For me, in that dread hour, when all around (Where calm contentment holds her peaceful feat,) And from her cheek to chafe pale fear away. MANY moralifts have compared life to the ocean: which how smooth foever it may feem to invite us to its furface, the calm is deceitful, and will not long continue; ftorms and tempefts will arife and tofs the troubled vessel. While we fail through life, we must not expect a perpetual ferenity: difficulties, trials, and afflictions await all mankind; and happy they, who can steer their vessel safe amidst them into the harbour of everlasting reft! SOME men are apt to conceive too high an opinion of the benefits they confer; they view them in too ftrong a light, and expect more in return than reason or justice will warrant. THE great mind, as it finds the moft fatisfactory delight in obliging, is never hurt more than when its kindneffes are repeatedly mentioned; it enjoys greater pleasure from the noble reflection on the good it does, than from the felfish pride of the return it receives. WHEN we confider. that as foon as this paffing moment of life is done, an immortality awaits us; when eternal good or evil must be the confequence of our con duct in this life; how abfurd, as well as criminal, does it render the actions of thofe, who, with unwearied anxiety, labour to gratify their worldly or fenfual paffions. THERE is a peculiar charm in the ferene and tranquil air of virtue, which enlightens all around it in the midit of the darkeft fcenes, and the greatest calamities. ADVICE in WINTER. 1. THE needy poor demand our care, From cots where oft disease and age II. Where many an honeft couple dwell, Who now in tatter'd rags confin'd While you enjoy the cheerful blaze m Think then, how ftrong their claim, MEN in the greatest profperity are often like trees laden with fruit, that break with the weight of their boughs, and are ruined by their own greatnefs. TIME is given us, that we may take care of eternity; and eternity will not be too long to regret the loss of our time, if we have mifpent it. "OUR light afflictions, which are but for a moment," are fent for the wifeft purposes, and intended for our greatest good, by taking off our affections from earthly things, and fetting them on things above: they are the mean, through the biefing of God, of fitting us for the blefled enjoyment of him in the manfions of bleffednefs. en high.. QUR OUR abode on earth is very precarious and uncertain: This night thy foul may be required of thee;" if so, be always ready to attend the fummons at a moment's warning. "THE kingdom of heaven," or grace in the heart, is truly that pearl of great price," which the good man only knows the value of, and enjoys with thankfulnefs and praise; it comes from God, leads to him, and terminates in the full enjoyment of him in the realms of blifs. NOTHING can be more proper for a creature that borders upon eternity, and is hafting continually to his final audit, than daily to flip away from the circle of amufements, and frequently to relinquish the hurry of bufinefs, in order to confider and adjust the things that belong to his eternal peace." THE ftarting tear in pity's eye, Outfhines the diamond's brightest beams; More beauteous than the ruby seems. IT is a proof of wisdom, frequently to meditate on the eternity of the foul, and to confider that the body muft foon fuffer a diffolution. Beauty is a flower which foon withers, health changes, and strength abates; but innocency is immortal, and a comfort both in life and death. GOD, who is liberal and generous in all his other gifts, teaches us, by the wife oeconomy of his providence, how circumfpect we ought to be in the right management of our time; for he never gives us two moments together, he gives us only the fecond as he takes away the firft, and keeps the third in his hands, leaving us in an abfolute uncertainty whether it fhall ever be ours or not, SOME SOME virtues are only feen in affliction, and fome in profperity; fome in a private, and others in a publick capacity. But the great Sovereign of the world beholds every perfection in its obfcurity: and not only fees what we do, but what we would do. ONCE THE ENTHUSIAST. I remember well the day, When ev'ry flow'r on ev'ry hill, In fhort, 'twas that sweet season's prime, 'Twas then befide a green wood fhade, So wond'rous bright the day. And now my eyes with tranfport rove Unbroken by a cloud : I ftop, I gaze, in accents rude Burfts forth th' unbidden say, Begone vile world, the learn'd, the wife, The great, the bufy, I defpife, And pity ev'n the gay. Thefe, Thefe, these are joys alone I 'Tis here divine Philofophy cry; Thou deign'ft to fix thy throne: Adieu, ye vain low-thoughted cares, The tyrant paffions all fubfide, But Of univerfal love. When, lo! a voice, a voice, I hear; What mean't thou man? wouldst thou unbind The fame almighty power unfeen, He bids the tyrant paffions rage; 'Till from diffention's concord rise, VOL. II. And happiness from woe. Art |