Decency is in all her words, in her anvers are mildness and truth. Submiffion and obedience are the leffons of her life, and peace and happiness are her reward. Before her fteps walketh prudence, and virtue attendeth at her right hand. Her eye fpeaketh foftnefs and love; but dilcretion with a fcepter fitteth on her brow. The tongue of the licentious is dumb in her prefence, the awe of her virtue keepeth him filent. When scandal is bufy, and the fame of her neighbour is tofled from tongue to tongue; if charity and good nature open not her mouth, the finger of filence refleth on her lip. Her breaft is the manfion of goodnefs, and therefore the fufpecteth no evil in others. Happy were the man that should make her his wife: happy the child that shall call ber mother. She prefideth in the house, and there is peace; the commandeth with judgment, and is obeyed. She arifeth in the morning, the confiders her affairs, and appointeth to every one their proper business. The care of her family is her whole delight, to that alone fhe applieth her study; and elegance with frugality is feen in her manfions. The prudence of her management is an honour to her husband, and he heareth her praife with a fecret delight. She informeth the minds of her children with wifdom: the fashioneth their manners from the example of her own goodnefs. The word of her mouth is the law of their youth, the motion of her eye commandeth their obedience. She fpeaketh, and her fervants fly; fhe pointeth, and the thing is done for the Law of love is in their hearts, and her kindLes addeth wings to their feet. In profperity the is not puffed up; in alverity the healeth the wounds of fortune with patience. The troubles of her husband are alleviared by her counfels, and fweetened by her endearments: he putteth his heart in her befom, and receiveth comfort. Happy is the man that hath made her his wife; happy the child that calleth her mother. CONSANGUINITY, or NATURAL RELATIONS. $254 HUSBAND. Take unto thyfelf a wife, and obey the 361 ordinance of God; take unto thyfelf a wife, and become a faithful member of fociety. But examine with care, and fix not fuddenly. On thy prefent choice depends thy future happiness. If much of her time is deftroyed in drefs and adornments; if the is enamoured with her own beauty, and delighteth in her own praise; if the laugheth much, and talketh loud: if her foot abideth not in her father's house, and her eyes with boldness rove on the faces of men; though her beauty were as the fun in the firmament of heaven, turn thy face from her charms, turn thy feet from her paths, and fuffer not thy foul to be enfeared by the allurements of imagi nation. But when thou findeft fenfibility of heart, joined with foftnefs of manners; an ac. complished mind, with a form agreeable to thy fancy; take her home to thy houfe, the is worthy to be thy friend, thy companion in life, the wife of thy boom. O cherish her as a blefling fent thee from heaven. Let the kindness of thy beha viour endear thee to her heart. She is the mistress of thy house; treat her therefore with respect, that thy fervants may obey her. Oppofe not her inclination without cause; fhe is the partner of thy cares, make her alfo the companion of thy pleasures. Reprove her faults with gentleness; exact not her obedience with rigour. Truft thy fecrets in her breaft; her counfels are fincere, thou shalt not be deceived. Be faithful to her bed; for the is the mother of thy children. When pain and fickness affault her, let thy tenderness foothe her affliction: a look from thee of pity and love fhall alleviate her grief, or mitigate her pain, and be of more avail than ten physicians. Confider the tendernefs of her fex, the delicacy of her frame; and be not fevere to her weakness, but remember thine own imperfections. $255. FATHER. Confider thou who art a parent, the importance of thy trut: the being thou hait produced, it is thy duty to fupport. Upon thee alle it dependet, whether the child of thy bolon fhall be a bleting or a curfe to thyself; an ufeful or a worthless member to the community. Prepare him early with inftruction, and feafon his mind with the maxims of th. Watch the bent of his inclination, et him right in his youth, and let no evil habit gain ftrength with his years. So fhall he rife like a cedar on the mountains; his head fhall be feen above the trees of the foreft. A wicked fon is a reproach to his father; but he that doth right is an honcur to his grey hairs. The foil is thine own, let it not want cultivation; the feed which thou foweft, that alfo fhalt thou reap. Teach him obedience, and he shall blefs thee; teach him modefty, and he fhall not be ashamed, Teach him gratitude, and he fha'l receive benefits; teach him charity, and he shall gain love. Teach him temperance, and he shall have health; teach him prudence, and fortune fhall attend him. Teach him justice, and he fhall be honoured by the world; teach him fincerity, and his own heart shall not reproach him. Teach him diligence, and his wealth fhall increafe; teach him benevolence, and his mind fhall be exalted. Teach him fcience, and his life fhall be ufeful; teach him religion, and his death fhall be happy. § 256. SON. From the creatures of God let man learn wildom, and apply to himfelf the inftruction they give. Go to the defert, my fon; obferve the young fork of the wilderness; let him fpeak to thy heart; he beareth on his wings his aged fire, he lodgeth him with fafety, and fupplieth him with food. The piety of a child is tweeter than the incenfe of Perfia offered to the fun; yea more delicious than odours wafted from a field of Arabian fpices by the western gales. Be grateful then to thy father, for he gave thee life; and to thy mother, for fhe fuftained thee. Hear the words of his mouth, for they are spoken for thy good; give ear to his admonition, for it proceedeth from love. He hath watched for thy welfare, he hath toiled for thy cafe: do honour therefore to his age, and let not his grey hairs be treated with irreverence. Forget not thy helplefs infancy, nor the frowardness of thy youth, and indulge the infirmities of thy aged parents; aflift and fupport them in the decline of life. So fhall their hoary heads go down to the grave in peace; and thine own children, in reverence of thy example, fhall repay thy piety with filial love. $257. BROTHERS. Ye are the children of one father, provided for by his care; and the breaft of one mother hath given you fuck. Let the bonds of affection, therefore, unite thee with thy brothers, that peace and happiness may dwell in thy father's house. And when ye feparate in the world, remember the relation that bindeth you to love and unity; and prefer not a franger to thine own blood. If thy brother is in adverfity, affift him; if thy fifter is in trouble, forfake her not. So fhall the fortunes of thy father contribute to the fupport of his whole race; and his care be continued to you all in your love to each other. PROVIDENCE; or the accidental Differences in MEN. $258. WISE and IGNORANT, The gifts of the understanding are the treafures of God; and he appointeth to every one his portion, in what measure feemeth good unto himself. Hath he endued thee with wifdom? hath he enlightened thy mind with the knowledge of truth? Communicate it to the ignorant, for their inftruction; communicate it to the wife, for thine own improve ment. True wifdom is lefs prefuming than folly, The wife man doubteth often, and changeth his mind; the fool is obftinate, and doubteth not; he knoweth all things but his own ignorance. The pride of emptinefs is an abomination; and to talk much is the foolishness of folly. Nevertheless, it is the part of wildom to bear with patience their imperti nence, and to pity their abfurdity. Yet be not puffed up with thine own conceit, neither boast of fuperior underftanding; the cleareft human knowledge is but blindness and folly. The wife man feeleth his imperfections, and is humbled; he laboureth ́in vain for his own approbation: but the fool peepeth in the fhallow ftream of his own mind, and is pleafed with the pebbles which he fees at the bottom: he bringeth them up and fheweth them as pearls; and with the applaufe of his brethren delighteth he himielf. He boafteth attainments in things that are of no worth; but where it is a fhame to be ignorant, there he hath no understanding. Even in the paths of wisdom he toileth after folly; and fhame and disappointment are the reward of his labour. But the wife man cultivates his mind with knowledge: the improvement of arts is his delight, and their utility to the public crowneth him with honour. Nevertheless the attainment of virtue he accounteth as the highest learning and the fcience of happineis is the ftudy of his life. § 259. RICH and Poor. The man to whom God hath given riches, and bleffed with a mind to employ them aright, is peculiarly favoured, and highly distinguished. He looketh on his wealth with pleasure, because it affordeth him the means to do good. He fecketh out objects of compaffion: he enquireth into their wants; he relieveth with judgment, and without oftentation. He afiteth and rewardeth merit: he encourageth ingenuity, and liberally promot:th every useful design. He carrieth on great works: his country is enriched, and the labourer is employed: he formeth new fchemes, and the arts receive improvement, He confidereth the fuperfluities of his table as belonging to the poor of his neighbourhood, and he defraudeth them not. The benevolence of his mind is not checked by his fortune; he rejoiceth therefore in riches, and his joy is blameless. But woe unto him that heapeth up wealth in abundance, and rejoiceth alone in the poffeffion thereof: That grindeth the face of the poor, and confidereth not the fweat of their brows. He thriveth on oppreffion without feeling; the ruin of his brother diflurbeth him not. The tears of the orphan he drinketh as milk; the cries of the widow are mufic to his car. Let the poor man comfort himself, yea, rejoice; for he hath many reafons. He fitteth down to his morfel in peace; his table is not crowded with flatterers and devourers. He is not embarraffed with a train of dependants, nor teafed with the clamours of folicitation. Debarred from the dainties of the rich, he efcapeth alfo their difcafes. The bread that he eateth, is it not sweet to his tafte? the water he drinketh, is it not pleasant to his thirst? yea, far more delicious than the richelt draughts of the luxurious. His labour preferveth his health, and procureth him a repofe, to which the downy bed of floth is a ftranger. He limiteth his defires with humility, and the calm of contentment is sweeter to his foul than all the acquirements of wealth and grandeur. Let not the rich therefore prefume on his riches, nor the poor in his poverty yield to his defpondence; for the provi dence of God difpenfeth happiness to them both. $260. MASTERS and SERVANTS. Repine not, O man, at the ftate of fervitude: it is the appointment of God, and hath many advantages; it removeth thee from the cares and folicitudes of life. The honour of a fervant is his fidelity; his highest virtues are fubmiffion and obedience. Be patient therefore under the reproofs of thy mafter; and when he rebuketh thee anfwer not again. The filence of thy refignation fhall not be forgotten. Be ftudious of his interefts, be diligent in his affairs, and faithful to the truft which he repofeth in thee. Thy time and thy labour belong unto him. Defraud him not thereof, for he payeth thee for them. And thou who art a mafter, be just to His heart is hardened with the love of thy fervant, if thou expecteth from him fidelity: fidelity; and reafonable in thy commands, if thou expecteft a ready obedience. The fpirit of a man is in him; feverity and rigour may create fear, but can never command his love. Mix kindnefs with reproof, and reafon with authority: fo fhall thy admonitions take place in his heart, and his duty shall become his pleasure. He fhall ferve thee faithfully from the motive of gratitude; he fhall obey thee cheerfully from the principle of love: and fail not thou, in return, to give his diligence and fidelity their proper reward. § 261. MAGISTRATES and SUBJECTS. O thou, favourite of heaven, whom the fons of men, thy equals, have agreed to raife to fovereign power, and fet as a ruler over themselves; confider the ends and importance of their truft, far more than the dignity and height of thy ftation. Thou art cloathed in purple, and feated on a throne: the crown of majesty inveiteth thy temples; the fcepter of power is placed in thy hand: but not for thyfelf were thefe enfigns given; not meant for thine own, but the good of thy kingdom. The glory of a king is the welfare of his people; his power and dominion reiteth on the hearts of his fubjects. The mind of a great prince is exalted with the grandeur of his fituation: he revolveth high things, and fearcheth for bufi nefs worthy of his power. He calleth together the wife men of his kingdom, he confulteth amongst them with freedom, and heareth the opinions of them all thefe he honoureth with his favour, or rewardeth with his bounty. He planteth new colonies, he buildeth ftrong thips, he openeth rivers for convenience, he formeth harbours for fafety; his people abound in riches, and the ftrength of his kingdom encreafeth. He frameth his ftatutes with equity and wifdom; his fubjects enjoy the fruits of their labour, in fecurity; and their happines confifts in the obfervance of the law. He foundeth his judgments on the prin ciples of mercy; but in the punishment of offenders he is ftrict and impartial. His ears are open to the complaints of their oppreffors, and delivereth them from his fubjects; he reftraineth the hand of their tyranny. His people therefore look up to him as a father, with reverence and love; they confider him as the guardian of all they enjoy. Their affection unto him begetteth in his breaft a love of the public; the fecurity of their happiness is the object of his care. No murmurs against him arife in their hearts: the machinations of his enemies endanger not his ftate. His fubjects are faithful, and firm in his caufe; they ftand in his defence as a wall of brafs; the army of a tyrant flieth before them as chaff before the wind. Security and peace blefs the dwellings of his people; glory and ftrength encircle his throne for ever. The SOCIAL DUTIES. § 262. BENEVOLENCE. When thou confidereft thy wants, when thou beholdeft thy imperfections, acknowledge his goodness, O fon of humanity! who honoured thee with reafon, endued thee with speech, and placed thee in fociety, to receive and confer reciprocal helps and mutual obligations. Thy food, thy cloathing, thy convenience of habitation; thy protection from the injuries, thy enjoyments of the comforts and the pleafures of life: all these thou oweft to the affiftance of others, and couldft not enjoy but in the bands of fociety. It is thy duty therefore to be a friend to mankind, as it is thy intereft that man fhould be friendly to thee. As As the role breatheth sweetness from its own nature, fo the heart of a benevolent man produceth good works. He enjoyeth the eafe and tranquillity of his own breast, and rejoiceth in the happirefs and profperity of his neighbour. He openeth not his ear unto flander: the faelts and the failings of men give a pain to his heart. His defire is to do good, and he fearcheth out the occafions thereof; in removing the oppreffions of another he relieveth himfelf. From the largenefs of his mind, he comprehendeth in his wishes the happinefs of all men and from the generofity of his heart, he endeavoureth to promote it. Keep the defires of thy heart, therefore, within the bounds of moderation: let the Land of justice lead them aright. Cat not an evil eye on the goods of thy neighbour; let whatever is his property be facred from thy touch. Let no temptation allure thee, nor any provocation excite thee, to lift up thy hand to the hazard of his life. Defame him not in his character; bear no falfe witness against him. Corrupt not his fervant to cheat or forfake him; aad the wife of his bofom, O tempt not to fin. It will be a grief to his heart, which thou canft not relieve; an injury to his life, which no reparation can atone for. In thy dealings with men be impartial and just; and do unto them as thou wouldst they should do unto thee. Be faithful to thy truft, and deceive not the man who relieth upon thee; be affured it is lefs evil in the fight of God to fteal, than to betray. Oppreis not the poor, and defraud not of his hire the labouring man. When thou felleft for gain, hear the whisperings of confcience, and be satisfied with moderation; nor from the ignorance of the buyer make any advantage. Pay the debts which thou oweft, for he who gave thee credit, relied upon thine honour: and to with-hold from him his due, is both mean and unjuft. Finally, O fon of fociety! examine thy heart, call remembrance to thy aid; and if in any of these things thou findelt thou haft tranfgreffed, take forrow aud fhame to thyfelf, and make fpeedy reparation to the utmost of thy power. § 264. CHARITY. Happy is the man who hath fown in his breaft the feeds of benevolence; the produce thereof shall be charity and love. From the fountain of his heart shall rife rivers of goodness; and the ftreams fhall overflow for the benefit of mankind. He affifteth the poor in their trouble; he rejoiceth in furthering the profperity of all men. He cenfureth not his neighbour, he believeth not the tales of envy and malevolence, neither repeateth he their flanders. He forgiveth the injuries of men, he wipeth them from his remembrance; revenge and malice have no place in his heart. For evil he returneth not evil; he hateth not even his enemies, but requiteth their injuftice with friendly admonition. The griefs and anxieties of men excite his compaffion; he endeavoureth to alleviate the weight of their misfortunes, and the pleasure of fuccefs rewardeth his labour. He calmeth the fury, he healeth the quarrels of angry men, and preventeth the mifchiefs of ftrife and animolity. He promoteth in his neighbourhood peace and good-will, and his name is repeated with praife and benedictions. $265. GRATITUDE. As the branches of a tree return their fip to the root from whence it arofe; as a river poureth his ftreams to the fea, where his fpring was fupplied; fo the heart of a grateful man delighteth in returning a benefit received. He acknowledgeth his obligations with cheerfulness: he looketh on his benefactor with love and esteem. And if to return it be not in his power, he nourisheth the memory of it in his breaft with kindnefs, he forgetteth it not all the days of his life. The hand of the generous man is like the clouds of heaven, which drop upon the earth, fruits, herbage, and flowers: but the |