Or mofs-grown cottage, the abode of peace: Rich in themselves, and crown'd with length of days. TEMPORAL things more ravish in the expectation, than in fruition; but things eternal, more in the fruition than expectation. VIRTUE is the greatest ornament; it is to the young neceffary, to the aged comfortable, to the poor ferviceable, to the rich an ornament, to the fortunate an honour, to the unfortunate a fupport. She ennobles the flave, and exalts nobility itself. In fhort, let it be remembered, that none can be difciples of the graces, but in the school of virtue; and that those who wish to be lovely, muft learn to be good. THE folid joys of human kind, With peace our confcience crowns; And courage when it frowns ; Calms ev'ry trouble, makes the foul ferene, Smooths the contracted brow, and chears the heart within. OH, virtue, how lovely are thy charms! not half fo fair the beauteous blushes of the morn, the flowery meads, or all the chearing verdure of the groves! THE man who has fo little knowledge of human nature, as to feek happinefs by changing any thing, but his own difpofitions, will wafte his life in fruitless efforts, and multiply the griefs which he purposes to remove. C THERE THERE can be no true and fincere pleasure in any finful and vicious courfe, though it be attended with all the pomp and fplendour of outward happiness and profperity for wherever fin or vice is, there must be guilt; and wherever guilt is, the mind will be reflefs and unquiet. : PURE are the joys above the fkies, O THOU, fupremely wife, fupremely good! HAIL, moderation! virtue, heav'nly bright, OF all the calamities to which the condition of mortality expofes mankind, the lofs of reafon appears, to thofe those who have the leaft fpark of humanity, by far the most dreadful; and they behold that laft ftage of human wretchedness with deeper commiferation than any other. THE forgiving of injuries, is a virtue which not only Christianity, but morality enforces. The Heathens practifed it to admiration; the primitive Chriftians exceeded them. But what a glorious example have we in the Lord and Master of our falvation, who prayed for his crucifiers- Father, forgive them," &c. Luke xxiii. 34. A WISE man will defire no more, than what he may get justly, ufe foberly, diftribute chearfully, and leave contentedly.. EXPENSIVE drefs is not a crime, because there is any harm in good apparel, but because it fhews a depravity of mind, which turns the neceffary use of cloaths into extravagance, pride, and folly. O 'TIS a heav'nly virtue, when the heart SHORT is the date of our existence here, To make us learn'd, benevolent, and wife; Tho' great in title, and renown'd in birth; THOU Pow'r Supreme! whofe influence benign, O'er all creation's infinite extent Shines forth ineffable, infpire my heart C 2 Envy Envy malignant, fordid luft of gain, Serene and calm as glides the lucid stream. REPUTATIONS are of a fubtle, infinuating nature: like water, derived from the cleareft fpring, when it chances to mix with a foul current, it runs undistinguished in one muddy ftream; and they both partake of the fame colour and condition. If we keep bad company, however little we may be criminal in reality, we muft expect the fame cenfure that is due to the worst of our affociates. HUMILITY is a virtue, which highly adorns the character in which it refides, and fets off every other virtue. It is an admirable ingredient of a contented mind, and an excellent fecurity against many of those ills in life, which are moft fenfibly felt by people of a delicate nature. THAT man is moft bleffed, who receives his daily bread with gratitude and thankfulness from the hand of God; and he who does, experiences a pleasure that exceeds defcription. It is this that gives a relish to every repaft; it is this that makes the coarseft morfel delicious to the tafte; and it is the want of this that makes affluence a burthen, instead of a bleffing to the rich. THE fleep of a labouring man is fweet; and if he toil hard for the bread that perifheth, he has, in the midst of every want, if a follower of Chrift, bread to eat that the world knows nothing of. It is not faid, Happy are they who poffefs abundance; but, Happy is the man who findeth wisdom; which is Chrift, the pearl of great price. In him are hid those durable riches and righte oufnefs, the merchandize of which is better than that of filver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. ΤΟ TO complain that life has no joys, while there is a fingle creature whom we can relieve by our bounty, assist by our counfels, or enliven by our prefence, is to lament the lofs of that which we poffefs; and is just as rational as to die of thirst with the cup in our hands. ENOUGH has Heav'n indulg'd of joy below, YE proud, ye felfish, ye fevere, LIFE's road let me cautiously view, Can reach to the throne of my God. O DAYS, long loft to man in each degree, When lib'ral fortunes vy'd with lib'ral strife, The poor, at hand their natʼral patrons faw, NEVER treat common beggars with contempt or averfion, though their appearance be ever fo offenfive; but remember the kindness of our Saviour and his apoftles towards them. Confider, that even they have an equal right with you to the protection of Heaven. Be thankful that you are not afflicted with their diforders, their fores, or their poverty, but always treat them as C 3 your |