They ought to examine themselves as to whether they possess the faculties and vigor which are required for the profession of their choice.

2.

What kind of knowledge and aptitude ought they to acquire? Such as are necessary in order to fulfill their professional duties. What have they to do after the choice?

After it they ought to discearge faithfully and cheerfully the duties of their vocation.

Why should we not look down with scorn on the vocations of other persons?

Because every work honors its performer; different ranks are necessary for the welfare of mankind, and therefore men must divide the different tasks among them. Besides, the faculties and propensities of men are very different; therefore every one is not fit for every profession.

11.

II. Duties Towards Our Fellow Creatures (Duties of Benevolence).

§ 14. First Principles.

I. Do unto other men as, according to reason, you wish that they should do unto you.

2. Love your fellow-creatures, as well as yourself.

3.

4.

5.

6.

I.

Use other men as independent beings, not as mere means.
Be humane to every one.

Promote also the welfare of others.

Act in conformity with the sympathetic impulse.

§ 15. General Duties.

How ought we to behave towards other men?

We should love and respect them, if good, like ourselves; for all men have the same nature, the same faculties, and the same destination; they all are members of the same family. All are as links in the chain of human society; they need each other; ail

They all wish to be happy.

help and supply each other. "We are all limbs of one great body. Nature produces us all, as relations to each other. She inspired us with mutual love, and made us social."-Seneca. "The universal, immutable and eternal law of all intelligent beings is to promote the happiness of one another, like children of the same father."-Cicero, 76 A. C.

2. How else ought we to behave towards others?

We ought to be obliging and kind, just and equitable, peaceable, affable and polite towards them.

How should we consider the faults and frailties of other men? We should not censure them harshly, but judge meekly and equitably. "With what judgment you judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again. Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother: Let me pull the mote out of thine eye; and behold a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye."-Bible.

What does politeness not consist of?

Politeness does not consist of slavish subjection, cringing, flattery and fawning; it ought to be the expression of benevolence. What do we gain by politeness?

The good will of men.

3. What impulse ought we also to satisfy?

The impulse of sympathy.

How do we satisfy it?

If we take a hearty interest in the sufferings and joys of others. What should sympathetic feelings produce?

They should produce benevolent actions; our emotions ought not to remain idle.

4. When do we show the highest degree of philanthropy ?

When we sacrifice our own weal for our family, for our friends, for our country, or in general for mankind.

5.

Why ought we to avoid selfishness?

Because selfishness is the contrary of generosity, and lays claim to every advantage at the expense of others.

SPECIAL DUTIES.

§ 16. 1.-Duties of Children Towards their Parents. What are the duties of children towards their parents?

Because the parents render the children so many benefits. · For what benefits particulary are children indebted to their parents?

For life, nourishment, clothing and protection.

What other benefits do parents confer on their children?

Parents nurse their children when they fall sick; they provide for their education and instruction, and leave them, when they die, the property they have saved in life. "Cherish thy parents! What thou bestowest on them, thou shalt receive from thy children in thine old age.”—Thales.

2. Children ought to respect parents.

Why ought they to respect them?

Because the parents are more intelligent, and have more experience than children.

How ought they to behave if the parents commit faults?

They ought to be forbearing, and not despise their parents when they grow old and frail. "Reverence thy parents."-Solon.

Because parents know the world better than children, and their orders aim at the welfare of the children.

What bad results does disobedience cause?

Disobedient children are disliked and punished, and by disobedience they often injure themselves.

In what manner ought children to obey parents?

They ought to obey them cheerfully, and immediately, and always.

7. They should also be grateful to their parents.

Why?

Because the parents are their greatest benefactors.

In what way do children prove themselves to be grateful?

When they aid their parents as much as they can, in their work,

nurse them in their diseases, and support them in their old age and helplessness.

5.

Children ought to be true and sincere to their parents. Why ought they to be true and sincere?

Because the parents are their best friends, and cannot educate them well, unless they know all about the doings of their children.

§ 17. 2.-Duties Towards Brothers, Sisters and Relations.

By what connection are brothers and sisters closely related?
By the connection of blood and family.

How, then, should brothers and sisters mutually behave?

I. They should love each other most dearly,-next to the parents.

2. They ought to be to each other obliging and kind, liberal and compassionate.

3. To deal mutually with candor and trust.

4. To bear small offences patiently, to be peaceable, and prompt to forgive each other.

5. Not to belittle and slander each other to their parents. What do children owe to their grand-parents and to other relatives?

They owe them love, respect and kindness.

§ 18. 3.-Duties Towards Companions.

How should children behave towards comrades, schoolmates and playmates?

1. They should be kind and accommodating to them.

I.

2.

Not scoff at them, nor frighten them for fun, much less illtreat them.

3. Not cause quarrels and enmity among them.

4.

But strive to reconcile them to each other.

5. Not entice each other to evil doings.

Whose company must children avoid?
The company of the wicked.

§ 19. 4. Duties Towards Teachers.

Why do not parents themselves always teach and educate their children?

Either because they have not the knowledge which is necessary

for their instruction, or because the duties of their vocation prevent them from performing it.

To whom, therefore, do they intrust the children?

To teachers and tutors.

Whom do teachers and tutors represent?

They represent the parents of the children.

To what duties, then, are children in general bound?

They are bound to the same duties towards their teachers and tutors as towards their parents.

How should they behave towards them in particular?

I. They should show them love and respect in their behavior. 2. Be obedient to them.

What does the obedience of the scholars towards their teachers require ?

It requires that they receive their instruction with silence and attention, perform diligently their oral and written exercises, and avoid defiance and obstinacy towards the orders of the teachers. Why ought their obedience to be distinguished by these qualities?

Because without them they cannot have good success at school. 3. They ought also to show themselves grateful towards their teachers.

§ 20. 5 and 6.-Duties Towards Friends and Benefactors. How ought friends to behave mutually?

1. They ought to be kind and obliging.

I.

2.

Sincere and discreet, by confiding their secrets to each other, and by keeping them faithfully.

3. To keep mutually-promised faith inviolate.

"The sacrifices

we make to a friend we count not sacrifices, but pleasures; we sorrow for his sorrow; we supply his wants, or, if we cannot, we share them. We follow him into exile; we close ourselves in his prison; we soothe him in sickness; we strengthen him in death; nay, if it is possible, we throw down our life for his."—Epicurus in "A Few Days in Athens," by Francis Wright, p. 126. "Be kind to your friends, that they may continue such; and to your enemies, that they may become your friends."-Cleobulus. "Friends are one soul in two bodies."-Aristotle.