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d they been early taught to conform their desires their conditions, and to act upon the principles of ber and rational economy. Nor is it of small imrtance in training up children, to accustom them useful employ. A useless life is seldom found to a contented one. Occupation is so necessary to inan quiet, that to bring up children in idleness is" e way to make them a burden to themselves as ell as to the community.

From this twofold cause, the excess of artificial ants and the neglect of forming habits of useful inustry in the early period of life, there has sprung erhaps a full half of the discontent that secretly eys upon so many bosoms. In short, important it is to teach children reading and writing and the se of figures, it is of still greater importance to egulate their tempers, to curb their wayward deres, and to fix them in habits of industry, temperce and frugality; without which, the acquisition 7 learning could be but of little benefit to them. 2. The self-discipline of adult age, is an essential equisite toward leading and enjoying a contented fe. A well disciplined mind studies to be content, nd most commonly is so. It attains its desires by moderating and limiting them, and thus bringing em within the compass of its means. It accusoms itself to view, without envy, the wealth and randeur which fall not to its lot, and which seldom ender their possessors the more happy; and to be atisfied with, and thankful for, the mere necessary nd common accommodations of the journey of life. n short, it depends much less upon our circumstanes, whether we shall be happy or miserable in life, our tempers, and our view of things. -Iany enjoy themselves well in narrow circumstan

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ces, because they bring their minds t tions. But when to narrow circumsta ded large desires and magnificent noti and then only is it, that unhappiness res want of a fortune.

One of the bitterest calamities of lif den fall from affluence, or competence Not that what we call poverty, is so ve of itself. In some countries it implie of the indispensable necessaries of life, ance of hunger and nakedness: but he poor but that, with prudent care and dustry, they may provide themselves some food and comfortable raiment. in this country, of the poorer classes, a least contented, nor the least happy. ed to the elegancies and luxuries of 1 no hankering after them; and accusto their bread by their toil, they regard hardship. It procures them two very joyments-keen appetite and sound sle

No human prudence can always se ject from disastrous reverses in worldl ces. In times of old, "there came from the wilderness, and smote the fo the house" in which the sons and dau man of the East-as distinguished for and charity as for wealth-" were eatin ing wine." In a single bour, his va and the natural heirs to it, were all swe And recent experience teaches, that i well as in Asia, a great wind may destr hour, what many years of painful indus

cure earthly possessions in all cases; yet often, d for the most part, they are lost by imprudence. ought to be held in general remembrance, "that othing will supply the want of prudence; that egligence and irregularity, long continued," will nk both fortune and character; and if there be ut little moral good in worldly prudence, there is a reat deal of moral evil in imprudence, or in such astefulness and improvidence as not only lead to want and wretchedness, but often to the ruin or eep injury of creditors.

If we take a careful survey of American society, believe we shall find that the more part of the Families who have experienced a distressing reverse n their circumstances, owe it to one or other of the hree followiug causes-the inheritance of wealthche greediness of wealth-and the affectation of wealth.

"Riches make themselves wings; they fly away."-Now these wings, as of an eagle, that bear away riches from the places of their wonted residence, it is worthy of particular notice, are such as naturally grow out of riches; they are wings which riches make to themselves:-they are idleness, wastefulness, improvidence, and prodigality; all of which a very large proportion of the children of wealth inherit, along with their estates.

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A great many fall into poverty, not for lack of industry, but from inordinate greediness of wealth. They make haste to be rich."-Scorning the secure competence they already possess, or which is fairly within their reach, they put it to risk upon the

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Referring to the flood which suddenly befel the towns of Providence and Newport.

precarious contingency of suddenly condition of opulence. Impatient o the fruits of regular industry, they das dous enterprizes. If unsuccessful-ar more than an even chance to be sosently ruined or if brilliant success steps for a while, so that they heap up den abundance; this run of success e hopes and desires, and they plunge an deeper speculations, till unexpectedly t ground on which they stand cleaves them, and their fortunes are all swallow

If the two great destroyers which I ha tioned, have devoured their thousands, is yet to be mentioned has devoured i sands. The inheritors of overgrown we few and though there are very many rash adventurers, yet their numbers bea tion with the numbers of those who are i circumstances by an absurd and pitifu of wealth. This last is, in economics, sumption is among bodily distempers common and fatal disease of all. The of wealth, or the vanity of making a sh our condition, in apparel, in the elegan table, in furniture, and in every thing thought likely to attract attention and a is the consuming Plague that has already and which is even now destroying, the e stance and comforts of innumerable fam but for this disease, might rank with the mankind.

ON

BEASON AND REVELATION,

PARTICULARLY

THE

REVELATION OF THE SCRIPTURES.

NO. 21.

NEW-YORK:

PRINTED BY MAHLON DAY,

No. 872, PEARL-STREET.

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