No. 153.] DEVOTION. [SATURDAY. TRUE devotion is not a melancholy sentiment, that depresses the spirits, and excludes the ideas of pleasure, in which youth delights; on the contrary, there is nothing so friendly to joy, so productive of true pleasure, so peculiarly suited to the warmth and innocence of a youthful heart. Do not therefore think it too soon to turn your mind to God; but offer him the first-fruits of your understanding and affections; and be assured that the more you increase in love to him, and delight in his laws, the more you will increase in happiness, in excellence, and honour; that in proportion as you improve in true piety, you will become contented and peaceful in yourself, and qualified to enjoy the best blessing of this life as well as to inherit the glorious promises of immortality. No. 154.] THE BOOK OF PROVERBS. [SUNDAY. THE Book of Proverbs, written by Solomon, is a collection of wise and moral sayings; which though not connected in the way of a regular discourse, but put together, without order or method, have a general design, and contain easy and instructive rules for direction of our whole behaviour. Wisdom is described as far exceeding in value those things, which are highly desired among men: and we are most affectionately called upon to I make it our choice, and to use our utmost endeavours to attain it. The study and practice of it are also enforced by the peculiar advantages and blessings which attend it, "whoso findeth wisdom findeth life, and shall obtain the favour of the Lord." No. 155.] THE SWIFTNESS OF TIME. [MONDAY. It is wisely observed by the Moralist, “That our globe seems particularly fitted for the residence of beings placed here only for a short time, whose task is to advance themselves to a higher and happier state of existence by unremitted vigilance of caution, and activity of virtue." All we see on every side reminds us of the lapse of time, and the flux of life. The day and the night succeed each other; the rotation of seasons, diversifies the year; the sun rises, attains the meridian, declines and sets; and the moon every night changes its form. Yet the admonitions of nature, however importunate, are too often in vain ; let him who desires to see others happy, make haste to give while his gift can be enjoyed; and let him who seeks his own happiness, reflect that while he forms his purpose the day rolls on, and the night comes, when no man can work. No. 156.] MUSIC. [TUESDAY. Most of the pleasurable diversions have a tendency when pursued with excessive ardour, not only to relax in a proper degree; but to enervate the mind. They indispose it for manly virtue, and introduce a tenderness of feeling ill suited to encounter the usual asperities of commou life. But the study of music, under due direction, while it sweetly soothes the sense of hearing, touches the soul, and elevates and refines its nature. Conducted by philosophy, it is able to infuse the noblest thoughts, to urge to the most animated actions, to calm the ruffled spirits, and co-operating with religion, to eradicate every malignant propensity. It is to be lamented that music, which, when properly regulated fills the young mind with virtuous and generous sentiments, should form only an innocent pastime or polite amusement. The tunes of the 100th and 104th Psalm, are the most popular music in England, and no less adapted to excite a spirit of piety, and elevate the soul to heaven, than to soothe the ear by their simple melody. No. 157.] APHORISMS. [WEDNESDAY. Other men's sins we bear in mind; None sees the fardel of his faults behind. God hath two wings; which he doth ever move: The mind is its own place, and in itself No. 158.] THE FOLLY OF ANGER. [THURSDAY. PRIDE is undoubtedly the origin of anger; but pride, like every other passion, if it once break loose from reason, counteracts its own purpose. A passionate man, upon the review of his day, will have few gratifications to offer to his pride, when he has considered how his outrages were borne, and in what they are likely to end. These sudden bursts of rage generally break out upon small occasions; for life cannot supply. great evils as frequently as the man of fire thinks it fit to be enraged: and he will at last perceive that he lives only to raise contempt and hatred, and that he has given up the felicity of being loved, without gaining the honour of being reverenced. No. 159.] ENGLISH PROVERBS. [FRIDAY. "HE steals a goose and gives the giblets in alms." This proverb points at those, who, by acts of injustice, oppression, and fraud, amass to themselves large estates, and think to atone for their rapine by doing some charitable acts while they are alive, or leaving their property to endow hospitals, alms-houses, and other acts of beneficence; commendable indeed when done from a truly christian spirit; but such opinions as they entertain are highly disparaging to the justice of the Almighty. "One Swallow does not make Summer." All the false as well as foolish conclusions from a particular to an universal truth, fall under the censure of this proverb. It teaches us, not to consider ourselves good, from the practice of one single virtue; and that the right way of judging of things, is not from particulars, but universals. No. 160.] ADMONITIONS. [SATURDAY. ONCE a day, especially in the early years of life and study, examine what new ideas you have gained, and what advances you have made in any part of knowledge, and let no day if possible pass away without some intellectual gain. It was a sacred rule among the Pythagoreans, that they should every evening run thrice over the actions and affairs of the day, and examine what their conduct had been, what they had done, and what they had neglected: assured that, by this method, they would make a rapid progress in the path of knowledge and virtue. No. 161.] THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES. [SUNDAY. THIS instructive book is supposed to have been written by Solomon, in his old age, after his |