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SUICIDE.

A SCORPION, when he finds himself inclosed, and no way left him to escape, will bend his tail round and sting himself through the head. And it is remarkable, that this is the only animal in the creation, man excepted, that can be made to commit Suicide.

SUN.

If the sun were intelligent, he would see and know all, even to the intimate substance of things, as his rays penetrate to and affect every atom of matter. Thus is the Deity intimate to the spirits and thoughts of men. Cudworth adduces the instance of the sun, as furnishing an idea how all things may be viewed and governed by the Deity without pain, labour or fatigue, in answer to the objection of the Atheists against Providence: (Bibl. Chois. ix. 64.) and a noble illustration it is as was ever conceived by man. A curious passage on the subject of God's omniscience is cited by Le Clerc, in the same place, from Xenophon's Mem. c. iv. 17. edit. Oxon. 8vo. God's glory consists in the communication of his goodness to his creatures, as

the light diffused from the sun is the glory of the celestial luminary. Cudworth, B. C. ix. 69.

SUNDAY SCHOOLS.

THE different sects may instruct each its own children in a school of its own: but I do not see how the children of different sects can be instructed together in one school, as their doctrines, catechisms, &c. are different, and the children are to be conducted to separate places of worship: the parents of one sort will not approve of their children being carried to the church or meeting-house of another. How can you bring them all up in a catholic way, unless you have one catholic, i. e. universal, general, common religion in which to bring them up? To be of a catholic spirit, is to unite in that one religion; not to jumble together the errors, inconsistencies, and heresies of all. This must end in indifference. It may bring the people of the Church nearer to the sects; but the present times do not give us any hope, that it will bring the sects nearer to the Church.-See Bruce, v. i. p. 519-523.

TARTARS,

THEIR CUSTOMS.

1. IN Kardan, a province of Tartary, as soon as a woman is delivered, she rises, washes, and dresses the child. Then the husband, getting into bed with the infant, keeps it there forty days, and receives visits as if he had lain in.-It seemeth not easy to account for this custom. Apply this to the case of authors who publish other people's works as their own, and take the credit to themselves; or to rectors, who value themselves on account of the good done by their curates.

2. Various have been the disputes, in different ages and nations, about the object of adoration. In some parts of Tartary, the inhabitants, to make short work of it, worship the oldest man in the house, as the being from whom the rest of the family have received life and all things.-Apply this to those who dote upon antiquity, as such.

TEA.

THE Mogul Tartars, Abbé Grozier tells us, who feed on raw flesh, are subject to continual indigestions whenever they give over the use of tea.

It

may be the same in some degree with all who eat so much animal food as we do. It is true, the work of digestion is made easier by fire, in dressing; but then our stomachs are weaker than those of the Tartars. Tea should not be drunk, but when there is something for it to feed upon.

TEMPERANCE.

1. CARNIVOROUS animals have more courage, and muscular strength, and activity, in proportion to their bulk; which is evident by comparing the cat-kind, as lions, tigers, and likewise the dog-kind, with herb-eating animals of the same bulk. Birds of prey excel granivorous in strength and courage. I know more than one instance of irascible passions being much subdued by a vegetable diet.-Arbuthnot.

2. Imitation requires judgment to discern when circumstances are parallel; because, if they are not, it will be absurd and ridiculous; as a goose, that sees another goose drink, will do the same though he is not thirsty.-The custom of drinking for company, when drink is disagreeable and prejudicial, seems to be a case of the same kind, and to put a man (feathers only excepted) upon a footing with a goose.

K

“tumn, and the night winter."-Voyages and Travels, iv. 193, from Navarette. To man life is a year, and a year is a day.—See the Idler,

3. Past scenes are generally recollected with a solemn sadness, caused by the thought, that the time is gone which will never more return. Our days must be well and profitably spent, if we would remember them with pleasure.

4. In our Christian course, it is but too generally and too truly observed, that, as we grow older, we grow colder; we become more slack, remiss, and weary in well doing. The reverse ought to be the case, for the reason assigned by the Apostle, when, stirring up his converts to vigour, and zeal, and alacrity, he says-" FOR now is our salvation nearer than when we believed."-In a race, the push is made at last.

5. What enabled Dr. Birch to go through such a variety of undertakings was his being an early riser. By this method he had executed the business of the morning before numbers of people had begun it. And indeed, it is the peculiar advantage of rising betimes, that it is not in the power of any interruptions, avocations, or engagements whatever, to deprive a man of the hours which have already been well employed, or to rob him of the consolation of reflecting,

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