TALE XXXIII.

OF HANGING.

VALERIUS tells us, that a man named Paletinus one day burst into a flood of tears; and calling his son and his neighbours around him, said, "Alas! alas! I have now growing in my garden a fatal tree, on which my first poor wife hung herself, then my second, and after that my third. Have I not therefore cause for the wretchedness I exhibit ?"

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Truly," said one who was called Arrius, "I marvel that you should weep at such an unusual instance of good fortune! Give me, I pray you, two or three sprigs of that gentle tree, which I will divide with my neighbours, and thereby afford every man an opportunity of indulging the laudable wishes of his spouse." Paletinus complied with his friend's request;

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and ever after found this remarkable tree the most productive part of his estate. (29)

APPLICATION.

My beloved, the tree is the cross of Christ. The man's three wives are, pride, lusts of the heart, and lusts of the eyes, which ought to be thus suspended and destroyed. He who solicited a part of the tree is any good Chris

tian.

TALE XXXIV.

OF CONSIDERATION OF LIFE.

WE read that Alexander the Great was the disciple of Aristotle, from whose instructions he derived the greatest advantage. Amongst other important matters, he enquired of his master, what would profit himself, and at the same time be serviceable to others. Aristotle

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answered, My son, hear with attention; and if you retain my counsel, you will arrive at the greatest honors. There are seven distinct points to be regarded. First, that you do not overcharge the balance. Secondly, that you do not feed a fire with the sword. Thirdly, carp not at the crown; nor, Fourthly, eat the heart of a little bird. Fifthly, when you have once commenced a proper undertaking, never turn from it. Sixthly, walk not in the high road; and Seventhly, do not allow a prating swallow to possess your eaves."— The King carefully considered the meaning of these enigmatical directions; and observing them, experienced their utility in his subsequent life. (30)

APPLICATION.

My beloved, the balance is human life; do not overcharge it, but weigh every thing accurately, and deliberate upon what you do. As in the fable of the vulture. A vulture swooping upon her prey, struck it with her talons. After it was killed, she first endeavoured to carry off the whole; but finding

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"Eat

this beyond her power, she tore off as much as she could fly away with, and left the remainder behind. "Do not feed a fire with the sword," that is, provoke not anger with sharp words. Carp not at the crown,"that is, respect the established laws. not the heart of a little bird," which being weak and timid, becomes not the condition of a Christian man. "When you have commenced a befitting design, do not turn from it," and especially having begun repentance, persevere to the end. A viper, wishing to espouse a kind of eel called the lamprey, was rejected by the latter, because of the poison it conveyed. The viper, determining to carry its object, retired to a secret place and cast up the venom; but after the nuptials were solemnized, went back to the place where the virus was deposited, and resumed the whole. In like manner do all sinners. They are awhile penitent, but soon return to their vomit-that is, to their sins. "Walk not by

the high road,”—which is the

road of death.

"Permit not a prating swallow to possess your eaves," that is, suffer not sin to dwell upon thy heart.

.

TALE XXXV.

OF PEACE, REFORMATION, &c.

IN the Roman annals, we read that it was customary, when peace was established between noblemen who had been at variance, to ascend a lofty mountain, and take with them a lamb, which they sacrificed in pledge of complete re-union; thereby intimating, that as they then poured forth the blood of the lamb, so should his blood be poured forth, who infringed the smallest article of that solemn compact.

APPLICATION.

My beloved, the noblemen are God and man; and the lamb is Christ.