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,
And feels for each that lives.

IF friendless, in a vale of tears I stray,

Where briers wound, and thorns perplex my way,
Lord, let my fteady foul thy goodness fee,
And with ftrong confidence lay hold on thee;

With equal eye my various lot receive,
Refign'd to die, or refolute to live;
Prepar'd to kiss the fceptre or the rod,
While God is feen in all, and all in God,

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,
Oft let my unambitious mufe retire,

Here bid the vain tumult'ous world farewell,

And praise my Maker with the wood-land choir.
How fhall I joy the dew-bright morn to view!
With pleasure blushing o'er the fair domain;
The lowing herds and bleating flocks pursue,
Thick ftraggling o'er the verdant flow'ry plain.
To fee fair nature, with parental love,

Give life and beauty to the rural scene,
While tuneful birds, in ev'ry vocal grove,
In sweet affemblage all around are seen.
To walk, by turns, the grove, the plain, the glade;
To trace the riv'let in its winding way,

At eve's approach, to hail my beechen fhade,
And eye, with filent joy, the dancing spray.

While through my veins a pleafing rev'rence thrills,
How should I joy to fee the parting day,

Glide from the plains, the forefts, and the hills,
While Philomel begins her ev'ning lay,

Then with bold wings ftill upwards might I foar,
And range, at will, the planetary field

The

The hand that guides the glowing worlds adore,
And praife, in filent admiration, yield.
Hail, blissful filence! ftill this fhade attend,
Be thou my conftant, never-failing gueft;
Be thou my guide, my counfellor, my friend,
Unrivall❜d regent of my glowing breast.
Let not the vain parade of wealth, or fhew,
One wish of envy in my breast excite;
Ah! teach my heart this right'ous truth to know,
That all the works of Providence are right.

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,
Let calm reflection animate my song;
F

May

May sweet retirement, with its foothing pow'rs,
Compofe each thought, and gild the paffing hours;
And meek-ey'd peace, in whiteft robes be feen,
To cheer the heart, and make the mind serene.
Then while the world in busy scenes engage,
I'll fhun the follies of a vicious age;
Freed from the dull impertinence of ftrife,
Serenely pass in folitude my life :

And when Aurora ufhers in the dawn,
And tuneful fongfters hail the rifing morn,
With grateful heart perform the ardent pray'r,
And thank kind Heav'n for its protecting care.
Then while the fun in radiant fplendour reigns,
And with its luftre decks the hills and plains,
Oft let me wander o'er the dewy vale,

And breathe fweet fragrance from the paffing gale;
Or, led by fancy, frequent let me rove,
To fome thick foreft, or fome fhady grove,
Where peaceful filence reigns throughout the fcene,
And painted daifies deck the lovely green;
While gentle zephyrs, with their filken wings,
Difplay their beauties o'er the crystal springs.
Or on the margin of a purling stream,

Indulge my mind on friendship's pleafing theme,
Whofe gentle murmurs calm the troubled breast,
And foothe each forrow when the mind's diftrefs'd.
Then when the fun, obedient to command,
Shall take his flight, and vifit foreign land,
May pale-ey'd Cynthia, emprefs of the night,
With mildeft luftre, fhed her folemn light;
While twinkling ftars difpenfe a friendly ray,
And gently guide the trav'ller on his way:
At this lone hour when folemn filence reigns,
And mournful Philomel renews her ftrains,
May no fad thought my peaceful mind moleft,
Each murmur ftifled, and each figh fupprefs'd.
Save when compaffion at another's woe
Shall caufe the tears of tenderness to flow;
Freely I'll bear a fympathetic part,
And share the forrows of the drooping heart;

With fervent pray'rs implore kind Heav'n to blefs,
And fondly strive to make their forrows lefs.
Thus may my time in rural fhades be spent,
Far from the world, enrich'd with calm content,
"Till death's cold hand fhall close these languid eyes,
And hope conduct me to yon blissful skies.

OGLORIOUS day! O day of peace, arife,
And with thy fplendours glad my longing eyes.
O time! which oft fo quickly glid'ft away,
Methinks thou lingʼreft and defer'ft the day;
Juft like an arrow from a bow half ftrung,
Thy flagging pinions flowly fkim along.
Oh! with new vigour, urge thy flying courfe,
And ftretch each tendon with redoubled force;
That peace may flow like ocean's fwelling tide,
"And feas but join the regions they divide."

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,
To peace of mind, to harmony within ?
What the bright fpankling of the finest eye,
To the foft foothing of a calm reply?
Can comeliness of form, or fhape, or air,
With comeliness of words or deeds compare?
No-those at first th' unwary heart may gain,
But thefe, these only, can that heart retain.

F 2

RELIGION