not quarrel with a dog, without a reason sufficient to vindicate one through all the courts of morality.

Compassion was not impressed upon the human heart, only to adorn the fair face with tears, and to give an agreeable languor to the eyes- it was designed to excite our utmost endeavors to relieve the sufferer.--Yet, how often have I heard that selfish weakness, which flies from the sight of distress, dignified with the name of tenderness !" My friend is, I hear, in the deepest affliction and misery.

-I have not seen her,for indeed I cannot bear such scenes-1 -they affect me toɔ much those who have less sensibility are fitter for this world-but, for my part, I own I am not able to support such things.- -I shall not attempt to visit her, till I hear she has recovered her spirits."- -This have I heard, with an air of complaisance, and the poor selfish creature has persuaded herself, that she had finer feelings than those generous friends, who were sitting patiently in the house of mourning-waiting in silence the proper moment to pour in the balm of comfort,who suppressed their own sensations, and attended to those of the afflicted person,-and whose tears flowed in secret, and while their eyes and voices were taught to enliven the sinking heart with the appearance of cheerfulness.

He, who looks upon the misfortunes of others with indifference, ought not to be surprised if they behold his without compassion.

COMPANY.

(VIDE CONVERSATION.)

BE very circumspect in the choice of your company; in the society of your equals you may enjoy pleasure; in the society of your superiors, you may find profit; but to be the best in company, is to be in the way of growing worse; the best means to improve, is, to be the least there. But above all, be the conpanion of those who fear the Lord, and keep his precepts.

Numa Pompilious thought the company of good men so real a pleasure, that he esteemed it preferable to a Diadem. And when the Roman Ambassadors solicited him to accept of the government, he frankly declared, among other reasons for declining it, the conversation of men, who assembled together to worship God, and to maintain an amiable charity, was his business and delight.

It often happens in company, as in apothecaries' shops, that those pots which are empty, are as gaudily dressed and flourished, as those that are full.

D

The life of all life is society; of society, freedom; of freedom, the discreet and moderate use of it.

From ill air we take diseases; from ill company, vices and imperfections. The best knowledge of behavior is, observing decency. Complaisance renders a superior amiable, an equal agreeable, and an inferior acceptable.

A man without complaisance ought to have much merit in the room of it.

A well bred man, says Montaigne, is always sociable and complaisant.

He that is not so exact as to please, should at least be so affable as not to disoblige.

It is best mourning when alone, and best rejoicing when in company.

Criticise upon nothing more than your own actions, and you will soon see reason enough to pardon the weakness of others.

No persons are more empty than those who are full of themselves.

Conversation can only subsist in good company to explain the word :-Subtract the pertinently talkative, the contemptuously silent, the illiterate, and the ill bred; banish pedantry, affectation, and rudeness, the remainder is good company; a set of people of liberal sentiments, solid sense, and just imagination, whose wit is untin&tured with indelicacy, and their politeness clear of flattery. That person alone is fit for conversation, who is free of the extremes of pride and of mean

ness; never unseasonably talkative or mute, and has the faculty ever to entertain, or, at least, never to offend his company,

CONSCIENCE.

Conscience distasteful truths may tell,
But mark her sacred dictates well;
Whoever with her lives at strife,
Loses their better friend for life.

CONSCIENCE is a high and awful power, it is next and immediately under God, our Judge; the voice of conscience is the voice of God; what it bindeth or looseneth, is accordingly bound or loosened in heaven, 1 John iii. 21. The greatest deference and precise obedience is due to its command. Its consolations are of all, the most sweet; and its condemnations the most terrible,

Wherever you go, conscience accompanies you, whatever you say, do, or but think, it registers and records in order to the day of account; when all friends forsake you, when even your soul forsakes your body, conscience will not, cannot forsake you; when your body is weakest and dullest, your conscience is then most vigorous and active. life in the conscience than when its nearest approach to the body.

Never more death makes When it

smiles, cheers, acquits, and comforts, Oh, what a heaven doth it create within; and when it frowns, condemns, and terrifies, how are our pleasures, joys, and delights of this world clouded, and even benighted! 'tis certainly the best of friends, or the worst of enemies in the whole creation.

He that commits a sin shall quickly find
The pressing guilt lie heavy on his mind;
Tho' bribes or favors should assert his cause,
Pronounce him guiltless, and elude the laws;
None quits himself, his own impartial thought
Will damn; and conscience will record the
fault.

There is no true felicity, but in a clear and open conscience, and those are the happy conversations, where only such things are spoken and heard, as we can reflect upon after with satisfaction, free from any shame, or mixture of repentance. A storm in the conscience, will always lodge clouds in the coun

tenance.

When we are touch'd with some important ill, How vainly silence would our grief conceal, Sorrow or joy can be disguis'd by art,

Our foreheads blab the secrets of our heart.

Conscience, what art thou? thou mysterious pow'r,

That dost inhabit us without our leave,