I shall make some observations first on the external and next on the internal condition of man. Sometimes timidity and false shame prevent our opposing vicious customs; frequently expectation and interest impel us strongly to comply. CHAPTER II. SENTENCES REQUIRING THE INSERTION OF THE SEMICOLON AND COMMA. See Vol. 1. p. 275, and the Key, Part 4. Chap. 2. THAT darkness of character where we can see no heart those foldings of art through which no native affection is allowed to penetrate present an object unamiable in every season of life but particularly odious in youth. To give an early preference to honour above gain when they stand in competition to despise every advantage which cannot be attained without dishonest arts to brook no meanness and to stoop to no dissimulation are the indications of a great mind the presages of future eminence and usefulness in life. As there is a worldly happiness which God perceives to be no other than disguised misery as there are worldly honours which in his estimation are reproach so there is a worldly wisdom which in his sight is foolishness. The passions are the chief destroyers of our peace the storms and tempests of the moral world. Heaven is the region of gentleness and friendship hell of fierceness and animosity. The path of truth is a plain and a safe path that of falsehood is a perplexing maze. Modesty is one of the chief ornaments of youth and it has ever been esteemed a presage of rising merit. Life with a swift though insensible course glides away and like a river which undermines its banks gradually impairs our state. The violent spirit like troubled waters renders back the images of things distorted and broken and communicates to them all that disordered motion which arises solely from its own agitation. Levity is frequently the forced production of folly or vice cheerfulness is the natural offspring of wisdom and virtue only. Persons who live according to order may be compared to the celestial bodies which move in regular courses and by stated laws whose influence is beneficent whose operations are quiet and tranquil. CHAPTER III. SENTENCES REQUIRING THE APPLICATION OF THE COLON, &C. See Vol. 1. p. 276, and the Key, Part 4. Chap. 3. THE three great enemies to tranquillity are vice superstition and idleness vice which poisons and disturbs the mind with bad passions superstition which fills it with imaginary terrors idleness which loads it with tediousness and disgust. To sail on the tranquil surface of an unruffled lake and to steer a safe course through a troubled and stormy ocean require different talents and alas! human life oftener resembles the stormy ocean than the unruffled lake. When we look forward to the year which is beginning what do we behold there? All my brethren is a blank to our view a dark unknown presents itself. Happy would the poor man think himself if he could enter on all the treasures of the rich and happy for a short time he might be but before he had long contemplated and admired his state his possessions would seem to lessen and his cares would grow. By doing or at least endeavouring to do our duty to God and man by acquiring an humble trust in the mercy and favour of God through Jesus Christ by cultivating our minds and properly employing our time and thoughts by governing our passions and our temper by correcting all unreasonable expectations from the world and from men in the midst of worldly business habituating ourselves to calm retreat and serious recollections by such means as these it may be hoped that through the Divine blessing our days shall flow in a stream as unruffled as the human state admits. A metaphor is a comparison expressed in an abridged form but without any of the words that denote comparison as "To the upright there ariseth light in darkness." All our conduct towards men should be influenced by this important precept "Do unto others as you would that others should do unto you." Philip III. king of Spain when he drew near the end of his days seriously reflecting on his past life and greatly affected with the remembrance of his mispent time expressed his deep VOL. II. 14 regret in these terms "Ah! how happy would it have been for me had I spent in retirement these twenty-three years that I have possessed my kingdom." Often is the smile of gaiety assumed whilst the heart aches within though folly may laugh guilt will sting. There is no mortal truly wise and restless at once wisdom is the repose of minds. CHAPTER IV. SENTENCES WHICH REQUIRE THE INSERTION OF THE PERIOD, &c.* See Vol. 1. p. 278, and the Key, Part 4. Chap. 4. THE absence of Evil is a real Good peace Quiet exemption from pain should be a continual feast Worldly happiness ever tends to destroy itself By corrupting the heart it fosters the loose and the Violent passions It engenders noxious habits and taints the mind with false Delicacy which makes it feel a Thousand unreal Evils Feeding the hungry clothing the Naked comforting the afflicted yield more pleasure than we receive from those actions which respect only Ourselves benevolence may in this view be termed the most refined self-love The Resources of Virtue remain entire When the Days of trouble come they remain with us in Sickness as in Health in Poverty as in the midst of Riches in our dark and solitary Hours no less than when surrounded with friends and cheerful Society The mind of a good man is a kingdom to him and he can always enjoy it We ruin the Happiness of life When we attempt to raise it too high a tolerable and comfortable State is all that we can propose to ourselves On Earth peace and Contentment not Bliss nor Transport are the full portion of Man Perfect joy is reserved for Heaven If we look around us we shall perceive that the Whole Universe is full of Active Powers action is indeed the Genius of Nature by Motion and exertion the System of Being is preserved in Vigour by its different parts always acting in Sub As every learner is supposed to know, that the first word in a sentence must bave a capital letter, there would be little exercise of his judgment, in applying the period, if no words were distinguished by capital letters, but such as propriety required. The compiler has, therefore, in this and the following chapters, affixed capitals to many words, which should properly begin with small letters. This method, besides the use chiefly intended, will serve to exercise the student in the proper application of capital letters. ordination one to another the perfection of the Whole is carried on The Heavenly Bodies perpetually revolve day and Night incessantly repeat their appointed course Continual operations are going on in the Earth and in the Waters nothing stands still Constantine the Great was advanced to the sole Dominion of the Roman World A D 325 and soon after openly professed the Christian Faith The Letter concludes with this Remarkable Postscript "PS Though I am innocent of the Charge and have been bitterly persecuted yet I cordially forgive my Enemies and Persecutors" The last Edition of that valuable Work was carefully com. pared with the Original M S CHAPTER V. SENTENCES REQUIRING THE APPLICATION OF THE DASH; OF THE NOTES OF INTERROGATION AND EXCLAMATION; AND OF THE PARENTHETICAL CHARACTERS. See Vol. 1. p. 279, and the Key, Part 4. Chap. 5. BEAUTY and Strength combined with Virtue and Piety how lovely in the sight of men how pleasing to Heaven peculiarly pleasing because with every Temptation to deviate they voluntarily walk in the Path of Duty Something there is more needful than expense ་་ "I'll live to-morrow" will a wise man say Gripus has long been ardently endeavouring to fill his Chest and lo it is now full Is he happy and does he use it Does he gratefully think of the Giver of all good Things Does he distribute to the Poor Alas these Interests have no Place in his breast What is there in all the pomp of the world the Enjoyments of Luxury the Gratification of Passion comparable to the tranquil Delight of a good Conscience To lie down on the Pillow after a Day spent in Temperance in beneficence and in piety how sweet is it We wait till to-morrow to be Happy alas Why not To-day shall we be younger Are we sure we shall be healthier Will our passions become feebler and our love of the world less What shadow can be more vain than the life of a great Part of Mankind of all that eager and bustling Crowd which we behold on Earth how few discover the path of true Happiness How few can we find whose Activity has not been misemploy ed and whose Course terminates not in Confessions of Disappointment On the one Hand are the Divine Approbation and immortal Honour on the other remember and beware are the stings of Conscience and endless Infamy As in riper Years all unreasonable Returns to the Levity of Youth ought to be avoided an Admonition which equally be longs to both the Sexes still more are we to guard against those intemperate Indulgences of Pleasure to which the young are unhappily prone The bliss of man could pride that blessing find Is not to act or think beyond mankind WHEN Socrates was asked what man approached the nearest to perfect happiness he answered That Man who has the fewest Wants. She who studies her Glass neglects her Heart. Between Passion and Lying there is not a Finger's breadth The freer we feel ourselves in the Presence of others the more free are they he who is free makes free Addison has remarked with equal Piety and Truth that the Creation is a perpetual Feast to the Mind of a good man He who shuts out all evasion when he promises loves truth |