibly does time flide away; with what a winged swiftness does it fly, and we cannot ftay its progrefs, ftop its courfe, or retard its hafty motion. IN the morning fay to thyfelf, what fhall I do this day, which God has given me? How fhall I employ it to his glory? In the evening confider within thyfelf, and recollect, what have I done this day, and how have I spent it? TO prevent fpeaking evil of your neighbour, think no evil of him; and if you hear any, live in hopes that' it is a mistake. IF you defire to depend upon God, let it appear in every inftance of his Providence towards you: Be content with the want of thofe outward comforts which he thinks fit to deny you. 'TIS commonly obferved, that the firft ftep to wickedness, is idleness; and indeed there is little hopes of any one being a good man, or a good Chriftian, who akes no care of his time. t OUR wants are daily, and the temptations which draw our hearts from God, to the things of this world, are alfo daily; and upon both these accounts, ought our prayers to be daily alio. LET it never enter into your head, that you are a man of merit. Be the only person, who neither knows or fpeaks of your own worth. THE well-taught philosophic mind, To all compaffion gives; Cafts round the world an equal eye, IF friendless, in a vale of tears I stray, Where briers wound, and thorns perplex my way, With equal eye my various lot receive, WE must never undervalue any perfon. The workman loves not that his work fhould be despised in his prefence. Now God is prefent every where, and every perfon is his work. TO live contented in a moderate eftate, we must never confider thofe that have more, but thofe that have lefs than ourselves. THE BEECHEN SHADE. TO this lone fhade, where peace delights to dwell, Here bid the vain tumult'ous world farewell, And praise my Maker with the wood-land choir. Give life and beauty to the rural scene, At eve's approach, to hail my beechen fhade, While through my veins a pleafing rev'rence thrills, Glide from the plains, the forefts, and the hills, Then with bold wings ftill upwards might I foar, The The hand that guides the glowing worlds adore, SERENITY and gladnefs of heart will attend a devout mind, when it maintains an intercourse with the great Author of its Being. When we are in company with our God, with our Redeemer, with our dearest and belt of friends, our hearts will burn with love, exult with gratitude, fwell with hope, and triumph in the consciousness of that prefence, which every where furrounds us; or else we pour out our fears, our troubles, or our dangers, to the great Supporter of our existence. THE happiness of a life religiously spent, plainly appears, from the poor and trifling enjoyments, that all thofe are forced to take up with, who live according to their own humour. RELIGION is a fecure refuge, in feafons of deepest distress; it smooths the chagrin of life, makes us eafy in all circumstances, and fills our fouls with the greatest peace that our natures are capable of. The contemplation of the life and fufferings of our Divine Leader, must administer comfort in the feverest affliction; while the fenfe of his power and omnipotence, gives us humiliation in prosperity. ON RETIREMENT. WHILE here fequefter'd from the bufy throng, May May sweet retirement, with its foothing pow'rs, And when Aurora ufhers in the dawn, And breathe fweet fragrance from the paffing gale; Indulge my mind on friendship's pleafing theme, With fervent pray'rs implore kind Heav'n to blefs, OGLORIOUS day! O day of peace, arife, IT is the peculiar excellence of a good name, that it is out of the reach of death, and is not buried in the grave, but rather grows up from it. Solomon hath joined this good name, which is better than precious ointment, with the day of one's death, which is better than the day of one's birth, as it completes the character of those that finish their courfe well, and are faithful unto death; whereas a great name, like the names of the great ones of the earth, is often withered and blemished by death. WHAT is the blooming tincture of a fkin, F 2 RELIGION |