Roman sentiment, but the true feeling and sentiment of all men whose moral nature has not been blunted by vice; and hardly any vice demoralizes the entire man more thoroughly than that of impurity. It is antagonistic to all law, physical and moral, and as a bad habit, for whose inlet into and possession of the soul the will of man is entirely responsible, it speedily gains the mastery, tyrannizes over the soul, and destroys all the good in man's nature, except by special and determined effort at reformation. Eras of profligacy have prevailed in all nationalities, even the most civilized; among the formal-religious and the openly irreligious; and too often this dark and low sink of vice and crime is found among the so-called higher classes of society. When the leaders in the social fabric, and the rulers in the political, are themselves corrupt, then indeed the people have good reason to mourn.

Continency is by natural law, in so far as it characterizes the animal creation, and is maintained. within its bounds by physical law, save that in man alone in accord with his higher endowment, continency must be regarded and habitually established by reason, by common sense, and by the categoricalimperative of the moral nature; for without continency there can be no health nor happiness in the conjugal relation; nor in the social; nor in life.

Sincerity, Simplicity: Sincerity is honesty of intent and is compatible with all knowledge.

Simplicity is an artlessness and sincerity that is compatible with a lack of wisdom; it characterizes the child.

Scripture furnishes fine illustrations of these traits: "Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite, indeed, in whom is no guile!" (John 1: 47-) A Bible character quite the opposite we have in the patriarch Jacob, noted in his youth for his wiles; while on the other hand, his twin brother-the rude, thoughtless, yet generous, kind-hearted Esau, though defrauded of his birthright, maintains throughout an honest simplicity and sincerity in his relations with all, even with Jacob.

Simplicity and sincerity are qualities that naturally belong to man-how naturally is seen in the speech and acts of little children, which are surely marked by these pleasing and valuable traits of the soul, till corrupted by evil communications. As natural and desirable qualities, all men admire and respect them wherever exhibited; like all the vir tues, they have a universal character, in moral rela tion.

In literature, simplicity of style is regarded as most attractive, and holds attention where ostentatious ornament would tire; for simplicity is compatible with a directness and energy of diction that distinguishes elevated thought, and readily passes over into the sublime-—like a great calm resting upon the ground-swell of the boundless

ocean.

Consider the lilies, how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which to

day is in the field, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more will he clothe you.

Here we have great simplicity and beauty, and deep moral and religious sentiment underlying it.

Charity is love in a wide sense; is a primary principle that pervades all the amenities of life; is the common flux that promotes the fusion and easy flow of the graces of the soul.

When we say this man is charitable, we generally mean that he relieves the needy, or is liberal, so far as his means admit, in the endowment and support of charitable institutions; but if we add, is charitable in his judgments, we mean that he puts a liberal construction on the acts of other people, and condemns not hastily.

Nowhere better than in the Scriptures do we find exhibited the meaning, use and praise of charity. In I Corinthians, chap. 13, occur in substance these sentiments, thus:

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

And though I have the gift of prophecy and all knowledge, and have not charity, I am nothing.

Charity suffereth long and is kind; envieth not; vaunteth not itself; is not puffed up; seeketh not her own; is not easily provoked; thinketh no evil; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things, and never fails.

And

now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

38. THE SENTIMENTS.-Patriotism.

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"Breathes there the man with soul so dead,
Who never to himself hath said,

This is my own, my native land!
Whose heart hath ne'er within him burn'd,
As home his footsteps he hath turn'd

From wandering on a foreign strand?
If such there breathe, go, mark him well;
For him no minstrel raptures swell;
High tho' his titles, proud his name,
Boundless his wealth as wish can claim,—
Despite those titles, power and pelf,
The wretch, concentered all in self,
Living, shall forfeit fair renown,
And, doubly dying, shall go down
To the vile dust, from whence he sprung,
Unwept, Unhonored, and unsung."

-Walter Scott.

Noted instances of patriotism can be seen in the history of the nations of almost every age of the world. It is, however, better for us to recall those of recent times, and specially those of our own land; for nowhere do we find a more intelligent and ardent devotion to the then present and to the future weal of one's native land and to the principle of liberty than in the acts individual and collective of the American colonists prior to and during the struggle for independence. Daniel Webster's eloquent words are: "Nowhere can be found higher proofs of a spirit that was ready to hazard all, to pledge all, to sacrifice all, in the cause of the country. Instances were not unfrequent in which small freeholders parted with their last hoof, and the last measure of corn from their granaries, to supply

provision for the troops and hire service for the ranks.

"The voice of Otis and of Adams in Faneuil Hall found its full and true echo in the little councils of the interior towns; and if within the Continental Congress patriotism shows more conspicuously, it did not there exist more truly, nor burn more fervently; it did not render the day more anxious or the night more sleepless; it sent up no more ardent prayer to God for succor, and it put forth in no greater degree the fullness of its effect, and the energy of its whole soul and spirit in the common cause, than it did in the small assemblies of the towns."

In the above extract is brought out the important fact that the common people were ready with their offerings on the altar of liberty no less than were their more distinguished compatriots and leaders; the tiller of the soil, no less than the man of wise counsel, brave words and heroic deeds, like James Otis, Samuel and John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Patrick Henry, Lee, Thomas Jefferson and George Washington.

And no less overflowing with pure love of country was the soul of that honest Quaker, Robert Morris, who in time of great need came to his country's aid with "the sinews of war," in his wealth of gold and of financial ability. The signers of the Declaration of Independence pledged their lives, their fortunes. and their sacred honor.

Patriotism as a sentiment is inspired by the moral principle of duty to the present and future genera