hunger, and thirst, through deserts of sand, and fainteth not; so the fortitude of a man shall sustain him through all perils.

A man of a noble spirit disdaineth the malice of fortune; his greatness of soul is not to be cast down.

He hath not suffered his happiness to depend on her smiles, and therefore with her frowns be shall not be dismayed.

As a rock on the sea shore, he standeth firm, and the dashing of the waves disturbeth him

not.

He raiseth his head like a tower on a hill, and the arrows of fortune drop at his feet.

In the instant of danger the courage of his heart sustaineth him; and the steadiness of his mind beareth him out.

He meeteth the evils of life as a man that goeth forth into battle, and returneth with victory in his hand.

Under the pressure of misfortunes, his calmness alleviates their weight, and his constancy shall surmount them.

But the dastardly spirit of a timorous man betrayeth him to shame.

As a reed is shaken with a breath of air, so the shadow of evil maketh him tremble.

In the hour of danger he is embarrassed and confounded; in the day of misfortune he sinketh, and despair overwhelmeth his soul.

ECONOMY OF HUMAN LIFE.

L

FORGIVENESS.

The most plain and natural sentiments of equity concur with divine authority, to enforce the duty of forgiveness, for of all the passions which invade the human breast, revenge is the most direful. When allowed to reign with full dominion, it is more than sufficient to poison the few pleasures which remain to man in his present state. How much soever a person may suffer from injustice, he is always in hazard of suffering more from the prosecution of revenge. The violence of an enemy cannot inflict what is equal to the torment he creates to himself, by means of the fierce and desperate passions which he allows to rage in his soul.

Those evil spirits who inhabit the regions of misery, are represented as delighting in revenge and cruelty. But all that is great and good in the universe, is on the side of clemeney and mercy. The Almighty Ruler of the world, though for ages offended by the unrightcousness, and insulted by the impiety of men, is "long suffering and slow to anger." His Son, when he appeared in our nature, exhibited, both in his life and his death, the most illustrious example of forgiveness which the world ever beheld. If we look into the history of mankind, we shall find that, in every age, they who have been respected as worthy, or admired as great, have been distinguished for this virtue. Revenge dwells in little minds. A noble and magnanimous spirit is

always superior to it. This spirit suffers not from the injuries of men those severe shocks which others feel. Collected within itself, it stands unmoved by their impotent assaults; and with generous pity, rather than with anger, looks down on their unworthy conduct.-It has been truly said, that the greatest man on earth can no sooner commit an injury, than a good man can make himself greater by forgiving it. BLAIR.

PART THE FIFTH.

THE student is now presented with a few short Essays, by eminent writers, to be analyzed according to the arrangement exhibited in the first three parts of this work. In each of the following compositions, there are a definition, judgment, and arguments, which the pupil will select and write separately.

He should also carefully examine the connection by which all the parts are holden together,and may, by degrees, endeavor to transpose the order of the reasoning. He will thus discover either the imperfections of the form in which they now appear, or he will observe the strength they possess from a judicious mode of disposition.

THE SEASONS.

Among the great blessings and wonders of the creation, may be classed the regularities of times and seasons. Immediately after the flood, the sacred promise was made to man, that seed-time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, should continue to the very end of all things. Accordingly, in obedience to that promise, the

rotation is constantly presenting us with some useful and agreeable alteration; and all the pleasing novelty of life rises from these natur-al changes; nor are we less indebted to them for many of its solid comforts. It has been frequently the task of the moralist and poet, to mark in polished periods, the particular charms and conveniences of every change: and, indeed, such discriminate observations upon natural variety, cannot be undelightful; since the blessing which every month brings along with it, is a fresh instance of the wisdom and bounty of that Providence, which regulates the glories of the year. We glow as we contemplate; we feel a propensity to adore, whilst we enjoy. In the time of seed-sowing, it is the season of confidence: the grain which the husbandman trusts to the bosom of the earthshall, haply, yield it seven fold rewards.. Spring presents us with a scene of lively expectation. That which was before sown, begins now to discover signs of successful vegetation. The labourer observes the change, and anticipates the harvest; he watches the progress of nature, and smiles at her influence: while the man of contemplation walks forth with the evening, amidst the fragrance of flowers, and promises of plenty; nor returns to his cottage till darkness closes the scene upon his eye. Then cometh the harvest, when the large wish is satisfied, and the granaries of nature are loaded with the means of life, even to a luxury of abundance. The powers of Language are unequal to the description of this