THEY that deny a God destroy man's nobility; for certainly man is of kin to the beasts by his body; and if he be not of kin to God by his spirit, he is a base ignoble creature. It destroys likewise magnanimity, and the raising of humane nature for take an example of a dog, and mark what a generosity and courage he will put on, when he finds himself maintained by a man, who to him is instead of a God, or melior natura; which courage is manifestly such, as that creature without that confidence of a better nature than his own could never attain. So man when he resteth and assureth himself upon Divine protection and favour, gathereth a force and faith which human nature in itself could not obtain. BACON. THERE is a kind of mournful eloquence In thy dumb grief, which shames all clam'rous sorrow. LEE. STRANGER on earth! where'er thy thoughts may roam, Yet, wandering here with all an exile's gloom, O'er lands which grew beneath the aching tread, Through days of peril, and through years of dread, Say-why did Israel seek, and find no rest? None but the promised land could make her blest. Stranger on earth! such promise is for thee-- If ever prayers prevail on heavenly minds, Become his intercessors; and the heart Pierced with a sharp remorse for guilt, disclaims The costly poverty of hecatombs, And offers the best sacrifice, itself. JEFFREY. Á NATION'S greenest laurels are entwined FEELING is in its very nature transient. It is at best the meteor's blaze shedding strong but momentary day; while Principle, the true Principle, be it faint at first as the star whose ray hath newly reached our earth, is yet the living light of the higher heaven, which never more will leave us in utter darkness, but lend a steady beam to guide our path. MISS AUSTIN. LOVE, like the flower that courts the sun's kind ray, Distrust's cold air the generous plant annoys, LANGHORNE. A PUPIL of a Deaf and Dumb School, on being asked what Eternity was? gave the following answer,66 Eternity is the lifetime of the Almighty." WHAT gem hath dropped, and sparkles o'er his chain, BYRON. FAME! Refuge of hope, the harbinger of truth, The very height to which great thoughts aspire; DRAYTON. THERE is something marvellously restorative in a good conscience; and one soon learns to look with hope to the future, when one can feel justified in turning with pride to the past. RESIGNATION. O LET my trembling soul be still, So trusting in Thy love, I tread What though some cherish'd joys are fled, Why should my spirit then complain? EXTENDED empire, like expanded gold, Exchanges solid strength for feeble splendour. DR. JOHNSON. Ask the grey pilgrim, by the surges cast On hostile shores, and numbed beneath the blast, BARRETT. |