oppo'nents. Other people are satisfied too, and think no more of the error they were once disposed to censure. "O, he acted according to his conscience; there is no more to be said." 5. Now, this would be all very well if conscience were one uniform prompter of good, and preventive of bad, in the breasts of all men. But conscience is a quality which every man possesses only in a certain extent, in proportion as he may have been originally gifted with it, and as he may have cultivated it through life. An individual may have a conscience so very small, or so very dull, that it forms no obstacle to the worst indulgences: he may be so very stupid, in regard to all speculative questions, that the conscience he thinks he acts upon is only a blind supposition of the truth. 6. In these cases conscience is no excuse. The most flagitious criminal might make it a plea for arrest of judgment; the most unenlightened of human beings might sit down upon it in selfsatisfied ignorance; the bigot might adopt it as a sanction for a war against his species. Nine-tenths of all the worst mischief, negative and positive, that ever afflicted the world, is traceable to conscience. The duty of man is to improve those faculties which enable him to think and act correctly. He must make his conscience a good conscience, and then, but then only, will he be entitled to honor in acting upon it. 7. Akin to this error is one which makes meaning well an excuse for everything. Nay, some not only excuse all kinds of follies and mischiefs by telling themselves and others that they mean well, but they make it a regular boast as a primary rule of conduct, and take not the least care for anything else. They will deliberately go on from day to day in a course injurious to both themselves and others, and, reposing indolently upon their good intentions, neglect all fair opportunities of advantage, all feasible natural means of accomplishing their ends, and finally, perhaps, allow the broad wheel of ruin to come over them, without making an effort to get out of the way. 8. There is also a great sect of philanthropists, who, taking no pains to ascertain the true means of promoting human happiness, and possibly prepossessed in favor of many things which are adverse to it, form, in reality, through the very respect that is paid to their well-meaning impenetrability, the greatest existing obstacles to the object they profess to have in view. Men can never be sufficiently vigilant in guarding against this easy palliation of error and prejudice; their duty is to see that they both mean well, and take the proper means for forming a sound judgment and constructing a correct rule of action. CHAMBERS. CXLVI. - - SELECT PASSAGES IN VERSE. 1. TRUE GLORY.-Miltor. THEY err who count it glorious to subdue Worshipped with temple, priest, and sacrifice; 2. CONSOLATION FOR A FRIEND'S DEATH.-Milton. Weep no more, woful shepherds, weep no more, Sunk though he be beneath the watery floor: And yet anon repairs his drooping head, And tricks his beams, and with new-spangled ore So Lycidas sunk low, but mounted high Through the dear might of Him that walked the waves 3. TRUTH.-Cowper. The only amaranthine flower on earth But what is truth? "Twas Pilate's question put is light 4. HARMONY OF EXPRESSION. - Pope. But most by numbers judge a poet's song; And smooth or rough, with them is right or wrong: Who haunt Parnassus but to please their ear, the cooling western breeze,' That, like a wounded snake, drags its slow length along. Where Denham's strength and Waller's sweetness join. "T is not enough no harshness gives offence, Flies o'er the unbending corn, and skims along the main · Campbell. 5. THE HOPE OF AN HEREAFTER. Eternal Hope! when yonder spheres sublime When wrapt in fire the realms of ether glow, CXCI. -A FABLE. A FAMOUS hen's my story's theme, Of laying eggs, but then she 'd scream A turkey-cock, who ruled the walk, Could bear 't no more, so off did stalk Does nothing to the matter; Cease that superfluous clatter! You know not how 't goes through my head!" Humph! very likely!" madam said, Then, proudly putting forth a leg: "Uneducated barnyard fowl! - review it." C. T. BROOKS (FROM THE GERMAN). EI 1. OFT has it been my lot to mark A proud, conceited, talking spark, With eyes that hardly served at most To guard their master 'gainst a post; Yet round the world the blade has been To see whatever could be seen, Returning from his finished tour, Grown ten times perter than before. Whatever word you chance to drop, The travelled fool mouth will stop, "Sir, if my judgment you 'll allow, I've seen, and sure I ought to know," So begs you 'd pay a due submission, And acquiesce in his decision. your 2. Two travellers of such a cast, 3. "Hold there!" the other quick replies, 4. "I've seen it, sir, as well as you, 5. ""T is green, 't is green, sir, I assure ye! "Green! ་་ "Why, sir, d' ye think I 've lost my eyes? ""T were no great loss," the friend replies; "For, if they always serve you thus, You'll find them of but little ase." |