517. CONFIDENCE, COURAGE, BOASTING-is have lions and tigers to rule over you? hope elated, security of success in obtaining its Know you not that cruelty-is the attribute object; and cOURAGE is the contempt of any unavoidable danger in the execution of what is re- of wild beasts; clemency--that of man? solved upon: in both, the head and whole body Varieties. 1. There is no person so lif are erected rather gracefully, the breast projected, the countenance clear and open, the accents tle, but the greatest may sometimes need his strong, round, full-mouthed, and not too rapid; assistance: hence, we should all exercise the voice firm and even. BOASTING,exagger- clemency, when there is an opportunity, toates these appearances by loudness, blustering! and railing, what is appropriately called swagwards those in our power. This is illustragering: the eye-brows drawn down, the face ted by the fable of the mouse and the lion. red and bioated, mouth pouts, arms placed a- when the lion became entangled in the toils kimbo, foot stamped on the ground, large strides 'n walking, voice hollow, thundering, swelling of the hunter, he was released by the mouse, into bombast; head often menacingly, right fists which gnawed asunder the cords of the net clenched, and sometimes brandished at the per- in consideration of having been spared his son threatened. own life, by the royal beast, on a former occasion. 2. It is a universal principle-that an essence cannot exist out of its form; nor be perceived out of its form; nor can the quality of a form be perceived, till the form itself is an object of thought: hence, if an essence does not present itself in form, so that its form can be seen in thought, it is totally impossible to know anything about, or be affected with, that essence. 3. The truths Base men, that use them, to so base effect: 518. GIVING OR GRANTING,-when done with an unreserved good will, is accompanied with a benevolent aspect, and kind tone of voice: the right hand open, with the palm upward, extending toward the person favored, as if giving what he asks; the head at the same time incline ing forward, as indicating a benevolent disposition and entire consent: all indicative of how heartily the favor is granted, and the benefactors joy in conferring it. GIVING A DAUGHTER IN MARRIAGE. If I have too severely punished you, Anecdote. Clemency. Alphonsus, king of Nuples and Sicily, so celebrated in history for his clemency, was once asked, why he was so favorable to all men; even to those most notoriously wicked? He replied, "Because good men are won by justice; the bad, by clemency." Some of his ministers complained to him, on another occasion, of this clemency; when he exclaimed "Would you | of religion, and the truths of science, are of different orders; though sometimes blended, yet never actually confounded: theology-is the sun, and science-the moon-to reflect its light and glory. My Mother. Alas, how little do we appreciate a mother's tenderness while living! How heedless, are we, in youth, of all her anxieties and kindness! But when she is dead and gone; when the cures and coldness of the world come withering to our hearts; when we experience how hard it is to find The love of praise. howe'er conceal'd by art, In Nature there's no blemish, but the mind; 520. GRATITUDE--puts on an aspect full of complacency; (see Love;) if the object of it be a character greatly superior, it expresses much subm'ssion: the right hand is open with the fingers spread, and press'd upon the breast just over the heart, expresses, very appropriately, a sin cere and hearty sensibility of obligation. The O great Sciolto! O my more than father! Views of Truth. We see truths through the medium of our own minds, as we see objects around us thro' the atmosphere; and, of course, we see them not as they are in themselves, but as they are modified by the quality of the medium thro' which we view them; and, as the minds of all are different, we must all have different views of any particular truth; which is the reason, that differences of opinion exist, and always will exist: hence, it is no argument against truth, that inen have different views of it; and because they must have different views, it is no reason why they should quarrel about their opinions; for good uses, and not matters of opinion, are the touch-stone of fellowship. Thus it is, that the all of religion relates to life, and the life of religion is to do good, from a love of doing good. While we agree, and are united in doing good, we should not fight among ourselves, about mere matters of opinion; still, we must not be indifferent about them; for truth is necessary to give form to goodness; and every good person will naturally desire to know the truth, that he may regulate his conduct by it; and thus, acquire the greatest and highest degree of goodness. Varieties. 1. The young-are slaves to novelty; the old-to custom. 2. The volume of nature, is the book of knowledge, and he 521. A man is never the less an artist, for becomes the wisest, who makes the best senot having his tools about him; or a musician, lections, and uses them properly. The great because he wants his fiddle: nor is he the less est friend of truth-is time; her greatest ene brave, because his hands are bound, or the my-prejudice; and her constant companion worse pilot, for being upon dry ground. If I is humility. 4. The best means of establishonly have will to be grateful, I am so. Asing a high reputation is-to speak well, and gratitude is a necessary, and a glorious, so also is it an obvious, a cheap, and an easy virtue: so obvious, that wherever there is life, there is place for it: so cheap, that the covetous man may be gratified without expense: and so easy, that the sluggard may be so likewise without labor. To the generous mind, Tis the Creator's primary great law, Anecdote. The bill of indictment, preferred against John Bunyan, author of Pilgrim's Progress, &c., was as follows: "John Bunyan hath devilishly and perniciously abstained from coming to church, to hear divine service, and is a common upholder of several unlawful meetings and conventicles, to the disturbance and distraction of the good subjects of this kingdom, contrary to the laws of our sovereign lord the king," &c., was convicted, and imprisoned twelve years and six months. And too fond of the right, to pursue the expedient. act better. 5. Be studious, and you will be A dark, cold calm, which nothing now can break, Still-as the breathless interval--between the flash and thunder. Laconies. 1. Wher we behold a full grown man. in the perfection of rigor and health, and the splendor of reason and intelligence, and are informed that God created man in his own image, after his own likeness;” we are attracted with tenfold interest to the examination of the object. that is placed before us, and the structure of his mind and body, and the succinct developments of the parts and proportions of each. 2. A workingman without tools, tho' he has the best designs and most perfect practical skill, can de nothing useful; without skill, his design could do nothing with the best of tools; and without 522. To act a Passion properly, we must never attempt it, until the imagination has conceived clearly and distinctly, a strong and vivid i feu of it, and we feel its influence in our inmost soul; then, the form, or image of that idea, will be impressed on the appropriate muscles of the face, and communicate, instantly, the same impressions to the muscles of the body; which, whether braced, or reLaxed, (the idea being either active or passive,) by impelling, or retarding the flow of the affection, will transmit their own sensation to the voice, and rightly dispose the proper ges-design, his skill and tools would be both inopera ture. COURAGE, DISTRACTION. tive thus again, three distinct essentials are 'Tis fallen! 'tis here! I felt it on my brain I the intervention of thought. 4. What shall we do, to obtain justice, when we are injured? Seek recompense at law, if at all. 5. Suppose a person insults us in such a manner, that the law cannot give us redress? A generous fer, the vet'ran hardy gleanings Of many a hapless fight, with Heroic fire, inspirited each other, Resolved on death; disdaining to survive Their dearest country. "If we fall," I cried, "Let us not tamely fall, like passive cowards; No; let us live, or let us die like MEN; Come on, my friends, to Alfred we will cut Our glorious way; or, as we nobly perish, Will offer, to the genius of our country, Whole hecatombs of Danes." As if one soul had moved them all, Around their heads, they flashed [Danes! Their flaming falchions-" Lead us to those Our country! VENGEANCE!" was the gen'ral cry! Varieties. 1. Can actions be really good, 523. PASSIONS. 1. The passions and desires, Like the two twists of a rope, mutually mix unless they proceed from good motives? 2. one with the other, and twine inextricably By doubting, we are led to think; or, consider round the heart; producing good, if mode- whether it be so, and to collect reasons, and rately in Julged; but certain destruction, if thereby to bring that truth rationally into our suffered to become inordinate. 2. Passion-minds. 3. The effects of music-are prois the great mour and spring of the soul:red directly upon the affectims, without when men's passions are strongest, they may have great and noble effects; but they are then also, apt to lead to the greatest evils. Anecdote. Pungent Preaching. An old man being asked his opinion of a certain sermon, replied, “I liked it very well, except that there was no pinch to it. I always like to have a pinch to every sermon." Want is a bitter and a hateful good, Because its virtues are not understood. Yet many things, impossible to thought, Have been, by need, to full perfection brought. The daring of the soul proceeds from thence, Sharpness of wit, and active diligence; Prudence at once, and fortitude it gives, And, if in patience taken, mends our lives; For even that indigence which brings me low, Makes me myself, and him above, to know; A good which none would challenge, few would A fair possession, which mankind refuse. [choose, If we from wealth to poverty descend, Want gives to know the flatterer from the friend. The darts of love, like lightning, wound within, And, tho' they pierce it, never hurt the skin; They leave no marks behind them where they fly, Tho' thro' the tend'rest part of all, the eye. Darkness-the curtain drops on life's dull scene. Then forgive him. 6. In the Lord, are infi- The beggar begs with it, the gay courtier morse. 524. DESPAIR. Shakspeare has most exqui- | saw a spider climbing up one of the rafters : sitely depicted this passion, where he has drawn the insect fell, but immediately made a second cardinal Beaufort, after a most ungodly Lie. dy ng in despair, and terrified with the murder of duke attempt to ascend; and the hero saw, with Humphrey, to which he was accessory. The first regret, the spider fall the second time; it then example is Despair, the second, Despair and Re- made a third unsuccessful attempt. With much interest and concern the monarch saw the spider baffled in its aim twelve times; but the thirteenth essay was successful; when the king, starting up, exclaimed, "This despicable insect has taught me perseverance I will follow its example. Have I not been twelve times defeated by the enemy's superior force? On one fight more hangs the independence of my country." In a few days, his anticipations were realized, by the glorious victory at the battle of Bannockburn, and the defeat of Edward the Second. If thou be'st Death, I'll give thee England's treasures, How far-am I plunged down, beyond all thought, Which I this evening framed! Consummate horror! guilt-beyond a name! Varieties. 1. The bee-rests on natural flowers, never on painted ones, however inimitably the color may be laid on; apply this to all things. 2. The rapidity with which the body may travel by steam, is indicative of the progress which the mind is about to make; and improvements in machinery-represent those which are developing in the art of teach Were second guilt, and 'twere blaspheming heavening. 3. Equal and exact justice to all, of whatever state, or persuasim, religious and political. 4. What is matter? and what are its essential properties, and what its primeval form? 5. How much more do we know of the nature of matter, than we do of the essential properties of spirit? 6. What is the origin of the earth, and in what form did it originally exist,-in a gaseous, or igneous form? 7. Everything that exists, is designed to aid in developing and perfecting both body and mind: the universe is our school-house. DESPAIR makes a despicable figure, and descends from a mean original. "Tis the offspring of fear, of laziness, and impatience; it argues a defect of spirit and resolution, and oftentimes of hon esty too. I would not despair, unless I saw my misfortune recorded in the book of fate, and signed and sealed by necessity. I am not mad; this hair I tear is mine; My name is Constance; I was Goffrey's wife; Young Arthur-is my son,—and he is lost. I am not mad; I would to heaven I were; For then, 'tis like I should forget myself. 525. GRIEF is disappointment, devoid of hope; Preach some philosophy-to make me mad, 526. JEALOUSY is loubtful anger, strug gling against faith and pity; it is a tenderness resisted by resentment of suspected injury; the nerves braced strong, imply determination of revenge and punishment; while, at the same time, a sot passive hesitation m the eye, confesses a reluctance at the heart, to part with, or efface a gentle and indulged idea. Again, it is rage at a coneluded infidelity; and then, the eye receives and flashes out sparklings of inflamed ideas, while the muscles, contracting the will's violence, from a repressive disposition of the heart, grow slack, and lose their spring, and so disarm and modify the enraged indignation. Now from this unsettled wavering in the balance of the purpose, when the heart and judgment weigh each other, and both scales alternately preponderate, is induced a glowing picture of jealousy. Oh! what dam-ned minutes tells he o'er, Anecdote. Lord Gadsy, over the entrance of a beautiful grotto, had caused this inscription to be placed,—“ Let nothing enter here but what is good." Dr. Rennel, the master of the temple, who was walking over the ground, with much point asked-“Then where does your lordship enter?" Everything Useful. The mineral, vegetable, and animal kingdoms, are designed for the nourishment, clothing, habitation, recreation, delight, protection and preservation of the human race; abuse does not take truth destroys the truth; except, with those away use, any more than the falsification of who do it. Everything which is an object of the senses, is designed to aid in developing the most external faculties of man; and what is of an economical and civil nature, and what is imbibed from parents, teachers, and others, and also from books, and reflections upon them all, is useful for perfecting the rational faculties of the mind: and all Who doats, yet doubts, suspects, yet strongly loves! divine truths are designed to perfect the hu O jealousy! thou bane of social joy! Oh! she's a monster, made of contradictions! 527. THE FRUITS. Men, instead of applying the salutary medicines of philosophy and religion to abate the rage, and recover the temper of their vitiated imaginations, cherish the disease in their bosoms, until their increasing appetites, like the hounds of Action, tear into pieces the soul they were intended to enliven and protect. Jealousy-is like A polish'd glass, held to the lips, when life's in doubt: It is jealousy's peculiar nature, Where love reigns, disturbing jealousy How blest am I Iman mind, and prepare it for receiving a spiritual principle from the Lord, our Creator and Redeemer. Varieties. 1. A fit Pair. A Dandy is a thing, in pantaloons, with a body and two arms, head without brains, tight boots, a cane, and white handkerchief, two broaches and a ring on his little finger. A Coquette is a young lady, with more beauty than sense, more accomplishments than learning, more charms of person than graces of mind, more admirers than friends, and more fools than wise men for her attendants. 2. The sunshine of prosperity-has attractions for all, who love to bask in its influence, hoping to share in its pleasures. 3. The verdant lawn, the shady grove, the variegated landscape, the beautiful ocean and the starry firmament are contemplated with pleasure, by every one, who has a soul. 4. A man should not be ashamed to own, that he has been in the wrong; which is only saying, in other words, that he is wiser to-day than he was yesterday. 5. The love of truth and goodness, is the best passion we can indulge. 6. A woman's life, is the history of the affec tions; the heart is her world; it is there her ambition strives for empire, and there she seeks for untold treasures. 7. The best and noblest conquest, is that of reason over our passions, and follies. Those you make friends, And give your hearts to, when they once perceive The least rub in your fortunes, fall away Like water from ye, never found again But where they mean to sink ye. Oh jealousy! Love's eclipse! thou art in thy disease A wild, mad patient, wondrous hard to please. |