To all my weak complaints and cries Ere yet my feeble thoughts had learnt Thine arm unseen convey d me safe Through hidden dangers toils and death And through the pleasing snares of vice When worn with sickness oft hast thou Thy bounteous hand with worldly bliss Ten thousand thousand precious gifts That tastes those gifts with joy. Through every period of my life When nature fails and day and night My ever grateful heart O Lord Through all eternity to thee For O eternity s too short The Voyage of Life. Self flatter d unexperienc d bigh in hope When young with sanguine cheer and streamers gay We cut our cable launch into the world And fondly dream each wind and star our friend All in some darling enterprise embark d But where is he can fathom its event Amid a multitude of artless hands Ruin s sure perquisite her lawful prize Some steer aright but the black blast blows hard With swelling sails make good the promis d port PART. V. EXERCISES TO PROMOTE PERSPICUOUS AND ACCURATE WRITING. First, with respect to single words and phrases. CHAP. I. Containing violations of the Rules of Purity. We should be employed dailily in doing good. He is no way thy inferior; and, in this instance is ho ways to blame. The assistance was welcome, and timelily afforded. For want of employment, he stroamed idly about the fields. We ought to live soberly, righteously, and godlily in the world. He was long indisposed, and at length died of the hyp. That word follows the general rule, and takes the penult accent. He was an extra genius, and attracted much attention. The hauteur of Florio was very disgracious, and disgusted both his friends and strangers. He charged me with want of resolution, in the which he was greatly mistaken They have manifested great candidness in all the transaction The naturalness of the thought greatly recommended it. The importance, as well as the authenticalness of the books, has been clearly display ed. It is difficult to discover the spirit and intendment of some laws. The disposition which he exhibited, was both unnatural and incomfortable. His natural severity rendered him a very impopular speaker. The disquietness of his mind, made his station and wealth far from being enviable. I received the gift with pleasure, but I shall now gladlier resign it. These are the things highliest important to the growing age. It grieveth me to look over so many blank leaves, in the book of my life. It repenteth me that I have so long walked in the paths of folly. Methinks I am not mistaken in an opinion, which I have so well considered.* They thought it an important subject, and the question was strenuously debated pro and con. Thy speech bewrayeth thee; for thou art a Galilean. Let us not give too hasty credit to stories which may injure our neighbour: peradventure they are the offspring of calumny, or misapprehension. The gardens were void of simplicity and elegance, and exhibited much that was glaring and bizarre. CHAP. II. Containing violations of the Rules of Propriety. Grammar, p. 251. Key, p: 122. SECT. I. Avoid low expressions. I HAD as lief do it myself, as persuade another to do it. Of the justness of his measures he convinced his opponent by dint of argument. He is not a whit better than those whom he so liberally condemns. He stands upon security, and will not liberate him till it be obtained. The meaning of the phrase, as I take it, is very different from the common acceptation. The favourable moment should be embraced; for he does not hold long in one mind. He exposed himself so much amongst the people, that he had like to have gotton one or two broken heads. He was very dexterous in smelling out the views and designs of others. If his education was but a little taken care of, he might be very useful amongst his neighbours. He might have perceived, with half an eye, the difficulties to which his conduct exposed him. If I happen to have a little leisure upon my hands to-morrow, I intend to pay them a short visit. This performance is much at one with the other: The scene was new, and he was seized with won derment at all he saw. SECT. II. Supply words that are wanting. Grammar, p. 252. Key, p. 112. LET us consider the works of nature and art, with proper attention. He is engaged in a treatise on the interests of the soul and body. Some productions of nature rise in value, according as they more or less resemble those of art. The Latin tongue, in its purity, was never in this island. For some centuries, there was a constant intercourse between France and England, by the dominions we possessed there, and the conquests we made. He is impressed with a true sense of that function, when chosen from a regard to the interests of piety and virtue. The wise and foolish, the virtuous and the vile, the learned and ignorant, the temperate and profligate, must often, like the wheat and tares, be blended together. SECT. III. In the same sentence, be careful not to use the same word too frequently, nor in different senses. Grammar, p. 252. Key, p. 113. AN eloquent speaker may give more, but cannot give more convincing arguments, than this plain man offered. They were persons of very moderate intellects, even before they were impaired by their passions. True wit is nature dressed to advantage; and yet some works have more wit than does them good. The sharks, who prey upon the inadvertency of young heirs, are more pardonable than those, who trespass upon the good opinion of those, who treat them with great confidence and respect. Honour teaches us properly to respect ourselves, |