The Virginia Gazette

Continuation of the Oeconomy of Human Life, begun in our last.

EMULATION.

If thy Soul thirsteth for Honour, if thy Ear hath any Pleasure in the Voice of Praise; raise thyself from the Dust whereof thou art made, and exalt thy Aim to something that is Praise-worthy.

The Oak that now spreadeth its Branches towards the Heavens, was once but an Acorn in the Bowels of the Earth.

Endeavour to be first in thy Calling, whatever it be, neither let any one go before thee in Well-doing: Nevertheless, do not envy the Merits of another, but improve thine own Talents.

Scorn also to depress thy Competitor by dishonest or unworthy Methods; strive to raise thyself above him only by excelling him: So shall thy Contest for Superiority be crowned with Honour, if not with Success.

By a virtuous Emulation the Spirit of a Man is exalted within him; he panteth after Fame, and rejoiceth as a Racer to run his Course.

He riseth like the Palm-tree in spite of Oppression; and as an Eagle in the Firmament of Heaven, he soareth aloft and fixeth his Eye upon the Glories of the Sun.

The Examples of eminent Men are in his Visions by Night; and his Delight is to follow them all the Day long. He formeth great Designs, he rejoiceth in the Execution thereof, and his Name goeth forth to the Ends of the World.

But the Heart of the envious Man is Gall and Bitterness; his Tongue pitteh Venom; the Success of his Neighbour breaketh his Rest.

He sitteth in his Cell repining; and the Good that happeneth to another is to him an Evil.

Hatred and Malice feed upon his Heart, and there is no Rest in him.

He feeleth in his own Breast no Love of Goodness, and therefore believeth his Neighbour is like unto himself.

He endeavours to depreciate those that excel him, and putteth an evil Interpretation on all their Doings.

He lyeth on the Watch, and meditates Mischief: But the Detestation of Man pursueth him, he is crushed as a Spider in his own Web.

PRUDENCE.

Hear the Words of Prudence, give Heed unto her Counsels, and store them in thine Heart: her Maxims are universal, and all the Virtues lean upon her; she is the Guide and the Mistress of human Life.

Put a Bridle on thy Tongue, set a Guard before thy Lips, lest the Words of thine own Mouth destroy thy Peace.

Let him that mocketh at the Lame, take Care that he halt not himself: Whosoever speaketh of another's Failings with Pleasure, shall hear of his own with Bitterness of Heart.

Of much Speaking cometh Repentance, but in Silence is Safety.

A talkative Man is a Nuisance to Society, the Ear is sick of his Babbling, the Torrent of his Words overwhelmeth Conversation.

Boast not of thyself, for it shall bring Contempt upon thee: Neither deride another, for it is dangerous.

A bitter Jest is the Poison of Friendship, and he that cannot refrain his Tongue shall have Trouble.

Furnish thyself with the proper Accommodations belonging to thy Condition; yet spend not to the utmost of what thou canst afford, that the Providence of thy Youth may be a Comfort to thy old Age.

Let thine own Business engage thy Attention, leave the Care of the State to the Governors thereof.

Let not thy Recreations be expensive, let the Pain of purchasing them exceed the Pleasure thou hast in their Enjoyment.

Neither let Prosperity put out the Eyes of Circumspection, nor Abundance cut off the Hands of Frugality: He that too much indulgeth in the Superfluities of Life, shall live to lament the Want of its Necessaries.

Trust no Man before thou hast tried him; yet mistrust not without Reason, it is uncharitable.

But when thou hast proved a Man to be honest; lock him up in thine Heart as a Treasure, regard him as a Jewel of inestimable Price.

Receive not the Favours of a mercenary Man, reject the proffer'd Kindness of him that is wicked; they will be a Snare unto thee, the Obligation shall be grievous to thy Soul.

Use not To-day what To-morrow may want; neither leave that to Hazard which Foresight may provide for, or Care prevent.

From the Experience of others do thou learn Wisdom; and from their Failings, correct thine own Faults.

Yet expect not even from Prudence infallible Success: For the Day knoweth not what the Night may bring forth.

The Fool is not always unfortunate, nor the wise Man always successful; yet never had Fool a thorough Enjoyment, never was a wise Man wholly unhappy.

FORTITUDE.

Perils, and Misfortunes, and Wants, and Pain, and Injury, are more or less the certain Lot of every Man that cometh into the World.

It behoveth thee, therefore, O Child of Calamity! early to fortify thy Mind with Courage and Patience, that thou mayst support, with Resolution, thy allotted Portion of human Evil.

As the Camel beareth Labour, and Heat, and Hunger, and Thirst, through Deserts of Sand, and fainteth not; so the Fortitude of a Man shall sustain him through Perils and Distress.

A noble Spirit disdaineth the Malice of Fortune: His Greatness of Soul is not to be cast down.

He hath not suffered his Happiness to depend on her Smiles, and therefore with her Frown he shall not be dismayed.

As a Rock on the Sea-shore he standeth firm, and the Dashing of the Waves disturbeth him not.

He raiseth his Head like a Tower on an Hill, and the Arrows of Fortune drop at his Feet.

In the Instant of Danger, the Courage of his Heart sustaineth him; and the steadiness of his Mind beareth him out.

He meeteth the Evils of Life as a Man that goeth forth unto Battle, and returneth with Victory in his Hand.

Under the Pressure of Misfortunes, his Calmness alleviates their Weight, and his Constancy shall surmount them.

But the dastardly Spirit of a timorous Man betrayeth him to Shame.

By shrinking under Poverty, he stoopeth down to Meanness; and by tamely bearing Insults he inviteth Injuries.

As a Reed is shaken with the Breath of the Air; so the Shadow of Evil maketh him tremble.

In time of Danger he is embarrassed and confounded; in the Day of Misfortune he sinketh, and Despair overwhelmeth his Soul.

CONSOLATION.

Forget not, O Man, that thy Station on earth is appointed by the Wisdom of the Eternal, who knoweth thy Heart, who seeth the Vanity of all thy Wishes, and who often in Mercy denieth thy Requests.

Yet for all reasonable Desires, or all honest Endeavours, his Benevolence hath established in the Nature of Things, a Probability of Success.

The Uneasiness thou feelest, the Misfortunes thou bewailest, behold the Root from whence they sprang, even thine own Folly, thine own Pride, thine own distemper'd Fancy.

Murmur not, therefore, at the Dispensations of God, but correct thine own Heart: Neither say within thyself, "If I had Wealth, or Power, or Leisure, I should be happy: for know, they all of them bring to their several Possessors, their peculiar Inconveniences."

He that is in Power feeleth not the Difficulties and Perplexities of Power, neither knoweth he the Wearisomeness of Leisure, and therefore it is that he rejoiceth at his own Lot.

The poor Man heedeth not the Vexations and Anxieties of the Rich, he feel the Wearisomeness of Leisure, and therefore it is that he rejoiceth at his own Lot.

But envy not the Appearance of Happiness in any Man; or thou knowest not his secret Griefs.

To be satisfied with a little is the greatest Wisdom; and he that encreaseth his Riches increaseth his Cares: But a contented Mind is a hidden Treasure, and Trouble findeth it not.

Yet if thou sufferests not the Allurements of Fortune to rob thee of Justice, or Temperance, or Charity, or Modesty, even Riches themselves shall not make thee unhappy.

But hence shalt thou learn, that the Cup of Felicity, pure and unmixed, is by no Means a Draught for mortal Man.

Virtue is the Race which God hath set him to run, and Happiness the Goal: Which none can arrive at 'til he hath finished his Course, and receiveth his Crown in the Mansions of Eternity.

TEMPERANCE.

The nearest Approach thou canst make to Happiness on this Side the Grave, is to enjoy from Heaven Understanding, and Health.

These Blessings if thou possessest, and wouldst preserve to old Age; avoid the Allurements of Voluptuousness, and fly from her Temptations.

When she spreadeth her Delicacies on thy Board, when her Wine sparkleth in thy Cup, when she smilest upon thee, and persuadeth thee to be joyful and happy, then is the Hour of Danger, and let Reason stand firmly on her Guard:

For if thou hearkenest not unto the Words of her Adversary, thou art deceiv'd and betray'd.

The Joy which she promiseth changeth to Madness, and her Enjoyments lead on to Diseases and Death.

Look round her Board, cast thine Eyes upon her Guests; and observe those who have been allured with her Smiles, who have hearkened to her Temptations.

Are they not meager? Are they not sickly? Are they not spiritless?

Their short Hours of Jollity and Riot are followed by tedious Days of Pain and Dejection; she hath debauched and palled their Appetites, that they have now no Relish for her nicest Dainties: Her Votaries are become her Victims; the just and natural Consequence which God hath ordained in the Constitution of Things, for the Punishment of those who abuse his Gifts.

But who is he that with graceful Steps, and with a lively Air, trips over yonder Plain?

The Rose blusheth on her Cheeks, the Sweetness of the Morning breatheth from her Lips; Joy, tempered with Innocence and Modesty, sparkleth in her Eyes, and from the Cheerfulness of her Heart she singeth as she walks.

Her Name is Health, she is the Daughter of Exercise, who begot her on Temperance; their Sons inhabit the Mountains that stretch over the Northern Regions of San Ton Hoe.

They are brave, active, and lively: and partake of all the Beauties, and Virtues of their Sister.

Vigour stringeth their Nerves, Strength dwelleth in their Bones, and Labour is their Delight all the Day long.

The Employments of their Father excite their Appetites, and the Repast of their Mother refresh them.

To combat the Passions is their Delight, to conquer evil Habits their Glory.

Their Pleasures are moderate, and therefore they endure: Their Repose is short, but sound and undisturbed.

Their Blood is pure, their Minds are serene, and the Physician knoweth not the Way to their Habitations.

But Safety dwelleth not with the Sons of Men; neither is Security found within their Gates.

Behold them exposed to new Dangers from without, while a Traitor within lurketh to betray them.

Their Health, their Strength, their Beauty and Activity have raised Desire in the Bosom of lascivious Love.

She standeth in her Bower, she courteth their Regard, she spreadeth her Temptations.

Her Limbs are soft and delicate, her Attire is loose and inviting; Wantonness speaketh in her Eyes, and on her Bosom its Temptation: She beckoneth them with her Finger, she wooeth them with her Looks, and by the Smoothness of her Tongue she endeavoureth to deceive.

Ah! fly from her Allurements, stop thy Ears to her enchanting Words: If thou meetest the Languishing of her Eyes, if thou hearest the Softness of her Voice, if she calleth her Arms about thee, she bindeth thee in Chains for ever.

Shame followeth, and Disease, and Want, and Care, and Repentance.

Enfeebled by Dalliance, with Luxury pamper'd, and softened by Sloth; Strength shall forsake thy Limbs, and Health thy Constitution: Thy Days shall be few, and those inglorious; thy Griefs shall be many yet meet with no Compassion.