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L'axamplaira filmi fyt raproduit gr4ca i la pjinarositi da: .V Soclete dU'«Nusae _ ■ ' duSialnai re de 'Quebec • ^' Las imagas suivantas ont At* raproduitas avac la plus grand soin. compta tanu da la conditiori at da la nattatA da I'axaniplaira film*', at •n conformity avac las conditions du contrat da filmaga. ... ■ ' '- y - ■■• ■^■■- : Las axamplairas originaux -dont la couvartura Tt papiar^tat ifnprimAa sontfilmis an commandant par la pramiar plat at an tarminanrsoit par la darniAra paga qui comporta una amprainta d'imprassion ou d'illustrationrsoit par la second plat, aalon la caa. toua las autras axamplairas originaux a'bnt fifmAs an comman9ant par la pramiAra paga qui comporta una amprainta d'impraasion ou d'HIiistration at an tarminant par la darniAra paja qui comporta una talla amprainta. • Tha laat racordad framaon aach'microficha - ahall' contain tha symbol •^ (maaning "CON- TINUED"), or tha symbol V (maaning "END").* whichavar applias. Un daCsymbolas suivantS'Spparaftra sur la darniAra imaga da chaqua microflcha. salon la cas: la symbola.-^ signifia "A SUIVRE". la aymbola ▼ signifia "FIN". Mapa. platas. charts, ate., may ba filmad at diffarant raduetion ratios. Thosa too larga to ba antiraly included in ona axposura ara filmad^, baginning in tha uppar laft hand cbmar. laft to - ■right and top to bottom, as many framas as, raquirad. Tha following diagrams illus^rata tha mathod: -, Las cartas, planchqj^. tiblaaux. ate. peuvant Atra filmAs A das taux da rAduction diffArants. Lorsqua la document ast trop grand pour Atra raprodul| an un aaul clichA. il ast f ilmA A partir da I'angia supAriaur gaucha. da gauche A droite. et de haut an baa. an prenent le nombre d'imeges nAcessaire. Las diagrammes suivants illustrant la mAthode. 1 2 I fp^^:^.^'X. V .^^ -». 6 V !*i,-=vr'-'ivj»"V3~-^f--i3.=n'r2i^,rxi»^ ,• bS^opfeiisn-'Sesc^ t >T. BY JOHK D. HESS. ?5>c .» yiA ^r ^ %' 'i/ 'i. X :in v s; . \ '- ^-r-i-- «/ ■^f: K,<^,. Kr 1, '<» I * - i'- .1I-4 •? '.'^. ^i& tsrk: '„K^.. ^. ; * -W Y ^ ,**, A ■» kV 5? 4 -■ Txf? " ( v|»^^ *'fjf ■< a' , ' ^:S!'-r, \ ■ ■Vi- ' f^t fM WV . u :it 0*' ■■\ ■■:] >&^'^t^^ I \AFEA\ HINTS MO f 1 ON V. , ■ R j^ni I T FOR THE BENEFIT' OF MY PUPES. \ / \ . \ •^-'*»l BY JOHN.D. HE?S. /' PRINTED BY l^DLETON AND DAWSON, SHAW'S BUILDINGS, S^^lTNTAIN STREET, LOWE^ TOWN. 1866. h-^' M wiliiinijii J .*^ r > PREFACE. \ The autiior'B desires in writing this Address were expressly for the promotion of virtue, and for laying a b&sis op which the future happiness of those who have been placed under his tuition, might be founded;, and should this attempt to promote virtue meet the approbation of patents, it will be an ample compensation for the trouble taken. ■ ■ ' ■ ; — ; - - . . a .\ ■ < ■ , -w. . ^' ■•"\ ' art ' i foi :.:..- (of m B ' ■ m< ..A . N^ * ■ , . < ha po 1 , . ■■ ■ / N \>fe4># '■ ■ ■1 'i-' A FEW HINTS ON MORALITY. ■/ esslj for the ire happiness banded ;. and of patents, it My Dear Scholars^— ' I fot the advancement of your education you have been placed under my care, and it has been requested ql me, by . your parents, to inforjn them, from time^to tiniey^hatever I may discover laudable or Wapieable in your conduct j and 1 hope, from my reports, they shall have much to /ap^)laud and little to condemn. You have now arrived at aii age capable _ of distinguishing the loveliness of virtue and! the depravity of vice. I have hitherto, with the most anxious solicitude . and attention, endeavoured so to form your young ideas as to make them become insensibly attached tlo the former. I often feel highly delighted with you when yo| assure me of your, gratitude for my advice, and your deterhnination to profit by it. "But you must bear in riiind that a promise must always be held sacred ;" I therefqre strongly rec^)mmend the greatest caution in thjs particular. Always be Veil convinced that you are capable of performing whatevCT yon g#ge do; and, having once given yotyr word, let no teiSJ||^tion have power to make yoii retract. It is no excuse for a breach of promise that the fulfilling of it will be attended with injury to yourself; this should hav^ been your consideration before you gave it. The man Who pays no attention (o this important duty is justly esteemed contemptible. Be cautious in choosing your companions. The happiness or misery of a great part of the world depends upon the connections that are formed4ii:thb early part of Jife*; you will therefore readily foresee ofwhat importance it is to be cautious in the choice /of your companions. Be well assured that the person you . may be inclined to select as your friend has qualities to merit that appellation ; when the general tenor of his conduct has given you this proof, you can then admit him to your ponfidence. But never suffer any change of ciroumslances ' .(':■■ ■ &>;'»; \ to diminish a regard founded on inlWtily and virlue. I furlher advise you, in your selection of Vsompanions, to have them well chosen and few in number) Be cpurleous and •affable to all, but not intimate. The inconveniences of a . numerous acquaintance are obvious in allsiluations of life : to the man of rank and fortune, they loo frequently cause that time to be passed in\ dissipation which migtit profitably be employed in study, or usefully in the service of his country ; . to the man ^f business, Jhey frequently opeiajie to his entire ruin, by draWiw; him fr6^ the necessary attention his affairs require ; in jhe Wer classes of life, we are daily shocked with instances of d^ravity, which have their .origin from the same source. Many persons have beenfruined by bad company ; therefore fools and knaves :^re no^ fit companions for honest men. f As I intent^ to touch upon every subject by whieh you may. be advantaged, I shall consequently' hT^g^olrnention several particulars fo^ your rule of condi(ct wherd I have not observed you faulty ; biit you ^ill derive a benefit fro^ my remarks, as they will sterve as ^centives forjyour perseverance in the > practice of whatever is commendable. ' ] In the catalogue of virtues, cleanliWss.bearsla conspicuous figure. The person who neglects the discharg^ of this very necessary d uty -must, in some measure, pffend e very company he goes into. You cannot be too exact on thij head ; never permit the slightest appearance of neglect either in your, person or apparel.. Some persons never look dean, because •some part ofjheir_dres8^ or person is*not as it ought' to be. __-,Dirty-sh6e8,1fiands, or face ill become fine garnients.'* It is very common for those who are deficient in this particular, to pretend they have not leisure for this nicely, and there is too-much iatigtie attending it. Tpsuch I shall content myself with applying an expression niade use of by I a down. He says, "1 cannot imagine how\ those people I contrive who com^ their heads every day; for ni^ part, 1 find it difficult enough to coiub mine once a wtek.V ' * Sec Provnl'., xi., 22. * _^^ -- . viriuti. I tis, to have rteous and ences of a ns of life : cause that dfitably be 8 country ; bis entire his aflairs' y shocked n irom the d by bad }mpanions h you may, on several >t observed r remarlcs, nee in the tnspicuous this Very ^ company ad ; never fr in your." D, because ight to be. s.* It in this lis nicely, ich r shall use of by ise people »art, 1 find \r)\v, ill ilic observance of your studies, I find some of you are loo apt to defer the performance of them to the last minute. You will lind,'upon a little reflectionvthat this is a much , greater fault than you are aware of. I dare say you would feel yourselves a little offended if \ Was to accuse you of indolence, }el the accusation 'Would be just; I need only refer to several previous occasions to prove your guilt. However, I &m persuaded you will lose no time in rectifying, this error. The mischievous consequences of indolence are too glaring to require enumeration. I will only add that I. Satan finds some iniscliief ^ill for idle hands to do. I shall here recommend the most scrupulous regard to truth and stnccrUi/. You wilN hear wicked mdp talk about white lies, meaning that such do no harm ; but our Saviour - says all liars.* In every, transaction of life you will find what superior advantages aie obtained by the constant use of these excellent qualities ; also, that the reality of a virtue exceeds the appearance of it. The sincere, upright man, will possess that happiness whfch is the sure reward of conscious rectitude. He will n^t only find His account in the esteem of all good men, but w^ill obtain the approbation of that all-wise, benevolent Be?ng who formed us, and to whom the inmost recesses of.t|ie humSu heart are known. S|»eaking of trutl| aHjjfcfafcity l»rings to my memory the story of the Spanish Cava^fw^^ich | w-iil here relate : A Spanish Cavalier, having assassinated i Moorish gentleman, in^ntly' ked fi-om justice. He was vigorously pursued, biit availing himself of a sudden turn of the road, he leaped, unperceived» over a garden w-all. The pr)bprietor, who was also a Moo?; happened to be, atlhattime^ walking in the garden, sind the Spaniard fell upon h|s knfees before him, acquainted hhx^ with his case, and in the/ most pathetic manner implored concealment. The Moor listened to him with compassion, and generously promised ; his assistance. He theU locked him in a summer house, and left with an assurance, when night approached, he would provide for his escape. A few ■v. '^ * Sec Revelation.-, xxi.. ■«. - «( .1 / 5t m: \ \ ■^ 6 ;\/ "X- hourtf ftfterwards the dead body of Ws soir was broilght to him, and the description of the^urderer exactly agreed with" the appearance of the Spaniard whom he had then in distody. H6 concealed the horrdlr an4 stispicion which \fe feliy and, retiring to his chamber, remained .until midnightii. Th^n going privately into the garden, he opened the door i the summer h6u89,and thus accosted the Cavalier: "Chrfstian,*' said he, "the youth whom you have^ murdered v^s "my only son. Your crime merits ihe se^rest punishment ; but I hjave solemnly pledged my wprd for ylt^- security, arid I disdain to violate even a ^rash engagement with a cruel enemy." Hfe conducted the Spaniard to the stables, and furnished him with one of bis Swiftest mules. "Fly," said he, "whilst the darkness of night conceals you,^ Your hands are polluted with blood, bill God is j.agi, and I humbly thapk him that my faitfaris unspotted, and tNt I have resigned judgment unto hifti.".' - I vfill next draw your attention to perseverance. It is in vain to expecl^^ to make a conspicuous figure,. or even a respectable one,i without it. With it there is nothipg, however seemingly impossible, but may be obtained. ■ Demosthenes is the most memorable instance I can give »,you of oile actua;ted.by this noble virtue. With every d^ect for an orator, Demosthenes was determined to be one. sHe stammered excessively^ had a weak voice, a thick way of .speaking, ^ndbrc&thed very quickly. To surmount these- obstacles, he put jmsrll pebblei into his mouth, tfnd in this manner would repeat versus withouf interruption, walking at the same time up o^ dpwn steep or difficult places. He had contracted an awkward manner of shrugging up his shoulders • to remedy this, he |ractised in a narrow kind of pulpit, over which hung a sharp instrument, in such a manner that, if in jthe heat of action this motion escaped him, the point reminded him oC his error. Thus, by perseverance, Demosthenes, who>- in his first essay was hissed by his auditors, became so ^lebrated that all G-reece came to Athens in'' crowds tc/ hear him. 1 . , ' ' ' I must liec& add, it is too common for those who are ble'sscd / - • s / I brotight to ' agreejl with' 1 in custody. 'e feliy and, ^ ght*. fTh^ door cjl^ the CWstian,*' IS my only ; butlfajave I disdain to emy.» Hfe id him with ^ ' whilst the re polluted im that ray , untohifti.'V^ >. It is in or even a g, however • I can give > very defect i one. iHe ck way of ount these ^^ tnd in this walking at He had shoulders ; ulpit, over that, if in : reminded enes, who^ lecame so , crowds to/ ireble'sscd / - - *l with abilities anfl fortnncit to axftnme a Ij^ughty, supercilious deportment— to consider su^li as are placed by Providence in - 'a more-humble sphere as beings of a different nature from themselves, as sent mto the world merely to add to their, gratifications, and to'assist-, by their industrious labour, to the . appetites of these fancied lords of the citation ; not considering thjp source from^ whence their blessings are ^derived, they arrog&te to themsejves a merit which has no existencebpt in their own imaginatioh.- Tt)e wealthy man ha«^deed abundant reason to show his gratitude ; to him the mean's are given to diffuse happiness to all aroun4; he has the powtfiijg|b to dispel the sorrow of the indigent, to cheer the heattt of the disconsolate widow, to become a father to the fatherless ;' ^ bntywfaren, instead of employing his riches and power for these benevolent purposes, he squanders the former, and flakes use of the lattec. to injure, harrass and oppress his pbor^ fiieighbour, instead of a blessing he may be properly considlered a pest of society. ^ ;:^' - * No doubt you all hav^ read of a rich man who pulled^ down his baras, in order to build greater, to employ bis property, aiuL4ie thought he should live ipany years in ease and afHuABce ; but^hen thus pleasing his fari^y, God called - ^im a fool, &c.* . <--^ Remember! to be grateful is to be good. It is the remark of ^ an excellent writer, that ingratitude is a crime so shameful that the' injan was never yet found who would acknowledge himself guilty of it. Ingratitude is a crime, though^ not punishable by law, yef it proves that the man who" is guilty of it is a wicked being, b^ause gratitude fe always found in pious persons. Itigratitude to ourGjeatbr, is, alas! but too prevalent ; anjd bare, lam appr^hiroiuve, very few indeed can totally acquit ;{ themselves. From His - beneficent h^nds we , receive ^accumulated benefit;; yet does anything happen contrary to our contracted ideas, our blessings are,ibi^otten;-we are ; • St. liuke, xii., 18, 19^ 20. . ■j^:-^.i,.J^--^.,^.,--,^.A..^ : . . _. \-- l^ ^ I* Wi«,» father., ,e„de™*ss he rea^d !h "^'o' ^S^t ^^at . excellem ed*aUon, and, a. a p^par periL, plS Bim JJ an opnlen. me^ban... His abilities. sooi'^S hi tf o|»s?qne„ce. Hi, master offend hi™ a, hare ^biLs and h.s genero.^ patron advaneed the money «li"s " f^ .he undertaking, By a train o, unfortnnaTe ZtZZ" in the decline of life, is reduced to DOTCrt.' • „„T .' fnend o»h,s youth to wear ow the remainder of hird!^ in indigency and obscurity. ■ The infamy of Camillo af.b^ ..me 1. jaise, your indignaUon, will. , flLter my^Ffi™ ^ a ,us. abhorrence of this detestable vice. Here I iTl ^^.^ ^e^dTio::.'''^'' ^°"'-— <• you zr^i'tt:. po»e,s,„g>,h„ fram.„f „i„,^ ^-^^^ wears a smilg c ion of whicli I'^eat present freque/itly did not ihe I, we should \ of natiire, their beinar, ^e received, !S8 child is t> my dear lot reserved benefactors 1 above. I was, at a umst£^nces ifficiet^t to " condition, d parents. , ^e hii|i an 1 Kim with ! hind bf ' business, [uisite for Honestus, md cruej, eneyolent •days in Oy at the give you all add a ep your and yet I appear Iain. It tie man smiling [ aspect. He is Imppy in himself, and communicates a kind of happiness to all around. Did we estimate, as we ought, the blessings we enjoy, abundant reason would be found for content. Our circumstances are never reduced to so low an ebb but there will be some mixture of mercy and favour discovered; we shall still see many in a rriore destitute situation than ourselves, and it is ingratitucle to God to be continually fretting at our disappointn»6nts, and overlooking our advantages. Men argue very absurdly \^n (Key say, could we attain such a comfort we should bl^^ppy; our wishes extend no further ; yet the <^ct obtained, they find themselves equally remote from happfinl^ss as before : new Wants will continually press for\^ard, and ihe^ind will remain as dfissatisfied as at her first setting out.OThe only chance for happiness is to be perfectly contented^ in the situation in which Providence has pfaiced us. The propensities with which we are bora, whether of a virtuous or vicious kind, will, in proportion to- the encouragement they receive, grow up with our youth, dnd, ' as we increase in years, obtain a firmer possession of ihe mind. It behoves us then, with the most.scrupulous attention, to examine ourselves; to persevere with unremitted exertion in promoting the laudable, and extirpating the base qualities we possess. * , T^iere cannot, I should thin^, be a more wretched situation than to be in debt, without 0. prospect of being able to dis*> charge the demands we are liable to. One would suppose it impossible the man givei^' to contract debts should know, nhat the moment he transgresses payment, his creditors have the power of taking from him the dearest blessing — *' his liberty ;V that, without defamation, he can confer on him the most opprobrious title — that ol being unjust. Added to this : can there be anything more humiliating than to be afraid to see any man breathing ? Yet this is ihe precise situation of the debtor. I should advise yon to take every precaution to sbnn this disgrace : repress every inclination of possessing . what you have not the means of obtaining ; never permit your B I s -■'*';■ -,, r- '^' I •"*^^ » *^^i^K ''■' ' -^SB m^^ ^- 10 expenses to equal your income, nor suffer any inducement to make you incur a demand you have not ample means to answer. I shall now turn your attention to slander. In the words of Shakespeare :— " 'Tis 8landfr> Whose edge is sharper than a sword, whose tobgae Out-Tenoms all the worms of Nile I whose breath Bides on the posting winds, and doth belie ^1 corners of the world, Kings, Queens, and States, Maids, matione, nay, the secrets of the grave, ; . \' This viperous slander enters;." Thus justly does Shakespeare, the great master of the human mtW^^peak o^ this hateful, cowardly vice. I give it a place in this address, because I would have you particularly on your guard against suffering it, in the slightest degree, to find a harbour in yoiir bosom. The public robber, as viewed with the calumniator, appears an innocent character : the former seizes your property, and there the injury ends; but the detractor, like the basest of assassins, stabs in the dark, and gives a mortal wound to your reputation, whilst himself is not in the least benefited by the irreparable injury he has done, except in the gratification of his malevolent disposition. It is not sufficient that in yourself you are no slanderer. You must go jfiEMher— you must shut your ears against scandal, and resolvci iiever to listen .to the envenomed tale ; for, if a Itaan will slander his neighbour, be will slander you also, th« moment he leaves you. The receiver of stolen goods becomes a party in the iheft ; in the same manner, he who listens to the recital of his neighbour's errors (which, if not invented, are, nodoubt^ highly aggravated), becomes accessoiy in the calumny, and in guilt falls but little short of the reporter. If the conduct of other men become the topic of your con- versation, expatiate on their virtues, but have nothing to do with their defects. (Saint Paul says :—« Speak ill of no man.») The best of us are but too faulty ; and it would become us much better (in the words of Scripture) "To draw the mote from our own eye, before we attempt to meddle with the beam that is in oiir brother's eye." iV <^t^iimiiit'i^^ ^i^u,i^< . ucement to i means to i the words f the human s it a place Icularly on degree, to as viewed acter: the ends; bat the dark, St himself uy he has isposilion. slanderer. St scandal, ; for, if a aalso, th6 8 becomes listens to invented, ory in the >orter. your con- ing to do no man.'*) >ecome us the mote with the ■\ ^^-v There is nothing we ought to encourage, more, in ourselves and othert;^ than good nature. . In the words of Mr. Addison : " Good nature is more agreeable in converai^tion than wit, and gives a certain air to the countenance which is more amiable than beauty." Wit is a quality very injurious to the possessor, whennsed without discretion; and, even when coupled with good nature, it will be' found at best but a dai^rous companion. Steme thus beautifully describes the danger of wit : — <* Trust me, this unaware pleasantry of thine will, sooner or laler, bring thee into scrapes and difficulties, which no afteiw wit can extricate thee out of." I mention this in order to put such of you who may be blest with an over-abundance on your guard. ,^ Among all the qualities of the mind, though there are many more shining ones, I knoV^one sd truly valuable as discre- tion : possessing this, though we should have but moderate abilities^ we should very rarely fail of success in whatever lye undertopk ; without it, our acqnirementi^ (no matter how gneat they are) will prove but of little importance. Discretion stamps a value upon all our other qualities ; it instructs us to make use of them at proper times, and to turn them honour- ably to our" advantage ; it shows itself alike in all our words and actions, and serves as an unening guide in every occurrence of life. . The discreet man .does not only find benefit from his own talents ; the qualifications of others will be observed by him, and he will be careful to obtain their perfections, and conse- quently to be advantaged by them. I could point out many othe^ good consequences resulting {torn discretion, but hope I have said sufficient to prove its value, and to make you anxious to attain this essential virtue. ' Charity is amongst the virtues I hope to see cherished by yon. To the bountiful hand of our great Creator we are indebted for the various blessings we enjoy ; nor can we make Him a letum more acceptable than "To deal our bread to the hungry, and toj^ng the poor that are cast out lo our 'St' ■l\ : ^,...>/^■:■:^■■■.:■■;l2■.,;- :,.■ •. ■;,;. house; When we see the naked that we cover him ; and that we bide not ourselves from our own flesh.^' This is the doctrine of our Saviour; yet we see but little of it, except in profession. . It is now considered, by our gentlemen and ladies, very improper even to condescrtid to converse with a poor person* • Besides the satisfaction the mind must receive in the con- templation of a benevolent action, what animated hopes must accompany the thoughts of the charitable man,- when he reflects on these words df our Saviour :-" Come, ye blessed children of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the. beginning of the World !" At the time we are relieving the wants of the poor, we must < endeavour to discriminate the deserving from the unworthy • to be careful that what we have in our power to give, be noi lavished on the idle, importunate beggar, but bestowed on the . real iinfortunate,-on those who, by unavoidable misfortunes . are fallen from affluence ta penury ; on industrious families labouring under necessities and want ; on such as are worn out with labour, or disabled by sickness from earaing their subsistence : these are the objects we are bound to relieve • and be assmed, my good boys, with such sacrifices God will be well pleased. I shall here introduce a few words on modesty. Nothing will more strongly command attention and respect in society than modesty. This quality becomes us at any age, and in all situations ; but is more peculiarly incumbent on a young - man just emerging from Kis studies, and entering into the business of life. / : Remember, therefore, ne^er to obtrude your opinion upon any subject: listen, v^h attention, to the observations of others, and endeavoi^to retain such remarks as may add to your general stock of knowledge. If you be asked Jbr your sentiments on the matter in dispute, give them with a • respectful diffidence; and should it happen that your argu- ments l ^ave sufficient weight to give you a decided superiority • See Proverbs, xvi., 18, 19. -r: • , ^ """i^iiitt' I J - ; and that his is the , except in emen and rse 1 the cpn- iO()esmnst when he ye blessed d for you , we must' inworthy ; ve, be not red on the sfortones, . i fainilies are worn ling their I relieve; God will Nothing n society !) and in a young ' into the on upon uions of, y add to for your with a nr argu- periority 13 A over your opponents, use your victory with ino<]feratii^ ; and dn dll oeoasions^ appear more iolicitous to gain instruction from those with whom yon converse, than to offer it. By pursuing this conduct you will obtain im^pry and great advan-"^ tages : those who set but a moderate price^on their own merit, will not fail to be valued and esteemed ; whilst the man who, from his air, his haughty treatment of -others, and his fancied superiority over them,^ gives himself-, dredit for a greater portion of knowledge than be has in his power to produce if called upon.* - " Read St. Klrattbew, 5th chapter, and 7th verse. It says :-^ ** Blessed are the merciful : for they shall obtain mercy." God is merciful ; therefcie I will strongly recommend mercy.; I will here relate the story of Uncle Toby (which, I think, will be sufficient to show you the good qualities of this virtue), who had scarcely heart to retaliate upon a fly : — One day, as Uncle Toby was sitting at the dinner-table, a very large overgrown % kept buzzing about his nose, and tormenting him most cruelly, and which, after infinite attempts, he had caught at last, as it flew by him. " I will not hurt thee !" sayb Uncle Toby^— rising from his chair, and going across the ', room, with the fly in his hand — ^'* I'll not hurt a Fair of thy head!^-go!" says he — lifting up the sash, and opening his hand as be spoke, to let it escape — " go, poor fly ! get thee gone ! why should I hurt thee ? — This world, surely, is wide enough, to bold bo^b thee and me !" I fear there are but few Uncle Tobies amongst you, at least. If I was a poor fly, I think I should hesitate before trusting my life in your bands. (Next.) — In recommending^ perseverance and industry, I ■ would not be understood to be an enemy of amusement : relaxation is equally necessary to !ihe health of the body, as study to the improvement of the mind; but care must be taken to make choice of SUcb pleasures as will not '.have d tendency to injure the object tbey are meant to serve. I am an advocate for puerile liberty, ^nng thC allotted hours of ^ i" . '-- - "'- . * See.Galatians, Ti. 3. \ ^ •V :i .>;m^ ^ \ ^rk^' ielarotion. I know you have m^ch i^estniint and confinement during the time of etndy ; therefore, during the intervals of application, I will allovr you eveiy indulgence consistent with moral anci personal safety. You can contrive your own amusements, and vary and discontinue them at your pleasure. And to those who should wish to discontinue the puerile amusements, I shall recommend walking and riding, or exer- cises of any kind that call forth agility and exertion; which will, at the time they add strength to the body, give additional vigour to the understanding. Or you can devote a portion of your time in. the society of a few select friends, where, in cheerful, innocent conversation, the active powers of the mind may be displayed, and the soul insensibly led to the love and practice of virtue. I have recommended exereise to you, as being absolutely necessary to the health of the body ; another excellent pre- servauve is temperance. Where our avocations are of such a kind as to prevent our having sufficient opportuniUes for exereise, this will be found agood substitute. It also possesses those (Mculiar advantages beyond all othefr means : that it is in cveiy man's power to practice i^ at aU seasons and in all places', without expense, loss of time, or interruption of business. Speaking of amusements, let me here caution you of one which is too frequently resorted to. by young persons. It is "gamiDg.»» The folly and pernicious consequences of the destructive habit of gaming are thus described by-(Jay :— " Look round— the wrecks of play behold, Estates dismembered, mortgaged, sold ! Th^ir owners, not tQ jails confinedp Show equal poverty of mind; Some who the spoils of knaves were made, Too late attempt to learn their trade ; Some, for the folly of one hour, Become the dirty tools of power; And, with the mercenary list, Upon court charity subsist . ■ *" ' You'll find at la« this maxjm true, ' • Fools are the game which knaves pursue." It nfinement itervals of Bonaistent ybnr own pleasure, e puerile 1^, or exer- s; which idditional portion of nrhere, in the mind love and bsolntely llent pre- s of snch Qities for possesses at it is in ill places, ness. Q of one IS. It is es of the ay: — We should scarcely thiuk it credible this passion could be so generally prevalent, did not sad experience confirm it in a thousand melancholy instances. Truly dreadful. are the consequences generally attendant iipon the practice of this vice. Let me Conjure you strictly to guard against the encroachment of this dangerous passion ; shun its wretched votaries, and never permit gaming to form a part of your amusement. /Every pursuit, immoderately given way to, defeats its o^n design. Thus amusement, when it \s suffered to become our chief concern, loses its valuCj palls upon the senses, and that which, by its moderate use, was a source of pleasure, becomei^ by the abuse, a real pain. Tl^refoie, you should always be upon your guard, to watch- yourself' narrowly; and should you perceive the/ love of amtisement gaining an ascendancy in your mind, shun it as yon would a contagion ; fly to your studies, to the attainment of knowledge . and virtue— these will prove a shield against the allurements of vice, and, once obtained, will pave the way to a lasting , solid happiness. An inordinate love of pleasure is destructive . to all classes of mankind; to the gentleman it t^nds to certain dishonour; to th«. man of business it causes ^at irresolution and procrastination which leads to bankruptcy ; and on all its deluded votaries' it entails certain misery. I am persuaded these considerations will have due weight with you, that you will not permit amusement to obtain the first place in your mind, but;will pursue it only as a necessary " relief from the duties of life. There is nothing which I more wish the^t you should know, and which fewer people do know, tl^an the true use and importance of time. It is in everybody's mouth, but- in few people's priictice. Every fool who slatterns away his whole time in nothings, utters, however, some trite common-pli|ce sentence, of which there are millions to prove at ^nce *the valuQ and the fleetness of time. The. Ann-dials, likewise, all over Europe, have some " ingenious inscription to tha^ effect ; so^that nobody squanders away his time without hearing andj seeing daily how necessary it is to employ it well, and how inecoverable it Is i ■. :---16 '■■■.■; ■: \ •■ if lost. Bat all these admonitions are useless, where there is" not a fund of good sense and reason to suggest them, rather than receive them. By the manner in which I dally see you employing your time, I flatter myself that you have that fjind ; that is the fund which will make you rich indeed. -I do not, therefore, mean to give you a crilical essay upon the use and abuse of time? I will only give you some hints With regard to the use of one particular period of that long time which I hope you have before you. I mean the few remaining years you have to attend school. Remen|i>er, then, that whatever knowledge you do not solidly lay the foundation ol'beforeyou arrive at. the age of manhodd, yoti will nevef be, master of while yon live. Knowledge is a comfortabte and necessary retreat and shelter for us in an advanced age I and if we^o not plant it whUe yoimgit will give us no shkjife when we grow old. I neither require 6ore3c4qt|^ great appUcation to books, after you are once tlirqwB cm into" the great world— I- know it ia impossible', and itmay eveuj in some cases, *e improper— this, therefore, i^ your time^toui your only time, for earnest, and nnintewujted applicaUon. If you should sometimes think it a little laborious, consider that labour is the unavoidable fatigue of k necessary journey. The more hours a day you travel the sf)ner you will be at your journey's ■^d ; and the sooner you ai|e qualified for your liberty, the sooner you will get it. Yoiir manumission depends entirely upon the manner in which ypu employ your intermediate time,. • Want of thought and iodolence should not escape our attention. There are iwo^ sorts of understanding, one .of which hindere a man from fever being considerable, and the olher commonly makes hinj ridiculous ; I mean the I«zy mind and the trifling, frivolous ^ind. Yours, I hope, is neither. The lazy mind will not take the trouble of going to the bottooa of anythftig; but, discoura^d by the first difficulties, (and every thing worth having o^ knowing is attended with some,) stops short, contents itself with ease, and consequenUy .x.. -^I«4. r: • '\ ■ 11 stiperfieial knowledge, and ^nrefera a great deal of ignortBM to a sinall degree of trouble. These people think, or represent moat things as impossible, whereas few things are so to indnstiy and activity. Diffioulties Mem to them impossibili* ties, or at least they pretend to think them so, by way of exense for their laziness^ An hour's attention to the same . object is too lajunridus for them ; they take everything in the light in which it first presents itself, never considering it in all its different views, and, in short, never think thoroughly. The consequence of this is, that when they come to speak artiality, by a noble disdain of tKpse jealous, suspic ious qualities, which are ever prone to blacken and injure ev(!ry character, and to ascribe the most lau<|lable action to its worst motive. You should always be ki&d, genelrous, and sympathizing ; ever ready with an aptive zeal* to en^6r into he concerns of your friends; feeling alive to the distresses Df others; prompt, as far as your ability extends, to soften and relieve them; affable, obliging- aiid. hurnsuie to all witb whom yoU have any intercourse^ / > » I ^ Thus ardently ^Igaged in'the disc barge of your social duties, what real delight, what heartfel : joys will be yours ! How different your sensations from ttose of the malicious, envious man, whpse ideas are wrapt up merely in what concerns his owii narrow interests; who, with a jaundiced eye, "views the /isuccess of his neighbour, and, with a base, nnnatural satii|ractipn, gluts himself with his disappointments ftnd calamit|c;iir ' v ' % Ss ..::->.: \ fr 19 , let them that you all never t expect lions ; to cheerful rorgiving cultivate , always contests yourself, armth of moderate idgment. forgiving El candid v-iew the iality, by IS, which r, and to ^e. You ig; ever pi your o^pt, as 3 ItheiTi \ ■Q^ have P • . " ■ ir social e yours! alicious, in what uindiced li a base, intments Another duty, equally incumbent upon you with those befie mentioned, iSv the government of your thoughts and temper. With respect to the first, it may be urged that our thoughts are not absolutely in our power ; that iniproper and irregular ideas, which we cannot prevent^ will frequently arisd in our minds. This, undoubtedly, is the case ; the mii^ is passive in receiving the first notices of things, active in ifetaining ©r discarding them ; consequently no crime can bfe imputed to us ibr those sporitaneoujs thoughts which take place in our imaginations ;— thus far we are innocent, but no farther — our merit or demerit will appear according to the 'epcouragement they receive from U8. • v° If, instead of dwelling upon impure thoughts with compla- cency, instead of cherishing the rememblrance of past guilty pleasures, and laying plans for the accomplishment of future ones, we endeavour earnestly to sUfle every imagination that may in any degree tend to subvert our virtue; if a firm determination to resist all allurements to vice has taken a ■ rooted possession ol our hearts, our victory will be complete ; but we shall be the more able to attain this happy disposition by turning our thoughts to that which ought to be the main business of our lives, and by a resolution to give up every gratification of our passions or apparent interest, when it stands in competition with our duty. , In order for you to succeed in the government of your temper, it will be necessary for you to be constantly on your guard ; to put a check upon every emotion of anger you may find arising in your mind ; to walk narrowly, and to stifle in its birth every impulse of passion, by a constant and habitual exertion for these purposes, you will dbtain that command over your disposition^ as will effectually prevent your being rufiledand made unhappy by the many untoward circum- stances you, in common with the rest of maokind, must ^pect to experience. Therefore, at the time I request your attention to this part, of your dujj^as well as all others that I have treated upon, I hav6 an ^c, not only to your etemar happiness, but to your jnesent welfare. t'^l V':' y ,: \ O^^E fiUBwAgL A gp ,1 (^"•IW. ■^ ;^ *^ % 80 ■\>: .1^ Kl* •i. ft ifl not necessai^ fot m» to comment apon the pernicious «fleot8 of anger and passion; the dreadful excesses they cause those to be guilty of who ffive themselves up to their oBContiolIe^ dominion, are, alasnoo frequently seen. Be it your can, then, whatever insults you may receive, whatever provocations may be offered, to stifle your resentment of them as much as lies in your power. Be not eiager to take Qflenae without just reason; but on etery occasion put the mosfe favourable construction you possibly can uponMhe wor^mnd actions of othbrs. Cherish in your bosom that most amiable of virtues, meekness;* so shall you always be ready to be reconciled when an ^.offence is acknowledged^ able to inoderate yout passions, to stvoid being overbearing; this virtue will enable you to submit contentedly to the duties of an inferior station,- should such be your lot, and to be of a lowiy, condescehding teniM^, should Providence place you in a superior^. , 0^ In conclusion, you piiust be convinced the rules I herein prescribe for your conduct arr calculated to promote bodi your present and future happiness. I feel a reliance that you .receive my remarks in this essay, with gratitude, and that you will return me- the only recompense I desire, your best endeavours t(L profit by them. .t^i JOHN J). HESS. d4, Bccaxuco Smxrr^ I tbtk Decetnier, 1865. M" *e«B8t.liM(hmrv.«. i/". J' ■ 1 rnioious 68 they to fheir Be it liatever of (Kern /^: ' p ' ^ I .^1 0st t ^ i •<£* V -: •'[, ' r f (• ■ » • « herein te both lat you latyon ir best m. 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