Endeavour to be firft in thy calling, whatever it be; neither let any one go before thee in well doing: nevertheless, do not envy the merits of another; but improve thine own talents. Scorn alfo to deprefs thy competitor by any difhoneft or unworthy method: ftrive to raise thyfelf above him only by excelling him; fo fhall thy conteft for fuperiority be crowned with honour, if not with fuccefs. By a virtuous emulation, the fpirit of a man is exalted within him; he panteth after fame, and rejoiceth as a racer to run his course. He rifeth like the palm tree in fpite of oppreffion; and as an eagle in the firmament of heaven, he foareth aloft, and fixeth his eye upon the glories of the fun. The examples of eminent men are in his vifions by night, and his delight is to follow them all the day long. He formeth great defigns, he rejoiceth in the execution thereof, and his name goeth forth to the ends of the world. But the heart of the envious man is gall and bitterness; his tongue fpitteth venom; the fuccefs of his neighbour breaketh his rest. He fitteth in his cell repining, and the good that happeneth to another, is to him an evil. Hatred and malice feed upon his heart, and there is no reft in him. He feeleth in his own breast no love to goodness, and therefore believeth his neighbour is like unto himself. He endeavours to depreciate thofe that excel him, and putteth an evil interpretation on all their doings. He lieth on the watch, and meditates mifchief; but the deteftation of man purfucth him, he is crushed as a spider in his own web. $244. PRUDENCE. Hear the words of Prudence, give heed unto her counfels, and ftore them in thine heart; her maxims are univerfal, and all the virtues lean upon her: he is the guide and miftrefs of human life. Put a bridle on thy tongue; fet a guard before thy lips, left the words of thine own mouth deftroy thy peace. Let him that fcoffeth at the lame, take care that he halt not himfelf: whosoever fpeaketh of another's failings with pleafure, fhall hear of his own with bitterness of heart. Of much speaking cometh repentance, but in filence is fafety. A talkative man is a nuifance to fociety; the ear is fick of his babbling, the torrent of his words overwhelmeth converfation. Boaft not of thy felf, for it fhall bring contempt upon thee; neither deride an other, for it is dangerous. A bitter jeft is the poifon of friendship; and he that cannot restrain his tongue, fhall have trouble. Furnish thyself with the proper accommodations belonging to thy condition; ye fpend not to the utmost of what thou canf afford, that the providence of thy youth may be a comfort to thy old age. Let thine own business engage thy at tention; leave the care of the ftate to the governors thereof. Let not thy recreations be expenfive, left the pain of purchafing them exceed the pleafure thou haft in their enjoyment. Neither let profperity put out the eyes of circumfpection, nor abundance cut of the hands of frugality; he that too much indulgeth in the fuperfluities of life, fhall live to lament the want of its neceffaries. From the experience of others, do thon learn wisdom; and from their failings correct thine own faults. Truft no man before thou haft tried him; yet miftruft not without reasor, it is uncharitable. But when thou haft proved a man to be honeft, lock him up in thine heart as a treasure! regard him as a jewel of inefi mable price. Refuse the favours of a mercenary man: they will be a fnare unto thee; thou f never be quit of the obligation. Ufe not to-day what to-morrow may want; neither leave that to hazard which forefight may provide for, or care prevent. Yet expect not even from Prudence irfallible fuccefs; for the day knoweth nct what the night may bring forth. The fool is not always unfortunate, DO the wife man always fuccessful: yet never had a fool a thorough enjoyment; never was a wife man wholly unhappy. courage and patience, that thou mayeft fupport, with a becoming refolution, thy allotted portion of human evil. As the camel beareth labour, and heat, and hunger, and thirst, through defarts of fand, and fainteth not; fo the fortitude of man fhall fuftain him through all perils. A noble spirit difdaineth the malice of fortune; his greatnefs of foul is not to be caft down. He hath not fuffered his happiness to depend on her fmiles, and therefore with her frowns he shall not be dismayed. As a rock on the fea-fhore he ftandeth firm, and the dashing of the waves diiturb. ctn him not. He raifeth his head like a tower on a hill, and the arrows of fortune drop at his feet. In the inftant of danger the courage of his heart fuftaineth him; and the fteadiness of his mind beareth him cut. He meeteth the evils of life as a man that goeth forth into battle, and returneth with victory in his hand. Under the preffure of misfortunes, his calmness alleviates their weight, and his confancy fhall furmount them. But the dastardly fpirit of a timorous betrayeth him to fhame. By thrinking under poverty, he floopeth dan to meannefs; and by tamely bearing alts, he inviteth injuries. As a reed is thaken with a breath of air, fo the thadow of evil maketh him tremble. In the hour of danger he is embarraffed and confounded; in the day of misfortune he inketh, and despair overwhelmeth his Sual. § 246. CONTENTMENT. Forget not, O man! that thy flation on earth is appointed by the wifdom of the Eternal, who knoweth thy heart, who feeth the vanity of all thy wishes, and who often, 1. mercy, denieth thy requests. Yet for all reasonable defires, for all honeft endeavours, his benevolence hath tablished, in the nature of things, a probability of fuccefs. The uneafinefs thou feeleft, the misfortunes thou bewaileft, behold the root from whence they fpring! even thine own folly, thine own pride, thine own distempered fancy. Murmur not therefore at the difpenfatons of God, but correct thine own heart: neither fay within thyfelf, If I had wealth or power, or leifure, I fhould be happy; for know, they all bring to their feveral poffeffors their peculiar inconveniencies. The poor man seeth not the vexations and anxieties of the rich, he feeleth not the difficulties and perplexities of power, neither knoweth he the wearifomeness of leifure; and therefore it is that he repineth at his own lot. But envy not the appearance of happinefs in any man, for thou knoweft not his fecret griefs. To be fatisfied with a little is the greatest wifdom; and he that increaseth his riches, increafeth his cares; but a contented mind is a hidden treasure, and trouble findeth it not. Yet if thou fuffereft not the allurements of fortune to rob thee of justice or temperance, or charity, or modefty, even riches themfelves fhall not make thee unhappy. But hence halt thou learn, that the cup of felicity, pure and unmixed, is by no means a draught for mortal man. Virtue is the race which God hath fe him to run, and happiness the goal, which none can arrive at till he hath finished his courfe, and received his crown in the manfions of eternity. § 247. TEMPERANCE. The nearest approach thou canst make to happiness on this fide the grave, is to enjoy from heaven understanding and health. Thefe bleffings if thou poffeffeft, and wouldft preferve to old age, avoid the allurements of voluptuousness, and fly from her temptations. When the fpreadeth her delicacies on the board, when her wine fparkleth in the cup, when the fmileth upon thee, and perfuadeth thee to be joyful and happy; then is the hour of danger, then let Reason stand firmly on her guard. For if thou hearkeneft unto the words of her adverfary, thou art deceived and betrayed. The joy which fhe promiseth, changeth to madness, and her enjoyments lead on to difeafes and death. Look round her board; caft thine eyes upon her guefts, and obferve those who have been allured by her fmiles, who have liftened to her temptations. Are they not meagre? are they not fickly? are they not spiritless? Their fhort hours of jollity and riot are followed by tedious days of pain and dejection. She hath debauched and palled A a 3 their their appetites, that they have no relish for their niceft dainties: her votaries are become her victims; the juft and natural confequence which God hath ordained, in the conftitution of things, for the punishment of those who abufe his gifts. But who is the that with graceful fteps, and with a lively air, trips over yonder plain? The rofe blufheth on her cheeks, the fweetness of the morning breatheth from her lips; joy, tempered with innocence and modeity, (parkleth in her eyes, and from the chearfulness of her heart the fingeth as fhe walks. Her name is Health; fhe is the daughter of Exercife and Temperance; their fons inhabit the mountains of the northern regions. They are brave, active, and lively, and partake of all the beauties and virtues of their fifter. Vigour ftringeth their nerves, ftrength dwelleth in their bones, and labour is their delight all the day long. The employments of their father excite their appetites, and the repafts of their mother refresh them. To combat the paffions is their delight; to conquer evil habits their glory. Their pleasures are moderate, and therefore they endure; their repofe is short, but found and undisturbed. Their blood is pure, their minds are fe rene, and the phyfician findeth not the way to their habitations. But fafety dwelleth not with the fons of men, neither is fecurity found within their gates. Behold them expofed to new dangers from without, while a traitor within lurketh to betray them. Their health, their ftrength, their beauty and activity, have raised defire in the bofom of lafcivious love. She standeth in her bower, the courteth their regard, the spreadeth her tempta tions. Her limbs are foft and delicate; her attire is loofe and inviting. Wantonness fpeaketh in her eyes, and on her bofom fits temptation. She beckoneth them with her finger, fhe wooeth them with her looks, and by the fmoothness of her tongue, she endeavoureth to deceive. Ah! fly from her allurements, ftop thy ears to her enchanting words. If thou meeteft the languishing of her eyes; if thou heareft the foftness of her voice, if the cafteth her arms about thee, the bindeth thee in chains for ever. Shame followeth, and disease, and want, and care, and repentance. Enfeebled by dalliance, with luxury pampered, and foftened by floth, ftrength fhall forfake thy limbs, and health thy conftitution: thy days fhall be few, and theie inglorious; thy griefs thall be many, yet meet with no compaffion. The PASSIONS, $248. HOPE and FEAR. rofes in the bud, and far more flattering The promifes of hope are fweeter than to expectation; but the threatenings of fear are a terror to the heart. Nevertheless, let not hope allure, cr right; fo fhalt thou be prepared to meet al fear deter thee from doing that which events with an equal mind. The terrors even of death are no terren to the good; he that committeth no ev hath nothing to fear. affurance animate thy endeavours; if t In all thy undertakings, let a reaforail: defpairest of fuccefs, thou shalt not fuc ceed. Terrify not thy foul with vain fear, neither let thy heart fink within thee frem the phantoms of imagination. From fear proceedeth misfortune; bot he that hopeth, helpeth himself. head, but forgetteth his body; fo the fear: As the oftrich when purfued, hideth of a coward expofe him to danger. defpondency thall make it fo; but he th If thou believeft a thing impoffible, perfevereth, fhall overcome all difficulties. fool; but he that is wife purfueth it not. A vain hope flattereth the heart of 2 with thee, and fix not thy hopes beves In all thy defires let reafon go alerg the bounds of probability; fo fhall fucces not be vexed with difappointment. attend thy undertakings, thy heart sha Lo! yonder ftandeth the houfe of Joy. It is painted on the outfide, and looketh gay; thou mayeft know it from the continual noise of mirth and exultation that iffucth from it. The mistress ftandeth at the door, and calleth aloud to all that pafs by; fhe fingeth and fhouteth, and laugheth without cufing. She inviteth them to go in and taste the pleafures of life, which the telleth them are no where to be found but beneath her roof. But enter not thou into her gate; neither ociate thyself with thofe who frequent her house. They call themselves the fons of Joy; they laugh and feem delighted: but madnets and folly are in all their doings. They are linked with mischief hand in hand, and their steps lead down to evil. Dangers befet them round about, and the pit of deftruction yawneth beneath their feet. Look now on the other fide, and behold, in that vale, overshadowed with trees and hd from the fight of men, the habitation ct Sorrow. She looketh on the common accidents of fe and weepeth; the weakness and wickedness of man is the theme of her lips. All nature to her teemeth with evil; every object the feeth is tinged with the gloom of her own mind, and the voice of complaint faddeneth her dwelling day and right. Come not near her cell; her breath is contagious; he will blaft the fruits, and wither the flowers, that adorn and sweeten the garden of life. In avoiding the houfe of Joy, let not thy feet betray thee to the borders of this difmal manfion; but purfue with care the middle path, which fhall lead thee by a gentle afcent to the bower of Tranquillity. With her dwelleth Peace, with her dwelleth Safety and Contentment. She is cheerful but not gay; fhe is ferious, but not grave; fhe vieweth the joys and the forlows of life with an equal and steady eye. From hence, as from an eminence, shalt thou behold the folly and the mifery of thufe, who led by the gaiety of their hearts, take up their abode with the companions of jollity and riotous Mirth; or infected with Seeft thou not that the angry man lofeth his understanding? Whilft thou art yet in thy fenfes, let the wrath of another be a leflon to thyself. Do nothing in a paffion, Why wilt thou put to fea in the violence of a form? If it be difficult to rule thine anger, it is wife to prevent it: avoid therefore all occafions of falling into wrath; or guard thyself against them whenever they occur. A fool is provoked with infolent fpeeches, but a wife man laugheth them to icorn. Harbour not revenge in thy breast, it will torment thy heart, and difcolour its beft inclinations. Be always more ready to forgive, than to return an injury: he that watches for an opportunity of revenge, lieth in wait againit himself, and draweth down mischief on his own head. A mild answer to an angry man, like water caft upon the fire, abateth his heat; and from an enemy he fhall become thy friend. Confider how few things are worthy of anger, and thou wilt wonder that any but fools fhould be wrath. In folly or weaknefs it always beginneth; but remember, and be well affured, it feldom concludeth without repentance. On the heels of Folly treadeth Shame; at the back of Anger ftandeth Remorfe. § 251. PITY. A a 4 Whilft the poor man groaneth on the bed of fickness, whilft the unfortunate languish in the horrors of a dungeon, or the hoary head of age lifts up a feeble eye to thee for pity; Ŏ how canft thou riot in fuperfluous enjoyments, regardless of their wants, unfeeling of their woes! $252. DESIRE and LOVE. Beware, young man, beware of the allurements of wantonnefs, and let not the harlot tempt thee to excefs in her delights. The madnefs of defire fhall defeat its own purfuits; from the blindness of its rage thou shalt rufh upon deftruction. Therefore give not up thy heart to her fweet enticements, neither fuffer thy foul to be enflaved by her enchanting delufio s. The fountain of health, which must fupply the ftream of pleafure, fhall quickly be dried up, and every spring of joy fhall be exhaufted. In the prime of thy life old age fhall overtake thee; thy fun fhall decline in the morning of thy days. But when virtue and modefty enlighten her charms, the luftre of a beautiful woman is bighter than the stars of heaven, and the influence of her power it is in vain to refift. The whiteness of her bofom tranfcendeth the lily; her fimile is more delicious than a garden of rofes. The innocence of her eye is like that of the turtle; fimplicity and truth dwell in her heart. The kiffes of her mouth are fweeter than honey; the perfumes of Arabia breathe from her lips. Shut not thy bofom to the tenderness of love; the purity of its flame fhall ennoble thy heart, and foften it to receive the fairefl impreffions. Give ear, fair daughter of love, to the inftructions of prudence, and let the ptcepts of truth fink deep in thy heart, fo thall the charms of thy mind add luftre to the elegance of thy form; and thy beauty, like the rofe it refembleth, fhall retain its fweetness when its bloom is withered. In the fpring of thy youth, in the morning of thy days, when the eyes of men gaze on thee with delight, and nature whifpereth in thine ear the meaning of their looks: ah! hear with caution their feducing words; guard well thy heart, nor liften to their fort perfuafions. Remember that thou art made man's reasonable companion, not the flave of his paffion; the end of thy being is not merely to gratify his loofe defire, but to affift him in the toils of life, to foothe him with thy tenderness, and recompence his care with foft endearments. Who is the that winneth the heart of man, that fubdueth him to love, and reigneth in his breast? Lo! yonder fhe walketh in maidea fweetnefs, with innocence in her mind, and modefty on her cheek. Her hand fecketh employment, her foot delighteth not in gadding abroad. She is cloathed with neatnefs, fhe is fed with temperance; humility and meeknes are as a crown of glory circling her head. On her tongue dwelleth mufic, the sweetnefs of honey floweth from her lips. Decency |