"nus hoc in gradu collocavit, nisi ne quid priva"tis studiis de operâ publicâ detrahamus.—Quod “si, quum fungi munere debeamus, operam nos«tram nunquam a populari cœtu removemus, quis "reprehendet nostrum otium, qui in eo non modò "nosmetipsos hebescere et languere nolumus, sed “ etiam ut plurimis prosimus enitimur ?”—Acad. 'Lucull. sect. 6.-As if it were proper for eminent men to remain mute in company, or to confine their conversation to drollery and trifles. Placed as we are by the Roman people in this elevated station, our only concern is to take care, that private study never withdraws us from a due attention to the public service. But if we are ever ready to perform every duty that we owe to our country, who shall grudge us an application of our leisure, by which we not only rescue ourselves from indolence, but endeavour to produce fruits advantageous to others?

3. There are some who have too mean an opinion of their own abilities, and by fancying themselves to be useless, become so, and dare not attempt many things, in which they are capable of succeeding, and which they ought to perform, This behaviour arises more from INDOLENCE or MELANCHOLY, than from humility.-Jortin's Sermons, iv. 24.

4. Inventors and projectors, however wild and visionary, often afford matter, which a wise man will know how to qualify and turn to use, though they did not.-See Account of Settlement in America, 1. 65.

5. Mr. Locke always used to say, "I like your "builders; for, whether they succeed or not in "constructing the edifice, they bring together mate"rials very valuable to a more skilful architect.”See Sublime and Beautiful, 92.

6. An original genius resembles the eagle, who disdains to share the plunder of another bird; and will take up with no prey, but that which he has acquired by his own pursuit.

7." I pity unlearned gentlemen in a rainy day," was the usual saying of Lord Falkland.

LIGHT AND LOVE.

LIGHT is the great source of blessing in the natural world, love in the moral. The excellencies of both are united in the Divine Nature: God is light, and God is love. A slavish and superstitious fear of God proceeds, therefore, from a misapprehension of him; as when the disciples saw Jesus walking

upon the sea, and knew not who it was, they were scared with the appearance; and therefore our Lord, to take off their fear, only made himself better known to them; It is I, says he, be not afraid.-See Norris's Sermons, xi. 194.

LOCKMAN.

1. THE famous oriental philosopher Lockman, while a slave, being presented by his master with a bitter melon, immediately ate it all. How was it possible, said his master, for you to eat so nauseous a fruit? Lockman replied, "I have received so

many favours from you, that it is no wonder I "should once in my life eat a bitter melon from 66 your hand." This generous answer of the slave struck the master to such a degree, that he immediately gave him his liberty.-With such sentiments should man receive his portion of sufferings at the hand of God.

2. The same Lockman, being informed by angels (as the legend goes) that God would make him a monarch, replied-" If he would grant me liberty "to choose my condition of life, I had rather con"tinue in my present state, and be kept from of"fending him: otherwise all the grandeur and

"splendour of the world would be troublesome to

"me."

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Speak the truth;" (said the same philosopher) -keep your word;-and intermeddle not in "affairs which do not concern you.”

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"Be a learned man, a disciple of the learned, or

an auditor of the learned; at least be a lover of "knowledge, and desirous of improvement."

LYNCH. (DEAN)

He was a constant preacher through life, either at the cathedral, one of his livings, or at Grove, his family estate; in short, wherever he happened to be. Of his charities a judgment may be formed from the following circumstance. His son was sent for by the citizens of Canterbury, and chosen burgess, without a shilling expence." Sir," (said the poorer freemen, sitting sober in their houses when he went round to thank them) " you had a right "to command our votes; your father fed us, and 66 your mother clothed us." Communicated to me. by Dr. Beauvoir, who went round with him. The Dean never forgot any thing once treasured up in his memory.

GOD

MACDONALD. (Hugh)

THE world tempts and disappoints; it excites desires after happiness, but satisfies them not. The case of its votaries too much resembles that of the perfidious rebel, Hugh Macdonald, mentioned by Dr. Johnson in his Journey to the Hebrides, p. 167, who was served with a plentiful meal of salt meat; and, when thirst made him clamorous for drink, a cup was let down to him in the dungeon, which, on lifting the cover, he found to be empty!

MACHIAVEL's OBSERVATION.

It is observable, that Machiavel employs a whole chapter designedly, to prove, that revolutions in states are often presaged by prodigies, the causes of which he professeth himself unable to assign; unless they may be attributed to some spirits and intelligences in the air, which give the world notice of such things to come. See Machiav, Disput. 1. i. €. 56.

MAHOMET VIEWING DAMASCUS,

THE Arabian false prophet, viewing the delicious and pleasurable situation of Damascus, would not