True cheerfulness.

Retire, and read the Bible, to be gay;

There, truths abound of sov'reign aid to peace.
Poverty and riches.

Who lives to nature, rarely can be poor;
Who lives to fancy, never can be rich.

Our country.

How has kind Heav'n adorn'd our happy land,
And scatter'd blessings with a lib'ral hand!

An honest, humble heart.

Th' Almighty, from his throne, on earth surveys
Naught greater, than an honest, humble heart.

Virtue.

Who does the best his circumstance allows,

Does well, acts nobly; angels could no more.

Just judgment.

Though small our pow'r to act, though mean our skill, God sees the heart: he judges by the will.

The wish.

May I govern my passions with absolute sway;
And grow wiser and better as life wears away!

SECTION 2.

The Bible.

HAPPY they, who know their Bible true;
And in that volume read, with sparkling eyes,
Their title to a treasure in the skies!

Advice to youth.

Youth is not rich in time; it may be poor!
Part with time, as with money, sparing; pay
No moment, but in purchase of its worth:

And what its worth, ask death-beds; they can tell,

Reflection.

'Tis greatly wise to talk with our past hours;

And ask them, what report they bore to Heav'n,
And how they might have borne more welcome news,
Swearing.

To swear is neither brave, polite, nor wise.

You would not swear upon the bed of death :
Reflect, your Maker now could stop your breath.
Choice of friends.

Who friendship with a knave has made,

Is judg'd a partner in the trade.

'Tis thus, that on the choice of friends, Our good or evil name depends.

Modesty of apparet.

Let not gay clothing captivate your sight.
Shun tawdry ornaments; they're vain and light :
Let sense and modesty your dress prepare.
Th' immortal mind demands your utmost care.

Pride of dress.

We sacrifice to dress, till household joys

And comforts cease.

Dress drains our cellar dry,

And keeps our larder lean; puts out our fires;

And introduces hunger, frost, and wo,

Where peace and hospitality might reign.

Censoriousness.

In other men we faults can spy,

And blame the mote that dims their eye;

Each little speck and blemish find;
To our own stronger errors blind.

Ere

you remark another's sin,

Bid your own conscience look within.

Forgiveness.

For ev'ry trifle, scorn to take offence;

That always shows great pride, or little sense.
Good nature and good sense should ever join:

To err is human; to forgive, divine.

Peace of mind.

Go, rule thy will;

Bid thy wild passions all be still;
Know God, and bring thy heart to know
The joys which from religion flow:
Then ev'ry grace shall prove its guest;
And peace be there, to crown the rest.

Charity.

'Tis our part, as Christians,

To pardon trespasses; our very foes
To love and cherish; to do good to all;
Live peaceably; and be, in all our acts,
Wise as the serpent, gentle as the dove.

Resignation.

Be satisfied and pleas'd with what thou art;
Act cheerfully, and well, th' allotted part.

Improve the present hour; be thankful for the past;
And neither fear, nor wish, th' approaches of the last.

Inscription on a sun-dial.

Mark well my shade, and seriously attend
The silent lesson of a common friend :-
Since time and life speed hastily away,
And no one can recall the former day,
Improve each fleeting hour before 'tis pass'd;
And know, each fleeting hour may be thy last.

Thought in a church-yard,

Think as softly sad you tread

Above the venerable dead,

Time was, like thee, they life possess'd;
And time shall be, that thou shalt rest:
Think, mortal, what it is to die.

SECTION 3.

Self-examination.

LET not soft slumbers close thy eyes,

Ere ev'ry action of the day

Impartially thou dost survey.

"Where have my feet chose out their way?
What have I learn'd, where'er I've been,
From all I've heard, from all I've seen?
What know I more, that's worth the knowing?
What have I done, that's worth the doing?
What have I sought, that I should shun?
What duty have I left undone?
Or into what new follies run?"
These self-inquiries are the road,
That leads to virtue, and to God.

Industry.

Who's born for sloth? To some we find
The ploughshare's annual toil assign'd:
Some at the sounding anvil glow :
Some the swift-gliding shuttle throw :
Some, studious of the wind and tide,
From pole to pole, our commerce guide:
While some, with genius more refin'd,
With head and tongue assist mankind,
In ev'ry rank, or great or small,
'Tis industry supports us all,

Praise due to the Creator.

The glorious sun,

That lights the world, and gives the day;
The moon, that shines with borrow'd light;
The stars, that gild the gloomy night;
The seas, that roll unnumber'd waves;
The wood, that spreads its shady leaves;
The field, whose ears conceal the grain,
The yellow treasures of the plain :
All of these, and all I see,

Should be sung, and sung by me ;
They speak their Maker as they can,
But want and ask the tongue of man.

Pleasures of religion.

'Tis religion that can give
Sweetest pleasures while we live;
'Tis religion must supply

Solid comfort when we die :

After death, its joys will be

Lasting as eternity.

Let me, then, make God my friend;

And on all his ways attend.

Lessons to be learned from animals.

The daily labours of the bee,
Awake my soul to industry.

Who can observe the careful ant,
And not provide for future want?
My dog, (the trustiest of his kind,)
With gratitude inflames my mind
I mark his true, his faithful way,
And in my service copy Tray,