intended us not for a life of indolence, but of active exertion. All the organs of the body, and all the faculties of the mind, are instruments of action, and are to be employed in the vigorous pursuit of happiness. It is only by constant exercise that these powers can be preserved in a sound and healthful state. If the body be suffered to remain long inactive, it will lose its strength and become a prey to disease; at the same time the mental faculties will be gradually enfeebled, and the whole fabric of human happiness be undermined by fretfulness and spleen. It is, on the contrary, a matter of constant experience, that a regular course of bodily exercises is conducive to health, exhilirates the spirits, and contributes to the easy and successful employment of the intellectual powers. No. 276.1 MENTAL INACTIVITY. [WEDNESDAY. THE frequent application of the mind to study, establishes a habit of thinking, which renders it easy and pleasant to engage in any kind of scientific or literary pursuit; whereas a mind which remains long unemployed, loses its delicacy and vigour, and sinks into langour, and stupidity. As the earth, if it be industriously cultivated, will produce fruits in rich abundance, but, if it be suffered to lie long untilled, will be overrun with weeds, which will be rank in proportion to the richness of the soil: so the human mind, if cultivated with great assiduity, will yield a plentiful harvest of knowledge and wisdom; but if neglected, will soon be overspread with the weeds of error and folly and the poisonous weeds will spring up in the greatest abundance in those minds which are by nature capable of producing the most excellent fruits. The unquestionable truth is, that man is made for action; and his faculties, like metallic instruments, if they be not polished with using, will be consumed with the rust of indolence. No. 277.] BODILY EXERCISE. [THURSDAY. SUCH is the constitution of man, that labour may be styled its own reward; nor will any external incitements be requisite, if it be considered how much happiness is gained, and how much misery escaped, by frequent and violent agitation of the body. Exercise cannot secure us from that dissolution to which we are decreed; but, while the soul and body continue united, it can make the association pleasing, and give probable hopes that they shall be disjoined by an easy separation. It was a principle among the ancients, that acute diseases are from heaven, and chronic ones from ourselves the dart of death, indeed, falls from heaven: but we poison it by our own misconduct. No. 278.] JUVENILE AMUSEMENTS. [FRIDAY. THE love of play is natural to youth, it is suited to their years; and salutary to their health, if properly selected, and seasonably used. All kinds of play, where too violent exertion is required, or which risk the extremes of heat and cold, should be avoided, as inimical to health. How often is misery entailed on age by a single act of imprudence in youth! Whenever we labour, it should be to forward some useful end; to do good to ourselves, or to benefit others. When dunger and excess are guarded against, the field is open; and the ingenuity of youth in so many preceding ages, has invented numerous sports to exercise without fatigue, and to amuse without endangering. Chuse which you will, under the above restrictions, vary them as often as you please, for variety is a source of pleasure: to see you happy is the delight of your parents and instructors; but to see you safe is their duty. No. 279.] [SATURDAY. NEVER CONCEAL AN ACCIDENT. "NEVER CONCEAL AN ACCIDENT," is a maxim that should be strongly inculcated and enforced on the minds of youth of all ranks and denominations, for in no respect is the trite saying, that "delays are dangerous," more applicable, than P in cases of this kind; where the kind officiousness of a parent or friend may easily accomplish a cure, in what neglected or allowed to stand over, might afterwards baffle the utmost skill of the physician. No. 280.] THE SABBATH. [SUNDAY. THE observation of a sabbath has prevailed in all ages, and for the best reasons has ever been venerated by the wise and good of every dispensation. It is eminently calculated to excite in the mind, those devout affections and grateful returns, which the omnipotence and kindness of God require. The Patriarchal and Jewish sabbath celebrated the work of the creation; but in the Christian, the superior work of redemption demands every expression of gratitude and obedience. Our beneficent Creator graciously enjoined, that one day in seven should be retired from the bustle and concerns of the world, to the end that we might celebrate his goodness, and prepare ourselves for that everlasting rest, which awaiteth the children of God. The fatal consequences inseparable from the omission of improving this opportunity of reflection, and especially to young persons, are awfully certain. The innumerable train of youthful indiscretions, youthful crimes, and youthful miseries, arise from the neglect or misimprovement of the sabbath. THE Lord my pasture shall prepare, [MONDAY. Though in the paths of death I tread, No. 282.] GOOD HUMOUR. [TUESDAY. GOOD-HUMOUR may be defined, a habit of being pleased; a constant and perennial softness of manner, easiness of approach, and suavity of disposition. He that regards the welfare of others, should make his virtue approachable, that it may be loved and copied; and he that considers the wants which every man feels, or will feel, of external assistance, must rather wish to be surrounded by those that love him, than by those that admire his excellencies or solicit his favours; for admiration ceases with novelty, and interest gains its end and retires. A man, whose great qualities want the ornament of superficial attraction, is |