infinite Creator nas fashioned, by the union of an intellectual soul with the powers of speech, may be played upon without study or practice; he comes to it, a mere uninstructed tyro, thinks to manage all its stops, and command the whole compass of its varied and comprehensive power! He finds himself a bungler in the attempt, is mortified at his failure, and settles in his mind for ever, that the attempt is vain. 5. Success in every art, whatever may be the natural talent, is always the reward of industry and pains. But the instances are many, of men of the finest natural genius, whose beginning has promised much, but who have degenerated wretchedly as they advanced, because they trusted to their gifts, and made no effort to improve. That there have never been other men of equal endowments with Cicero and Demosthenes, none would venture to suppose; but who have so devoted themselves to their art, or become equal in excellence? 6. If those great men had been content, like others, to continue as they began, and had never made their persevering efforts for improvement, what would their countries have benefitted from their genius, or the world have known of their fame? They would have been lost in the undistinguished crowd, that sunk to oblivion around them. true! 7. Of how many more will the same remark prove What encouragement is thus given to the industrious! With such encouragement, how inexcusable is the negligence, which suffers the most interesting and important truths to seem heavy and dull, and fall ineffectual to the ground, through mere sluggishness in the delivery! 8. How unworthy of one, who performs the high function of a religious instructor, upon whom depend, in a great measure, the religious knowledge, and devotional sentiment, and final character of many fellow beings, to imagine that he can worthily discharge this great concern by occasionally talking for an hour, he knows not how, and in a manner he has taken no pains to render correct, impressive, or attractive; and which, simply, through that want of command over himself, which study would give, is immethodical, verbose, inaccurate, feeble, trifling! 9. It has been said of the good preacher, That truths divine come mended from his tongue. Alas! they come ruined and worthless from such a man as this. They lose that holy energy, by which they are to convert the soul, and purify man for heaven, and sink, in interest and efficacy, below the level of those principles, which govern the ordinary affairs of this lower world. H. WARE, jr. 1. LESSON CLXIII. True and False Grandeur. What is station high? 3. Nor ever paid the monarch, but the man. Fools, indeed, drop the man in their account, Let the small savage boast his silver fur; 6. Pigmies are pigmies still, though perched on Alps, Each man makes his own stature, builds himself: Her monuments shall last when Egypt's fall. Of these sure truths dost thou demand the cause? The cause is lodged in immortality. Hear, and assent. Thy bosom burns for power, 'Tis thine. And art thou greater than before? Then thou before wert something less than man. The being mean, which staffs or strings can raise. YOUNG. LESSON CLXIV. A Dialogue on Learning and Usefulness. HOWARD and LESTER. Howard. Life is much like a fiddle: every man plays such a tune as suits him. Lester. The more like a fiddle, the better I like it. Any thing that makes a merry noise suits me; and the man that does not set his hours to music, has a dull time on't. How. But, Lester, are there no serious duties in life? Ought we not to improve our minds, and to prepare for usefulness? Lest. Why, in the present day, a man's preparing himself for usefulness, is like carrying coals to Newcastle. Our country is full of useful men; ten, at least, to where one is wanted, and all of them ten times as ready to serve the public, as the public is to be served. If every man should go to Congress that's fit for it, the federal city would hardly hold them. How. You mean, if all who think themselves fit for it. Lest. No; I mean as I said. How. Then what do you think fits a man for Congress? Lest. Why he must be flippant and bold. How. What good will that do him, if he is without knowledge? Lest. O! he must have knowledge to be sure. How. Well, must he not be a man in whom the people can trust? Must he not understand politics? and must he not be able and willing to serve his country? Lest. I agree to all that. How. Then you suppose that the federal city could hardly hold all our men who unite eloquence with confi dence, knowledge with integrity, and policy with patriotism. I fear that a counting-house would give them full accommodation. Lest. I don't go so deep into these matters: but this is certain, that when the election comes, more than enough are willing to go. How. That, my friend, only proves that more than enough are ignorant of themselves: but are there no other ways of serving the public? Lest. Yes; one may preach, if he will do it for little or nothing. He may practice law, if he can get any body to employ him; or he may be a doctor or an instructor; but I tell you the country is crowded with learned men begging business. How. Then you intend to prepare yourself for the ignorant herd, so that you may not be crowded. Lest. I have serious thoughts of it. You may take your own way, but I'll never wear out a fine pair of eyes in preparing myself for usefulness, till this same public will give me a bond to employ me when I am ready to serve them. "Till such a bond is signed, sealed, and delivered, I shall set my hours to the tune of "Jack's alive." To-day's the ship I sail in, and that will carry the flag, in spite of the combined powers of yesterdays and to-mor rows. How. Well, Lester, you can take your choice. I shall set my hours to a more serious tune. I ask no bond of the public. If my mind is well furnished with knowledge, and that same generous public, which has so uniformly called to her service the discerning, should refuse my services, still I shall possess a treasure, which, after a few years of dissipation, you would give the world to purchase, THE RECOLLECTION OF TIME WELL SPENT. 1. LESSON CLXV. Scene from the Tragedy of Cato. Cato, Lucius, and Sempronius. Cato. Fathers, we once again are met in council: Cæsar's approach has summon'd us together, And Rome attends her fate from our resolves. How shall we treat this bold, aspiring man? Success still follows him, and backs his crimes: Pharsalia gave him Rome, Egypt has since Receiv'd his yoke, and the whole Nile is Cæsar's. 2. Why should I mention Juba's overthrow, 3. And Scipio's death? Numidia's burning sands Still smoke with blood. "Tis time we should decree And envies us even Lybia's sultry deserts. Fathers, pronounce your thoughts; are they still fix'd Or are your hearts subdued at length, and wrought Sempronius. My voice is still for war. May reach his heart, and free the world from bondage. Or share their fate! The corpse of half her senate If we shall sacrifice our lives to honour, 5. Rouse up, for shame! our brothers of Pharsalia |