Vice.

THERE are many diversities of vice; but it is one never-failing effect of it to live displeased and discontented.

The end of a dissolute life is most commonly a desperate death.

Our pleasant vices

Are made the whip to scourge us.

It has been, and ever will be, lawful to attack vice, if you at the same time spare the individual.

No man ever reached the summit of vice suddenly.
Horace says:

We have all our vices, and the best

Is he, who with the fewest is opprest."

Vice stings us, even in our pleasures, but virtue consoles us, even in our pains.

Vice is a monster of so frightful mien,
As to be hated needs but to be seen;
Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face,
We first endure, then pity, then embrace.

The martyrs to vice far exceed the martyrs to virtue, both in endurance and in number. So blinded are we by our passions, that we suffer more to be lost than to be saved.

Good men make a better bargain, and bad men a worse than is usually supposed; for the rewards of the one and the punishnents of the other not unfrequently begin on this side the grave. Vicious actions are perpetual perturbations.

We often see—

Virtue in distress and vice in triumph

but let us remember that "the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.”

Through tattered clothes small vices do appear;
Robes and furr'd gowns hide all.

The horrible catastrophes that sometimes happen to the vicious are as salutary to others by their warning, as the most brilliant rewards of the virtuous are by their example.

To affirm that a vicious man is only his own enemy, is about as wise as to affirm that a virtuous man is only his own friend.

One sin another doth provoke.

Reject the society of the vicious; shun the agreeable infidel, and the accomplished profligate. Lay it down as a fixed rule, that no brilliancy of connection, no allurement of rank or fashion, no agreeableness, no wit or flattery, shall tempt you to associate with profligate or openly irreligious men. Make this an absolute rule. It is impossible not to suffer by its neglect. If you do not fall into their vices, still your heart will be estranged from the love of God.

Seneca asks: "Why is there no man who confesses his vices? It is because he has not yet laid them aside. It is a waking man only who can tell his dreams."

"Vice," says Juvenal, "deceives men under the guise and semblance of virtue, since it is frequently grave in bearing, and austere in look and dress."

Vice oft is hid in virtue's fair disguise,

And in her borrowed form escapes inquiring eyes.

In all civilized communities there must of necessity exist a sinall portion of society who are in a great measure independent of public opinion. How then is this seeming advantage balanced in the great account? These privileged individuals, surrounded by parasites, sycophants, and deceivers, too often become the willing victims of self-delusion, flattery, or design. Such persons commence by being their own masters, and finish by being their own slaves, the Heliogabili of excess and the martyrs of disease. Undelighted amidst all delight, and joyless amidst all enjoyment, yet sateless in the very lap of satiety, they eventually receive the full measure of the punishment of their folly, their profligacy, or their vice; nay, they often suffer more than other men, not because they are as amenable as their inferiors, but because they go greater lengths. Experience speaks to such in vain, and they sink deeper in the abyss in precise proportion to the height from which they have plunged.

He that can apprehend and consider vice with all her seeming pleasures, and yet prefer that which is truly better, he is the true wayfaring Christian. I cannot praise a fugitive and cloistered virtue unexercised and unbreathed, that never sallies out and sees her adversary, but slinks out of the race where that immortal garland is to be run for, not without dust and heat.

Virtue.

THE path of virtue is the path of peace.

Virtue is not to be considered in the light of mere innocence, or abstaining from harm; but as the exertion of our faculties in doing good.

Still in the paths of honour persevere,

And not from past or present ills despair;
For blessings ever wait on virtuous deeds,
And tho' a late, a sure reward succeeds.

Money must first be scraped together, and afterwards, forsooth, virtue and all that is amiable may then receive some little portion of our attention !-Horace.

Let money first be sought,

Virtue is only worth a second thought!

Aristotle says: "Reason is not implied in kingly power. One may do noble deeds without ruling over land or sea.

Aristotle divided men into two classes-the many and the refined—οἱ πολλοί καὶ οἱ παρίεντες. He it is who tells us that habit is second nature.

oi

Good acts produce good habits.

Habit striketh long and fast,

Second nature 'tis at last.

Euripides says:

"Small wisdom was it in me to aspire,

When well I might, mixed with the common herd,

Enjoy a lot full equal with the best.

But, ah, how full of vanity is man!

The restless meddling spirits in the state

Are gaped at still and made the country's gods."

All, or most men, wish that which is noble, but practically choose that which is expedient.

Aristotle says: "A good man is pleased with good actions as the musical man is with musical tunes."

Men force each other to do that which is right, though unwilling to do it themselves.

Engage in no amusements which are not strictly harmless, innocent, and rational, and which do not tend to improve the health of the body or the vigour of the mind.

Attend my words, no place but harbours danger;
In every region virtue finds a foe.

Virtue alone outbids the pyramids;

Her monuments shall last, when Egypt's fall.

Virtue may be assailed, but never hurt;
Surprised by unjust force, but not enthrall'd.

A heart unspotted is not easily daunted.

This world, 'tis true,

Was made for Cæsar-but for Titus too;

And which more blest? who chained his country, say;
Or he whose virtue sigh'd to lose a day!

Live virtuously, and you cannot die too soon nor live too long. Moderation is best-excess to be avoided.

Talk they of morals! O Thou bleeding Lamb,

The true morality is love of Thee!

Let me make this choice-God and His will, Christ and His work, the Spirit and His baptism of fire.

A man may have the tongue of an angel with the heart of a devil. It is not enough to have "another heart" like Saul. Another heart may make another man, but it is a new heart alone that makes a new man.

Virtue is bold, and goodness never fearful.

Virtue, the strength and beauty of the soul.

"It is difficult," says Cicero, "to persuade men that the love of virtue is the love of themselves."

"Virtue," says Epicurus, "consisteth of three parts-temperance, fortitude, and justice."

Prosperity doth best discover vice, but adversity doth best discover virtue.

Were there but one virtuous man in the world, he would hold up his head with confidence and honour; he would shame the world, and not the world him.

In the deepest distress virtue is more illustrious than vice in its highest prosperity.

Virtue has such a peculiar beauty and comeliness that even men of the most opposite character are impelled to reverence it in others whatever be their station.

The only amaranthine flower on earth

Is virtue; th' only lasting treasure, truth.

Waiting.

WHY should we be impatient? God's time must be the best time.

God does not bid thee wait
To disappoint at last;
A golden promise fair and great
In precept mould is cast.
Soon shall the morning gild

The dark horizon rim;

Thy heart's desire shall be fulfilled;

Wait patiently for Him.

We are

It may be long; but God has His own good time, and not a minute later than that time will the answer come. prone to think God forgets us, when, indeed, we forget ourselves in being so bold as to set God a time of our own, and in being angry that He comes not just then to us. God may sometimes delay His promise, but He will not deny it.

The best answer to the best prayer may be-Wait! “Wait for the promise of the Father," said Christ to His Apostles. Blessed are all they that wait for Him," writes the Psalmist. The Christian, like the Psalmist, saith, "My soul waiteth for the Lord."

Do we disparage the musician's skill for the jarring and unintelligible touches in the tuning of the instrument, but rather wait for the time he intends to play? If we stay for God's fuller touches of this great instrument, the world, in the way of His providence, it will, like David's harp, chase away that evil spirit from us which is now too apt to censure Him.

It is a serious thing for a Christian to move; he should wait God's call, and when He has it, attend to it; but on no account whatever go out of the path of duty.

Who best

Bear His mild yoke, they serve Him best: His state
Is kingly; thousands at his bidding speed,
And post o'er land and ocean without rest.

They also serve who only stand and wait.

To know how to wait is the great secret of success.

The fruit best worth waiting for often ripens the slowest;