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of which hangs upon the former. The tranfition from cause to effect, from event to event, is often carried on by fecret fteps, which our forefight cannot divine, and our fagacity is unable to trace. Evil may at fome future period bring forth good; and good may bring forth evil, both equally unexpected.

HISTORY.

HISTORY is a mirror which holds up man

kind to their own view: in the circle of worldly affairs the fame characters and fituations are perpetually returning, and in the follies and paffions, the vices and crimes of the generations that are paít, we read those of the present.

The hiftory of mankind has ever been a continued tragedy-the world a great theatre, exhibiting the fame repeated fcene of the follies of men fhooting forth into guilt, and of their paffions fermenting by a quick process into mifery.

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TRUE VIRTUE AND HONOUR.

EN poffeffed of these, value not themselves upon any regard to inferior obligations, and yet violate that which is the most facred and ancient of all---religion.

They fhould confider fuch violation as a fe-vere reproach in the moft enlightered ftate of human nature; and under the pureft difpenfation of religion, it appears to have extinguifhed the fenfe of gratitude to heaven, and to fight all acknowledgment of the great and true God. Such conc.& implies either an entire want, or a wilful fuppreffion of fome of the best and most generous affections belonging to human nature.

HOP

HOPE.

OPE to the foul, when distracted by the confufions of the world, is as an anchor to a fhip in a dark night, on an unknown coast, and amidst a boisterous ocean. In danger it gives fecurity;-amidft general fluctuation it affords one fixed point of reft.-It is the most eminent of all the advantages which religion now con-

fers.

fers. It is the univerfal comforter;-it is the

spring of all human activity.

Upon futurity, men are conftantly suspended; animated by the profpect of fome diftant good, they toil and fuffer through the whole course of life; and it is not fo much what they are at prefent, as what they hope to be in fome after time, that enlivens their motions, fixes their attention, and stimulates industry.

Was this hope entertained with that full perfuafion which Chriftian faith demands, it would in truth totally annihilate all human miseries; it would banish discontent, extinguish grief, and fufpend the very feeling of pain.

HUMANITY.

GENTLENESS, which belongs to virtue, is

to be carefully distinguished from the mean spirit of cowards, and the fawning affent of fycophants. It renounces no juft right from fear :it gives up no important truth from flattery:—it is indeed not only consistent with a firm mind,

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but

but it neceffarily requires a manly spirit and a fixed principle in order to give it any real value.

It stands opposed to harshness and severity,to pride and arrogance, to violence and oppreffion :-it is, properly, that part of the real virtue charity, which makes us unwilling to give pain to any of our brethren.-It corrects whatever is offensive in our manners, and by a constant train of humane attentions, studies to alleviate the burden of common mifery.-Its office is therefore extenfive ;-it is continually in action, when we are engaged in intercourse with men.-It ought to form our addrefs, to regulate our speech, and to diffuse itself over our whole behaviour.

That gentleness which is characteristic of a good man, has, like every other virtue, its feat in the heart.-In that unaffected civility which fprings from a gentle mind, there is a charm infinitely more powerful than in all the ftudied manners of the moft finished courtier.

It is founded on a fenfe of what we owe to him who made us, and to the common nature of which we all fhare. It arifes from reflection on our own failings and wants; and from juft views of the condition and duty of man. It is native feeling heightened and improved by principle. It

is the heart which eafily relents; which feels for every thing that is human; and is backward and flow to inflict the leaft wound. It is affable in its address, and mild in its demeanour; ever ready to oblige, and be obliged by others; breathing habitual kindness towards friends, courtesy to ftrangers, long-suffering to enemies.

It exercises authority with moderation ;-adminifters reproof with tenderness ;-confers favours with care and modefty. It is unaffuming in opinion, and temperate in zeal. It contends not eagerly about trifles; flow to contradict, and still flower to blame; but prompt to allay diffention and reftore peace. It neither intermeddles unne ceffarily with the affairs, nor pries inquifitively into the fecrets of others. It delights above all things to alleviate distress; and, if it cannot dry up the falling tear, to soothe at least the grieving heart.

Where it has not the power of being useful, it is never burdenfome. It feeks to pleafe rather than fhine and dazzle, and conceals with care that fuperiority, either of talents or of rank, which are oppreffive to thofe who are beneath it. It is the great avenue to mutual enjoyment: amidst the ftrife of interfering interests, it tempers the violence of contention, and keeps alive

the

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