bability of recovering his place in society! hence, he hates the relentless hand that, in withdrawing the veil from his nakedness, leaves him no way to conceal infirmities which disgust the world; and despairing, by any after-amendment, to efface the cruel impression, he abandons himself to his fate.

On

the contrary, the general satirist, attacks the vice, and not the individual acting under its influence. He paints its enormity; and describes the infamy which detection incurs.The secret culprit sees the portrait; and while he can yet retreat from being recognised as the original, steals from his crimes; and happy in the ignorance of mankind, is the more easily induced to become a good character, because they never knew that he was a bad one. Public shame often hardens the criminal in guilt; and drives him to defend what otherwise he would have been led to desert. In short, it is a paradoxical way to reform men, by making them hate their teacher. Persuasion will subdue vices, which virulence and open exposure cannot conquer. When you would teach men, win their hearts, and their

A

minds will soon learn obedience. Let the injunctions of the holy apostles, instruct human moralists how to lecture their fellow-creatures! "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted: we, that are strong, ought to bear the infirmities of the weak. servant of the Lord must not fight, but be gentle toward all; apt to teach; patient; in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves." Every man (saith the sage,) shall kiss the lips that breathe sweetness! But all will be ready to avoid him whose mouth is imbittered with reproach, or defiled with revilings.

CURIOSITY.

1.

INQUISITIVENESS is an uncomely guest.

Remark.

Prying into the private histories of our acquaintance, is not only uncomely, but very impertinent and insolent. It is never done towards those whom we sincerely regard; for affection supersedes idle curiosity, and makes us wait for the disclosures, which it would be indelicate to demand. Hence, all officious questions about personal affairs; all canvassing the lineage, education, and fortunes of our associates, arise from mere inquisitiveness: and though such impertinence is most often found amongst individuals of rank and riches, (who make leisure to be troublesome,) yet no privileges of situation ought to warrant ill-manners; or screen presuming curiosity, from the

mortifications of disappointment and con

tempt.

2.

The heavenly powers ought to be revereneed, and not searched into; and their mercies, by prayers, sought; not their hidden counsels, by curiosity.

Remark.

If pryers into futurity were to put a stop to their curiosity by reflections similar with those of Cæsar, they would avoid much ridicule, much useless uneasiness, and settle a very troublous spirit.

The following thoughts were written on the tablets of that great man the night before his death, when he had retired to his chamber, rather discomposed by the presages which his wife Calphurnia drew from her ominous dreams.

"Be it so. If I am to die to-morrow, that is what I am to do to-morrow. It will not be then, because I am willing it should be

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then; nor shall I escape it, because I am unwilling to meet it. It is in the Gods when, but in myself, how I shall die. If Calphurnia's dream be fumes of indigestion, and I take panic at her vapours, how shall I behold the day after to-morrow? If they be from the Gods, their admonition is not to prepare me to escape from their decree, but to meet it. I have lived to a fulness of days and of glory: what is there that Cæsar has not done with as much honour as ancient heroes? Cæsar has not yet died;-Cæsar is prepared to die."

CUSTOM.

THEY Who would receive the benefit of a custom, must not be the first to break it; for then can they not complain, if they be not helped by that which they themselves hurt.