When in the slipp'ry paths of youth,
With heedless steps, I ran,

Thine arm, unseen, convey'd me safe,
And led me up to man.

Through hidden dangers, toils, and deaths,
It gently clear'd my way;

And through the pleasing snares of vice,
More to be fear'd than they.

When worn with sickness, oft hast thou,
With health renew'd my face;
And when in sin and sorrow sunk,
Reviv'd my soul with grace.

Thy bounteous hand, with worldly bliss,
Has made my cup run o'er;
And, in a kind and faithful friend,
Has doubled all my store.

Ten thousand thousand precious gifts
My daily thanks employ;
Nor is the least, a cheerful heart,
That tastes those gifts with joy.

Through ev'ry period of my life,
Thy goodness I'll pursue;
And, after death, in distant worlds,
The glorious theme renew.

When nature fails, and day and night
Divide thy works no more,
My ever grateful heart, O Lord!
Thy mercy shall adore.

Through all eternity, to thee
A joyful song I'll raise;
For O! eternity's too short
To utter all thy praise.

The Voyage of Life.

Self-flatter'd, unexperienc'd high 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 bands,

(Ruin's sure perquisite, her lawful prize,)

Some steer aright: but the black blast blows hard,
And puffs them wide of hope. With hearts of proof,
Full against wind and tide, some win their way;
And when strong effort has deserv'd the port,
And tugg'd it into view, 'tis won! 'tis lost!
Though strong their oar, still stronger is their fate :
They strike; and while they triumph, they expire.
In stress of weather, most, some sink outright.
O'er them, and o'er their names, the billows close:
To-morrow knows not they were ever born.
Others, a short memorial leave behind,
Like a flag floating when the bark's ingulf'd;
It floats a moment, and is seen no more;
One Cæsar lives; a thousand are forgot.
How few, favour'd by ev'ry element,
With swelling sails make good the promis'd port,
With all their wishes freighted! Yet ev'n these,
Freighted with all their wishes, soon complain.
Free from misfortune, not from nature free,
They still are men; and when is man secure?
As fatal time, as storm. The rush of years
Beats down their strength, their numberless escapes
In ruin end and, now, their proud success
But plants new terrors on the victor's brow.
What pain, to quit the world just made their own!
Their nests so deeply down'd, and built so high!—
Too low they build, who build beneath the stars.

PART V.

PERSPICUITY AND ACCURACY.

FIRST,

With respect to single words and phrases.

CHAPTER I.

Correction of the errors that relate to PURITY.

See Vol. 2. p. 117.

WE should be daily employed in doing good.
I am wearied with seeing so perverse a disposition.

I know not who has done this thing.

He is in no wise thy inferior; and, in this instance, is not at all to blame.

The assistance was welcome, and seasonably afforded.

For want of employment, he wandered idly about the fields, We ought to live soberly, righteously, and piously, in the world.

He was long indisposed, and at length died of melancholy. That word follows the general rule, and takes the penultimate

accent.

He was an extraordinary genius, and attracted much attention.

*The haughtiness of Florio was very ungraceful, and disgusted both his friends and strangers.

He charged me with want of resolution, but in this censure he was greatly mistaken.

They have manifested great candour in all the transaction. The conformity of the thought to truth and nature greatly recommended it.

The importance as well as the authenticity of the books, has been clearly displayed.

It is difficult to discover the spirit and design of some laws. The disposition which he exhibited, was both unnatural and uncomfortable.

VOL. II.

32

His natural severity rendered him a very unpopular speaker. The inquietude of his mind, made his station and wealth far from being enviable.

I received the gift with pleasure, but I shall now more gladly resign it. Or-with greater pleasure resign it.

These are things of the highest importance to the growing age. I am grieved with the view of so many blank leaves, in the book of my life.

I repent that I have so long walked in the paths of folly.

I think that 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 on both sides.

Thy speech betrays thee; for thou art a Gallilean.

Let us not give too hasty credit to stories which may injure our neighbour: perhaps they are the offspring of calumny, or misapprehension.

The gardens were void of simplicity and elegance; and exhibited much that was glaring and whimsical.

CHAPTER II.

Corrections of the errors relating to PROPRIETY.

SECTION I.

See Vol. 2. p. 118.

I would as readily do it myself, as persuade another to do it. Of the justness of his measures, he convinced his opponent by the force of argument.

He is not in any degree better than those whom he so liberally condemns.

He insists upon security, and will not liberate him till it be obtained.

The meaning of the phrase, as I understand it, is very differerent from the common acceptation.

The favourable moment should be embraced; for he does not continue long in one mind.

He exposed himself so much amongst the people, that he was once or twice in danger of having his head broken.

He was very dexterous in penetrating the views and designs of others.

If a little care were bestowed upon his education, he might be very useful amongst his neighbours.

He might have perceived, by a transient view, the difficulties to which his conduct exposed him.

If I should have a little leisure to-morrow, I intend to pay them a short visit.

This performance is of the same value as the other.

The scene was new, and he was seized with wonder at all he

saw.

SECTION II.

See Vol. 2. p. 119.

LET us consider the works of nature and those of art, with proper attention.

He is engaged in a treatise on the interests of the soul and of the body.

Some productions of nature rise or sink in value, according as they more or less resemble those of art.

The Latin tongue was never spoken, in its purity, in this island.

For some centuries, there was a constant intercourse between France and England, by reason of the dominions which we possessed there, and the conquests which we made. Oroccasioned by the dominions, &c.

He is impressed with a true sense of the importance of that function, when chosen from a regard to the interests of piety and virtue.

The wise and the foolish, the virtuous and the vile, the learned and the ignorant, the temperate and the profligate, must often, like the wheat and the tares, be blended together.

SECTION III.

See Vol. 2. p. 119.

AN eloquent speaker may give more numerous, but cannot give more convincing arguments, than this plain man offered. Or-may give more, but cannot give stronger, &c.

These persons possessed very moderate intellects, even before they had impaired them by the extravagance of passion.

True wit is nature dressed to advantage; but some works have more ornament than does them good.

The sharks, that prey upon the inadvertency of young heirs, are more pardonable than those, who trespass upon the