greatest earthly comforts dashed with allays of pain and uneasiness, that no state of life, whether of youth or age, of riches or poverty, of grandeur or meanness, is exempt from difficulties and troubles. To hope for perfect happiness is vain : Since then, an entire and unmixed happiness is not to be expected in our present state, let us not be too sanguine in our wishes to find it here, but place our happiness on things above, and on that state which approaches the nearest to it; which is, doing our duty in whatever situation God has pleased to place us. No. 352.] SORROW. [TUESDAY. SORROW is uneasiness in the mind, upon the thought of a good lost, which might have been enjoyed longer; or the sense of a present evil. The sharpest and most melting sorrow is that which arises from the loss of those whom we have loved with tenderness. The safe and general antidote against sorrow, is employment. Whoever shall keep his thoughts continually busy, will find himself unaffected with irretrievable losses. Sorrow is a kind of rust to the soul, which every new idea contributes to scour away. T It is the putrefaction of stagnant life, and is remedied by exercise and motion. No. 353.] [WEDNESDAY. PICTURE OF AN UNCHARITABLE MAN. An uncharitable man wounds the very vitals of that religion by which he hopes for eternal life. And whilst his fury rages against his brother for accidental differences, he shakes the very foundations of his own christianity, and endangers or prevents his own salvation; his boasted orthodoxy in opinion is made vain, while his practical ungodlinesses are real; and his faith appears to be little better than that of devils, when he mingles so much of their malice with it. In vain does he glory in the brightness of his notions: in vain does he presume darkness is past and the true light now shineth; for he that "sayeth he is in the light and hateth his brother, he abideth in darkness even till now." It is true, indeed, that all graces and virtues are very imperfect in this present state, and there is much of uncharitableness remaining in many a good man: but THAT MAN can never be good who has no charity. No. 354.] CHASTITY. [THURSDAY. CHASTITY Consists in a deep and fixed abhorrence of all impurity and uncleanness in thought, word and deed; in a resolute guard over our body, soul, passions, and imaginations; in a steady abstinence from all approaches to lust; and in a fervent love to chastity of body, soul, and speech, on account of its intrinsic goodness and beautiful conformity to God. No. 355.] SUSPICION. [FRIDAY. SUSPICION is no less an enemy to virtue, than to happiness. He that is already corrupt is naturally suspicious; and he that becomes suspicious, will quickly be corrupt. He that suffers by imposture, has too often his virtue more impaired than his fortune. But as it is necessary not to invite robbery by supineness, so it is our duty not to suppress tenderness by suspicion. It is better to suffer wrong than to do it; and happier to be sometimes cheated, than not to trust. He who is spontaneously suspicious, may be justly charged with radical corruption; for if he has not known the prevalence of dishonesty by information, nor had time to discern it with his own eyes, whence can he take his measures of judgment but from himself? "Though wisdom wake, suspicion sleeps At wisdom's gate; and to simplicity Resigns her charge, while goodness thinks no ill Where no ill seems." No. 356.] CIVILITY. [SATURDAY. RUDENESS ill becomes men possessed of ability, power, riches, or religion. It is a law not to be dispensed with "To honour all men." Christians are especially called upon to shew respect and kindness to mankind. Piety of disposition, connected with urbanity of manners, characterise both the christian and the gentleman. We should always be careful not to hurt or injure others by careless, wanton, or unkind conduct. As every action may produce effects over which human power has no influence, and which human sagacity cannot forsee, we should not lightly venture to the verge of evil, nor strike at others, though with a reed, lest, like the rod of Moses, it become a serpent in our hand. If a civil word or two will render a man happy," said a French king, "he must be a wretch indeed who will not give them to him." No. 357.] THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. [SUNDAY. To Thee I lift my voice. With fervent heat No. 358.] FORBEARANCE. [MONDAY. ALL that is great and good in the universe is on the side of clemency and mercy. If we look into the history of mankind, we shall find that, in every age, those who have been respected as worthy have been distinguished for this virtue. Revenge dwells in little minds; a noble and magnanimous spirit is superior to it. Collected within itself, it stands unmoved by the impotent assault of our enemies; and with generous pity, rather than with anger, looks down on their unworthy conduct. It has been truly said, that the greatest man on earth can no sooner commit an injury, than a good man can make himself greater by forgiving it. Anger and revenge are uneasy passions; hence," says Seed, "it appears that the command of loving your enemies, which has been thought a hard saying, and impossible to be fulfilled, is really no more when resolved into its first principles, than bidding us to be at peace with ourselves, which we cannot be, so long as we continue at enmity with others." SON of omnipotence! creation's heir! [TUESDAY. Lord, what is man, that he employs thy care. |