peevish, and recollect that I have fire and servants to help me.'

I have read books enough, and observed and conversed with enough of eminent and splendidly cultivated minds, too, in my time; but I assure you I have heard higher sentiments from the lips of poor, uneducated men and women, when exerting the spirit of severe, yet gentle heroism, under difficulties and afflictions, or speaking their simple thoughts as to circumstances in the lot of friends and neighbours, than I ever yet met with out of the pages of the Bible.2

Make the best of your lot, and compare yourselves, not with the few that are above you, but with the multitude which are below you. Go steadily forwards with lawful business or diversion. Be, as Temple says, well when you are not ill, and pleased when you are not angry.3

Compare what thou hast received with what thou hast deserved, and thou wilt see thy sufferings have been fewer than thy sins.

When misfortunes befall thee, and thou accountest thyself miserable, think within thyself how many there are who would think themselves advanced almost as high as heaven, if they could have but a part of the remains of thy prosperity.

Remember, too, that Heaven's favours here are trials, not rewards.

1 Horace Walpole (Correspondence, iv. 147.).
2 Scott, vi. 6.

3 Johnson (Boswell, iv. 417.).

The way to think we have enough, is not to desire to have too much.

Durum-sed levius, fit patientiâ,

Quidquid corrigere est nefas.

First of all I look up to Heaven, and remember that my principal business here, is to try to get there. In all thy actions, remember God sees thee; and in all His dealings with thee, labour to see Him. That will make thee fear Him; this will make thee love Him.

Every man knows his own, but not others' defects and miseries; and 'tis the nature of all men still to reflect upon themselves, their own misfortunes, not to examine or consider other men's; to ruminate on their adversity, but not once to think on their prosperity; not on what they have, but what they want; to look still on those that go before, but not on those infinite numbers which come after; whereas many a man would think himself in heaven, a petty prince, if he had but a small part of that fortune which thou so much repinest at, and accountest a most vile and wretched estate. How many thousands want that which thou hast? How many myriads of poor slaves; captives; how many of such as work day and night in coal pits, tin mines, with sore toil, to obtain a poor living; of such as labour in body and mind, live in extreme anguish and pain; all of which thou art free from.

O fortunatos nimium sua si bona nôrint!

N

Thou art most happy if thou couldst be content and acknowledge thy happiness. Be silent then; rest satisfied; comfort thyself with other men's misfortunes; and as the moldiwarpe in Æsop told the fox complaining for want of a tail, "You complain of toies, but I am blinde; be satisfied;" I say unto thee," Be satisfied!" Be content, and rest satisfied; be thankful for what thou hast, that God hath done for thee: he hath not made thee a monster, a beast, a base creature, as he might, but a man, a Christian; consider aright of it; thou art full well as thou art; no man can have that he will: thy lot is falne; make the best of it: our life is short, a very dream: if thou be in woe, sorrow, want, distresse, in pain or sicknesse, think of that of our apostle-God chastiseth them whom he loveth; they that sow in tears, shall reap in joy.1

Let not the present hour be disturbed with groundless discontents, or poisoned with foolish anxieties about what is to come; but look up to heaven, and acknowledge with a grateful heart the actual blessings you enjoy. If you must admit that you are now in health, peace, and safety, without any particular or uncommon evils to afflict your condition, what more can you look for in this vain and uncertain world??

The world would not be that, for which eternal Wisdom has designed it, a place of trial, at once, and of suffering, where even the worst ills are chequered with something that renders them to

1 Burton (Anatomy of Melancholy, ii. 6.).

2 Blair.

lerable to humble and cheerful minds, and where the best blessings carry with them a necessary alloy of embittering depreciation.'

The event is now irrevocable; it remains only to bear it. Not to wish it had been different is impossible; but, as the wish is painful without use, it is not prudent, perhaps not lawful, to indulge it. As life, and vigour of mind, and sprightliness of imagination, and flexibility of attention, are given us for useful and valuable purposes, we must not think ourselves at liberty to squander life, to enervate intellectual strength, to cloud our thoughts, or fix our attention, when, by all this expense, we know that no good can be produced. Be alone as little as you can: when you are alone, do not suffer your thoughts to dwell on what you might have done to prevent this disappointment. You perhaps could not have done what you imagine, or might have done it without effect. But even to think in the most reasonable manner, is, for the present, not so useful as not to think. Remit yourself solemnly into the hands of God, and then turn your mind upon the business and amusements that lie before you. "All is best," says Chene, "as it has been, except the errors of our own free will." Burton concludes his long book upon Melancholy with this important precept, "Be not solitary; be not idle." Remember Chene's position, and observe Burton's precept.2

1 Scott (The Pirate).

Johnson (Letter to Mrs. Thrale).

Ils me croient dans l'affliction. Qu'ils se rassurent; je puis confirmer à leurs yeux cette grande vérité de morale universelle, qu'avec un cœur pur on n'est jamais malheureux.1

The Lord will not cast off for ever: but though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion, according to the multitude of his mercies.

For he doth not afflict willingly. Offer the sacrifice of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.

In no period of distress, in no moment of disappointment, allow yourselves to suspect that piety and integrity are fruitless.3

Resignation to the will of God is true magnanimity; but the sure mark of a pusillanimous and base spirit is, to struggle against and censure the order of Providence, and, instead of mending our own conduct, to set up for correcting that of our Maker.4

It is sinful not to hope where there is any hope left.

Despair is treason towards man, and blasphemy to Heaven."

I shall add to my list, as the eighth deadly sin, that of anxiety of mind; and resolve not to lie pining and miserable, when I ought to be grateful and happy.

1 Carnot (Exposé, &c.).

3 Bolingbroke (on Exile).

4 Life of Lord Keeper Guildford.

2 Psalms.

5 Scott (Red Gauntlet).

6 Sir Thomas Barnard (Comforts of Old Age).