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gives; but soft words assuage it, forgiving words cure it, and kindly words take away the scar.

The passions are the gales of life, but it is religion that keeps them from rising into a tempest.

OF HUMILITY.

An humble spirit knows nothing but God's grace, and an upright heart nothing but God's glory.

That is true humility which makes way for Christ, and lays the soul at his feet.

Humility is the greatest ornament of created beings; for to be conscious of our littleness, and to delight in God, is not only the beauty but the bliss of man.

Humility and knowledge in mean clothes are better than pride and ignorance in costly attire. Humility is not a flower that grows in the garden of nature, but is planted in the heart by the finger of God.

God hath two temples, the one in the highest heaven, and the other in the humblest heart. If you are a growing Christian, you will daily think less and less of yourself.

The humble soul is like the violet, which hangs its head downwards, and hides itself in its own leaves.

OF PRIDE.

As the first step heavenward is humility, so the first step hellward is pride.

Of all the human passions, pride seldomest obtains its end; for by aiming at honour and

reputation, it reaps only contempt and derision.

If a proud man makes me keep my distance, it is my comfort that he keeps his own at the same time.

The best way to humble a proud man, is to take no notice of him.

That which would break a proud man's heart, would not break a humble man's sleep.

Pride takes a pleasure in bringing to light the infirmities of others, that itself may be exalted; while humility delights to contemplate the excellencies of others, that it may be laid still lower in its own esteem.

OF VANITY.

Ostentation takes away from the merit of any action; and he that is vain enough to cry up himself, should be punished with the silence of others.

They who expose themselves to danger for the sake of fame, have certainly more blood than brains to spare.

Young men when they are dyed in vanity, will scarcely ever take any other colour.

There are a thousand fops made by art, for one that is made by nature.

A fop of fashion is the mercer's friend, and his own foe; for though a coat be never so fine that a fool wears, it is still but a fool's coat.

A beau dressed out is like the cinnamon tree, the bark is worth more than the body: an ass

is but an ass, though it be laden or covered with gold.

Some persons put so much value upon ornaments, that even the thought of death is made less gloomy by them.

OF FLATTERY.

Wherever there is a flatterer, there is a fool in the case.

Flattery is like base money; and were it not for our vanity, it would never pass current. The fortunes of flatterers are made more by their tongues, than by their lives.

It is better to fall among crows than flatterers; for these only devour the dead, but flatterers the living.

A death-bed flattery is the worst of all treacheries; for compliments are out of season, when salvation is at stake.

OF ENVY.

He that is guilty of envy, makes another man's virtue his vice; and another man's happiness his torment.

The heart of an envious man is gall and bitterness; the success of his neighbour breaketh his rest.

The man who hath no virtue in himself, envieth the virtue he seeth in others.

If we knew how little the most of men enjoy, it would deliver us from the guilt of envy. Envy not the appearance of happiness in

any man, for thou knowest not his secret griefs.

The surest sign of a noble disposition, is to have no envy at the prosperity of others. No revenge is so heroic, as that which torments envy by doing good.

OF AVARICE.

The prodigal robs his heir, but the miser robs himself.

It is madness for a man to starve himself, that his heir may be enriched; for his joy at your death, will just be in proportion to what you leave him.

If money be not thy servant, it will be thy master; for the covetous man cannot possess wealth, but wealth possesses him.

Covetousness must be a miserable vice, first to weary a man in obtaining riches, and then not suffer him to enjoy them when they are gotten.

It is a much easier task to dig metal out of its native mine, than out of the covetous man's coffer; death only has the key of the miser's chest.

Men generally take more pains for this world than heaven would cost them; and when they get what they aim at, they seldom live to enjoy it.

Those who defer their gifts to a death-bed, say unto God, "Lord, I will give thee something, when I can keep it no longer."

THE MISER'S EPITAPH.

Iron was his chest, and iron was his door;
His hands were iron, but his heart was more.
O cursed lust of gold, when for thy sake
The wretch throws up his interest in both
worlds;

First starv'd in this, then damn'd in that to come!

OF HOPE AND FEAR.

Those who have the fewest desires, hopes, and fears, are always the most serene and quiet. Wisdom is always satisfied with present enjoyments, because it frees a man from anxious fears about the future.

A firm confidence in the assistance of God, produces patience, hope, and cheerfulness in the soul.

A well-grounded hope of future happiness, is the most perfect cure to melancholy, the guide of life, and the comfort of death.

of gratitudE AND INGRATITUDE,

Thanks-giving is good, but thanks-living is

better.

To be thankful for present mercies, is the best way to obtain future mercies.

To be thankful for what we have, and hopeful for what we want, is the best way of carrying on our merchandise with heaven.

Give me the eye that can see God in all;

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