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A SURLY, CROSS DISPOSITION, is universally disapproved; and a Person of this Temper, is generally unhappy, in Proportion as he makes others so. Such a one seldom feels that refined Pleasure, which arises from the Exercise of the benevolent Affections.

HARD-HEARTEDNESS, UNFEELINGNESS, approach to Inhumanity. Providence has seen fit to form Men with very different Tempers; and those who are naturally hard-hearted, ought to guard against this unhappy Bias, and assiduously to cultivate the benevolent Affections.

ENMITY towards any one, even in regard to our greatest Enemy, is strictly forbidden in the Gospel; on the contrary, we are taught to love him, so far, as to do him any kind Offices, and, after our Saviour's Example, to pray for those who despitefully And every Breach of Friendship is perfidious and criminal, in a greater or less Degree.

use us.

INHOSPITALITY. Refusing Relief, or Shelter, to any in Distress, who are thrown upon us; or denying Assistance or treating with Inurbanity, such as by Misfortune, are obliged to put themselves under our Protection; or manifesting towards any who are under our Roof, Rudeness and Unkindness.

MISANTHROPY,

ing those, who confide in our Humanity, and who have no other Resource; or a Disposition to receive all who visit us, with an affable, obliging Urbanity. This is a useful Virtue, and sometimes saves from Destruction, those who might otherwise perish.

PHILANTHOPY, or a Love for for all the human Race, comprehends universal Benevolence, and "Takes every Creature in, of every Kind."

CONDOLENCE, CONGRATULATION.

We ought

to sympathise with all in Affliction, and endeavour, as far as we can, to comfort them. And when our Neighbour has cause of Joy, we ought to partake of that Joy; for we should be kindly affectioned, one towards another, and remember that we are Members one of another. This Disposition is expressly recommended in the Gospel.

ESTEEM for any Virtues, or good Qualities our Neighbour may possess, is due to every virtuous, good, and useful Character; and is indeed, never withheld, but from some sinister or vicious Motive. Virtue commands Approbation; for we frequently esteem those, whom we do not love with any Warmth of Affection.

GRATITUDE. Both Love and Justice enforce

upon

MISANTHROPY, or a Want of due Regard for our fellow Creatures in general. It shows a morose, ill-natured, unaccommodating Disposition, and a culpable Deficiency of Christian Benevolence.

NOT

NOT WEEPING WITH THOSE WHO WEEP. NOT

REJOICING WITH THOSE WHO DO REJOICE.

We

should carefully avoid all such unsocial Conduct. As we live in Society, and have a common Interest, it is our Duty, as far as we are able, by mutual Sympathy, to promote our Neighbour's Happiness, and, thereby, eventually, our own.

UNDERVALUING OR DISPARAGING GOOD CHARACTERS. This Conduct is unjust and ill-natured, and must therefore be highly culpable. It arises from an envious Disposition, or from some private Grudge or Pique. Good Characters and Qualities are naturally amiable and useful, and proper Objects of Esteem and Approbation; to undervalue and disparage such is not reconcileable to the Rules of Morality, and is injurious to Society.

INGRATITUDE, shows either a criminal Thoughtlessness, or a base, degenerate Mind; and is universally disapproved by the most savage, as well as by all civilized People.*

DISPRAISE,

* "Ingratum si dixeris; omnia dixeris."

upon us, the Sentiment of Gratitude for Bounties received, and he must be greatly deficient in moral Feelings, who does not perceive the Obligations it lays him under, to make due Returns for Favours conferred.

PRAISE, APPLAUSE, APPROBATION, are due to all good Characters and good Actions, and to every worthy Performance. They encourage Virtue, and are its proper Reward; and to withhold them, where deserved, must be manifest Injustice. But they should never be bestowed upon vicious, or even indifferent Actions or Characters, lest we give to Vice or Frivolity the Meed of Virtue.

GOOD-HUMOUR. There is no Disposition more comfortable to the Person himself, or more agreeable to others. It is to the Mind, what good Health is to the Body; it gives a Man the Capacity of enjoying every Thing that is agreeable in Life; it disposes to Benevolence, Sympathy and Contentment, and to avoid giving or taking Offence. This happy Disposition seems to be the natural Fruit of a good Conscience, and of a firm Belief that the World is under a wise and benevolent Administration; and when it springs from this Root, is an habitual Sentiment of Piety.

JUSTICE. This is a cardinal Virtue, and is due to every Being, without Exception, with whom we may have any Concern; and implies a constant De

DISPRAISE, OR WITHHOLDING APPLAUSE WHERE DUE, is not only unjust, but unkind and impolitic, for virtuous Characters and Actions are always beneficial to the Public. And whenever due Praise is withheld, it is owing to Envy or party Spirit, or some sinister Motive; and shows a hateful and depraved Mind, which ought never to be indulged. Vice, however, should always be frowned upon and discouraged; nor does the public Disapprobation of it generally exceed the proper Bounds.

BAD, OR ILL HUMOUR, has an Influence as malignant, as its opposite is salutary; it tinges every Object with its own dismal Colour. It takes Of fence where none was intended, and disposes to Discontent, Jealousy and Envy; and in general, to Malevolence. How careful, then, ought we to be, not to indulge this perverse Disposition.

INJUSTICE. This is a gross Vice, which all the World profess to hold in Abhorrence, and is punished more or less severely by the Laws of all well regulated Societies; and is universally infamous, as it is a Crime against our most perfect Rights. The Ways in which we may injure our fellow Creatures are almost innumerable; but the Term Injustice, in common Parlance, is most usually applied to Injuries done to the Property of another; as for example,

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