for wisdom, sent for him to undertake the education of his son ALEXANDER, who was then fourteen years of age. Aristotle accepted the charge, and in eight years taught his pupil rhetoric, natural philosophy, ethics, politics, and a peculiar kind of philosophy, which he taught to no one else. With such ability and fidelity did he execute his office of preceptor, that PHILIP erected statues to his honour, and, for his sake, rebuilt the town of Stagyra, which had been almost ruined by the wars. The last fourteen years of his life ARISTOTLE chiefly passed at Athens. While ALEXANDER lived, his venerated tutor enjoyed tranquillity and respect; but, when the death of this renowned conqueror left him destitute of a patron, he became an object of jealousy to the priests and sophists, who were envious of the superiority of Aristotle's abilities, and inimical to the novelty of his doctrines. In order, therefore, to avoid the persecutions which his invidious enemies had raised against him, he secretly withdrew himself to Chalcis in Eubœa," where he survived only a few months. Various assertions have been made as to the cause and manner of his death; but it is most probable, that intense application of mind to abstruse enquiries, aided by vexation and regret, ended his days. He died in the 323rd year B.C. and in his 63rd year. His body was conveyed to STAGYRA, and a tomb and altar erected to his memory. ARISTOTLE was a very voluminous writer, and those of his works which remain are an indubitable proof that he possessed extraordinary powers of intellect, and a wonderful extent of knowledge. He wrote on rhetoric, poetry, politics, ethics, physics, mathematics, logic, and metaphysics. QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION.. 1, 2. What are the advantages of ICONOLOGY? 3. What effect have pictures on children in general? What, therefore, should be carefully done? Why? 4, 5, 6. What advantageous effects does ICONOLOGY tend to produce in the minds of children? 7, 8. What must we be careful to counteract? 9. What merit has ICONOLOGY pre-eminently? -9, 10. How do you prove this?-11. What is, therefore, obvious? Why? (Notes.) Who was STRABO? PTOLEMY? ARISTOTLE? Relate some particulars of their lives. See Pinnock's Classical Geography. 6 THE BEGINNING. 1. ALL BEINGS and THINGS have a BEGINNING, except the GREAT ETERNAL, who is the Author of them, and by whose Almighty power they are brought into existence, maintained therein, and rendered capable of answering the purposes for which they were created. 2. In SCRIPTURE, the calling into existence the vast UNIVERSE, the sun, the moon, the stars, and the world which we inhabit, with its numerous productions, animals, plants, and minerals, is emphatically called THE BEGINNING yet we have reason to believe, that this must be taken in a limited sense: ANGELS were in existence; many of them had fallen from their high estate, and become inhabitants of the infernal regions, before THE BEGINNING mentioned in the Scriptures. 66 3. Some philosophers assert, that MATTER is eternal, and that which is called THE CREATION, or Beginning," was merely the reducing rude matter into form, and producing from it organized beings. 4. That MATTER, or Substance, may have existed long before the Creation, usually so denominated, is not only probable, but Scripture appears to sanction the idea, as it is said, that," In the Beginning the earth was without form and void;" and, that it was not originally the production of the GREAT OMNIPOTENT, who alone is without a commencement of existence, few will be hardy enough to maintain. 5. But, besides this grand BEGINNING; when the universe with all its wonders and glories came forth from its Creator's hands,-there must be a commencement to every thing, however insignificant: and, as it respects human actions, men ought to bear in mind this Eastern maxim, which once saved the life of a sovereign prince ;"Never BEGIN a thing until you have well considered the END." 6. As these sketches are intended for the amusement and edification of the YOUNG, an outline of this story may be conducive to both purposes. "As an Eastern prince was riding with his courtiers, a dervise* presented himself, and offered, for a hundred pieces of gold, to give his majesty a valuable piece of advice. The king commanded the sum to be presented to him, and received in return the maxim above-mentioned. 7. "The courtiers were exceedingly indignant at what they considered a barefaced imposition, and desired permission to chastise the dervise on the spot. But the king declared himself well satisfied with his purchase, and ordered the sentence to be engraved on all his gold and silver plate. 8. "Some time after, a conspiracy was entered into, for the purpose of destroying the prince; and as he was at that time indisposed, his surgeon was bribed to dispatch him with a poisoned lancet. 9. "Accordingly, on being called to perform the operation of phlebotomy† on his Majesty, he prepared to accomplish his design; but happening, by chance, to cast his eyes on the sentence inscribed on the silver basin which an attendant held, he was seized with remorse, let fall the fatal instrument, and, prostrating himself before his injured master, confessed his crime, and named the instigators of his horrid purpose. 10. "The king, turning to his courtiers, observed, Now I hope you will confess, that a piece of advice pro *In Persian, DERVICH, a beggar, or poor man; a wandering, begging devotee; a Mahometan priest or monk. + Bloodletting. ductive of so important a consequence, was cheaply purchased at a hundred pieces of gold.”” 11. How many disastrous events, how many heartrending catastrophes* would be avoided, were our undertakings well considered at the beginning! were the probable consequences deliberately weighed, and sage advice sought and attended to! Rashness is more peculiarly the vice of the young, and many a life is spent in misery and bitter repining, because due deliberation was not used at its outset, and proper precautions were not taken to avoid the rocks and quicksands which abound in the ocean of existence. 12. The "Beginning of All Things" is usually represented, in ICONOLOY, as a Young Man, with no other clothing than a piece of white drapery, depending from his shoulder, and folded round his waist. In his right hand he holds the image of NATURE, furnished with numerous breasts, to signify the ample provision she makes for all the creatures that are represented as proceeding from her; and in his left a tablet, on which is inscribed " Alpha," the first letter of the Greek alphabet. Above the head of the young man is a resplendent glory. 13. The white drapery is intended to denote the purity with which every thing proceeded from the hand of its Creator: the image of Nature needs no explanation: the Alpha, being the first letter of the alphabet, is very expressive of the beginning; and the resplendent glory, over the head of the figure, is designed to give some faint idea of that GREAT BEING, who is the author and preserver of all things, both in heaven and earth. A catastrophe is a final event; a conclusion: rally applied only to unhappy termi 14. Sometimes the word "BEGINNING" is used to signify GOD, who is himself the true and only source of existence; from, and by whom, all natural bodies have their origin. QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. 1. What beings and things have a BEGINNING? What exception is there? 2. What is, in SCRIPTURE, emphatically called "THE BEGINNING!" In what sense must this phrase be taken? 3. What do some philosophers assert? 4. What is probable, and what idea does SCRIPTURE appear to sanction? 5. What maxim concerning human actions should we bear in mind' 6 to 10. Relate an anecdote exemplifying the usefulness of this maxim. 11. What are the advantages of duly considering the events of actions before undertaking them? What are the general consequences of a want of due deliberation? 12. How is the "Beginning of All Things" usually represented? 13. Explain the emblems. 14. How is the word " Beginning" sometimes used? STUDY. 1. THIS employment of the mind is usually represented by a young man sitting in a studious attitude, negligently dressed, leaning on an open scroll with his right hand, in which is a pen, and reading the contents of the lume with great attention by the light of a lamp; ne cock. 2. STUDY is represented young, because yo |