Letters on the Improvement of the Mind |
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acquainted actions admiration advantage affection agreeable ancient Apocrypha Assyrian empire attention behaviour believe blessed book of Chronicles book of Kings character Charlemagne Christ Christian chronology connexion consider contempt conversation creature dear child dearest degree delight desire duty endeavour entertainment epocha esteem evil excellent faults feel fellow-creatures friendship give Grecian happiness heart Histories of Greece Holy honour human humour ignorance important improvement indulged innocent Israelites Jews Julius Cæsar kind kingdom of Judah knowledge least Maccabees mankind manner means ment mind moral nations nature necessary neral ness never observe ourselves parents particular passion perfect perhaps person pleasure poetry precepts proper pursuit racter reason recommend regard religion resentment Roman Roman republic rule sacking of Rome Saracen Scripture servants sincere Sirach spirit suppose temper tenderness thing tion true understanding vanity vice virtue whilst wish woman young
Popular passages
Page 65 - If thou wouldest get a friend, prove him first, and be not hasty to credit him: for some man is a friend for his own occasion, and will not abide in the day of thy trouble. And there is a friend who being turned to enmity and strife, will discover thy reproach.
Page 33 - ... breathing nothing but love to God, and to each other ; with them to dwell in scenes more delightful than the richest imagination can paint — free from every pain and care, and from all possibility of change or satiety : — but, above all, to enjoy the more immediate presence of God himself — to be able to comprehend and admire his adorable perfections in a high degree, though still far short of their infinity — to be conscious of his love and favour, and to rejoice in the light of his...
Page 65 - A faithful friend is the medicine of life; and they that fear the Lord shall find him. Whoso feareth the Lord shall direct his friendship aright; for as he is, so shall his neighbour (that is, his friend) be also.
Page 37 - Galatians : and several chapters of that to the Hebrews. Instead of perplexing yourself with these more obscure passages of scripture, I would wish you to employ your attention chiefly on those that are plain ; and to judge of the doctrines taught in the other parts, by comparing them with what you find in these. It is through the neglect of this rule, that many have been led to draw the most absurd doctrines from the holy scriptures.
Page 50 - ... but I have seen the sufferer himself become the object of envy and ill-will, as soon as his fortitude and greatness of mind had begun to attract admiration, and to make the envious person feel the superiority of virtue above good fortune. To take sincere pleasure in the blessings and excellences of others is a much surer mark of benevolence than to pity their calamities : and you must always acknowledge yourself ungenerous and selfish, whenever you are less ready to " rejoice with them that do...
Page 69 - ... again. Follow after him no more, for he is too far off ; he is as a roe escaped out of the snare. As for a wound, it may be bound up, and after reviling there may be reconciliation ; but he that bewrayeth secrets, is without hope.
Page 79 - ... though you are so happy as to have a good one while young, do not suppose it will always continue so, if you neglect to maintain a proper command over it. Power, sickness, disappointments, or worldly cares, may corrupt and embitter the finest disposition, if they are not counteracted by reason and religion. It is observed, that every temper is inclined, in some degree, either to passion, peevishness, or obstinacy. Many are so unfortunate as to be inclined to each of the three in turn : it is...
Page 90 - ... is so apt to grow dull and insipid in families, nay, in some to be almost wholly laid aside, must be cultivated with the frankness and openness of friendship, and by the mutual communication of whatever may conduce to the improvement or innocent entertainment of each other. Reading, whether apart or in common, will furnish useful and pleasing subjects; and the sprightliness of youth will naturally inspire harmless mirth and native humour...
Page 67 - Though thou drawest a sword at a friend, yet despair not, for there may be a returning to favour. If thou hast opened thy mouth against thy friend, fear not, for there may be a reconciliation ; except for upbraid125 ing, or pride, or disclosing of secrets, or a treacherous wound ; for, for these things every friend will depart.
Page 99 - ... humour may tempt you to lay aside for a time, and which a thousand unforeseen accidents will afterwards render it more and more difficult to execute: no one can say what important consequences may follow a trivial neglect of this kind. For example, I have known one of these procrastinators disoblige, and gradually lose very valuable friends, by delaying to write to them so long, that, having no good excuse to offer, she could not get courage enough to write at all, and dropped their correspondence...