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Trials in this stage of being are the lot of man.

No assumed behaviour can always hide the real character. The best men often experience disappointments.

Advice should be seasonably administered.

RULE III.

See Vol. 1. p. 269, and the Key, Part 4. Chap. 1. Rule 3.

Self-conceit presumption and obstinacy blast the prospect of many a youth.

In our health life possessions connexions pleasures there are causes of decay imperceptibly working.

Discomposed thoughts agitated passions and a ruffled temper poison every pleasure of life.

Vicissitudes of good and evil of trials and consolations fill up the life of man.

Health and peace a moderate fortune and a few friends sum up all the undoubted articles of temporal felicity.

We have no reason to complain of the lot of man or of the world's mutability.

RULE IV.

See Vol. 1. p. 269, and the Key, Part 4. Chap. 1. Rule 4.

An idle trifling society is near akin to such as is corrupting. Conscious guilt renders us mean-spirited timorous and base.

An upright mind will never be at a loss to discern what is just and true lovely honest and of good report.

The vicious man is often looking round him with anxious and fearful circumspection.

True friendship will at all times avoid a careless or rough behaviour.

Time brings a gentle and powerful opiate to all misfor

tunes.

RULE V.

See Vol. I. p. 270, and the Key, Part 4. Chap. 1. Rule 5.

The man of virtue and honour will be trusted relied upon and esteemed.

Deliberate slowly execute promptly.

A true friend unbosoms freely advises justly assists readily adventures boldly takes all patiently defends resolutely and continues a friend unchangeably.

Sensuality contaminates the body depresses the understanding deadens the moral feelings of the heart and degrades man from his rank in the creation.

Idleness brings forward and nourishes many bad passions. We must stand or fall by our own conduct and character. The man of order catches and arrests the hours as they fly. The great business of life is to be employed in doing justly loving mercy and walking humbly with our Creator.

RULE VI.

See Vol. I. p. 270, and the Key, Part 4. Chap. 1. Rule. 6.

This unhappy person had often been seriously affectionately admonished but in vain.

To live soberly righteously and piously comprehends the whole of our duty.

When thy friend is calumniated openly and boldly espouse his cause.

Benefits should be long and gratefully remembered.

RULE VII.

See Vol. I. p. 270, and the Key, Part 4. Chap. I. Rule 7.

True gentleness is native feeling heightened and improved by principle.

The path of piety and virtue pursued with a firm and constant spirit will assuredly lead to happiness.

Human affairs are in continual motion and fluctuation altering their appearance every moment and passing into some new forms.

What can be said to alarm those of their danger who intoxicated with pleasures become giddy and insolent; who flattered by the illusions of prosperity make light of every serious admonition which their friends and the changes of the world give them?

RULE VIII.

See Vol. 1. p. 271, and the Key, Part 4. Chap. 1. Rule 8.

If from any internal cause a man's peace of mind be disturbed in vain we load him with riches or honours.

Gentleness delights above all things to alleviate distress; and if it cannot dry up the falling tear to soothe at least the grieving heart.

Wherever Christianity prevails it has discouraged and in

some degree abolished slavery.

We may rest assured that by the steady pursuit of virtue we shall obtain and enjoy it.

RULE IX.

See Vol. 1. p. 271, and the Key, Part 4. Chap. 1. Rule 9.

Continue my dear children to make virtue your principal study.

To you my worthy benefactors am I indebted under Providence for all I enjoy.

Canst thou expect thou betrayer of innocence to escape the hand of vengeance?

Come then companion of my toils let us take fresh courage persevere and hope to the end.

RULE X.

See Vol. 1. p. 271, and the Key, Part 4. Chap. 1. Rule 10, Peace of mind being secured we may smile at misfortunes. Virtue abandoned and conscience reproaching us we become terrified with imaginary evils.

Charles having been deprived of the help of tutors his studies became totally neglected.

To prevent further altercation I submitted to the terms proposed.

To enjoy present pleasure he sacrificed his future ease and reputation.

To say the least they have betrayed great want of prudence.

RULE XI.

See Vol. I. p. 271, and the Key, Part 4. Chap. 1. Rule 11.

Hope the balm of life sooths us under every misfortune. Content the offspring of virtue dwells both in retirement and in the active scenes of life.

Confucius the great Chinese philosopher was eminently good as well as wise.

The patriarch Joseph is an illustrious example of chastity resignation and filial affection.

RULE XII.

See Vol, I. p. 272, and the Key, Part 4. Chap. 1. Rule 12.

Nothing is so opposite to the true enjoyment of life as the relaxed and feeble state of an indolent mind.

The more a man speaks of himself the less he likes to hear another talked of.

Nothing more strongly inculcates resignation than the experience of our own inability to guide ourselves.

The friendships of the world can subsist no longer than interest cements them.

Expect no more from the world than it is able to afford

you.

RULE XIII.

See Vol. 1. p. 272, and the Key, Part. 4. Chap. 1. Rule 13.

He who is a stranger to industry may possess but he cannot enjoy.

Contrition though it may melt ought not to sink or overpower the heart of a Christian.

The goods of this world were given to man for his occasional refreshment not for his chief felicity.

It is the province of superiors to direct of inferiors to obey; of the learned to be instructive of the ignorant to be docile; of the old to be communicative of the young to be attentive and diligent.

Though unavoidable calamities make a part yet they make not the chief part of the vexations and sorrows that distress human life.

An inquisitive and meddling spirit often interrupts the good order and breaks the peace of society.

RULE XIV.

See Vol. I. p. 272, and the Key, Part 4. Chap. 1. Rule. 14.

Vice is not of such a nature that we can say to it "Hitherto shalt thou come and no further."

One of the noblest of the Christian virtues is "To love our enemies."

Many too confidently say to themselves "My mountain stands strong and it shall never be removed.”

We are strictly enjoined " not to follow a multitude to do evil."

RULE XV.

Sce Vol. 1. p. 273, and the Key, Part 4. Chap. 1. Rule 15.

The gentle mind is like the smooth stream which reflects every object in its just proportion and in its fairest colours.

Beware of those rash and dangerous connexions which may afterwards load you with dishonour.

Blind must that man be who discerns not the most striking marks of a Divine government exercised over the world. It is labour only which gives the relish to pleasure.

In that unaffected civility which springs from a gentle mind there is an incomparable charm.

They who raise envy will easily incur censure.

Many of the evils which occasion our complaints of the world are wholly imaginary.

He who is good before invisible witnesses is eminently so before the visible.

His conduct so disinterested and generous was universally approved.

RULE XVI.

See Vol. 1. p. 273, and the Key, Part 4. Chap 1. Rule 16.

The fumes which arise from a heart boiling with violent passions never fail to darken and trouble the understanding. If we delay till to-morrow what ought to be done to-day we overcharge the morrow with a burden which belongs not to it.

By whatever means we may at first attract the attention we can hold the esteem and secure the hearts of others only by amiable dispositions and the accomplishments of the mind.

If the mind sow not corn it will plant thistles.

One day is sufficient to scatter our prosperity and bring it to nought.

Graceful in youth are the tears of sympathy and the heart that melts at the tale of wo.

The ever active and restless power of thought if not employed about what is good will naturally and unavoidably engender evil.

He who formed the heart certainly knows what passes within it.

To be humble and modest in opinion to be vigilant and attentive in conduct to distrust fair appearances and to restrain rash desires are insructions which the darkness of our present state should strongly inculcate.

RULE XVII.

See Vol. I. p. 274, and the Key, Part 4. Chap. 1. Rule 17.

The greatest misery is to be condemned by our own hearts.

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