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MAXIMS, RULES OF LIFE,

PIOUS AND MORAL REFLECTIONS.

SHAKSPEARE.

ALL the souls that are, were forfeit once;
And He that might the 'vantage best have took,
Found out the remedy. How would you be,
If He, which is the top of judgment, should
But judge you as you are?

Never any thing can be amiss

When simpleness and duty tender it.

The silence often of pure innocence
Persuades, when speaking fails.

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Behold our human actions, (as they do,)
I doubt not then, but Innocence shall make
False Accusation blush.

Let none presume

To wear an undeserved dignity.

I dare do all that may become a man ;
Who dares do more, is none.

Nought 's had, all's spent,

When our desire is got without content.

Give sorrow words. The grief that does not speak, Whispers the o'er-fraught heart, and bids it break.

Dispute it like a man.-I shall do so,
But I must also feel it as a man ;

I cannot but remember such things were,
That were most precious to me.

To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death.

All places that the eye of Heaven visits
Are to a wise man ports and happy havens.

Each substance of a grief hath twenty shadows
Which show like grief itself, but are not so.
For Sorrow's eye, glazed with blinding tears,
Divides one thing entire to many objects.

An habitation giddy and unsure

Hath he that buildeth on the vulgar heart.

Happy low, lie down!

Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.

O England! model to thy inward greatness,
Like little body with a mighty heart,

What might'st thou do, that honour would thee do, Were all thy children kind and natural!

O how hast thou with jealousy infected
The sweetness of affiance! Show men dutiful?
Why, so didst thou.Seem they religious?
Why so didst thou.

'Tis true that we are in great danger; The greater therefore should our courage be.

There is some soul of goodness in things evil,
Would men observingly distil it out;

For our bad neighbour makes us early stirrers,
Which is both healthful and good husbandry.

O hard condition! twin born with greatness!
What infinite heart's-ease must kings neglect
That private men enjoy!

The slave, a member of the country's peace,
Enjoys it ;-but in gross brain little wots

What watch the king keeps to maintain the peace.

The great KING of kings

Hath in the table of his law commanded
That thou shalt do no murder. Wilt thou then
Spurn at His edict, and fulfil a man's?

Take heed, for He holds vengeance in His hand
To hurl upon their heads that break His law.

Take not the quarrel from GOD's powerful arm;
He needs no indirect nor lawless course
To cut off those who have offended Him.

I every day expect an embassage

From my REDEEMER to redeem me hence;
And more in peace my soul shall part to heav'n,
Since I have made my friends at peace on earth.

In common worldly things, 'tis call'd ungrateful,
With dull unwillingness to pay a debt,
Which with a bounteous hand was kindly lent;
Much more, to be thus opposite with Heav'n,
When it requires the royal debt it lent you.

O momentary grace of mortal man,

Which we more hunt for than the grace of GOD!

Fling away ambition;

By that sin fell the angels, how can man then,
The image of his MAKER, hope to win by't?

-Love thyself last;

Corruption wins not more than honesty.

Still in thy right hand carry gentle peace,
To silence envious tongues!-Be just, and fear not.

Had I but serv'd my GOD with half the zeal
1 serv'd my king,-He would not in mine age
Have left me naked to my enemies.

His overthrow heap'd happiness upon him;
For then, and not 'till then, he felt himself,
And found the blessedness of being little;
And to add greater honours to his age
Than man could give him, he died, fearing GOD.

The good I stand on is my truth and honesty;
If they shall fail, I, with my enemies,

Will triumph o'er my person; which I weigh not,
Being of those virtues vacant.

The ample proposition that hope makes
In all designs begun on earth below,

Fails in the promis'd largeness.

What stronger breast-plate than a heart untainted? Thrice is he arm'd that hath his quarrel just ; And he but naked, though lock'd up in steel, Whose conscience with injustice is corrupted.

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