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PART IV.

PUNCTUATION.

CHAPTER I.

CONTAINING applicatIONS OF THE COMMA, DISPOSED UNDER THE PARTICULAR RULES.

RULE I.

See Vol. 2. p. 97.

THE tear of repentance brings its own relief.

Manhood is disgraced by the consequences of neglected youth.

Idleness is the great fomenter of all corruptions in the human heart.

It is honourable to be a friend to the unfortunate.
All finery is a sign of littleness.

Slovenliness and indelicacy of character commonly go hand in hand.

The friend of order has made half his way to virtue. Too many of the pretended friendships of youth, are mere combinations in pleasure.

The indulgence of harsh dispositions, is the introduction to future misery.

The intermixture of evil in human society, serves to exercise the suffering graces and virtues of the good.

RULE II.

See Vol. 2. p. 97.

Gentleness is, in truth, the great avenue to mutual enjoy

ment.

Charity, like the sun, brightens all its objects.

The tutor, by instruction and discipline, lays the foundation of the pupil's future honour.

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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. 2. p. 98.

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. 2. p. 98.

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 misfortunes.

RULE V.

See Vol. 2. p. 98.

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. 2. P. 99.

This unhappy person had often been seriously, affectionate ly 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. 2. p. 99.

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. 2. p. 99.

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 sooth 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. 2. p. 100.

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. 2. p. 100.

Peace of mind being secured, we may smile at misfortunes. Virtue abandoned, and conscience reproaching us, we be come 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 pro posed.

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

To say the least, they have betrayed great want of pru dence.

RULE XI.

See Vol. 2. p. 100.

Hope, the balm of life, sooths us under every misfor

tune.

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. 2. p. 100.

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. 2. p. 101.

He who is a stranger to industry, may possess, but he can not 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. 2. p. 101.

Vice is not of such a nature, that we can say to'lt, "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

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