CHAPTER XX.

On Prudence, Modesty, and Courtesy.

RELIGION, my dear children, is the first and the principal thing which I am anxious that you should possess, but it is not the only one. It is the basis of excellence, which should be well laid, to bear whatsoever things are lovely, or of good report; or, changing the metaphor, it is that firmness and solidity of character, which, like the substance of the diamond, best prepares it to receive a polish, and is rendered more beautiful and more valuable by being polished. The religion of some persons is like the gem in the rough, the excellence of which is concealed and disfigured by many foreign adhesions: there is real principle at the bottom, but it is so surrounded by imprudence, rudeness, ignorance, slovenliness, and other bad qualities, that it requires a skilful eye to discern its worth. I most earnestly admonish you, therefore, to add to your piety,

1. PRUDENCE.

By prudence, I mean a calculating and deliberative turn of mind, as to the tendency of our words and actions; coupled with a desire so to speak and act, as to bring no inconvenience either upon ourselves or others. It is that right application of knowledge to practice, which constitutes wisdom. A person may have an immensity of knowledge, with scarcely a grain of prudence; and, notwithstanding the stores of his understanding, may always have his peace

destroyed. I am aware that prudence is too often regarded by the ardent and sanguine minds of the young, as a cold and heartless virtue; a sort of November flower, which, though regular in its growth, and mild in colour, has neither glow nor fragrance, but stands alone in the garden as the memorial of departed summer, the harbinger of approaching winter. Youth are captivated by what is frank and generous, even when it leads to "Headlong Hall." If by prudence I mean mere cold reserve, or that selfishness which chills the ardour of kindness, and freezes the spring of benevolence in the heart, you might well beware of a disposition so unlovely but when I simply mean a habit of thinking before you speak or act, lest your thoughtlessness should prove injurious to the comfort of your own mind, or the comfort of others; when I only require you to exercise that judgement upon the tendencies of your conduct, which is one of the chief distinctions of a rational creature; when I merely call upon you to put forth the power of foresight which God has planted in your nature, surely, surely, there is nothing unsuited either to your age, or to the most generous mind in this. That rashness of speech, or conduct, which is always involving a person, and his friends too, in difficulties, inconveniences, and embarrassments, has little to commend itself to your admiration, with whatever good temper or gay fancy it may happen to be associated: society must be a chaos, if all its members were formed upon this model.

You must have seen, my dear children, the mischiefs which imprudence has brought in its train. What strifes have been engendered by VOL. II.

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a rash, unguarded use of the tongue, by persons giving a hasty opinion of the character, conduct, and motives of others: I believe that a moiety of the quarrels which exist, may be traced up to this source. If, then, you would journey along through life in honour and in peace, I cannot give you a more important piece of advice than this: "Be very cautious how you give an opinion of the character, conduct, or motives of others. Be slow to speak. For one that has repented of having held his tongue, myriads have bitterly grieved over the imprudent use of it. Remember what Solomon says, "A prating fool shall fall;" and almost all fools do prate silence is generally a characteristic of wise men, especially in reference to the concerns of others. I know not a surer mark of a little, empty mind, than to be always talking about our neighbour's affairs. A collector of rags is a much more honourable, and certainly a far more useful member of society, than a collector and vender of tales.

But let your prudence manifest itself in reference to your conduct, as well as your words. Never act till you have deliberated. Some persons invert the order of nature and reason; they act first and think afterwards; and the consequence very generally proves, as might have been expected, that first impressions are fallacious guides to wise actions. I scarcely know any thing against which young people should be more seriously warned, than this habit of acting from first impressions; nor any thing which they should be more earnestly advised to cultivate, than an almost instinctive propensity to look forward, and to consider the

probable results of any proposed line of conduct. This calculating temper is to be preferred far above the knowledge of the rash; for it will preserve both the peace of its possessor, and that of others, who have to do with him. Mul

titudes, by a want of prudence in the management of their pecuniary affairs, have ruined themselves, plunged their families into want, and involved their friends in calamity. They have engaged in one rash speculation after another, and formed one unpromising connexion after another; scarcely recovered from the complicated mischief of one, before they were involved in the embarrassment of the next, till the final catastrophe came in all its terrors, which might have been foreseen, and was predicted by every one except the rash projector himself. When we consider that in such cases a man cannot suffer alone, but must extend the effects of his conduct to others, prudence will appear to be not only an ornament of character, but a virtue; and imprudence not only near to immorality, but a part of it.

Begin life, then, with a systematic effort to cultivate a habit of sound discretion, and prudent foresight: and for this purpose, observe attentively the conduct of others; profit both by the sufferings of the rash, and the tranquillity of the cautious: render also your own past experience subservient to future improvement.

knew a person, who having imprudently engaged in a litigation, which cost him a considerable sum of money to compromise, made the following entry in his diary :-" MarchPaid this day, one hundred and fifty pounds for wisdom." Experience, it has been said, keeps

a dear school but some people will not learn in any other and they are fortunate who improve in this. I most emphatically recommend to you the diligent study of the book of Proverbs, as containing more sound wisdom, more prudential maxims for the right government of our affairs in this life, than all other books in the world put together.

2. MODESTY is a very bright ornament of the youthful character: without it, the greatest attainments and the strongest genius cannot fail to create disgust.

Conceitedness I have already stated to be one of the obstacles to youthful piety, and even where its mischief does not operate so fatally as this, it certainly disfigures religion. Young people should consider, that even if they have much knowledge, they have but little experience. Every thing pert, flippant, obtrusive, and self-confident, is highly unbecoming in those who, whatever they may know of scholastic literature, have but little acquaintance either with themselves or mankind. Strong intellect and great attainments will soon commend themselves, without any pains being taken to force them upon our attention; and they never appear so lovely, nor attract us with such force, as when seen through a veil of modesty. Like the coy violet, which discloses its retreat rather by its fragrance than by its colour, so youthful excellence should modestly leave others to find out its concealment, and not ostentatiously thrust itself on public attention.

I do not wish to inculcate that diffidence which makes young people bashful and timid, even to awkwardness and sheepishness; which