of nobler birth than myself, to enjoy undisturbed the small pleasure he can derive from boasting of a supposed advantage, in the acquirement of which he had not the smallest share. For what mortal is born nobly or ignobly in the sight of God? That in civil society various ranks and stations should exist is necessary to the good order of the wholewhich would cease without them. Why should I, by detraction, endeavour to destroy that, which has been benevolently and wisely appointed?

There is only one thing here below, which I can call estimable in myself,-and only one, which commands esteem from all men. This is VIRTUE-this is the knowledge of God-the walking humbly with Him. Therefore, the Holy Scripture saith: Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me, that I am the Lord which exercise loving kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord. (JEREM. ix. 23, 24.)

And may Thy approbation, all-wise, all-ruling Lord, be the goal of my thoughts and actions! If I can but appear before Thee without reproach, and with serenity, O Thou all-proving, all-seeing God -then may I well submit, whether, in the eyes of

mortals, I be more or less worthy on account of knowledge, beauty, riches, rank, or dignity. For I breathe, I live for Thee alone, O my Creatorfor the supreme felicity of Thy kingdom.

This spirit will I preserve :-it is the spirit of Jesus! I will watch over myself more carefully, and beware lest I fall into the vice of depreciating, by my uncharitable judgment, the good which I remark in my fellow-creatures. That which deserves esteem, I will willingly commend ;-for by such means I may excite in others a noble emulation. Then may I, by a word, be the cause of good in many a heart, even without my knowing it—and may further Thy kingdom, O God, which is the kingdom of love and bliss. Amen.

R

XVIII.

THE ILL-TEMPERED MAN.

COLOSSIANS iii. 12.

"Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering."

WE cannot but wonder at the trouble which men often give themselves to enjoy their lives as little as possible; at their making it, as it would seem, their first duty to render disagreeable to others, and still more so to themselves, the few days which the will of their Creator has assigned them upon earth.

There are various kinds of persons, who, happen what will, are never contented with any thing; and cannot agree with any body, however kind and conceding he may be towards them. They have always some subject for censure, for quarrel, for reproach, or for complaint. They are always engaging in new friendships, and can preserve none for long. No where are they pleased. In every place they find something to offend them, always

something to object to-at one time the regulations, at another the persons, of the family with which they are connected. No one does any thing to their satisfaction.

Such miserable and quarrelsome people may, exclusively of these bad habits, have very amiable qualities; they may, at first sight, be very prepossessing, and continue pleasing as long as we are not more intimately acquainted with them, and perceive not their failings. They may even accustom themselves to conceal their morose and imperious temper in strange places and new society. They are courteous, indulgent, full of attention towards others. They wish to please. They take pains to gain approbation :-partly because they imagine that the new acquaintances are according to their taste, men after their own hearts;-partly to show others, with whom they live in discord, that they are by no means unsocial and unfriendly by nature, but that they have been compelled to be so by the faults of their earlier associates. But as soon as the new acquaintances shall have become a few weeks older, and have lost the charm of novelty; as soon as a nearer connexion permits a greater intimacy, the quarrelsome man turns the rough side outwards, and is again, as before, without forbearance. He blames, reproaches, is positive, would have every thing according to his fancy,

and finishes by tearing asunder the bonds of the friendship he had so industriously sought, and by contemptuously rejecting the esteem which we had conceived for him.

This singular disposition, which eclipses, and sometimes renders entirely useless, all the laudable qualities of a person, all his excellent talents and knowledge, however splendid they may be,-is frequently nothing more than the fruit of a consciousness of such advantages, only the effect of the pride of possessing these acquirements. With a small portion of modesty the quarrelsome man would be converted into the most peaceable of all men. But this consciousness of superiority leads him to look down upon others, and to hold them cheap in his opinion. He thinks that he has a more correct insight into every thing; that he knows every thing better: all opposition offends and provokes him ;-it appears to him like doubting the soundness of his understanding, a mistrust of his knowledge and experience. He rejects with a decisive tone whatever is not according to his taste. He passes a severe judgment upon both the important and the unimportant; and will maintain his opinions even at the risk of grieving others. In his passion, it is alike to him whether a person hate him or not; he means to stand above the world, to be all-sufficient for himself, and independent.