PART IV. PUNCTUATION.

The Comma.

Exercise, p. 72 to p. 74. Grammar, p. 112 to p. 115.

Rule 1. Idleness is the great fomenter of all corruptions in the human heart. It is honourable to be a friend to the unfortunate. The friend of order has made half his way to virtue.

The intermixture of evil in human society, serves to exercise the suffering graces and virtues of the good.

Rule 2. If we delay till to-morrow what ought to be done today, we overcharge the morrow with a burden which belongs not to it. If the mind sow not corn, it will plant thistles. Graceful in youth are the tears of sympathy, and the heart that melts at the tale of woe.-He imformed us how we might obtain the requisite materials.

Rule 3. Libertines call religion bigotry or superstition. The vicious man is often looking round him with anxious and fearful circumspection. He and she were present. Idleness brings forward and nourishes many bad passions. By reading and composing frequently, he acquired facility of expression. Benefits should be long and gratefully remembered.

Every tie, every sense of honour, was obliterated. An idle, trifling society is near akin to such as is corrupting. Deliberate slowly, execute promptly. This unhappy person had often been seriously, affectionately admonished.-We have no reason to complain of the lot of man, or of the world's mutability.

Rule 4. a. In our health, life, possessions, connexions, pleasures, there are causes of decay imperceptibly working. Discomposed thoughts, agitated passions, and a ruffled temper, poison every pleasure of life. Conscious guilt renders us mean spirited, timorous, and base. A true friend unbosoms freely, advises justly, assists readily, adventures boldly, takes all patiently, defends resolutely, and continues a friend unchangeably.

b. Vast rocks and deserts, wide and lengthening plains, large and rapid streams, present themselves to our view, and create an agreeable astonishment. To be humble and modest in opinion, to be viligant and attentive in conduct, to distrust fair appearances, and to restrain rash desires, are instructions which the darkness of our present state should strongly inculcate.

Rule 5. Continue, my dear child, to make virtue thy principal study. Come then, companion of my toils, let us take fresh courage. Peace of mind being secured, we may smile at misfortunes. Virtue abandoned, and conscience reproaching us, we become terrified with imaginary evils. We are strictly enjoined, "not to follow a multitude to do evil.” To enjoy present pleasure, he sacrificed his future ease and reputation. To say the least, they have betrayed great want of prudence.

Rule 6. The Shannon, the largest river of Ireland, issues from Lough Allen. Mæcenas, a Roman knight, was a great patron of literature. Hope, the balm of life, soothes us under every misfortune.-King Charles the First was beheaded in 1649.

Rule 7. a. Nothing is so opposite to the true enjoyment of life, as the relaxed and feeble state of an indolent mind. Unavoidable calamities may make a part, yet, they do not make the chief part, of the vexations of life. The more a man speaks of himself, the less he likes to hear another talked of. Contrition, though it may melt, ought not to sink or overpower the heart of a Christian.

b. An inquisitive and meddling spirit often interrupts the good order, and breaks the peace of society. Many states were in alliance with, and under the protection of Rome.

c. The friendships of the world can subsist no longer than interest cements them.

Rule 8. Charity, like the sun, brightens all its objects. The tutor, by instruction and discipline, lays the foundation of the pupil's future honour. Trials, in this stage of being, are the lot of man. The path of piety and virtue, pursued with a firm and constant spirit, will assuredly lead to happiness. Gentleness delights, above all things, to alleviate distress; and, if it cannot dry up the falling tear, to soothe, at least, the grieving heart.

I proceed, secondly, to point out the proper state of our temper, with respect to one another. Here, every thing is in stir and fluctuation; there, all is serene and orderly. I shall make some observations, first, on the external, and next, on the internal condition of man.

Industry will undoubtedly be rewarded. It was indeed very culpable. He was formerly a wealthy citizen.

Rule 9. a. The gentle mind is like the smooth stream, which reflects every object in its just proportion, and in its fairest colours. Beware of those rash and dangerous connexions, which may afterwards load you with dishonour. Blind must that man be, who discerns not the most striking marks of a Divine government, exercised over the world.

b. Many of the evils which occasion our complaints of the world, are wholly imaginary. It is labour only which gives a relish to pleasure.

Rule 10. In youth, the habits of industry are most easily ac quired. What is the right path, few take the trouble of inquiring. By threads innumerable, our interests are interwoven.

Rule 11. The greatest misery is, to be condemned by our own hearts. Charles's highest enjoyment was, to relieve the distressed, and to do good.

Rule 12. As a companion, he was severe and satirical; as a friend, captious and dangerous; in his domestic sphere, harsh, jealous, and irascible. Even in this world, happiness attends The Grecians excel in precepts; the

virtue, and misery, vice.

Romans, in examples.

Search

Rule 13. Be diligent, that you may become learned. the scriptures, that you may become wise unto salvation. Be assured, that order, frugality, and economy, are the necessary supports of every personal and private virtue.

Promiscuous Exercises on the preceding Rules on the Comma.

Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica, are in the Mediterranean sea. He loved them, because they were mild, attentive, and grateful. In a letter, we may advise, exhort, comfort, request, and discuss. He was happy in being loved, esteemed, and respected. True worth is modest and retired. Slovenliness and indelicacy of character commonly go hand in hand. No assumed behaviour can always hide the real character. True friendship will, at all times, avoid a careless or rough behaviour. When your friend is caluminated, openly and boldly espouse his cause. Canst thou expect, thou betrayer of innocence, to escape the hand of vengeance? To prevent further altercation, I submitted to the terms proposed. Confucius, the great Chinese philosopher, was eminently good, as well as wise. Nothing more strongly inculcates resignation, than the experience of our own inability to guide ourselves. He, who is a stranger to industry, may possess, but, he cannot enjoy. Vice is not of such a nature, that we can say to it, "Hitherto shalt thou come, and no farther." They, who raise envy, will easily incur censure. The fumes which arise from a heart boiling with violent passions, never fails to darken and trouble the understanding. His only wish was, to perform his duty. If opulence increases our gratifitions, it increases, in the same proportion, our desires and demands. Providence never intended, that any state here should

be either completely happy, or entirely miserable. If the spring put forth no blossoms, in summer there will be no beauty, and in autumn no fruit: so, if youth be trifled away without improvement, manhood will be contemptible, and old age miserable.

The Semicolon, containing also Exercises on the Comma.

Exercises, p. 74, 75. Grammar, p. 116.

Rule 1. The passions are the chief destroyers of our peace; the storms and tempests of the moral world. Heaven is the region of gentleness and friendship; hell, of fierceness and animosity. The path of truth is a plain and safe path; that of falsehood, is a perplexing maze. Modesty is one of the chief ornaments of youth; and, it has ever been esteemed a presage of rising merit.

Rule 2. To give an early preference to honour above gain, when they stand in competition; to despise every advantage which cannot be attained without dishonest arts; to brook no meanness, and, to stoop to no dissimulation; are the indications of a great mind, the presages of future eminence and usefulness in life.

Rule 3. As there is a worldly happiness, which God perceives to be no other than disguised misery; as there are worldly honours, which, in his estimation, are reproach; so, there is a worldly wisdom, which, in his sight, is foolishness. That darkness of character, where we can see no heart; those foldings of art, through which no native affection is allowed to penetrate; present an object, unamiable in every season of life, but, particularly odious, in youth.

The Colon, containing also Exercises on the Comma and Semicolon. Exercises, p. 75. Grammar, p. 116.

Rule 1. The three great enemies to tranquility, are vice, supersition, and idleness: vice, which poisons and disturbs the mind with bad passions; superstition, which fills it with imaginary terrors; idleness, which loads it with tediousness and disgust. To sail on the tranquil surface of an unruffled lake, and to steer a safe course through a troubled and stormy ocean, require different talents and, alas! human life oftener resembles the stormy ocean, than the unruffled lake.

Do not flatter yourselves with the hope of perfect happiness: there is no such thing in the world. Do not flatter yourselves with the hope of perfect happiness; for, there is no such thing in the world.

Rule 2. By doing, or, at least, endeavouring to do our duty to God and man; by acquiring an humble trust in the mercy and favour of God, through Jesus Christ; by cultivating our minds; and properly employing our time and thoughts; by governing our

passions and temper; by correcting all unreasonable expectations from the world, and from men; and, in the midst of worldly business, habituating ourselves to calm retreat and serious recollection: by such means as these, it may be hoped, that, through the Divine blessing, our days shall flow in a stream as unruffled as the human state admits.

Rule 3. A metaphor is a comparison expressed in an abridged form, but without any of the words that denote comparison; as, "To the upright, there ariseth light in darkness." All our conduct towards men, should be influenced by this important precept; "Do unto others, as you would that others should do unto you." Of the Period.

Exercises, p. 75. Grammar, p. 117.

We ruin the happiness of life, when we attempt to raise it too high. A tolerable and comfortable state, is all that we can propose to ourselves on Earth. Peace and contentment, not bliss nor transport, are the full portion of man. Perfect joy is reserved for heaven. If we look around us, we shall perceive, that the whole universe is full of active powers. Action is, indeed, the genius of Nature. By motion and exertion, the system of being is preserved in vigour. By its different parts always acting in subordination one to another, the perfection of the whole is carried on. The heavenly bodies perpetually revolve. Day and night incessantly repeat their appointed course. Continual oper

ations are going on in the earth and in the waters. Nothing stands still.

Constantine the Great, was advanced to the sole dominion of the Roman World, A.D. 325. and, soon after, openly professed the Christian Faith.

Of the Dash, Notes of Interrogation and Exclamation, and the Parenthesis.

Something there is more needful than expense;

And something previous e'en to taste;-'tis sense.
This accusation I can hear unmov'd-

It is a slander-I expect no better.

What is there in all the pomp of the world, the enjoyments of luxury, the gratification of passion, comparable to the tranquil delight of a good conscience?

We wait till to-morrow to be happy; alas! Why not to-day? Shall we be younger? Are we sure we shall be healthier? Will our passions become feebler, and our love of the world less?

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