La Bruyere, speaking of women, observes:-"The formal lady is all shew and words, but the conduct of the wise woman is better than her words;-the first follows her humour and inclination, the latter her reason and affection. One is precise and austere, the other mild and properly cautious. The first hides her failings under a plausible outside, the second covers a rich treasure of virtues under a free and natural behaviour.-Formality puts a constraint on the understanding, but cannot hide defects of body, age, or wrinkles; while on the contrary, wisdom palliates the deformities of person, ennobles the mind, renders youth doubly charming, and age respected and beloved." The same principle of pride which makes a man treat his inferiors with contempt, will assuredly lead him to stoop to the lowest degradation to those above him. This vice is often founded on the accumulation of riches, or a desire of preferment, which, in his polluted mind, rise above personal merit or sterling virtue. Avaricious souls are as much inflamed by interest and gain, as great souls are fixed by honour and probity, they are sensible of no pleasure but increasing their store, and exacting to the last penny; their happiness depends entirely upon the rise or fall of stocks, and callous to all the real blessings of life, they are neither capable of being tender fathers, good husbands, real friends, nor loyal subjects. - The great and beaten roads which lead to riches, dignity, and honour, are industry, noble actions, and unblemished probity; there are also bye ways, which are called meanness and flattery, and though men may sometimes achieve, through those despicable paths, the semH blance VOL. I. blance of what they aim to attain, yet if they encounter the touchstone of truth they are cast off into everlasting disgrace. Let us then prefer the open, the noble path; should we acquire the object of our pursuit, we shall be greatly overpaid,-if we fail, we fall with honor, and shall still preserve the respect of all good men. ON ON ADVERSITY. ADVERSITY is a school in which both private persons and public societies have learned the most heroic virtues. In scripture we are told, that "whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and Scourges every son whom he receiveth." If so, let that Divine consolation reconcile us to our appointed share of suffering;—let it engage us to welcome distress and disappointment, as light afflictions tending to a great and glorious end. Suffer not your soul to be overwhelmed with melancholy; eat not the bread of bitterness, H 2 terness, nor let your thoughts dwell upon your misfortunes, but turn to a retrospect of the many blessings you enjoy, the love of God, and the hope of Heaven,-consider these with gratitude, and your heart will still be given to joy. How frequently does the night close on us in sorrow, and the morn awaken us to pleasure; 'tis not for us to know what is in the womb of time, or why we are afflicted the wise giver of all good knows what is best for us, and acts accordingly. Say not thou, what is the cause that the former days were better than these, for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this." "Consider the work of God, for who can make that straight which he has made crooked?" |