THE MORAL INSTRUCTOR; O R j A COLLECTION of SENTENCES; From the Best Author s y DISPOSED IN EASY LESSONS for CHILDREN, DESIGNED To make Reading as pleasant and easy as possible? AND At the same Time, cciitjfp mm useful JftnctoltDge TO TENDER MINDS, As a preservative against Vice and Felly, and an INCENTIVE to VIRTUE. By John Pickburn, Master if the Grammar School, Wainjlcc^f, boston : PRINTED AND SOLD BY J. H ELLA BY, 1805, ADVERTISEMENT. This Collection of Moral Sentences*, frjl pub- lifted in the Tear 1759, was intended to jupply Children with Eafy Leffons, proceeding in a tegular graaaiion from the jhortef andeafted Words to Juch as are more difficuU pud by a due va? iation of Sub- jects to give them a more general acquaintance vith Words and Things than they could ifuet with in mutilated Scraps of Holy Writ, for thefe were the principal Materials ufed at that lime, in the fir/l rudiments of Education, and the fame mode of In- llruCtion is fill praflifed, and jirenuoufly recommend- ed to promote the fale oj Compilations which may be justly fyled profanation of Scripture. It is not eafy to conceive how the irreverent ufe of j acred Names and f acred 'things, in endlefs repe- tition of the jame zuoras and Phrajes, can advance ufi ful Knowledge, or*imprefs on young minds, any proper fenfe of religious or fecial Duties. Some Teachers are of opinion, that Letters of a moderate fi%e, and clearly printed, are better for young beginners than the larger 'type generally ufed in their firji Books, for, as they muji afterward be inured to fmallcr print, the tranftion Jhould he made as eafy aspoffM$. a 3 PART I. THE ALPHABET, A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z a b c d c f g h i j k 1 m n o p q r f s t u v w x y z b d f f p q n z y x w v u t s f r q p o n m J k j i h g f" e d c b a Mo ?iofy Italics. Words of two Letters J^LM an as at ax be by do go be if in is it me my no of oh on or ox ib to up us we ye. Words of three Letters. J^.CE age all and are arm art am aik afs. Bag bad bar bat bay bed beg bid bit bfo'w box boy bud bun but. Can cap cat cow cry cup cur cut. Day den dew did die dig din dip dog dry due. Ear eat egg elm end e) e. Fan far fat fed fen few fig fin fit fix fly foe fox fry. Gap get gun gut. Had hap has hat hay hen her hid him his hog hot how. Ice ill ink. Jar jaw jay jew joy. Key kid kin. Lad law lay led leg let lip low. Man may met mop mow mud. Nay net nor now nut. Old one our out owl own. Pan pay pen pit pot put. Rag rat red rib run. Sad faw fay fee fet fin hx fon fup. Tar ten the thy tin top toy tub. Ule. Vow. War was way who why. You. 3 Monosyllables* TVords of four Letters. J^LLMScan 1 edge home arch cafe cite hope aunt chip T ' race hurt pa be ciad fade T 1 Inch back clap fail T 1 Jack band ClOCi fear left juft Datn o r lire o r\ \ ) t a n COiu loJd Keep DCJ l COIL fool king peJt coi k lOl K kite bend crab frog knot belt era m lull know Dill crop G a me Lace Oil CI cure gape laid bo J a Dale gild lamb born Gdl K girl land brag dead gold leaf bran ocat good lick buck oirt grin life bull dock T T 1 Hand 1 T lock bufli draw head lump Cage duke hide Made came dull high make card dull hill meat care Eafd hold mean Monojyllables, mend hull mock muft Nail name near neck nofe Oats once Paid peck pine pipe pool pure Quit Race reed ring rife rock rude rufli Sack fafe fend fick fide filk fong Tale talk tell time tune Urge Vain vine Want -whip wind word Yard yarn year Zeal Words of five Letters. -Alight Catch : clock drofs Beard caufe cloth dunce black chaff cloud dwell blaze chalk creep Earth blend check cruft eaves blind cheft Dance eight block chide ditch Flame blufh chirp drain flafk bread churn drake flelh brick clafp dream fling brook clean drefs flock broth cling drink floor 10 Moncfyllables. rl i if- a hone mouth rl c\ rr ^» I J U w II aiTic hound NlLMlt I vJal I T V Ik t~\ \r houie ninth OH u U j ruiK Joint noiie f r • 'i rri 1 i i a J JJ 1 1 U l L judge north in p pt I I O Vv 11 juice notch fh< if 1 1 j. i. A I t r i 1 1 f 11 11 i I Knave Ought fhirt ill 1 1 L i ' Ian n kneaci ounce 1 1 1 - 1 #- j r \ O"! n V P 1 1 k neel Patch fnn ie ' U J 11 ^ OYif \ 1 p 1 , i ^ kn j fe pinch li vi n k p III 1U l\L knock pitch fnore pran H known place fouth praoe Large plank fpa i k laugh pluck fl oil • if arn point foort leaft prank, 1 hi nk -A- Ill U IV leave punch (Trppn i£ I C CI 1 Joole yuan t oiirh pn n rl Cl 1 i 1 1 u loute quart tread March q'ueerp V Uj^t rr r 1 1 i i t ^1 I J I J I match quick v p r f p A A V* iXi LA month qnili Watch mould quiit wpn rip v v w-ugv^ heath mount lYdjie wheat hed^e hinge mourn range whelp moufe reach Youth Monofyllables. Jj)oug breach breadth breath br'ul ge bri.grhc broach brought bruife Caught change cheefe church c)ean fe clothed cringe crutch Dearrh dredge drought drudge flight flitch bounce 'ought Words of fix and [even Letters. ht France friend Greafe grieve ground grudge Health hearth height Knight knives Learnt length Naught nought Paunch plague pleafe pounce praife preach pricft Ouaint quench quince School fcotch fcourge fcratch fhrimp fledge fleeve flight fmooth fneeze fought fprawl fprout fpunge fquall uare ueeze fquint {larch ftarve ftealth ftkch fl range fl:rearn llreet ftrength ft retch ftrife ftrike ftrong IV itch Taught thatch thought thrafli throat throne through thwack tongue trance trench trounce twelve twinge twitch Warmth wealth wrench wrought 12 M on ofy liable s, M onofyllahles. Whip Youth. Z any 16 EASY LESSONS, ConFMing of Words not exceeding three Letters, LESSON I. JPuT no man out of his -way, if he is not in a bad way. It Go not in the wa) of bad men. Pay to a man ail his due. III. The bo\ is to do as he is bid, and if he do lo, you aie not to lay he is bad. 1 V . As is the lad fo oft is the man ; for he is apt to be a bau man who was a bad boy. V. Who can fay he has no fin ? How iad may be the lot of him who is old and yet not fit to die. VI. .As you do to a man, fo may he do to you. If a man do to us as w e did to him, how can we fay he did ill. VII. IV trds not exceeding four Letters. Do you love to give me pain ; how do like it when 1 do the fame to you ? Easy Lessons. 17 He that will bear much, will have much o bear. VIII. A good man will net fear to be feen in 11 he does. It is w ell we get not all we wifh to have; or we oft wiih to have what is not good or us. IX. Do good with what thou haft, or it will do thee no good. A good life is the belt way to a good name. Tell me what life you live, and I will tell you how you will die. X. To live is a gift, to die is a debt. If a good man wifh to live, it is, that he may do more good ; if the bad wifh to live, it is, that they may do more hurt. XI. Mark the man that doth well, and do fo too. Help fitch men as want help, and hurt no one. [mend. Let thy fins pad put thee in mind to 3e kind to all men, that they n ay be kind to you. b 3 IS Easy Lessons. XII. Walk not in the way with them tnat are bad, left you be io too j but walk in the law of the Lord, and he w ill help you : His eve is on them that do well, and he will do good to them that keep his law. *- m XIII. Time and tide (lay for no man. No man is wile or fafe but he that is good. Take heed that you do not your alms to be fetrn of men. Bad men will both love, and fear, him thai is good. XIV. He muft live well, that would die well. A bad life will make a bad end. This life is not long ! but the life to come has no end. We muft let the time paM put us in mind of the ill we have done ; and then let us trv to mend. XV. A wife man will be a good man 5 and will love all good men. The time will come when all men muft be laid in the duff. Easy Lesson j. Do what is juft; fhun what is ill ; if your v ays arc bad. take care to mend them, as much, and as Toon as vou can. When we go out. and when we come in we are not out of the eye of God. When We pray to him with a pure mind, he will hear us and help us. We mull, love him, and fear him, and not dare to do what he has bid us not to do. XVII. We mud not do an ili deed j if we have •lone it once, we mult do fo no more, if your ways are jtift and true, keep ihem m. . /" *™ See that you be kind and good to all, and then ail who know vou will be lure to love XVIII. All work and no play will make Jack a (Tul! boy : but take care i ot to play with bad boy's j for if you do. in time they will make you as bad as they are; but love good boys, and play with none but lueh as \ ou know are good. XIX. Wdi as not exceeding five Letters. lie that will lend to all that alk. (hews 20 Easy Lessons. more good v ill than good fenfe. It kas ^reat a fault to trui ail men, as to 1 1 u{t none. 1 ruft not to a man that takes no care of his own good name" for he will be fure to take none of yours. A good word is as loon faid as a bad one. Our good name ought to be more dear to us than our life. It is leis pain to learn in youth, than to want it in age ; but it is no (name for a man to learn what he does not know, tho' he be grown old. XXI. He that knows not when to hold his peace, knows not when to {peak. What you would have known but to few., keep to your felf. Wile men think more than they fpeak : and fools ipeak more than they think. XXII. To know well, and to do well, are the two chief marks by which we know a wife man from a fooL Good words will not mend a bad deed, nor bad words fpoil a good on<\ Lasy Lessons, 21 If a thing be hot lit, do it not: if it be not true, fpeak it not. - XXIII. How can we call him free, who is a flave to fin. It is not death that can hurt the foul, but a bad life. A baa life is the death of the | foul. Spend each day as if it was to be your laft j for you know not but it may be lo. XXIV. Truft not to him who will tell lies to you for how can you be lure he will not tell lies of you, As you are fure to find no good in him who loves to tell lies, fo you need fear no f ill from him who loves the truth. One lie is oft the cauit of ten more. There is no vice that can ihame a man more, than to be found falfe. XXV. He that helps a bad man, hurts him that is good. A wife man will not err twice in the lame thing. The way of youth is, not to think that £ood ; to hole good he doth not lee-. 22 Easy Lessons. It is a vain thing for him who is old to wi/h he was young as he has been. Think long of what thou canft do but once XXVI. He fhat Jives by the lofs of the poor, ought not to live. Some live to eat and drink, and fome eat and drink to live. A rich man may dine when he lifts, but a poor man v, hen he can get meat. Fools when they hate their lives, will yet wi(h to live, for the fear which they have of death. He that ^ ill love life and fee good days, let iiim leek peace. XXVII. Pride is the caufe of hate, and floth is the caufe of lhame. We ought not to hate the man, but his vice. The gain of gold makes fome men lofe their fouls. Wealth ferves a wife man, and rules a fool. Gold got w ith craft is oft loft with fhame. Gain, got with an ni name, is great lofs. Easy Lessons. 23 What is got with hard work, ought to be |cept with care. | XXVIIT. There is more hope of a fool, than of fcim that is wife in his own eyes. Fools Inake a mock of fin, but the end of it is death. Be not ram with thv mouth, nor in hade to fpeak, but let thy words be few, for a tool is known by his words. The lefs wit a man has, the lefs he knows §that he wants it. XXIX. Flee from vice, and love that which is |rood. ' The foes of a good man mall cry, yea Ithey (hall lift up their voice, but none fhall >hear or help them. If thou haft done an ill thing, the time kvill come when it will give thee pain ; then why wilt thou do what thou mud wifh had not been done. Do not that by vourfelf which you would blufh to have known, XXX I Spend the day well and thou wilt be glad ac night. 24 Easy Lessons, Take heed that vou do not loPe or wafle your time: for if you do you will be fure to want it, Train up a child in the wav he fhould go. and when he is old he will not leave it, It is a good thing for a bov to turn his mind to his book ; it will be of great ufe fo him, it will gain him the love of all good men, which is of more worth than gold. XXXI. Let a man do his bed ; and the work may do its word. Do what you ought, and let what wil come on it. He that doth ill, fhall eat of the fruit of his own way. Mark the good man, for the end of that man is peace* Were there but one good man in the world, he would fhame the world, and not the world him. He that is flow* to wrath is wife, and a found heart is the life of the flefh. XXXII. Take heed of whom you fpeak, and to whom. Tell not all you hear, nor fpeak all you know. Easy Lessons. He that talks all he knows, will talk more than he knows. Fame is as hard to be kept, as it was at lirft to be got. Moll men fear a bad name, yet few take care to fhun thofe deeds which caufe it. He that is a right judge of what he needs and what he needs not, is a wife man. No man is fopoor as he that wants hope. XXXIII. JVords not exceeding fix letters. It is fit that all men mould know God, and live in his fear; but fuch as ferve him for fear, left fome harm mould come to them, 3 rc J 1 R e them that hate kings in their hearts, and yet ftrive to pleafe them, that they may live at eafe, and keep what they have. Some men take more pains to be bad, than it would coft them to be good. XXXIV. Though all men have faults, there are none who love to be told of them. When we do what we fhould not, \ e mud hear w hat we would not. ; c ., - . ; ' 26 Easy Lessons v When you think a man has no faults, it is plain you do not know him. No man has more faults, than he that fays he has none. XXXV. Some men, if they can but get wealth, care not how it comes; and it is oft the fault of fiich not to care how it goes. No man fhould boaft of what he hath, if what he hath can be loft. He that fpends more than he gets, may have a due fenfe of his fault, when he comes to beg, To play at cards and dice is a kind of fmooth and flight theft, by which fome lofe all they have. XXXVI. There is no change more fure than the change of life for death, though none can be fure when that change will come. The fear of death is to fome men worfe than the ftroke itfelf. In youth ftrive to live well ; in age to die well. No man is fo old but he thinks he may yet live a year. It is the part of a wife man to look to the end of things. Easy Lessons. XXXVII. It is the part of a fool to wifh for all things, though he knows not how to make aright ule of what he has. 1 here is great caufe to doubt of that man's fenfe, who doubts, what no man doubts, but he. He that doubts of the thing he feeks, w ill not know when he finds it. When you have found that you were in the wrong, change your mind. XXXVI II. He that hurts his friend by his tongue, wounds his own foul by his words. Some men are loll for want of a fiiend to tell them w hen they do wrong ; and fome for want of care to mend, when they are told of their faults. You may as well drive to feed one who has no mouth, as tell a man what is right, when he has no mind to do it. XXXIX. Words not exceeding seven or eight letters. We fear all things like men w ho muft die; but we wifh for all things as if we a. ^ O thought we fhould not die. 23 Eafy LeJJons. Though it may leem ftrange, yet it is true that fotne live poor all the days of their life, in hopes to be found rich at the time of their death. Gold, like dung, does no good till it is ipread. Gold makes more foes than true friends. AL. Woe to them that are wife in their own eyes, who boaft in their own (trength. Boaft not coo much of your health and ftrcngthj but while you have them, praife him that gives all good things to all men ; and ufe them well, leit he take them from you. Boaft not of thy good deeds, left thy bad deeds be then laid to thy charge. The words and deeds of a child are not his own, but fuch as he learns of thole With whom he is brought up - 9 and as they are good or ill, lb fhame or thanks are due to them of whom he learnt them. PART II. Words of two syllables^ accented on the first syllable. A -Corn al-fo art-ful ba-ker af-ter a-ny Back-ward ban-ter bar-r< I bafli-ful bet-ter blun-der bor-der bo-fom bri-er Eajy Lejjbns. En-ter e-ven e- vil king-dom Fan-cy far-mcr fe-male fid-ler brim-ftone flatter bio-ken forty 1< itch-en Lad-der la-dy lan-tern let ter like-ly lin-net ii on IVlan -ner ma-ny mar-ket mit-tens but-tef Gan-dtT Car-rot gar-land cart-er gar-ret cham-ber glo-ry chap-tcr gold-fmithmo-ment chat-ter Ham-mer morn-ing cbil-dren hand-ful mut-ter com-fort hap-py Nap-kin hinder nim-ble hun-dred num-ber huf-band Of-fer In-fant or-der in-fide o-ver in-to Pa-per drum-mcr in-ward par- don drunk-ard Jef-ter par-rot dung- hill judg-ment pen-ny duty Ken-nel pi-per c 3 com -in on cor-ner coft-lv Dif-fer din-ner doc-tor 29 Quar-ter QUt-tt Rab bet rag-gcd ra- thcr rob- be r rub-bifh Sad- ler Jafc-ty fear-let feat -ter fcorn-ful fe-cret fer-vant {hep-herd fhil-ling fup-per Ten-der tor- ment Vtfiel vir-gin Ufe-ful Wages war-den wiUlinsr win-ter Yon-der 30 jfeWy LcfJng en-joy Neg-Sect un-drefs be-fide ex -eel nine teen un-kind Corn-plain Fif-teen Ob-tain Where-of con-ceit for- get of-fence with-out EASY LESSONS, CoitMJiMg of to or ds of one and tzco [y Habits* He LESSON. I. E loves you bet-ter, who drives to make you good, than he who ftrives to pleafc you. He is far from a good man. who ftrives not to grow bet-ter. It is much more pain-ful to live ill, than to live well, liujy Lcffons, 31 He who hath loft ihaine, is loft to all vir-tuc. II. If the blind lead the blind, both fhall fall in-to the ditch Ma ny bad things are done only for cuf- tpm; which would make a good prac-tice as ea-fy to us as an ill one. We have more rea-fon to grieve at the life of the wick-ed, than at the death of the juit. J III. An-ger may glance into the breaft of a wife man ; but refts only in the bofom of fools. He that will be an-gry, for a-ny thing, will be an-gry for no-tnmg. If we do not fub-due our anger, ft will fub-due us: it is the fecond word that makes the quar-rel. To err is hu-man ; to for-give divine. IV, Pa-rents are of-ten more care-ful to be- ftow wit on their chil-dren, than virtue ; the art of fpeak-mg well, rather than do-ing well : But their man-ncrs ought to be the chief con-cern. He that is taught to live up-on \lt-t\e, owes more to the wifdom of his father, than "J 2 Eafy Lefons, he that has a great deal left him, does to the care of his father. V. Pride join-ed with ma-ny vir- rues, choaks them all. The heft way to hum-ble a proud man is to take no no-tice of him. If a proud man makes me keep my dif tance. the com-fort is he keeps his at the fame time. Pride had ra therat a-ny time go out of the way than come he-hind, VI, O-ther vi-ces choofe to be in the dark, on- ly pride loves al-\\ ays to be, feet) in the light. If we knew how lit-tle o-thers en-joy, it would free the world from one fin, there would be no fuch thing as en-vy up-on the ear: h. Ma-ny fpcak ill, be-caufe they ne-ver learnt to fpcak well. He is a ftave to the great-eft llave, who ferv-ah none but hitn-felf. A crod man. whe ther he be rich or poor, fhall at all times rc-joice with a chear- ud mind. Lejjons. 33 Con-tent is on-ly to be found with-in [our-lelves. A man that is con-tent with a lit-tle has [enough j he that corn-plains, has too much. Yv e mull needs have lome con-cern when Iwefook in-to our lof-fes; but if we think [how lit-tle we de-ferve what is left, our mur-murs will turn into thanks. VIII. l*'; When once you pro-fefs your-felf a I friend, drive to be al-ways fucfi; He can ne-ver have any true friends, that will be of- ten chang-ing them. Some ca fes are fo nice, that a man can- not ap pear in them him-feif but mult leave them whol-ly to his fnend. It is hard to ad the part of a true friend; for ma-ny times, by telling a man ot his fail-ings, we lofe his fnend-lhip. IX. A man is not bound to bear a part in the fol-lies of his friend, but ra-thcr to dii-luade him from them; and if he can-not prevail, co tell him plam-ly, 1 can-not be your friend, if I flat-ter you. U is a ftrange thing to be-hold w hat grofs er-iors many torn- nut, for >\ ant of a friend ** Eafy Lejfons, to tell them of them, to the great da-mag? both of their fame and fortune. .X. As it is vir-tue which mould di-re<5t us in the choice of our friends ; fo it is that a. lone which we (houid al-ways re-gard in them, v .th-out afk-ing af-ter their good or ill fortune. As he that hath hut few books, and tf ofe good, may im-prove more by them, than he a\ ho hath a great num-ber of brid ones; fo it is in the choice of our friends, no mat- tti how few, fo they be a\ ife and good. Friend- fhip re-]ieves our cares,, raif-es our hopes and a- bates cur fears. A friend \i ho re-lates his fuc-cefs. talks hjm-feif into a new pea-fure; and he who o-pens his gntfs, leaves part of them behind him. All men have their fail-ings : Jf you look fo/ a fi iend with- out fauits. vou will ne-ver find what you feek: We Jove our-felves AUth all our faults, and v> e ought to love our friend in like man-ncr. XII, Some fay that hurt ne-ver comes by G- lence: liut they may as well fay that good Eafy Lejfons, 33 never comes by fpeech : For where it is p-ood to fpeak, it is ill to be fiient. We mould talk fo that others may al- ways know what we mean. The dif-courfe p{ fbme men is as the ftars, which <*ive but Jit-t'e light, be-caufe they are fo high. It is afure me-thod of pleaf-ing peo-ple, to be wil-ling ro hear them. XIII. Better fay no-thing, than not to the pur- roofe; and to fpeak right-ly, ftu-dy both [what is fit, and when it is fit to fpeak. As men of good lenfe fay a great deal i'q a few words; fo men of fmali fenfe have a Ita-lent of talk-ing much, and yet fay-ing fnothing, You may ve-ry of-ten meet with a fro-thy wit, who M ill ra-ther iofe his belt friend, [than his worlt jeft. XIV. He that talks all he knows, will talk more than he knows: Great talk-ers dif- charo-e too thick to take al-ways true aim. You will never be thought to talk too much when you talk well; and al-ways fpeak too much, when you fpeak ill. He that can re-ply calm-ly to an an-gry man is too hard for him. 36 $&fy Lcj/ons. A gen-tle re-p!v to ill lan-guage is the mod fe-vere re-venge. XV. Your wit mav make clear things doubt ful; but it is your pru-dence to make doubt-fiil things clear. It is a fign of great pru-dence to be al-ways wil-ling to learn ; no man is ft learn -cd but he oft ftanas in need of it. The great- eil wif-doni of fpeeeh, is to know when, and what, and where to fpeak; the time, mat-ter, and man-nei: The next to it is fi-lencc. XVI. It is nei-ther pru-dent nor pleaf-ing to d well too long on a fub-jecl;, the brain be-ing like a field, which though e-ver fo rich, if you har-row too much, you (hall be i ure to turn up bar-reri ground at laft. A great talk-er will al-ways fpeak though you do not mind him; nor does I he mind you, when you fpeak to him. We learn more truth of our-fe!vcs from our foes than our friends. XVII. The deej)-efr wa-ters are the moh f-lcnt em pty vef-fcls make the-great-c fl found, I and tink-iinL; cym-bals the wovji mu-lm, Easy Lessons, $7 They who think leaft, of-ten fpeak mod, There is a time when no-thing, a time when fome-thing, but no time when all things are to be fpoken. Metals are known by their weight, and men by their talk. XVIII. Know-ledge will be-come fol-ly, if good fenfe do not take care of it. Weak men are oft great talk-ers, think- ing to make up that in num-ber of words which is want-ing in weight. A prat-ling fel-low, as he was talk-ing ma-ny fil-ly fto-ri©s 5 end-ed each of them with fay-ing, "And is not this a ftrange " thing !" "Not at all/' fays his friend/'but (t if a man fhould (land ftill to hear you " prate thus, that were a ftrange thing "in-deed XIX. Peo-ple fhould al-ways ob-ferve this rule in dif-courfe. Not to talk to pleafe them- felves, but thofe that hear them: this would make them think, whe-ther what they fpeak beworth hear-ing; whe-ther there be ei-ther wit or fenfe in what they are a-bout to fay* » 3-S Eafy Lijfcmu and, w he-ther it be fit-ted to the time 1 whem, the place where, and the perfon to whom they /peak. XX. Me that re-gards no e-vi] but what he feels, has a hard heart; and he that can [pare no kind-nefs from him-felf, has a nar- row fpul. It is bet-trr to be of the num-ber of thofe who need re-lief, than of thofe who want hearts to give it. A good of fice done harfh-ly, is like a fto-ny piece of bread: it is nced-ful in- deed for him that is hun-gry, to re-ceive it, but it al-moft chokes him in the go-ing down. XXI. No ob-jefl is more pleaf-ing to the eye than the fight of a man to whom you have done a goodof-fice; nor any mu-fic more pleal-ing to the ear, than the voice of one who owns you for his friend. One who was under the pref fure of ill for-tune, cri-ed out, that he had loft all, ex-cept what he had given a-way. So long as we ftand in need of a fa-vour, there is no-thing dear er to us, nor a*-ny thing cheap-er when we have it. Eafy LejfonSt 39 XXII. He that re-ceives a fa-vour wUh-out le-ing thank-ful, robs the giv-er of his juft |e-ward. Great men are moft-ly for mak-ing what [hey do, real fa-vours; for fhould they pre- fer on-ly fuch as de-ferve it, that would be like pay ing a debt, not do irig a fa- vour. If fa-vour pla-ees a man a-bove his e- fcuals, his fall pla-ces hirn be-low them. When a man draw s him-felf in-to a nar- row com-pafs, for- tune has the leaft mark at him. XXIII. The great-er a man is in pow-er a-bove o-thers, the more he ought to ex-eel them in vir-tue. He that gets an ef-tate, will keep it bet- ter than he that finds it. Some peo-ple are no-thing elfe but mo- ney, pride, and plea-fure; these three things en-grofs their thoughts, and take up the whole foul of them. AN the trea-fures of the earth are not e-qual to the lead vir-tue of the foul. If we wear out our vir-tues, our vi-ces will foon wear out us. T) 2 40 Eafy Lefons, XXIV. What if a man might have all the plea- fures in the world for afk-ing ; who woulc fo un-man him-felf, as to ac-cept of that for which he muft de-fert his foul, and be-comc a con-ftant flave to his fen-fes? Men may fur-feit with too much, as well as ftarve with too little. No man is maf-ter of him-felf, fo Ion? as he is a flave to a-ny thing elfe. Learn-ing is bet-ter than rich-es and vir- tue is bet-ter than ei-ther. XXV. A pru-dent wo-man is in the fame clafi of ho-nour as a wife man. Great faults and great vir-tues are of ten found in the fame perfon. A fmall caufe will rob a man of his eafe when a great one is not in his way; for want of a block he will (tumble at a ftraw. A man of a nar-row foul is like a bot-tle with a nar-row neck, the lefs he has in him the more noife it makes in coming out. XXVI. Ly-ing is a vice fo ve-ry hate-ful, that the great-eft li-ars can-not bear it in o-thef men. Easy Lessons, 41 It is ea-fy to tell a lye, bard to tell but one lye; be-caufe one re-quires ma-ny more to main-tain it. If falfe-bood, like truth, had but one face on-ly, we fhould be upon bet-ter terms; for we fhould then take the re-verfe to what the li-ar fays, for certain truth. Tricks and de-ceit are the prac-tice of fools, that have not fenfe e-nough to be ho-neft. XXVII. Coun-fel and wis-dom per-form more and great-er ex-ploits than force. One good head is bet-ter than a great ma-nv hands. When a man owns him-felf to be in an er-ror, he does but tell you in o-ther words, that he is wi-ler than he was. He that re-lies whol-ly on his own judg- ment hath not a good one. If you al low a man to have wit, he will al-low you to have judg-ment. XXVIII. He that feoffs at the crook-ed, had need go ve-ry up-right him-felf. By o-thers faults wife men cor-rect their own. d 3 45 Easy Lessons. When our vi-ees leave us, we flat-ter our-felves that we leave thern. Thofe beft can bear re-proof who me-rit praife. He that fhoots an ar-row in jeft, may kill a man in ear-neft. To for-get a wrong is a mild re-venge, XXIX. That which is known to three per-fons, is no fecret. He that re-veals a fe-cret, in-jures them to whom he tells it, as well as him-felf. The beft rule about fe-crets, is, neither to hear, nor to tell them. Do no fe-cret thing be-fore a ftranger, for thou know-eft not what he will bring forth. Ne-ver re-veal your fe-crets to any, ex- cept it is as much their pro-fit. to keep them, as it is yours they fhould be kept : on-ly ttuft your-feif, and no o ther fhall be-tray you. XXX. Speak with the vul-gar, but think with the v> ife. Plave a care of vul-gar er-rors, dif- Jike, as well as al-low with rea-fon ; fol-low the dic-tates of rea-fon, and you are fafe. Easy Lessons, i$ In the morn-ing, think what thou haft to o; and at night, afk thy-felf what thou aft done. Reck-on up-on fa-vours well plac-ed, as trealure that is laid up; and ac-count thy- felf the rich-er for tnat which thou giv-eft to a wor-thy per-fon. XXXI. Men may give good 1 ad-vice, but they can-not give the fenfe to make a right ufe of it. He that would be fure to have his work well done, mult ei-ther do it him-ielr, or fee the do-ing of it. It were no vir-tue to bear trou-bles, if we did not feel them. Reftrain thy hand from evil, and thy foul fhall have no-thing to fear Hear not ill of a friend, nor fpeak a-ny of a foe ; be-lieve not all you hear, nor re- port all you be-lieve. XXXII. There is no day fo clear, but it hath fome clouds; and no praife fo pure, but ill-will can find fome way to mix with it. Take heed thou do not com-mend thine* own works, l&Ii that caufe men to fpeak ill Easy Lessons. of both ihy works and thee. To par don faults of er-ror, is but juf. tice to the fail-ings of our na-ture. It is the on-ly va-lour to for-give a wron?; and the great-eft praife that you might hurt, and would not. XXXIII. Should the great-eft part of man-kind fit down and draw up an ex-act ac-count of their time, what a fhame-ful bill would it he ! So much for eat-ing, drink-ing, and fleep-ing be-yond what na-ture re-quires; fo much in garn-ing and plays, fo much in pay-ing for-ma] vi-fits, in 'i-dle and fool- ifli prat-ing and talk-ing fcan-dal of their neigh-bours; fo much in drefT-ing, and talk-ing of fafh-ions ; and fo much waft-ed and loft in do-ing nothing. XXXIV. The Words in the jollowivg Lessons arc undivided. Time is what we want moft, but what we ufe worft. for which we muft all account when time fhall be no more. To come but once into the world, and make no proper ufe of our time, but trifle it away, making that a burden, which was given for a blefling, is ftrange folly. Wake much of your minute, and be good Easy Lessons. 4* for fomething, while it is in your power. XXXV. It is with our time as with our estates, a good hulband makes a little go a great way. How foolifh it is to begin to live, when we can live no longer! That man does not live as he ought to do, who does not reck- on upon every day as his laft. If age puts an end to our defires of plea- fure, and does the work of virtue, there can be no caule of complaint. XXXVI. None but a wife man can employ leifure well ; and he that makes belt ufe of his time hath none to fpare. Though the frequent turns of fortune may make us out of humour with the world; yet nothing but a noble love to vir- tue or learning, can make us happy when alone by ourfelves. A man may reap this fruit of his ftudies, that he thall know how to live and con- verfe with himfelf. XXXVII. A man may be a firft rate in virtue and true value, and yet be very obfeure as to the world at the fame time. 46 Eafy Leffons, It was a good faying of a certain Roman, that he never was lefs alone than when he was alone. The filent virtues of a good man in pri- vate, are of more value than all the noify honours of active life. It is a good thing to have leave to do what we pleafe, if we make a good ufe of it. XXXVIII. Honour thy father and thy mother, that it may be well with thee, and thou mayeft live long on the earth. Good children make their parents happy in each other, as well as in them; bad chil- dren make them unhappy in both. Although our parents or friends fhould not do every thing for us that we may wifh or expect, yet it becomes us to be thankful to them for what they have done. A good child will not feek to excufe him- felf by laying the fault on his parents. XXXIX. There are few things that reafon points out to us with fo much plainnefs as its own defects; and thofe who perceive not this weaknefs, are the greateft proofs of it. It appears too often, that the wifer men arc about the things of this world, the lefs Eafy LeJJons. 47 wife they are about the things of the next. The chief point of wifdom is to know how to value things as they deferve. There is nothing in this world worth being a knave for. XL. Where there is no conflict, there can be no conquelt; and where there is no con- quer!, there is no crown. If thou take pains in what is good, the pains vanifh, and the good remains : if thou take pleafure in what is evil, the evil re- mains and the pleafure will vanifh. What art thou the worle for pains, or the better for pleafure when both are paft. To love the public, and to promote the good of the whole world, as far as lies within our power, is the height of goodnefs, and makes that temper which we call divine. PART III. EASY LESSONS, Confjling of words of one : two, and three fyllables. LESSON. I. J[ HE great Bu-fi-nefs of Man, is to im- prove his mind, and go-vern his man-ners. 4S Eafy Le forts. The mind ought fome-times to be di-vert ed, that it may re-turn to think-ing the bet-ter. Lit-tle read-ing and much think-ing, lit. tie fpeak-ing and much hear-ing, is the beft way to im-prove our know-ledge. Next to the get-ting of gxd friends, the beft pur-chafe is good booKs. n. There is a mean in all things; e-ven vir-j tue it-felf hath its ftat-ed li-mits; which not be-ing ftrict-ly ob-ferv~ed, it ceaf-es to be vir-tue. The true way to ad-vance the vir-tue of an-o-ther, is to fol-low it; and the beft means to cry down the vice of an-o-ther, is to de-cline it No-thing is tru-ly in-fa-mous, but what is wick-ed ; and there-fore fhame can ne- ver dif-turb an in-no-cent and vir-tu-ous mind. III. An-ger be-gins with fol-ly, and ends with repentance. An an-gry man, who con-ceals his paf-fi- cns, thinks worie than he fpeaks ; and an angry man that will chide, fpeaks worfe than he thinks. Easy Lessons. 49 As we are of-ten an-gry with-out a caufe, fo we con-ti-nue our an-ger, left it (hould ap-pear to our dif-grace, that we be-gan with-out rea-fon. It is much bet-ter to re-prove than be an-gry fe-cret-ly. IV. It cofts more pains to re-venge in-ju-ries than to bear them. We of-ten fbr-give thofe that have in-ju- red us; but we can ne-ver pardon thofc we have in-ju-red. We ought to di-veft our-felves of ha-tred, for the fake of our qui-et. A good man fliould for-give others, as if he were e-ve-ry day faul-ty him-felf; and a- void faults, as if he for-gave no-bo-dy. The fail-ings of good men are com- mon-ly more pub-lifh-ed in the world, than all their good deeds. V. Pride and ill nature will be hated in fpite of all the wealth and great-nefs in the world. Like-nefs be-gets love ; yet proud men hate one an-o-ther. The great-eft man Uv-ing may (land in £ 50 Easy Lessons* need of the mean-eft, as much as the mean) eft does him. To be proud of know-ledge, is to be blind in the light; to be proud of vir tue is to poi-fon your-felf with that which oughij to be your cure; to be proud of pow-er, is to make your rife your down-fall. VI, To live a bove our fta-ti-on, fhews al proud heart; and to live be-low it, dif-coJ vers a nar-row foul. What can be a more wretch-ed fightj than to fee a ftarv-ing mi.fer, who fub-mitsl to fuch hard-fhips to no pur-pofe ? who! wea-ries him-felf in pro-cur-ing rich-es, andl dares not en-joy them when got-ten ? it is al much ea-fi-er talk to dig me-tal out of its na-tive mine, than to get it out of his cof- fer : Death only has the key of his cheft. The on-ly plea-fure a co-vet-ous man gives his neigh-bemrs, is to let them fee, that he him-felf is as lit-tle the bet-ter for what he has as they are. VII. He that makes him-felf the com-mon jeft-er of a com-pa-ny, has but jufl wit e nough to be a fool. Lefs wit will ferve, join-ed with ill- na- Easy Lessons, 51 ture, than with good. We may ob-ferve, that they who have the leaft judg.ment; cen-fure the moft free- ly; for hav-ing nothing to re-com-mend them.feives, they will be flnd-ing fault with o thers. No man en-vies the merit of an o-ther, who has amy of his own. VIIT. There is an o-di-ous fpi-rit in ma-ny peo-ple, who are bet-ter pleaf-ed to de-tect a fault than to commend a virtue, En-vy isfix-ed on-ly on mer-it; and like a fore eye, is of-fend-ed with c-ve-ry thing that is bright. It is hard-er to a-void cen-fure, than to gain ap-plaufe; for this may be done by one great or wife ac-tion in an age; but to a-void cen-fure, & man muff pals his m hole life witlvout fay-ing or do-ing one ill or fool-ifli thing. IX. The wor-thi-eft peo-ple are moft in-jur- ed by fland-er-ers-. as we com-mon-ly find that to be the bed fruit, which the 'lairds have been peck-ing at. There is fel-dom a-ny thing ut termed in E 2 Easy Lessons, ma-lice, which turns not to the hurt of the fpeak-er: ill re-ports do harm to him that makes them; and to those they are made to, as well as to thole they are made of. They that fpeak ill of the dead, are like dogs which bite and bark at ftones. X. The fear of e-vil, is ma-ny times worfe than the e-vil it-fejfj and the ills a man fears he mall fuf-fer, he fuf-fers in the ve-ry fear of them. It is vir-tue on-ly that re-pels fear, and fear on ly that makes life trou-ble-fome. Doft thou la-ment for what is to come? Why ? Be-caufe it is not come ? No, be- cause it is grie-vous : And wilt thou dou- ble thy griefs, with bring-ing them on be- fore they come ? Why mould we run for- ward to meet thofe mi-fe-ries, which at the fame time we would fain run a-way from ? XI. He that o-ver-comes his paf-fi-ons, con- quers his great-eft e-ne-mies. Paf-fion makes them fools, which o-ther- wife are not fo j and (hews them to be fools, which are fo. Have not to do with a-ny man in his paf- £-on; for men are not like i-ron, to be Easy Lessons. 53 wrought up-on, to a-ny good pur-pofe, when they are hot. Po-fi-tive men err moil of a-ny. He that doth a-nv thing raih-ly muft be ta-ken, in equi-tv of judg-ing, to do it wil-ling-lyj for he w as free to chule or re- ufe. XII. The va-ni-ty of hu-man life is like a ri- ver, con-ftant-ly paf-ring a-vay, and yet con-ftantly co-ming on. The mod ig-no-rant are m'ofl con-ceit-ed, and profit kail b> advice, as be-ing un-a- ble to dif-cern ei-ther their own fol-ly, or the wif-dom of others. It has of-ten been ob ferv-ed, that few men are con-tent with their ow n fta-tion, though it be the heft; nor dif-con-tent with their own wit, though it be the worft. He that is vain e-nough to cry up him- felf, ought to be pun-ihVed with the fi-lence of o-ther men. XIII. Fine fenfe, and ex-alt~ed fenfe, are not half fo ufe-ful as com-mon fenfe. He who wants good fenfe, is un-hap-py in having Icarn-ing; for he hastherc-by on- Eafy Lejfons. ly the more means of ex-po-fing himielf. To be proud of learn-ing is the great-eft ig-no-rance. The rea-fon of things lies in a nar-row com-pafs, if the mind could at a-ny time be fo hap-py as to light up-on it. The pains we take in books or arts, which treat of things re-mote from the ufc of life, is a bu-fy i-dle-nefs. XIV. Friend-fhip im-proves hap-pi-nefs, and a-bates mi-fe-ry; for by it we dou-ble our joys, and di-vide our griefs. If you have not the good na-ture to par- don your friends, nor they the fame to par- don you ; your friendfhip will laft no long- er than it can ferve both your in-te-refts. Gra-ti-tude pre-ferves old friend-fhip and procures new. When a friend afk-eth there is no to- mor-row. Cha-ri-ty is friend-fhip in com-mon and friend-fhip is cha-ri-ty in-clof-ed. XV. He can ne-ver fpeak well, that can ne- ver hold his tongue. It is one thing to fpeak much, and an-o-ther to fpeak pro- perty. Much tongue and much juug- Eafy Leffons, 55 jnent fel-dom go to-ge-ther: for talk-ingand think-ing are two quite dif-fer-ent qua-li- ties; and there is com-mon-ly more depth, where there is lefs noife. One rea-fon why fo few peo-ple pleafe us with their dif-courfe, is, that al-moft e-ve-ry bo-dy is more in-tent up.on what he him_felf has a mind to fay, than up-on mak-ing pro-per re-plies to what o-thers fay to him. XVI. It is a great maf-ter piece to fpeak well, with-out af-fect-ing know-ledge. He that is tru-ly polite, knows how to con-tra-diCt with re-fpect, and to pleafe with- out flat-te-ry. He chat ar-gues a-gainfl truth, takes pains to be o-ver-come. Vic-to-ry e-ver in-clines to him that con* tends the lead:. Mo : def-ty in your discourse will give a luf-tre to truth, and an ex-cufe to your er- ror. Some men are fi-lent for want of mat-tcr or af-fu-rance, and forrie a-gain are talk-a- tive for want of fenfe. XVII. To one you find full of ques-tions it is Easy Lessons, beft to make no an-fwer at all. Ze-no hear-ing a young man fpeak too freely, told him, iC For this reafon we have "two ears, and but one tongue, that we y all the days of his life after. XXVII. Truth in every thing is ftill the fame, ,nd like its great author, can be but one. Truth is always confident with itfelf, md needs nothing to help it out ; it is Iways near at hand, and fits upon our ips, and is ready to drop out before we ire aware ; whereas a lie is troublefome, md fets the mind upon the rack; and >nc trick needs a great many more to C2 Easy Lessors. make it good. . Plain truth muft have plain words; ihc is innocent, and accounts it no ihame to^be ieen naked. Truth is born with us ; and we must do violence to nature to ihake it off. XXVIII. There never was a hypocrite fo dif- guifed but he bad yet tome mark or other to be known by. Did men take as much care to mend as they do to conceal their failings' they would both fpare themselves that trouble which deceit puts them to; and gam, over and above, the praife they aim at by their Teeming virtues. Nothing appears fo low and mean, as lying and deceit; and we may observe, that only weak animals endeavour to fupply by craft the defects of ftreim-th, which nature has not given them. He only is worthy of efteem, that knows what is juftand honell, and dares do it. XXIX. All a man can get by lying and deceit, is, that he mall not be believed when he Easy Lessons, 63 fpeaks truth. Not to intend what you ipeak, is to give your heart the lie with your tongue: Not t,o perform what you promise, is to give your tongue the lie with your actions. There are lying looks, as well as lying words ; and'even a lying ulence. If a Iyer deferves to be punillied, what does he deserve who boafts of his falfe- hood ? lie that has no regard to his promife, ill all foon find both his promife and him- ielf, as little regarded by others. " Uv 1,1 XXX. It is obferved in thecourfe of worldly things, that men oftner make their tor- tunes by their tongue than by their vir- tues ; and more men's fortunes are over- thrown thereby, than by their vices. We mav hate men's vices, without any ill-will to their perfons ; but we cannot help defpifing thole that have no kind of virtue to recommend them. As the ihadow follows the body, fo praife follows virtue. Easy Lessons* Men, like watches, are to be valued for their goings. A great part of mankind employ their full years to make their laft unhappy. XXXI. Men of weak parts are apt to condemn everything above their reach: But he muft be a very unfit judge of wit, who foolifhly believes; that he has himfelf as much as any man needs to have. Tho' wit be lively and mantling, it is not often that it carries a great body with it. None are fo pofitive as your half wit- ted people ; who know juft enough to excite their pride, but not fo much as to cure their ignorance. Wife men learn more from fools, than fools from wife men ; for they fee their weaktiefs to avoid it ; but thefe coniider not their virtues to imitate them. XXXII. It is in all things an ufeful wifdom, to know when we have done enough. He hath made a good prqgrefain bufi- nefs who hath thought well of it before Easy Lessons. 65 hand. Some do firftand think afterwards. It is enough that every one m this lite do that welfthat belongs to his calling. If you intend doing any good, deter it not till the next day ; tor you know not what may happen the fame night to prevent you. . » Attempt not two things at once, tor the one will hinder the other. > Tho' an action be ever fo glorious in itfelf, it ought not to pais tor gfeat, it it be not the effect of wifdom, and good defign. XXXIII. A heart, without fecrefy, is an open letter for every one to read. • The itch of knowing fecrets, is always attended with another itch of telling them. „ . f It is good to forbear talking of things needlel" to be fpoken ; but it is much better to conceal things dangerous to be told. , "■■ If thou fpeak what thou wilt, thou fhalt hear what thou wouldft not. Thofe who believe all the good ipoken Easy Lessons* of themfelves, and all the evil fpoken of others, are miftaken on both fides. Account it no diigrace to be ill fpoken of by thofe men, whose favours would be no credit to you. I XXXIV. The way to live eafy, is to mind our own bufinefs, and leave others to the care of theirs. It a man cannot find eafe within him- felf, it is to littie purpofe to feek it any where elfe. He cannot rightly judge of pleafure, that never tailed pain. That comfort is in vain, that taketh not away the grief. A little water cannot quench a great lire, nor a little hope eafe a great mifery. The fear of death cannot difturb the mind of an innocent man. Where there are fo many thoulands of dangers hovering about us, what wonder is it, if one comes to hit at laft. I XXXV. There is nothing more to he wondered at, than that men who have lived long tail ; '. . . ..... - Easy Lessons, 67 fliould wonder at any thing. Whatever you diilike in another p&r- fon, take care to correct in yourfelf, by the gentle reproof of a better practice. Forget others faults, and remember own. , . Do nothing to day that thou wilt repent of to-morrow. Reft content with doing well, and leave others to talk of you what they pleafe. Think before you fpeak, and confider before you promife. XXXVI. Prefer folid fenfc to wit; never ftudy to be diverting without being ufeful; let no jeft intrude upon good manners ; nor fay any thing to offend modefty. He who will take no advice, but be always his own counfellor, mall be furc to have a fool for his client. The wifeft people are the moft ready to receive counfel, and the weakeft are often the moft ready to give it. Youth is fit for action, age for couniel. It is the common cuftom of the world to follow example, rather than precept ; but it would be thefafer couife* to lea nz 68 Easy Lessons, by precept rather than example. XXXVII. He that refufeth to amend his life to- day, may, for aught he knows, be dead before to-morrow. Sin blindeth the eyes of the wicked, but puniihment opens them. Such as feek to climb by private fin UiaJI fall with open fliam'e. By approving evil we become omiltv of it. & J An honeft man will not lie, although it be for his profit. Virt uc is health, but vice is sicknefs Of all virtuous works, the hardeft is to be humble. The belt things, when corrupted, be- come the worft. , Youth well inftructed, makes age well difpofed. XXXVIII. - If a mnn woul