"In reality, it is much easier to keep ourselves free from resentment, than to restrain it from going to excess, when it has gained admission; for if reason, while her strength is yet entire, is not able to preserve her dominion, what can she do when her enemy has in part prevailed, and weakened her force? To use the illustration of an excellent author: we can prevent the beginnings of some things, whose progress afterwards we cannot hinder. We can forbear to cast ourselves down from a precipice: but, if once we have taken the fatal leap, we must descend, whether we will or not. Thus, the mind, if duly cautious, may stand firm upon the rock of tranquility; but if she rashly forsake the summit, she can scarcely recover herself, but is hurried away downwards by her own pas. sion, with increasing violence." Explanatory Instruction. II. Corinthians. Chap. IV. V. 1. "Seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 2. But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty; not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth, commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 3. "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4. In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 5. “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. 6. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7. "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 8. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed, we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9. Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10. Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 12. So then death worketh in us, but life in you. 13. "We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; 14. Knowing, that he which raised up the Lord Jesus, shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. 15. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might, through the thanksgiving of many, redound to the glory of God. 16. "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 17. For our light affiiction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18. While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." Humane Sentiment. Hymn.- Mrs. Barbauld. "Blest is the man whose softening heart Feels all another's pain; To whom the supplicating eye Is never raised in vain;· "Whose breast expands with generous warmth, A brother's woes to feel, And bleeds in pity o'er the wound He wants the power to heal. "He spreads his kind supporting arms To every child of grief: His secret bounty largely flows, And brings unasked relief. "To gentle offices of love His feet are never slow: He views, through mercy's melting eye, "Lively Movement." This modification of utterance belongs to all animated composition, whether narrative, descriptive, or didactic. It implies vivid emotion or sentiment, as the prompting cause of a quicker movement of voice, than belongs to merely moderate feeling and expression. The frequent practice of the subjoined examples, will serve to impart animation to the voice, in appropriate passages. The eiror to be guarded against, in these exercises, is that of not coming fully up to the standard of animated movement, as regards its liveliness and brisk effect. A common fault which deadens the character of utterance, is that of using "median instead of "radical stress," in conjunction with the proper acceleration of movement. The pungent and piercing effect of awakening and kindling emotion, is thus lost to the ear. The proper union of lively movement and radical stress, has the pointed effect of what are termed "staccato" notes, in music, or that of the distinct touch of the harp, compared to the gliding sound produced by the bow on the violin. Let every trembling thought be gone! Awake, and run the heavenly race, And put a cheerful courage on! “Swift as an eagle cuts the air, 66 Sing, all ye ransomed of the Lord, "His hand divine shall lead you on "Bright garlands of immortal joy Like shadows all are fled. "March on; in your Redeemer's strength Pursue his footsteps still; With joyful hope still fix your eye Triumph. Extract from Psalm LXVIII. V. 1. "Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him. 2. As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God. 4. But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice. 4. Sing unto God, sing praises to his name." 15. "The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan; a high hill as the hill of Bashan. 16. Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, the Lord will dwell in it forever. 17. The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place. 18. Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God may dwell among them." Animated Exhortation. Christian Courage.— Moodie. "The heathen, unsupported by those prospects which the Gospel opens, might be supposed to have sunk under every trial; yet, even among them, was sometimes displayed an exalted virtue, —a virtue, which no interest, no danger, could shake; a virtue, which could triumph amidst tortures and death, a virtue, which, rather than forfeit its conscious integrity, could be content to resign its consciousness forever. And shall not the Christian blush to repine? the Christian from before whom the veil is removed? to whose eyes are revealed the glories of heaven? - "Your indulgent Ruler doth not call you to run in vain, or to labor in vain. - Every difficulty, and every trial, that occurs in your path, is a fresh opportunity presented by his kindness, of improving the happiness after which he hath taught you to aspire. By every hardship which you sustain in the wilderness, you secure an additional portion of the promised land. What though the combat be severe? A kingdom, an everlasting kingdom is the prize of victory. Look forward to the triumph which awaits you, and your courage will revive.— Fight the good fight, finish your course, keep the faith: there is laid up for you a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give unto you at that day. What |