ADVERSITY. He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved, for I shall never be in adversity.--Psalm x. 6. In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.--Ecclesiastes, vii. 14. Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.--Hebrews, xiii. 3. STERN teacher! should'st thou come, and sit by me, As one that hath a message from the skies, A blessing in disguise, though stern thy look; Hard is thy hand, but still thy palms between Thou hold'st outspread the pages of God's Book; Wherein who reads with humble, prayerful mind, Will hope, and ease, and consolation find. When first thy sire to send on earth Anon. And, from her own, she learned to melt at other's woe. Adversity misunderstood, Becomes a double curse: Her chastening hand improves the good, Thus clay more obdurate becomes, While gold in the red ordeal melts, C Gray. C. C. Colton. AFFECTION. SET your affection upon my words; desire them, and ye shall be instructed.--Wisdom, vi. 2. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.-Colossians, iii. 2. Be kindly affectioned one to another.--Romans, xii. 10. HEAVENLY Father! God of love, Love celestial, ardent fire! Sweet affections flow from hence, Precious are the kind affections 'Tis not so with those affections, Ever growing and increasing, Knowing nought of drought or dearth. Parnel. Anon. AFFLICTION. BEFORE I was afflicted I went astray; but now have I kept thy word.-Psalm cxix. 67. It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn thy statutes -Psalm cxix. 71. I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.-Psalm cxl. 12. He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth.-Isaiah, liii. 7. In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the angel of His presence saved them: in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bare them and carried them all the days of old.-Isaiah, lxiii. 9. Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for He hath torn, and He will heal us; He hath smitten, and He will bind us up.-Hosea, vi. 1. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. -II. Corinthians, iv. 17. AFFLICTION has a taste as sweet Shakspere. Perfumes, the more they're chafed, the more they render Their pleasant scents, and so affliction Expresseth virtue fully. Afflictions clarify the soul, John Webster. And, like hard masters, give more hard directions, Tutoring the non-age of uncurbed affections. Francis Quarles. To bear affliction with a bended brow, The speedy means to health. Francis Quarles. A life all ease is all abused; O, precious grace that made the wise G. B. Cheever. Heaven but tries our virtues by affliction, I cannot call affliction sweet, My wearied soul was all resigned Where are the vows which then I vowed, Lord, grant me grace for every day, Through life, in death, with truth to say, J. Montgomery. Come then, Affliction, if my Father bids, And be my frowning friend: a friend that frowns, We welcome clouds that bring the former rain, Mid pleasure, plenty, and success, But let affliction pour its smart, How soon we quail beneath the rod! With shattered pride, and prostrate heart, We seek the long-forgotten God. Swaine. Eliza Cook. AGE. GREAT men are not always wise, neither do the aged understand judgment.-Job, xxxii. 9. And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you.-Isaiah, xlvi. 4. Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.-Psalm 1xxi. 9. Now also, when I am old and grey-headed, O God, forsake me not; until I have showed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.--Psalm lxxi. 18. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing.-Psalm xcii. 14. That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness. Titus, ii. 2, 3. YE gods! how easily the good man bears And weak lamenting makes our sorrows worse. Smooths the rough road, and walks untroubled by; And graceful wave his locks of reverend snow. And next in order sad, Old age we found, There heard we him with broke and hollow plaint, |