Instead of aspiring farther than your proper level, bring your mind down to your state; lest you spend your life in a train of fruitless pursuits, by aiming too high, and at last bring yourself to an entire state of insignificance and contempt.

Often have we seen, that what we considered as a sore disappointment at the time, has proved to be a merciful providence in the issue; and that it would have been so far from making us happy, if what we once eagerly wished for had been obtained, that it would have produced our ruin.

Can the stream continue to advance, when it is deprived of the fountain? Can the branch improve when taken from the stock which gave it nourishment? Dependent spirits can no more be happy, when parted from all union with the Father of spirits, and the Fountain of happiness.

Prosperity is redoubled to a good man, by means of the generous use which he makes of it; and it is reflected back upon him by every one whom he makes happy: for, in the esteem and good-will of all who know him, in the gratitude of dependents, in the attachment of friends, and the intercourse of domestic affection, he sees blessings multiplied round him, on every side.

Whoever would pass, with honour and decency, the latter part of life, must consider when he is young, that one day he shall be old; and remember that when he is old, he has once been young: he must lay up knowledge in youth for his support, when his powers of acting shall forsake him; and forbear to animadvert in age, with rigour, on faults which experience can alone correct.

Let us consider that youth is of no long duration; and that when the enchantments of fancy in maturer age shall cease, and phantoms no more dance about us, we shall have no comforts but wise men's esteem, the approbation of our hearts, and the means of doing good: and let us live as men that are to grow old some time, and to whom of all evils it will be the most dreadful, to count their years past only by follies, and to be reminded of their former luxuriance of health, by the maladies only which riot has produced.

CONTAINING EXAMPLES, TO ASSIST THE STUDENT IN TRANSPOSING THE PARTS OF SENTENCES, AND IN VARYING THE FORM OF EXPRESSING A SENTIMENT.

CHAP. I.

On transposing the Members of a Sentence.

THE practice of transposing the members of sentences, is an exercise so useful to young persons that it requires a more particular explanation, thau could have been properly given in the preceding work.

A few of the various modes in which the parts of a sentence may be arranged, have, therefore, been collected; and they are, with other matter, produced in the form of an Appendix to the general Exercises. By examining them attentively, the student will perceive, in some degree, the nature and effect of transposition; and, by being frequently exercised in showing its variety in other sentences, he will obtain a facility in the operation; and a dexterity in discovering and applying, on all occasions, the clearest and most forcible arrangement. By this practice, he will also be able more readily to penetrate the meaning of such sentences, as are rendered obscure and perplexing to most readers, by the irregular disposition of their parts.

The first and last forms of each class of examples, are to be considered as the least exceptionable.

The Roman state evidently declined, in proportion to the increase of luxury.

The Roman state, in proportion to the increase of luxury, evidently declined.

In proportion to the increase of luxury, the Roman state evidently declined.

I am willing to remit all that is past, provided it may be done with safety.

I am willing, provided it may be done with safety, to remit all that is past.

Provided it may be done with safety, I am willing to remit all that is past.

That greatness of mind which shows itself in dangers and labours, if it wants justice, is blamable.

If that greatness of mind, which shows itself in dangers and labours, is void of justice, it is blamable.

That greatness of mind is blamable, which shows itself in dangers and labours, if it wants justice.

If that greatness of mind is void of justice, which shows itself in dangers and labours, it is blamable.

That greatness of mind is blamable, if it is void of justice, which shows itself in dangers and labours.

If it wants justice, that greatness of mind, which shows itself in dangers and labours, is blamable.

He who made light to spring from primeval darkness, will make order, at last, to arise from the seeming confusion of the world.

From the seeming confusion of the world, He who made ligh to spring from primeval darkness, will make order, at last, to arise.

He who made light to spring from primeval darkness, will, from the seeming confusion of the world, make order at last, to arise.

He who made light to spring from primeval darkness, will, at last, from the seeming confusion of the world, make order to arise.

He will make order, at last, to arise from the seeming confusion of the world, who made light to spring from primeval darkness.

From the seeming confusion of the world, He will make order, at last, to arise, who made light to spring from primeval darkness.

He who made light to spring from primeval darkness will, at last, make order to arise, from the seeming confusion of this world.

Whoever considers the uncertainty of human affairs, and how frequently the greatest hopes are frustrated; will see just reason to be always on his guard, and not o place too much dependence on things so precarious.

He will see just reason to be always on his guard, and not to place too much dependence on the precarious things of time; who considers the uncertainty of human affairs, and how often the greatest hopes are frustrated.

Let us not conclude, while dangers are at a distance, and do not immediately approach us, that we are secure; unless we use the necessary precaution to prevent them.

Unless we use the necessary precautions to prevent dangers, let us not conclude, while they are at a distance, and do not immediately approach us, that we are secure.

Unless we see the necessary precautions to prevent dangers, let us not conclude that we are secure, while they are at a distance, and do not immediately approach us.

Let us not conclude that we are secure, while dangers are at a distance, and do not immediately approach us, unless we use the necessary precautions to prevent them.

While dangers are at a distance, and do not immediately approach us, let us not conclude, that we are secure, unless we use the necessary precautions to prevent them.

Those things which appear great to one who knows nothing greater, will sink into diminutive size, when he becomes acquainted with objects of a higher nature.

When one becomes acquainted with objects of a higher nature, those things which appeared great to him whilst he knew nothing greater, will sink into a diminutive size.

To one who knows nothing greater, those things which then appear great, will sink into a diminutive size, when he becomes acquainted with objects of a higher nature. CHAP. II.

On variety of expression.

BESIDES the practice of transposing the parts of sentences, the Compiler recommends to tutors, frequently to exercise their pupils, in exhibiting some of the various modes, in which the same sentiment may be properly expressed. This practice will extend their Knowledge of the language, afford a variety of expression, and habituate them to deliver their sentiments with clearness, ease, and propriety. It will likewise enable those who may be engaged in studying other languages not only to construe them with more facility, into English; but also to observe and apply more readily, many of the turns and phrases, which are best adapted to the genius of those languages. A few examples of this kind of exercise, will be sufficient to explain the nature of it, and to show its utility.

The brother deserved censure more than his sister. The sister was less reprehensible than her brother. The sister did not deserve reprehension, so much as her brother.

Reproof was more due to the brother, than to the sister. I will attend the conference, if I can do it conveniently. I intend to be at the conference, unless it should be inconvenient.

If I can do it with convenience, I purpose to be present at the conference.

If it can be done without inconvenience, I shall not fail to attend the conference.

I shall not absent myself from the conference unless circumstances render it necessary.

He who lives always in the bustle of the world, lives in a perpetual warfare.

To live continually in the bustle of the world, is to live in perpetual warfare.

By living constantly in the bustle of the world, our life becomes a scene of contention.

It is a continual warfare, to live perpetually in the bustle of the world.

The hurry of the world, to him who always lives in it, is a perpetual conflict.

They who are constantly engaged in the tumults of the world, are strangers to the blessings of peace.

The spirit of true religion breathes gentleness and affability.

Gentleness and affability are the genuine effects of true religion.

True religion teaches us to be gentle and affable.

Genuine religion will never produce an austere temper, or a rough demeanor.

Harshness of manners and want of condescension, are opposite to the spirit of true religion.

Industry is not only the instrument of improvement, but the foundation of pleasure,

Industry produces both improvement and pleasure. Improvement and pleasure are the products of industry. The common attendants on idleness are ignorance and misery.

Valerius passed several laws, abridging the power of the senate, and extending that of the people.