[ Analytical Illustration. ]

ANALYTICAL ILLUSTRATION.

We should be always ready to respond to the calls of duty,
whatever these might be. We should, therefore, never wan
der beyond the province of our duties, but be always ready to
respond to them with promptitude and alacrity.
It is proper to restrain our desires, since it is a folly to at
tempt the attainment of every wish : yet, the mind may walk
abroad in boundless space ; for the impediments of the body
can never affect her chainless freedom.

The mind is free, and nought can e er impede
The chainless freedom by itself decreed.
Disease obstructs the body, not the will,
For free may float all its volitions still.
So tis with lameness ; nay, what e er may fall
To man s estate, can ne er the mind enthral.
And tho in passing things obstruction lies,
The will unchecked on Freedom s pinion flies.

And when I turned myself to all the works which my
hands had wrought, and to the labours wherein I had laboured
in vain, I saw in all things vanity, and vexation of mind, and
that nothing was lasting under the sun. Ecclesiasticus, 2 chap.,
11 ver.

Our wishes ought to be circumscribed within rational
bounds ; and we should be particularly careful that none of
our desires be incompatible with the laws of nature.
A desire which cannot be gratified by possession must be
attended with pain ; and to give an. unlimited scope to our
wishes is to impose upon ourselves a voluntary slavery.

O) Whatsoever shall befall the just man, it shall not make
him sad : but the wicked shall be filled with mischief, Prov.
12 chap., 21 ver. Heaven and earth shall pass, but my words
shall not pass away. Matthew, 24 chap., 35 ver.

Nevertheless, to administer comfort to sufferers under such
false imaginary evils, as well as to those who may be afflicted
with real woes ;without, however, permitting our feelings to
be affected by the fancied distress.

Get wisdom, because it is better than gold : and purchase
prudence, for it is more precious than silver. Prov., 16 chap.,
16-21 ver.

The godlike course these brilliant worthies steer d
Made them, as gods, be honoured and revered.

The just is delivered out of distress ; and the wicked
shall be given up for him. The dissembler with his mouth,
deceiveth his friend: but the just shall be delivered by know
ledge. Prov., 11 chap., 8,9 ver,

Speak not in the ears of fools ; because they will despise
the instruction of thy speech. Prov., 23 chap., 9 ver.

If wisdom shall enter into thy heart, and knowledge
please thy soul : counsel shall keep thee, and prudence shall
preserve thee. That thou mayest be delivered from the evil
way, and from the man that speaketh perverse things : who
leave the rightway and walk by dark ways, c. Prov., 2 chap.,
10, 11, 12, 13,

Whatever miseries we encounter in this life are of our own
creation ; and it is within our province to evade them.

if our means are inadequate to the design, we should not
proceed with it ; but, if sufficient, nothing should deter us from the task.

Hark ! one advice ; now, Wisdom s counsel heed,
Whate er the task to which thy mind may lead,
Consider well what means thou must devise,
And what results are likely to arise ;
Be all the train of circumstances weigh d :
The task begin, thy wishes must succeed.
But, should st thou not this wise precaution take,
Thou shalt no progress in thy labours make ;
Like those who idly court high deeds of fame,
Thy lot shall be discomfiture and shame.

The province of Wisdom to turn away the mind from too severe a contemplation.

Let all thy vigour In one channel flow
On this or that thy ardour all bestow ;
External things let all thy mind engage,
Or the internal treasures of the Sage ;
Between these two exists no middle rule,
Thou must be either, wiseman, or a fool.

My son, forget not my law, and let thy heart keep my
commandments. For they shall add to thee length of days, and
years of life and peace. Let not mercy and truth leave thee,
put them around thy neck, and write them in the tables of thy
heart : And thou shalt find grace and good understanding
before God and men, Prov

From all these considerations, it is evidently the interest of
all, as it is most assuredly our duty, to abstain from all exorbi
tant desires, and be content with those things which are
attainable within our own proper sphere ; to worship and
obey the Divine Will in all things ; and to steer clear of
everything calculated to ruffle the fair surface of our peace,
or destroy the sweetness of equanimity.

The desire of the just is all good : the expectation of the
wicked is indignation. Prov., 11 ch., 23 ver.

Approach not then the gods with anxious dread,
Nor ask th event with trembling fear o erspread ;
Resolved to bear with equal mind and free
What thing soe er the heavenly powers decree :
Let thy approach becoming grace display,
And nothing shall obstruct thy even way.
So, when the grave response to thee is giv n,
Bow deep submission to the will of Heav n ;
Hear the gods counsel and their will await ;
(a) Nor lightly view the stern decrees of fate.

All the
circumstances of time, place, and subject should be duly
weighed, so that our language might be such as should conform
to each of these, and leave no invidious impression behind it.

Even a fool, if he will hold
his peace, shall be counted wise : and if he close his lips, a man
of understanding. Prov., 17 ch., 27-28 ver.

A foul touch will leave a stain upon the purest surface.

Yet if thy mind incline to converse free ;
To point to useful truths thy aim then be ;
Use valid proofs by Reason s will decreed,
The understanding of thy friends to lead.
Mong friends alone thy converse should abonnd,
But, silent be while strangers stand around.

Tis fools alone who take disasters so,
Who ne er have learned external things to know ;
(a) Nought makes the wise or downcast or elate,
Knowing how to fix on things their proper rate.

Whatever we meditate, whatever
we design, whatever we set about to accomplish ; we should
always keep a watchful eye on the nature, circumstances,
connections, and attributes of the thing thus designed and
undertaken, in order that our movements may not be attended
with fear or danger, and that the peace and harmony of our
souls be not broken or disturbed.

Then gold-laced sandals swell upon thy thought,
Or bound with purple, or with diamonds wrought.
Still swells the wish, still soars each thought within,
Till no fix d bound thy wants can limit in.