things which should make us esteem and love them. No. 242.] ENVY. [THURSDAY. ENVY is almost the only vice which is practicable at all times and in every place: the only passion which can never lie quiet for want of irritation. The effects, therefore, are every way discoverable, and its attempts always to be dreaded. It is above all vices, inconsistent with the character of a social being, because it sacrifices truth and kindness to very weak temptations. Almost every other crime is practised by the help of some quality which might have produced esteem or love, if it had been well employed: but envy is a more unmixed and genuine evil; it pursues a hateful end, by despicable means, and desires not so much its own happiness as another's misery. No. 243.] REPUTATION. [FRIDAY. THE desire of praise, when it is discreet and moderate, is always attended with emulation and a strong desire of excelling: and so long as we can stop here, there is no harm done to ourselves or others. St. Paul exhorts christians to follow not only whatsoever things are right, but whatsoever things are of good report: the love of reputa tion, therefore, if it be not joined to a bad disposition, will scarcely of itself lead us to immoral actions. Yet the things which the world generally admires and praises most, are not the things in their own nature the most valuable. They are those bright abilities and fair endowments, which relate to the present life, and terminate with it. Christian virtues are of a more silent, and retired nature. God and good angels approve them; but the busy world overlooks them. So that he who principally affects popular approbation, runs some danger of living and dying well known to others, and little known to himself; ignorant of the state of his soul, and forgetful of the account which he has to render up to God. No. 244.] APHORISMS. [SATURDAY. AFFLICTION is the wholesome soil of virtue, Where patience, honour, sweet humanity, and calm Fortitude, take root and strongly flourish. Circles are praised, not that abound what tho' short my date? Virtue, not rolling suns, the mind matures. That life is long which answers life's great end. No. 245.] [SUNDAY. THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD'S SUPPER. THE Lord's Supper was instituted for the continual remembrance of the death of Christ: we eat bread in remembrance of his body broken, and we drink wine in token of the shedding of his blood, that thus his death may be represented and shown forth till he come again for the final salvation of his people. There is no limitation of age for persons coming to the Lord's Supper. It is indeed impossible, on account of the different capacities and opportunities of improvement, to fix a certain precise time of life for that purpose; but you ought to come as soon as you are capable of understanding the nature of the institution. Early attendance is peculiarly pleasing to God: He will bless the youthful pursuits of virtue: and treat with distinguishing favour the young votaries, who present themselves at his table. No. 246.] NIGHT. [MONDAY. ALL men are stretched upon their quiet beds: darkness is spread over the skies: every eye is shut and every hand is still. The eye that sleeps not is God's; his hand always protects us. made sleep to refresh us when we are weary; he made night that we might sleep in quiet. As He the affectionate mother stills every little noise, that her infant be not disturbed; as she draws the curtains around its bed, and shuts out the light from its tender eyes; so God draws the curtain of darkness around us; so he makes all things to be hushed and still, that his large family may sleep in peace. When the darkness has passed away, and the beams of the morning sun strike through our eye-lids, let us begin our day with praising God, who has taken care of us through the night. Let his praise be in our hearts when we lie down : let his praise be on our lips when we awake. No. 247.] APHORISMS. [TUESDAY. WHEN Sorrow weeps o'er virtue's sacred dust, No radiant pearl which crested fortune wears, No. 248.] MERCY. [WEDNESDAY. Mercy is twice bless'd; It blesseth him that gives and him that takes: 'Tis mightiest in the mighty; it becomes The throned monarch better than his crown ; Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings; It is enthroned in the hearts of kings! It is an attribute of God himself! And earthly power doth then show likest God's, No. 113.] THE VALUE OF HOPE. [THURSDAY. CEASE every joy to glimmer on my mind, But leave-oh leave! the light of hope behind! What though my winged hours of bliss have been, Like angel-visits few and far between ; Her musing mood shall every pang appease; And charm-when pleasures lose the power to please. No. 250.] VICISSITUDE OF HUMAN AFFAIRS. [FRIDAY. EVERY thing human admits of change and vicissitude; states and empires, arts and sciences, customs and manners, laws and goverments, feel, without ceasing, this inevitable principle acting upon them. God, willing to shew us the little |