only in the bosom of fools. None more impatiently suffer injuries than those that are most forward in doing them. A more glorious victory cannot be gained over man than this, that when the injury begins on his part, the kindness should begin on ours.

No. 26.]

FORGIVENESS.

[FRIDAY.

"To err is human, to forgive divine."
"Teach me to feel another's woe,
To hide the fault I see;

That mercy I to others show,

That mercy show to me.'

Or him that hopes to be forgiven, it is indispensably required that he forgive. On this great duty eternity is suspended, and to him that refuses to practise it the throne of mercy is inaccessible, and the Saviour of men has been born in vain. The discretion of a man deferreth his anger, and it is his glory to pass over a transgression. By taking revenge a man is but even with his enemy, but in passing it over, he is superior.

No. 27.]

CONSCIENCE.

[SATURDAY.

"What stronger breast-plate than a heart untainted?
Thrice is he arm'd that hath his quarrel just,

And he but naked (tho' lock'd up in steel)
Whose conscience with injustice is corrupted."

THE severest punishment of an injury is the consciousness of having done it; and no man

suffers more than he that is turned over to the pain of repentance. No man ever offended his own conscience, but, first or last, it was revenged upon him. If a man cannot find ease within himself, it is to little purpose to seek it any where else.

No. 28.]

DUTY TO GOD.

[SUNDAY.

"My duty towards God is to believe in him, to fear him, and to love him with all my heart, with all my mind, with all my soul, and with all my strength; to worship him, to give him thanks, to put my whole trust in him, to call upon him, to honour his holy name and his word, and to serve him truly all the days of my life."

No. 29.]

ADMONITIONS.

[MONDAY.

WHEN YOU wish to have advice, have recourse to such as have had the most experience. The mariner who hath long traversed the dangerous ocean, is surely the most fit to direct the unskilful over the rocks that are therein concealed. Mind the concerns of the soul above all earthly things. See that you get acquainted with your Maker while young. "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth." Shun every appearance of evil. Never let your tongue go before your thoughts. Meditate frequently upon your ap

proaching dissolution. For every action in which you engage, see that you have not only a reason, but that the reason be sufficient.

No. 30.]

MORNING.

[TUESDAY.

Attend my soul! The early birds inspire
My grov'ling thoughts with pure celestial fire:
They from their temp'rate sleep awake, and pay
Their thankful anthems for the new-born day.
But man more void of gratitude awakes,
And gives no thanks for the sweet rest he takes,
Looks on the glorious sun's new kindled flame
Without one thought of him from whom it came.
The wretch unhallow'd does the day begin;
Shakes off his sleep, but shakes not off his sin.

No. 31.]

EVENING.

[WEDNESDAY.

Be still'd, ye passions of the breast!
And own reflection's sober power;
Be hush'd each earthly care to rest,
At circling day's departing hour.
O blest! O happy, is that man!
Who leaves the world, to muse on heaven:
At that enlighten'd, raptured hour,
A more than mortal feeling's given.
Thus holy patriarchs roam'd of old:
At eve devoutest fervour flow'd :-
Thus often, often, let me stray,
And "rise from nature up to God."

No. 32.]

ENGLISH PROVERBS.

[THURSDAY. "CUT your coat according to your cloth." This proverb contains good advice to people of several ranks and degrees, to balance accounts betwixt their expences and their income, and not to let their vanity lead them into debt.

"As you brew so you shall bake." This bitter taunt is applicable to such as act inconsiderately in matters of moment, without the precaution of good counsel and advice.

"Much falls between the cup and the lip." This is a cautionary proverb to persons who too confidently depend upon future expectations, unthoughtful of the contingencies that may intervene.

No. 33.]

TREACHERY.

[FRIDAY.

Of all the vices to which human nature is subject, treachery is the most infamous and detestable, being compounded of fraud, cowardice, and revenge. The greatest wrongs will not justify it, as it destroys those principles of mutual confidence and security by which society can only subsist. The Romans, a brave and generous people, disdained to practise it towards their declared enemies. Christianity teaches us to forgive injuries; but to resent them under the disguise of friendship and benevolence argues a degeneracy, which common humanity and justice must blush

at.

No. 34.]

RELIGION.

[SATURDAY.

RELIGION, in its most general view, is such a sense of God on the soul, and such a conviction of our obligations to him, and dependence upon him, as should engage us to make it our great care to conduct ourselves in a manner which we have reason to believe will be pleasing to him. The greatest and wisest of men, in all ages and countries, were renowned for their piety and virtue. Religion is not an enemy to mirth and cheerfulness, nor an exacter of pensive looks and solemn faces. The true spirit of religion cheers as well as composes the soul. It is not the business of virtue to extirpate the affections of the mind, but to regulate them.

No. 35.]

DUTY TO MAN,

[SUNDAY.

"My duty towards my neighbour, is to love him as myself, and to do to all men, as I would they should do unto me: to love, honour, and succour my father and mother: to honour and obey the king, and all that are put in authority under him to submit myself to all my governors, teachers, spiritual pastors and masters: to order myself lowly and reverently to all my betters: to hurt nobody by word or deed: to be true and just in all my dealings: to bear no malice nor hatred in my heart: to keep my hands from picking and stealing, and my tongue from evil speaking,