no more.-Admonish thy friend, it may be,' he hath not faid it; or if he have, that he speak it not again.

CHAPTER III.

Every hour in itself, as it refpects us in particular, is the only one we can call our own: when once 'tis paft, 'tis entirely loft, millions of ages can't retrieve it.

Among the numerous ftratagems by which pride endeavours to recommend folly to regard, there is fcarcely one that meets with lefs fuccefs than affectation, or a perpetual difguife of the real character by fictitious appearances; whether it be that every man hates falfehood, from the natural congruity of truth to his faculties of reason, or that every man is jealous of the honour of his understanding, and thinks his difcernment confequentially called in queftion, when any thing is exhibited under a borrowed form.

Pride is undoubtedly the original of anger; but pride, like every other paffion, if it once, breaks

breaks loose from reason, counteracts its own purposes.

A paffionate man, upon the review of his day, will have very few gratifications to offer to his pride, when he has confidered how his outrages were caufed, why they were borne, and in what they are likely to end at last.

One part of knowledge confifts in being ignorant of fuch things as are not worthy to be known.

CHAPTER IV.

Learning teaches youth temperance, affords comfort to old age, gives riches to the poor, and is an ornament to the rich.

Learning is an ornament in profperity, a refuge in adversity, and the best provision against old age.

It is decreed by providence, that nothing truly valuable shall be obtained in our present ftate, but with difficulty and danger. He that

hopes

hopes for that advantage which is to be gainned from unreftrained communication, muft fometimes hazard, by unpleafing truths, that friendship which he afpires to merit. The chief rule to be obferved in the exercife of this dangerous office, is to preferve it pure from all mixture of intereft or vanity; to forbear admonition or reproof, when our confciences tell us, they are incited not by the hopes of reforming faults, but the defire of fhewing our difcernment, or gratifying our own pride, by the mortification of another; it is not indeed certain that the most refined caution will find a proper time for bringing a man to the knowledge of his own failings, or the moft zealous benevolence reconcile him to that judgment, by which they are detected; but he who endeavours only the happiness of him whom he reproves, will always have either the fatisfaction of obtaining or deferving kindness: if he fucceeds, he benefits his friend; and if he fails, he has at leaft the confcioufnefs that he fuffers for only doing well.

G

CHAPTER

CHAPTER V.

He must be a wife man himself, who is capable of distinguishing one.

The office of a wife man is to difcern that which is good and honeft, and to fhun that which is contrary.

Where is that walk of human life, which falfehood has not ever, and does not ftill infeft? Who fhall number the negotiations in which her breath has been employed,-the boards, over which her hands have poised the balance, and fpread the merchandise; or the focial hearths, at which her polluted lips have profaned the name of friendship? Where is that place, however facred, however confecrated to truth, which fhe has not dared to enter? Is there a temple in which fhe has not ftood, and ftretched forth her hands to the God of truth? Is there a fenate in which she has not rifen and poured the words of patriotism in a copious and fluent ftream? Is there a tribunal she has not approached, and there. before the awful justice of earth

of earth, and the volume that contains the veracity of heaven, with lips that but juft have left the venerable lids while angels have fhuddered at the daring founds, uttered deliberate and folemn deceit?

CHAPTER VI.

A perpetual conflict with natural defires feems to be the lot of our prefent ftate. In youth we require fomething of the tardiness and frigidity of age, and in age we muft labour to recall the fire and impetuofity of youth: in youth we must learn to expect, and in age to enjoy.

He who refts upon an internal principle of virtue and honour, will act with a dignity and boldness, of which they are incapable, who are wholly guided by intereft. He is above those timid fufpicions, and cautious reftraints, which fetter and embarras their conduct. That firmnefs which the confcioufnefs of rectitude infpires, gives vigour and