received the infection, and died, in consequence, January 20, 1790.

It had been almost his daily custom, while at Cherson, to visit admiral Priestman; but failing of his usual call one day, the admiral went to know the cause, and found him sitting before his stove in a bed-room. Having inquired after his health, Mr. Howard replied, that he felt that his end was fast approaching, that he had several things to say to his friend, and thanked him for calling.

The admiral endeavored to turn the conversation, imagining that the whole might be merely the result of low spirits; but Mr. Howard assured him it was otherwise, and added, "Priestman, you style this a very dull conversation, and endeavor to divert my mind from dwelling on death; but I entertain very different sentiments. Death has no terrors for me it is an event I always looked to with cheerfulness, if not with pleasure; and be assured that it is to me a more grateful subject than any other."

LESSON XLIX.

Rules of Politeness.

There are no

NEVER show a contempt for any one. persons so insignificant and inconsiderable but may, some time or other, have it in their power to be of use to you; which they certainly will not, if you have shown them contempt. Wrongs are often forgiven, but contempt rarely is. Men are more unwilling to have their weakness and their imperfections known than their crimes.

Make no man feel his inferiority. Nothing is more insulting than to take pains to make a man feel a mortifying inferiority in knowledge, rank, fortune, &c. In the first, it is ill-natured, and, in the two latter articles, it is unjust, they not being in his power. Good-nature

inclines us rather to raise people up to ourselves, than to mortify and depress them. Every man is, in some measure, obliged to discharge the social duties of life; but these attentions are voluntary acts, the free-will offerings of good nature; they are received, remembered, and returned as such.

Never expose people's weaknesses and infirmities for the sake either of diverting the company, or of showing your own superiority. We may, by that means, get the laugh on our side for the present, but we shall make enemies by it forever; and even those who laugh at us will, upon reflection, fear and despise us: it is ill-natured, and a good heart desires rather to conceal than expose the misfortunes of others. If we have wit, we should use it to please, and not to hurt; we may shine, like the sun in the temperate zone, without scorching.

There are many inoffensive arts, which are necessary in the course of the world, and which he who practises the earliest, will please the most and rise the soonest. The spirits and vivacity of youth are apt to neglect them as useless, or reject them as troublesome; but subsequent knowledge and experience of the world remind us of their importance, commonly when it is too late. The principle of these things is the mastery of one's temper, and that coolness of mind, and serenity of countenance, which hinder us from discovering, by words, actions, or even looks, those passions or sentiments by which we are inwardly moved, and the discovery of which gives wiser people such great advantage over us.

A man should possess himself enough to hear disagreeable things without visible marks of anger and change of countenance, or agreeable ones without sudden bursts of joy and expansion of countenance.

Judge of other men's feelings by your own. Men in general are very much alike, and though one has one prevailing passion, and another has another, yet their operations are much the same; and whatever pleases or offends you in others, will lease or offend others in you.

LESSON L.

Notices of Rev. Thomas Hooker.-MORSE AND Parish.

IN 1647, died Thomas Hooker, a pillar of Connecticut colony, and a great light of the churches in this western world. He was born at Marfield, in Leicestershire, 1586. He was educated at Emanuel college, Cambridge, in

England, where he was afterwards promoted to a fellowship, in which office he acquitted himself with such ability and faithfulness, as commanded universal admiration and applause.

It was in this period of his life that he had such deep convictions of his own lost state, and exposure to the wrath of God, as filled his mind with anguish and horror. With the singer of Israel, he was ready to exclaim, "While I suffer thy terrors, O Lord, I am distracted."

Afterwards, speaking of these exercises, he said that, in the time of his distress, he could reason himself to the rule of duty, and see there was no way of relief but submission to God, and lying at the foot of mercy, waiting for the divine favor; but, when he applied the rule to practice, he found his reasoning fail him.

After enduring this spirit of bondage for a considerable time, he received light and comfort, when his mind became powerfully and pleasantly attached to religious contemplations. He now determined to be a preacher of the gospel, and soon entered on the business in the vicinity of London.

Being disappointed as to a desired settlement at Dedham, he became a lecturer at Chelmsford, and an assistant to Mr. Mitchel, the incumbent of the place. His lectures were thronged, and remarkable success attended his preaching.

In about four years, his difficulties on account of his nonconformity were so great, that he gave up his pulpit, and retired to a school which he kept in his own house. So great was his popularity at the time of his being silenced, that no less than forty-seven conforming ministers of the neighborhood, who might have been expected to be in opposition to him, petitioned the bishop of London in his behalf.

About the year 1630, he was bound over, in a bond of fifty pounds, to appear before the high commission court, which bond he thought proper to forfeit, by the advice of friends, a number of whom raised the money in his behalf. He then fled to Holland. On the passage, the vessel, in the night, struck on a shoal of sand. Mr. Hooker, with remarkable confidence, assured the seamen that they should all be preserved,—and they were soon delivered.

In Holland, he preached two years at Delft. He was then called to Rotterdam, where he was employed with the celebrated Dr. Ames, between whom there was a mutual esteem and affection. Dr. Ames declared that, though he had been acquainted with many scholars of different nations, yet he had never met with Mr. Hooker's equal, either for disputation or preaching.

But, not finding the satisfaction he wished among the Dutch, and a number of his friends inviting him to accompany them to the wilderness of America, he returned to his native country to prepare for his voyage across the Atlantic. He was received at Cambridge with open arms by those of his friends who had come the year before. But, multitudes following them, the place became too narrow for them; accordingly, in 1636, they removed to the fertile spot on Connecticut river which they called Hartford.

He had a surprising talent of reaching the consciences of his hearers. His moving addresses flowed from his own exquisite relish of divine things, and an impassioned desire of promoting them in others. His success, like his services, was eminent.

He devoted one day in every month to private prayer and fasting, besides many such days, which he kept publicly with his people. He would say that "prayer was the principal part of a minister's work; by this he was to carry on the rest."

Though irascible in his natural disposition, he acquired a remarkable command of his temper. He was ready at all times to sacrifice his own apprehensions to the better reasons of others. Yet, when he was in the pulpit, he appeared with such majesty and independence, that it was pleasantly said of him, He would put a king in his pocket.

His last sickness was short, during which he said little. Being asked his opinion on some important things, he replied, "I have not that work now to perform; I have declared the counsel of the Lord." One of his friends observed to him, that he was going to receive his reward. Brother," said he, "I am going to receive mercy."

When the awful moment arrived, he closed his own eyes, and, gently stroking his forehead, with a smile in his countenance, he gave a little groan and expired, July 7, 1647.

4

LESSON LI.

Landing of the Pilgrims.-MORSE AND PARISH.

the

On the Lord's day, the 31st of December, they, for the first time, attended public worship on shore, and named the place Plymouth, partly because the harbor had been so named by captain Smith, and partly from gratitude for the kind treatment they had received at Plymouth, last port from which they sailed in England. on which they first stepped has been divided, and one part of it placed in the centre of the town, where it is known by the name of "FOREFATHER'S ROCK."

The rock

On the 12th of January, John Goodman and Peter Brown, walking into the woods "to gather thatch, lost themselves;" after wandering all the afternoon, they were obliged, though "slenderly" clothed, to make the ground their bed; it snowed, and the cold was severe.

Their distress in the night was increased by hearing, as they supposed, three lions roaring; one of which, they thought, was very near them. In their terror, they resolved to climb a tree, though an intolerably cold lodgingplace. They stood ready to ascend when the lions should come, and continued walking round the tree all night, which probably saved their lives.

In the afternoon, from a hill, they saw the islands in Plymouth harbor, and in the evening reached their friends, fainting with hunger and cold. Goodman's feet were so frozen that they were obliged to cut off his shoes.

In February, they had time to arrange their military concerns. Miles Standish was chosen captain, and received "authority to command in military affairs." The 3d of March, they found that the winter was past, the birds sang in the woods most pleasantly; it thundered, and there was a steady rain.

For this climate, the winter, providentially, had been. remarkably mild. Still it was a dismal winter to them. Never did human beings suffer more, nor display greater fortitude and Christian magnanimity.

The whole company that landed consisted of one hundred and one souls. Their nearest neighbors, except the natives, were the Dutch settlers at Albany and Bergen, a