in a moment. It is an enemy to all laudable exertions for the bettering of our fortune by honest industry: it implies a hardness of heart, and want of sympathy for our fellow-creatures; and, above all, it is an enemy to God, who has forbid us to covet our neighbour's goods; and accordingly we find, that no man who has raised himself by talents and industry, no man remarkable for a feeling heart, no man who has been attentive to religious duties, was ever found to be a gamester. Murder, sometimes follows loss of pence." No. 17.] INGRATITUDE. [WEDNESDAY. INGRATITUDE is a crime so shameful, that there never was a man found who would own himself guilty of it. Ingratitude perverts all the measures of religion and society, by making it dangerous to be charitable and good-natured: however, it is better to expose ourselves to ingratitude than to be wanting to the distressed. He that promotes gratitude pleads the cause both of God and man, for without it, we can neither be sociable nor religious. An ungrateful man is a reproach to the creation; an exception from all the visible world; neither the heavens above, nor the earth beneath, affording any thing like him ; and therefore, if he would find his parallel, he must go to the regions of darkness; for, besides himself, there is nothing but hell that is receiving and never restoring, Whom labour still attends, and sweat and pain; LOVE labour: if you do not want it for food, you may for physic. He is idle that might be better employed. By doing nothing we learn to do ill. He that follows recreations instead of his business, shall in a little time have no business to follow. Action keeps the soul in constant health, but idleness corrupts and rusts the mind. An idle man is an incumbrance to society and a burden to himself. No. 19.] HAPPINESS. [FRIDAY. VARIOUS, sincere, and constant, are the efforts of men to procure that happiness which the nature of the mind requires; but most seem to be ignorant both of the source and means of genuine felicity. Religion alone can afford true joy and permanent peace. It is this that inspires fortitude, supports patience, and by its prospects and promises, darts a cheering ray into the darkest shade of human life. "Where dwells this sovereign bliss? Where doth it grow No. 20.] HONESTY. [SATURDAY. To be punctual in our engagements, and just in our dealings, though it may sometimes seem to be contrary to our present advantage, is always sure in the end to promote our real interests and true happiness. A fair and honest conduct will always be rewarded by the approbation of our fellow-creatures; and this approbation will naturally be followed by good offices and grateful returns, which will certainly tend to promote and give success to all our undertakings. It is a maxim worthy of being written in letters of gold, that there is no method so certain of defeating the plots of wicked men against us as by acting uprightly. OF THE HOLY GHOST. [SUNDAY. No. 21.] THE Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son, is of one substance, majesty, and glory with the Father and the Son, very and eternal God. The Holy Ghost, or Spirit, is a Being distinct from the Father and the Son: He is of the Father and the Son, proceeding from them as the spirit of both. The sacred Scriptures ascribe to him all sorts of personal characters and properties; they also join him with the Father and the Son on equal terms, and represent him as partaking of the same authority and perfections, and therefore of the same nature with them. "Go ye and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with you all." No. 22.] HONOUR. [MONDAY. TRUE honour, though it be a different principle from religion, yet is not contrary to it. Religion embraces virtue, as it is enjoined by the laws of God; honour, as it is graceful and ornamental to human nature. The religious man fears, the man of honour scorns to do an ill action. The latter considers vice as something that is beneath him, the other as something that is offensive to the Divine Being; the one as what is unbecoming, the other as what is forbidden. No. 23.] Friendship's the wine of life; but friendship new WITHOUT friendship life has no charm. The only things which can render friendship sure and lasting are, virtue, purity of manners, an elevated soul, and perfect integrity of heart. Lovers of virtue should have none but virtuous men for their friends; and on this point the proof ought principally to turn; because, where there is no virtue there is no security that our honour, con с fidence, and friendship will not be betrayed and abused. The necessary appendages of friendship are confidence and benevolence. No. 24.] SWEARING. [WEDNESDAY. "Of all the nauseous complicated crimes There's none that can with impious oaths compare, THERE is something so low, vulgar, and wicked in swearing, that it is surprising that men, who wish to be considered as wise and polite, should be found so much in the habit of it. It is a vice to which there is no temptation, and one of those sins which are called presumptuous. Swearing is reprobated by the laws of our country, as well as forbidden by the commandment of God. He who makes use of oaths, tells us his bare word is not to be taken. No. 25.] REVENGE. [THURSDAY. A PASSIONATE and revengeful temper renders a man unfit for advice, deprives him of his reason, and robs him of all that is great or noble in his nature. It makes him unfit for conversation, destroys friendship, changes justice into cruelty, and turns all order into confusion. Anger may glance into the breast of a wise man, but rests |