15. If they go down to the Pit, that do not feed the Hungry, and clothe the Naked; what will become of those that take away Bread from the Hungry, and Clothes from the Naked? If want of Charity be tormented in Hell, what will become of the Covetous ? 17. It is a commendable Thing for a Boy to apply his Mind to the Study of good Letters; they will be always ufeful to him; they will procure him the Favour and Love of good Men, which thofe, that are wife value more than Riches and Pleatures. 18. King Darius's Mother, when she heard of the Death of Alexander, laid violent Hands upon hertelf; not that she preferred an Enemy before a Son, but because she had experienced the Duty of a Son in him, whom he had feared as an Enemy. 19. Let as never measure our Godliness by the Number of Sermons, which we hear, but by the Fruit we bring forth; without which, all our hearing wili ferve but to bring us into that portion of Stripes, which belongs to him that knows his Mafter's Will and does it not. 20. Lazy Folks take the most Pains. Some People are fo careless, that they will run all Hazards, rather than help themselves at the Expenfe of a little Trouble; and it generally happens, that they are the greatest Sufferers in the Conclufion. 21. Men are generally governed more by Appearances than Realities; and the impudent Man in his Air and Behaviour, undertakes for himself that he has Ability and Merit, while the modeft or diffident gives himself up as one who is poffeffed of neither. 22. Many Men are grown fo negligent of fecking divine Mercy betimes, that they put that off to the laft, which thould have been the firft Part of their Bufinefs and many Times their Life is at an End, before they begin their Repentance. 23. No Man is fo profperous and happy, but he has fome Enfortunate and fad Days; and on the Contrary, no Man is fo miferable, but he has fome Times of Refreshment. Profperity and Adversity, by turns, fucceed one another, as Rain does fair Weather, and fair Weather Rain. 24. Nothing is more abfu d than to extend our Hopes and Defires, our Projects and Defigns for this World, beyond the Term of our living here: And it is unreasonable for us to trouble ou felves about this World, longer than we are ike to continue in it. 25. Obe 25. Obedience comprehendeth the whole Duty of a Man, both towards God, his Neighbour, and himself; we fhould therefore let it be engraven on our Hearts, that we may be useful in the Common-Wealth, and loyal to our Prince. 26. Our Life is a Warfare, and this World a Place of Materies, wherein the greatest Garlands are allotted to them, who fuftain the greatest Labours: For by the Smart of our Stripes is augmented the Glory of our Reward. 27. Pride is a very remarkable Sin; and often meets with very extraordinary Judgments, even in this Life; but will certainly be punished in the next: For if God fpared not the Angels for this Sin, but caft them into Hell, let no Man hope to fpeed better. 28. Perfonal Merit is all a Man can call his own. Whoever ftrictly adheres to Honefty and Truth, and leads a regular and virtuous Life, is more truly Noble than a debauched abandoned Profligate, were he defcended from the noft illuftrious Family. .. Riches are like Dung, which flink in an Heap; but being fpread abroad, make the Earth fruitful. It is but mere Fancy to defire and efleem Riches, except it be for the Sake of using them. The belt Metals lofe their Luftre, unless brighten'd by Uie. 30. Repentance, tho' it is not to be refted in as any Satisfaction for Sin, or any Caufe of the Pardon thereof, which is the Act of God's free Grace in Chrift; yet it is of fuch Neceflity to all Sinners, that none may expect Pardon without it. 31. St. Bernard, in his Youth, being troubled with a Pain in his Head, a certain Woman profered to cure him, by reciting a few Veries by way of Charm; but he refused, faying, I had rather endure the Hand of God, than be cured by the Hand of the Devil. 32. Servants fhould not deal worse with their Masters for dealing better with them, but confcionably do their work, that the Proverb may not be verified in them, He that pays bis Servant's Wages aforehand, cuts off his Right Arm; that is, Occafions him to be flothful and lazy. 33./The Lawfulness of our Actions may not be judged by the Events, but by the Grounds: The wife and holy Arbiter of the World knows why, many times, the better Caufe hath the worfe Succefs: Many a juft Bufinefs is croffed for a Punishment to the Agent. 34. Trade 34. Trade is fo noble a Mafter, that it is willing to entertain all Mankind in its Service; and has fuch Variety of Employments adapted to every Capacity, that all, but the Lazy, may fupport at leaft, if not enrich themfelves. 35. Time is one of the most precious Talents in the World, which the Author of it has committed to our Management! So precious, that he gives it us by Drops; nor ever affords us two Moments at once; but always takes away one, when he lets us have another. 36. Very wholfome Advice was that, which was given by a Heathen Philofopher, viz. Make it no longer a Matter of Difpute, what are the Marks and Signs of a Righteous Man, but immediately fet about it, and endeavour to became fuck an One. 37. Virtue (faid a Vicious Man on his Death-Bed) as much outfhines Vice in Splendor and Light, as the glorions Luminary of Heaven, which runs its daily Courje in the lofty Sky, does that small Rush-Light which ftands glimmering by my Bed's Side. 38. Vain Glory deftroys all the Fruits of a good Action. He that Prays, or gives Alms to be feen of Men, must take that as his Reward; nor muft he expect any other from Heaven, but the Portion of those Hypocrites, that love the Praise of Men, more than the Praife of God. 39. Upbraid no Man's Weaknefs to discomfort him, nor report it to him to difparage him; neither delight to remember it to leffen him, or fet thyself above him. And be fure never to praise thyself, or to difpraife any Man elfe, unless God's Glory, or fome good End do hallow it. 40. Wicked Breafts are falfe to themselves; neither trulting to their own Choice, nor making choice of that, which they dare to truft. They will fet a good Face upon their fecretly unpleafing Sins; and had rather be Self-condemned, than Wife and Prudent. 41. We ought neither to be fo eager for hoarding up Treasure, as to with-hold our Hand intirely from giving; nor yet fo carelefs and extravagant, as to let any Thing be unprofitably loft, which might be ufeful to ourfelves, or beneficial to others. 42. Young Minds, being fulleft of Ignorance, want Inftruction moft; are fitteft to receive it, as being freeft from Prejudices, and worldly Cares; and are apt to retaîn it beft, being void of fuch Corruptions as would otherwife expel it. G SEN A' + SENTEN. CES in VERSE. 1 Life is fort and miserable. H! Few and full of Sorrow are the Days Of miterable Man : His Life decays Like that frail Flower, which with the Sun's uprife, On the diligent Ants. Ants in Battalia to their Cells convey, Bold is the Wretch, and blafphemous the Man, A Future State certain. Brave Youths the Paths of Virtue still should tread, Till free from Filth, and ipotlefs is their Mind, On Travel. By Travel crown the Arts, and learn abroad, The gen'ral Virtues, which the Wife applaud; To study Nations, I advife betimes, And various Kingdoms know, and various Climes: whatever worthy thy Remarks thou seeft, Care remember, and forget the rest. Heavenly Heavenly Love. Chrift's Arms do still stand open to receive The Self-wife. Conceited Thoughts, indulg'd without Controul, Exclude all future Knowledge from the Soul: For he, that thinks himfelf already wife, In courfe, all further Knowledge will defpife: And but for this, how many might have been Juft, reputable, wife, and honeft Men! On Death. Death at a Distance we but flightly fear, He brings his Terrors as he draws more near: Through Poverty, Pain, Slav'ry, we drudge on, The worst of Beings better please than none: No Price too dear to purchase Life and Breath, The heaviest Burthen's cafier born than Death. On Ambition. Dazzled with Hope, we cannot fee the Cheat On the Soldier. Eager the Soldier meets his defp'rate Fos, |