will come when we fhall out-grow the relifh of childish amufements; and, if we are not provided with a tafte for manly fatisfactions to fucceed in their room, we must of courfe become miferable, at an age more difficult to be pleased. THE moft fure way to make any proficiency in a virtuous life, is to fet out in it betimes. It is then, when our inclinations are trained up in the way that they should lead us, that cuftom foon makes the beft habits the most agreeable; the ways of wisdom become the ways of pleafantnefs, and every step we advance, they grow more eafy and more delightful. But, on the contrary, when vicious head-ftrong appetites are to be reclaimed, and inveterate habits to be corrected, what fecurity can we give ourselves, that we fhall have either inclination, refolution, or power, to ftop and turn back, and recover the right way from which we have fo long and fo widely wandered, and enter upon a new life, when perhaps our ftrength now faileth us, and we know not how near we may be to our journey's end? AN Italian philofopher expreffed in his motto, that "time was his eftate;" an estate indeed, which will produce nothing without cultivation, but will always abundantly repay the labours of induftry, and fatisfy the most extenfive defires, if no part of it be fuffered to lie wafte by negligence, to be over-run with noxious plants, or laid. qut for fhew rather than for use. SPEAK well, or fpeak nothing; fo if others be not better by your filence, they will not be worfe by your difcourfe. FROM all the bufy fcenes of life; Grant Grant me, O Power Supreme, a place, O gracious God, regard a fuppliant's prayer; Hence fhall I learn my talent to improve, - Come tafte with me the rural joys, That poifon all the joys of life, Let me, like fome fair tree, be plac'd WE ought to make a good improvement of paft and prefent afflictions. If they are not fanctified to us, they become a double crofs; but if they work rightly in us, and convince ús of our failings, and how justly we are afflicted, they do us much good. Affliction is fpiritual phyfic for the foul, and is compared to a furnace, for as gold is tried and purified therein, fo men are proved; and either purified from their drofs, and fitted for good ufes, or elfe entirely burnt up, and undone for ever.-Therefore may all, who labour under any kind of affliction, have reafon to fay with Job, "When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." A FALSE friend, like a fhadow, attends only while the fun fhines. The HERMIT'S INSTRUCTION to his Son. BE thine those feelings of the mind, Extends her liberal hand to all. Be taught her focial laws to keep; And weep if human eve fhall weep. His breast who happiness beftows, To cherish and indulge, be thine. IN beftowing your alms, inquire not fo much into the perfon as his neceffity. God looks not fo much upon the merit of him that requires, as into the manner of him that relieves; if the man deferves not, you have given to humanity. HYMN to CHARITY. O FAIREST offspring of the fkies! Bright charity appear !: In all thy native radiance rife, Let Let thy fweet form ferenely glide See from the lap of gen'rous wealth And deals out plenty, peace, and health, O! lovelieft beam of light divine, With thine own flame our hearts refine, GOD is Alpha and Omega in the great world; let us endeavour to make him fo in the little world: let us practife to make him our laft thought at night when we fleep, and our firft in the morning when we awake; fo fhall our fancy be fanctified in the night, and our underftanding rectified in the day; fo fhall our reft be peaceful, and our labours profperous; our life pious, and our death glorious. GRATITUDE. O! HOW amiable is gratitude! especially when it has the Supreme Benefactor for its object. I have always looked upon gratitude as the moft exalted principle that can actuate the heart of man. It has fomething noble, difinterested, and (if I may be allowed the term) generously devout. (Repentance indicates our nature fallen, and prayer turns chiefly upon a regard to one's felf.) But the exercifes of gratitude fubfifted in paradife, when there was no fault to deplore; and will be perpetuated in heaven, when God fhall be all in all." HEALTH |