ourselves to form the Resolution to make the best of every Incident, and always to look on the bright Side of every Occurrence; and never to compare our Situation with that of those above us, which is the Bane of Contentment.

FRETFULNESS,

PEEVISHNESS,

IMPATIENCE, PETTISHNESS. An impatient Disposition is a constant Source of Uneasiness; and when under no Restraint, lays the unhappy Person who indulges it open to a thousand Evils, which, but for such Indulgence, he might have avoided. It ag

gravates the Miseries of his Life, and converts trifling Accidents into serious Misfortunes, and gives an Edge to all his Sufferings. He suffers Difficulties to obstruct even his laudable and virtuous Pursuits, when, by a patient Perseverance, he might have succeeded. The impatient Man is fretful, peevish and pettish, and any untoward Accident, however trifling, makes him break out into indecent Language, and abuse every one who happens, though inadvertently, to thwart him; and by such Conduct, makes himself odious to all, more especially to his Domestics, and those who have any near Connection with him. But when a really grievous Misfortune happens to him, his Impatience sometimes exceeds all Bounds, and so far transports him, that he profanely arraigns divine Providence,

and

him with Ease and Safety along the turbulent Stream of human Life. It enables us to conquer Difficulties, otherwise insurmountable. Without it, indeed, we cannot reasonably hope to accomplish any arduous Task, or to behave suitably under the Disappointments, the Losses and Bereavements to which we are every Hour exposed. But our Religion holds out to us an Inducement to the Practice of this Virtue, superior to every other Consideration, for it promises eternal Life to a patient Continuance in the ways of Well-doing.

These are Vir

CONSTANCY, PERSEVERANCE. tues of much Importance, respecting both our present and future Welfare, and are made up of Consideration, Patience, Fortitude and Resolution; and every one should endeavour to possess himself of them, as without their aid, we can never accomplish any Thing very commendable. When, therefore, we have deliberately fixed our Minds upon an Object worthy of our Pursuit, we should not suffer any Obstacle or Opposition to obstruct our Progress, nor any Length of Time to weary out our Patience. Many Persons set out with great Alacrity, fondly imagining their Object may be obtained by uncommon Exertion; but when Dangers and Difficulties arise which they did not foresee, they become discouraged, and drop all further Attempts. This is a Weakness

and blasphemously accuses his Maker. How careful, then, ought we to be, how we suffer this unhappy Temper to get the Ascendency over us, lest by Indulgence, it sink us into the Depths of Impiety and moral Depravity.

INCONSTANCY, INSTABILITY, FICKLENESS. A fickle, inconstant Disposition argues a light, weak Mind. Persons of this Turn do not duly consider or deliberate upon the Object in Question, or the Difficulties to be expected, or their own Capacities to surmount those Difficulties; but hurry on to Action, without any settled Plan. No Wonder, then, they meet with Opposition they never expected, or that they are terrified and disheartened, when such untoward Obstructions occur. This Disposition exposes a Man to Contempt, and is a State of Mind a wise Man would wish to avoid.* We should be cautious, then, how we undertake a Business, to the Accomplishment of which, upon mature Reflection, we find we are not equal. But careful Thought, and a moderate Share of Resolution and Patience, are sufficient to carry us through the Affairs of Life with Reputation, if we do our best. Common Abilities are, without Doubt, enough to enable us to perform the Duties incumbent on

us

* "Tu ne cede Malis, sed contra audentior ito."-Virg.

Weakness which should be overcome. Constancy, considered as a Christian Virtue, is of the utmost Consequence. Christianity demands a steady Perseverance in a Course of Piety and Virtue, through our whole Lives, in Spite of all Difficulties and Temptations we may meet with; and we have this Promise to animate us in this arduous Undertaking, That in due Time we shall reap if we faint not.

SELF-DENIAL consists in refusing to gratify our Inclinations. It is our Duty then carefully to watch them; to deny ourselves every vicious Indulgence, and to gratify and foster every virtuous one. This our Religion absolutely commands. But, by Self-Denial is more frequently meant the denying ourselves innocent Gratifications. By some, this has been accounted a great Virtue ; while others seem to suppose it no Virtue at all. Now as it has pleased Providence to give us many Blessings in this Life, which are evidently intended to be enjoyed by us, as well as many Miseries and Evils to be endured; we may naturally think it to be as much our Duty to enjoy the one, as to submit patiently to the other, and without Doubt, generally, it is. But there may be Circumstances and Situations, in which it may be an Act of Virtue, to wave our Right of Enjoyment, and to refuse ourselves the innocent Pleasures of Life. When such Oc

casions

us as Christians, if we will but honestly and faithfully exert them. For our Religion does not enjoin upon us any Impossibilities.

SELF-INDULGENCE.

Our Appetites and Pas

sions are so apt to lead us from the Path of Duty and Happiness, that if we wish for that Self-Approbation, so conducive to them, we shall keep a constant Eye upon them, lest by Indulgence, they become too strong to be controulled by our Reason, and we become lost to the World, to Virtue, and ourselves. We may instance in Intemperance. How many, who only by neglecting to reflect upon their Conduct, (that is, by neglecting to examine their daily Behaviour,) suffer their Appetites to get such a Head, before they are aware of it, that the indulged Desire becomes too rampant to be suppressed by any Efforts the miserable Victim can make to extricate himself! The same may be said of every other criminal Indulgence. How many good Estates have been wasted, how many even opulent Families, have been reduced to Penury, merely by indulging in the Love of Ease! Mankind were made for Action, and there is no Virtue, there is scarce any earthly Good, which does not call for Exertion, either for its Attainment or Preservation. When by Indulgence we find ourselves in Danger of contracting bad or merely inconvenient Habits ; and,