WERE we to receive a charitable donation at the hand of fome humane earthly friend, we should be ready to make every acknowledgment in our power; we fhould feel fome pain in recollecting but one opportunity where we might have shewn our thankfulness and gratitude, but which was then neglected or forgotten: and if we pretend to be senfible of our obligations to that friend who sticketh closer than a brother, who giveth all things liberally without upbraiding, by what shall we demonftrate the fincerity of our pretenfions, if not by yielding that obedience we acknowledge to be due, and which the prefent state of our existence renders both our privilege and our duty.

THAT to be great is to be happy, is one of those errors which have almost at all ages prevailed among the generality of mankind. But that to be good is to be happy, is a secret referved for the wife and virtuous few, who are the grace and ornament of themfelves, their friends, and their country.

SUCH is the ftate of human life, that even mifery itself feems a neceffary ingredient to our happiness, fince many of our pleasures are only alleviations of pain; and even thofe which are the most real and natural, are very much enhanced and recommended by some antecedent uneasiness : infomuch that if all pain could be taken away, the pleasures remaining would be but few, and those too fo very dull and infipid as to afford but fmall enjoyment; and we should then be reduced to a flate of perfect indolence and inactivity.

EVERY benevolent and generous fpirit, who fincerely delights in the good of others, will not fail to improve all opportunities to promote the happinefs of all who come within his influence. There are none fo completely profperous, fo perfectly free from all trouble and disturbance as to ftand in no need of the good offices of their fellowcreatures; but there are numberless occasions wherein without being injurious to ourfelves, we may do another a pleasure, and contribute greatly to his fatisfaction.

To

To SILENCE.

SILENCE, thou gentle nurfe of thought,
And friend to wifdom's rules;

Fair fcience oft thy aid has fought,
When tir'd with noisy schools.

With thee, when vain amusements tire,
We languish to be blest;
'Tis thine to footh, compofe, infpire,
And give for tumult, reft.

The sprightly fong, the jocund tale,
The dance, the glitt'ring crowd,
While laughter, jeft, and fport prevail,
Are wild, confus'd, and loud,

Thy fober paufe of calm delight,
Reproves the madly gay;

So, grateful interpofing night
Succeeds the bufy day.

Thy folemn influence when we share,
Indulgent, foft, and kind;
Reflection comes with ferious air,
And whispers to the mind:

A maxim whispers, oh how true!
That 'tis my chief concern,

My thoughts in filence to review,
And only hear and learn.

TAKE heed of speaking when thou art angry: anger takes off the bridle from the tongue, and fets up paffion to guide it, which useth not a bridle but a fpur. As the philofopher faid, " I would beat thee, if I were not angry." So fay thou," I would chide thee, if I were not angry." Paffion knows not how to give correction, inftruction, or reproof.

IT is not fufficient to ask advice; but we must follow it, and willingly fubmit our own judgment to that of others.

REMEMBER, oh! young man, thy Creator in the days of thy youth, and do not make provifion for fhame and forrow in thy elder years: think not that God will be put off with the dregs and refufe of thy days. Keep innocency whilft young, and it will yield thee unfpeakable comfort all thy life long; and thou wilt lay up a good foundation alfo against the time to come. Behold, life and death are fet before thee; if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments, and early employ thyfelf in fo doing.

ODE to CREATION.

THE fpacious firmament on high,
With all the blue etherial sky,

And fpangled heavens, a fhining frame,
Their great original proclaim:
Th' unwearied fun, from day to day,
Does his Creator's power display,
And publishes to every land,
The work of an almighty hand.

Soon as the evening fhades prevail,
The moon takes up the wond'rous tale,
And nightly to the lift'ning earth
Repeats the ftory of her birth:

Whilft all the ftars that round her burn,
And all the planets in their turn,
Confirm the tidings as they roll,
And fpreads the truth from pole to pole.

What, tho' in folemn filence all
Move round the dark terrestrial ball;
What, tho' nor real voice nor found,
Amid their radiant orbs be found;
In Reafon's ear they all rejoice,
And utter forth a glorious voice,
For ever finging, as they fhine,

The hand that form'd us is divine!”

AMONG thofe that are of a weak and base difpofition, merit begetteth envy; but among men of a truly generous fpirit, it raifeth a noble emulation..

BEWARE of the man that hath no regard to his own reputation; for it is not likely he should have any regard for yours.

BEWARE of envy; for to grudge any man the advantages he may have, either in perfon or fortune, is to cenfure the liberality of Providence, and be angry at the goodness of God.

NEVER anticipate your own misfortune, for that is to aggravate it: the meer apprehenfion of being unhappy, may often more difquiet us than the unhappiness itself."

A CONTENTED mind enjoyeth more than all the treasures of both Indies; and he that is master of himself, in an innocent homely retreat, enjoyeth all the wealth and curiofities of the univerfe.

CHILDREN fhould be fare to make a conscience of loving and honouring their parents; and remember that the command that enjoins it, is the firft commandment with promife, and that a grievous curfe is annexed to the violaters of it: "The eye that mocketh his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it."

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THICK in yon ftream of light, a thousand ways
Upward and downward, thwarting, and convolv'd,
The quivering nations fport, till tempeft wing'd
Fierce winter fweeps them from the face of day.
Even fo luxurious men, unheeding, pafs
An idle fummer's life in fortune's fhine-
A feafon's glitter! Thus they flutter on
From toy to toy, from vanity to vice;
"Till, blown away by death, oblivion comes
Behind, and strikes them from the book of life.

CAN

CAN it be the part of a rational creature to make diverfion its capital concern? She, in whom thofe defires are predominant, is unfitted for the character of a mother, wife, or friend, or even of a member of fociety: as in the whirl of diffipation fhe is forgetful of herself, and of courfe neglects what would make her useful to others, and promote her own happiness.

THE Princeffes, in all the courts of Germany, fit closely to work with their women about them, and do not think domestic affairs below their concern; but they would blush to be found idle. Far from taking it into their heads, that the fcandalous privilege of doing nothing belongs to women, they demand and exercise their rights: they account the love of employment a virtue,—a virtue which fupports the rest, and does honour to their fex, even on a throne.

"LIFE, fays Seneca, is a voyage, in the progress of "which, we are pepetually changing our fcenes: we first "leave childhood behind us, then youth, then the years "of ripened manhood, then the better, and more pleafing "part of old age."

WE must use the facred name of God with all humble reverence, not prophaning it by ufing it in idle, impertinent talk, or in common difcourte.

WE fhould frequently reprefent to children with respect to the benefits of God, that all comes from him, our foul, our body, our life, our parents, our friends, the earth which we walk upon, the air which we breathe in, the fun which enlightens us, the food which nourisheth us, the cloaths which cover us, the fire which warms us. We ought to endeavour to awaken in them on all thefe occafions, and every day, the defire of being grateful towards God, and thanking him for all and every one of thefe things, as often as they have occafion to make use of them. If we ought to make grateful returns to a mortal man when he does us good, much more ought we to make them to God, who hath both made that man, and doth us good by him.

An