SENTIMENTAL BEAUTIES OF DR. BLAIR. AFFABILITY. N order to render ourselves amiable in fociety, IN we fhould correct every appearance of harshnefs in our behaviour. That courtesy should diftinguish our demeanour, which springs, not fo much from ftudied politenefs, as from a mild and gentle heart. We fhould follow the customs of the world in matters indifferent; but ftop when they become finful. Our manners ought to be fimple and natural, and of course they will be engaging. Affectation is certain deformity--By forming themselves on fantaftic models, and vying with one another in every reigning folly, the young begin with being ridiculous, and end in being vicious and immoral. ANXIETY, THE VICE OF AGE. IGNORANCE of what is good or evil, should correct anxiety about worldly fuccefs. As rafhness is the vice of youth, the oppofite extremes of immoderate care is the vice of advancing years; but fince attention is fo often fruftrated, it should never be allowed to deprive us of tranquillity; that degree of uncertainty therefore ought to render us temperate in purfuit, calm the perturbation of hope and fear, and cure the pain of anxiety. Anxiety is the poison of human life. It is the parent of many fins, and of more miferies. In a world where every thing is fo doubtful-where we may fucceed in our wifh, and be miferable, -where we may be disappointed, and be bleffed in the difappointment; what means a reftlefs ftir and commotion of the mind? Solicitude cannot alter the course, or unravel the intricacy of human events-Curiosity cannot pierce through the cloud which the Supreme Being hath made impenetrable to the human eye-Wisdom commands man to retire after he has done all that was incumbent on him, and to poffefs his mind in peace. By going beyond this point, by giving himself up to immoderate concern about unknown events, he he can do nothing to advance this fuccefs, and does much to ruin his peace ;-he plants within his breaft the thorn which is long to gall him -To the vanity of life he adds vexation of fpirit, which is wholly of his own creation, not of divine appointment. For the dubious goods of this world were never defigned by God to raise such eager attachment. They were given to man for his occafional re- · freshment, not for his chief felicity: by fetting an exceffive value upon objects which were intended only for his fecondary regard, he changes their nature. Seeking more fatisfaction from them than they are able to afford, he receives lefs than they might give; from a mistaken care to fecure his happiness, he brings upon himself cer tain mifery. AVARICE. NE of the vices of old age, which appears ONE the most unaccountable, is that covetous attachment to worldly intereft with which it is often charged. But this too can naturally be deduced from the fenfe of its feeblenefs and decay. |