EVERY difinterested aft of benevolence, juftice, and mercy, sheds a degree of luftre on the perfon who performs them and the oftener we are exercised in the practice of thofe virtues, the nearer we approach the happy path compared to a fhining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day."

HE that fuppofes he lives without folly, is not fo wife as he thinks himself.

COLOURS, artfully fpread upon canvas, may entertain the eye, but not affect the heart; and the who takes no care to add to the natural graces of her person any excelling qualities, may be allowed ftill to amufe as a picture, but not to charm as a beauty.

BE very circumfpect in the choice of your company: in the fociety of your equals you may enjoy pleafure, in that of your fuperiors you may find profit. But to be the higheft in company, is to be in the way to become the lowest; the beft means to improve is to be the least there: but above all be the companion of those who fear the Lord, and keep his precepts.

PRIDE is a poifon that vitiates all the good qualities a perfon may poffef; and, be their merit ever fo great, pride alone will render them odious and contemptible.

HUMILITY teaches us to keep in ourselves a fubmiffive, and condefcending temper, and to watch againit the first emotions of pride, vain-glory, and felf-conceit.

ALL men fhould carefully beware of the first acts of difhonefty. They prefent themselves to the mind under fpecious difguifes, and plaufible reafons of right and equity but being once admitted, they open the way for admitting others that are but a little more dishonest, which are followed by others a little more knavish than they, till by degrees, however flow, a man becomes an habitual barper, and at length a confummate villain.

CICERO'S

CICERO'S ARGUMENT against ATHEISM.

"IF there fhould happen, (fays he to his opponent) to be no God, I fhall certainly be as well off as yourself; annihilation will then be your lot as well as mine.

But

if the matter fhall be found otherwife; if there shall indeed be found a God, when we enter into a future ftate; how greatly fhall I have the advantage of you. who have all your life long profèft and inculcated atheifm and impiety; while I have continually laboured to honour the Deity, and to promote virtue and religion?

HYPOCRISY is an homage which vice pays to

virtue..

LET your words be few and wifely chofen, your thoughts fuitable and well directed, and your whole deportment and behaviour evidence the inward purity of your mind, and the "beauty of holiness."

OMAY your mind be ever clear from fin;
Without all beauteous, all divine within;
Like fome clear stream, which, as it gently flows,
A heav'n inverted in its bofom fhows:

So may your thoughts be pure from ev'ry ftain,
And death at length appear your endless gain.

IN CHRIST the Chriftian fafely repofes his hope, love, faith, confidence, and all the concerns of his immortalfoul for time and eternity: therefore the apoftle Paul fays with triumph, "I know whom I have believed, and I: am perfuaded that he is able to keep that which I have: committed unto him against that day.??

VALUE not yourfelf on outward decorations, which tarnish and wear away; but on the lasting ornament of a meek and quiet fpirit, which is in the fight of God of great price." Look not with contempt on those who appear in the garb of plainnefs and fimplicity; for they may be your fuperiors in point of wildom, though inferior

in ftation and circumstances. The infignificant fop, whofe fhowy coat is of far greater value than its wearer, may think what he pleafes of himfelf, but in the opinion of fenfible men he only reprefents the cinnamon tree; the bark whereof is more valuable than the tree itself.

TOO great a concern to acquit one's felf of án obligation, is one kind of ingratitude.

BEHOLD, oh man! how greatly art thou beloved! how highly favoured by thy Maker! in what part of his works hath he forgotten, or overlooked thy welfare Shew me a creature; point out a fpot, in the formation or difpofition of which he has not been mindful of thy interefts!" He has made thee to have dominion over the works of thy hands, and has put all things in fubjection under thy feet:all fheep and oxen, the fowls of the air, and the fithes,-yea, the furges of the fea," are subservient to thy benefit.

THE Scriptures prefent the fea to us, in its troubled ftate, as an emblem of the wicked man : "The wicked are like the troubled fea, when it cannot reft: whose waters caft up mire and dirt." And a ftronger emblem cannot well be imagined; for the foul deeds of iniquity are noxious as the offenfive weeds and filth of the fea, and. the confcience, continually in terrors, knows nothing of that placid calm and fmiling repofe, which lodges in the good man's breaft.- Let the paffionate and iniquitous contemplate the ocean, in this view; and intreat him,. who commanded the winds and the waves into peace, to hush their tempeftuous diforders, and to introduce the fweet calm of virtue into their fouls...

PIETY practifed in folitude, like the flower that blooms in the defart, may give its fragrance to the winds of heaven, and delight thofe unbodied fpirits that furvey. the works of God, and the actions of men; but it bestows no affiftance upon earthly beings, and however free from the taints of impurity, yet wants the facred fplendor of beneficence,

COME,

COME, penfive mufe-meek child of forrow hail ! O touch with trembling ftrains thy fav'rite lyre. If foften'd verfe record the plaintive tale,

Breathe the warm with, and pour the fond defire, And thou, fweet fympathy, indulgent maid! Whose welcome fmile fufpends the gloom of woe, Ob! come, in all thy native charms array'd, Nurfe the big drop, and bid it gently flow.. And ye, whose bofoms of fuperior mould, Are taught no gen'rous impulfe to conceal; But when the tale of human grief is told, Inftinctive foften, and delight to feel.Ye, whofe fine hearts with purer paffions glow, And melting nature's genial balm fupply, Oh! come, and faithful to domeftic woe,

Witness its plaints, and fpare it figh for figh..

LET the proud coxcomb reflect, there is not a coat he wears but is fecond-hand; the harmleis fheep wore it: before him, and willingly part with their woolly covering: for the ufe of unthankful men. Look with an eye of pity on those who have not wherewithal to cover themfelves, when fnow lies thick on the ground, and rivers are congealed with ice; commiferate your poor unhappy fellow-creatures, O be mindful of them in this bitter feafon, and fhew your compaffion by your well-timed generofity! Has God given you riches to enjoy in great. abundance? confider yourself as his almoner, and thare them with thofe to whom they are denied; teftify your gratitude for the Almighty's goodnefs towards you, by contributing to the wants of the poor and needy.

ATHUNDER STORM.

IN fweeteft fmiles arofe the virgin dawn,.
And fpread new glories o'er the fpangled lawn ;
The funny mountains, bright with flowing ftreams,
Reflected foft her golden colour'd beams;
But e`re the fun had gain'd th' etherial height,
His flaming ray was quench'd in fudden night.

Black

Black rifing clouds ufurp the face of day,
And fiery gleams the dufky wreaths betray;
The clouds, imprefs'd with various motions, fly,
And dread confufion rules the troubled fky.
With interrupted breath, the dubious breeze
Disturbs the floods, and ftirs the quiv'ring trees;
The gloomy hills, with dufky vapours crown'd,
Shed deeper horrors o'er the plains around.
A confcious dread aftonith'd' nature feels,
Thro' all her regions, nor that dread conceals.
Th' affrighted herds across the dusky plain,
Tumultuous fend, nor heed the tending fwain;
While on the darken'd heath, in narrow fpace.
Contracted, stands the timid fleecy race:
The feather'd tribes forfake the troubled fky;
Some plung'd in thickest shades in fecret lie,
And fome to hollow rocks for fhelter fly
All to their feveral homes with speed repair:
The birds of night come forth, and wing the air.

Now kindling into rage black ftorms arife,
And deaf'ning noifes fill the echoing skies ::
Dread thro' the darken'd air loud thunders roll;;
The rapid light'nings dart from pole to pole.
Black livid flames torment the blafted fight,
And ftrike the fhadowy hills with dreadful light.
Wide o'er th' extended plains their treafures large,.
In copious floods the ftreaming clouds difcharge:
Prone down the hills abrupt, from rock to rock,
Red, roaring, rough, th' impetuous torrents fmoke.
Unhappy he, far from his native home,
Who devious wanders thro' the fiery gloom ; :
Wide o'er the pathlefs wafte forlorn he ftrays,
While round his head the theety light'nings blaze:
Thro' the dark ky loud peals of thunder roll,
And fate, approaching, takes his trembling foul.
Thrice happy they whofe calm unruffled mind,
To heav'n's all-wife difpofing will's refign'd,
Can hear unmov'd the thunder's aweful roar,
Or only mov'd the Godhead to adore.

For