THE nobility arifing from birth, is by far inferior to that which proceeds from merit. MARCUS Aurelius was averfe to every thing that had the air of pomp and luxury. He lay upon the bare ground; at twelve years old he took the habit of a philofopher; he forbore the ufe of guards, the imperial ornaments, and the enfigns of honour, which were carried before the Cæfars and the Augufti. Nor was this conduct owing to his ignorance of what was grand and beautiful, but to the jufter and purer tafte he had of both, and to an intimate perfuafion, that the greatest glory, and principal duty of man, efpecially if in power, and eminently confpicuous, is fo far to imitate the Deity, as to throw himself into a condition of wanting as little as may be for himself, and doing all the good to others he is capable of. IF it fhews a greatnefs of foul to overlook our own nobility, and not fuffer it to gain the afcendant over our actions, we may likewise observe, that it is no less great in fuch as have raifed themselves by merit, not to forget the meanness of their extraction, nor be ashamed of it. WE read in the fcriptures, that Boaz, in the midst of riches, was laborious, diligent in husbandry, plain without luxury, delicacy, floth or pride. How affable, how obliging and kind to his fervants! The Lord be with you," fays he to his reapers; and they anfwered him, "The Lord bless thee." This was the beautiful language of religious antiquity; but how little known in our days. How commendable was his behaviour towards Ruth, when he defires her not to go into any other field to glean, but to abide faft by his maidens, to eat and drink with them; and the charitable order he gives his reapers to let her glean even among the fheaves, and to let fall some of the handfuls on purpose for her, that the might gather them up without being afhamed; teaching us by this wife conduct, to fave those we oblige, the confufion of receiving, and ourselves the temptation of vain-glory in giving. THE THE Providence of God is univerfal; it prefides over all to the minuteft particular, and governs and directs all. Part of the Book of Job verfified. FOND man, the vifion of a moment made- What worlds haft thou produc'd, what creatures fiam'd? Who hears their cry? Who grants their hoarfe request, Who taught the hawk to find, in seasons wife, When clouds deform the year, the mounts the wind, Lives in his beams, and leaves ill days to men. Whence come the gifts that are on me confer'd? And mine the herds that graze a thousand hills. G 6 Το To a Child of a Month old. BLESS'D babe, who ftranger to all worldly ftrife, Art lately launch'd upon the fea of life; And midft thofe dang'rous waves wilt foon be toft, Who would not wish to change their place with thee. When When growing fense, to rip'ning judgment join'd, If heat of blood, with wanton frenzy warm- PROSPERITY quickens, and gives a fort of falfe courage to men of low, degenerate minds, and dreffes them up in an outward grandeur, which impofes upon the majority of mankind; but adverfity is the touchstone of fouls truly great and generous. SILENCE is fometimes more fignificant and fub. lime, than the most noble and most expreffive eloquence, and is, on many occafions, the indication of a great mind. But filence never fhews itself to fo great an advantage, as when it is made the reply to calumny and defamation, provided that we give no juft occafion for them. HOW .fferent is the view of paft life, in the man who is grown old in knowledge and wisdom, from that of him who is grown old in ignorance and folly. The latter latter is like the owner of a barren country, that fills his eye with the prospect of naked hills and plains, which produce nothing either profitable or ornamental; the other beholds a beautiful and fpacious landscape, divided into delightful gardens, green meadows, fruitful fields, and can scarce caft his eye on a fingle fpot of his poffeffions, that is not covered with fome beautiful plant or flower. TO look upon the foul as going on from ftrength to ftrength, to confider that she is to fhine for ever with new acceffions of glory, and brighten to all eternity; that she will be ftill adding virtue to virtue, and knowledge to knowledge; carries in it fomething wonderfully agreeable to that ambition, which is natural to the mind of man. Nay, it must be a profpect pleafing to God himself, to fee his creation for ever beautifying in his eyes, and drawing nearer to him, by greater degrees of refemblance. THAT we might not want inducements to engage us in fuch an exercife of the body, as is proper for its welfare, it is fo ordered, that nothing valuable can be procured without it. Not to mention riches and honour, even food and raiment are not to be come at without the toil of the hands, and fweat of the brows. Providence furnishes materials, but expects that we should work them up ourselves. As for those who are not obliged to labour, by the condition in which they are born, they are more miferable than the reft of mankind, unless they indulge themselves in that voluntary labour, which goes by the name of exercife. Thoughts on the Grave of a Child.-By a Father. HERE, here fhe lies! Oh! could I once more view Those dear remains; take one more fond adieu; Weep o'er that face of innocence, or fave One darling feature, from the noisome grave! |