importance, and so carelessly discharging his several duties. And yet, if the master adopt the opposite extreme, the servant sinks into dogged, and, if possible, more careless habits. A master should be just, merciful, firm, and show himself what he would wish his men to be."

MORALITY.

In morality there are books enough writ both by ancient and modern philosophers; but the morality of the gospel doth so exceed them all, that to give a man a full knowledge of true morality, I shall send him to no other book than the New Testament.

Locke.

As he that can revenge an injury, but will not, discovers a virtuous and magnanimous disposition of soul; so, he that can return a kindness, and does not, shows a mean and contemptible spirit, and proves himself a despicable piece of ingratitude.

Shelley.

Father Taylor, the founder of the Boston Sailors' Home, on one occasion preaching of the insufficiency of the moral principles without religious feelings, exclaimed, "Go heat your ovens with snowballs! What shall I send you to heaven with such an icicle in your pocket? I might as well put a millstone round your neck to teach you to swim."

Jameson.

There is no morality without religion, and there is no religion without morality. "This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments." He who loves God, keeps the commandments in principle; and he who keeps the commandments, loves God in action. Love is obedience in the heart; obedience is love in the life. Morality, then, is religion in practice; religion is morality in principle.

MEDITATION.

Wardlaw.

Though reading and conversation may furnish us with many ideas of men and things; yet it is our own meditation that must form our judgDr. Watts.

ment.

MERIT.

Among men of weak and base minds, merit begets envy; but among those of a generous spirit, a noble emulation.

Shelley.

We ought not to judge of men's merits by their qualifications, but by the use they make of them.

MERCY,

Shelley.

Mercy is not itself that oft looks so;
Pardon is still the nurse of second woe.

Shakespeare.

Alas! alas!

Why, all the souls that were, were forfeit once;
And He that might the 'vantage best have took
Found out the remedy: how would you be,
If He, which is the top of judgment, should
But judge you as you are? O, think on that;
And mercy then will breathe within your lips,
Like man new made.

Shakespeare.

Wilt thou draw near the nature of the gods?
Draw near them then in being merciful:
Sweet mercy is nobility's true badge.

Shakespeare.

MODERATION.

For ought I see, they are as sick that surfeit with too much, as they that starve with nothing; it is no mean happiness, therefore, to be seated in the mean; superfluity comes sooner by white hairs, but competency lives longer.

Shakespeare.

I meddle with no man's business but my own;
I rise in a morning early, study moderately,
Eat and drink cheerfully, live soberly,
Take my innocent pleasures freely.

Otway.

Till men have been sometime free, they know not how to use their freedom. The natives of wine countries are generally sober. In climates

where wine is a rarity, intemperance abounds. A newly-liberated people may be compared to a Northern_army encamped on the Rhine or the Xeres. It is said that, when soldiers in such a situation first find themselves able to indulge without restraint in such a rare and expensive luxury, nothing is to be seen but intoxication. Soon, however, plenty teaches discretion; and after wine has been for a few months their daily fare, they become more temperate than they had ever been in their own country. In the same manner, the final and permanent fruits of liberty are wisdom, moderation, and mercy.

MODESTY.

Macaulay.

It is the witness still of excellency,
To put a strange face on his own perfection.

I have marked

Shakespeare.

A thousand blushing apparitions start
Into her face; a thousand innocent shames
In angel whiteness bear away those blushes:
And in her eye there hath appeared a fire,
To burn the error that these princes hold
Against her maiden truth.

Shakespeare.

I ask, that I might waken reverence,
And bid the cheek be ready with a blush,
Modest as morning, when she coldly eyes
The youthful Phoebus.

Shakespeare.

An excess of modesty is, in fact, and excess of pride, and more hurtful to the individual, and less advantageous to society, than the grossest and most unblushing vanity.

MARRIAGE.

Hazlitt.

For what is wedlock forced, but a hell;
An age of discord and continual strife?
Whereas the contrary bringeth forth bliss,
And is a pattern of celestial peace.

A money-marriage is a bitter bargain; you buy the gold in a dear market.

Women sing wondrously loud at a wedding, but exceedingly small when the honeymoon is past.

"The Disgrace to the Family."

"Marry, forsooth! I had as leave be hanged, for then are my troubles ended; otherwise, the parson would but start me on a journey of misery." Friar.