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ty, which vice promises, as the recompense of setting Es free from the salutary restraints of virtue. BLAIR.

SECTION XIII.

The aan of integrity.

It will not take much time to delineate the characer of the man of integrity, as by its nature it is a plain one, and easily understood. Ile is one, who makes it his constant rule to follow the road of duty, according as the word of God, and the voice of his concience, point it out to him. He is not guided merely by affections, which may sometimes give the color of virtue to a loose and unstable character. The upright man is guided by a fixed principle of mind, which determines him to esteem nothing but what is honorable; and to abhor whatever is base or unworthy, in moral conductHence we find him ever the same; at all times, the trasty friend, the affectionate relation, the conscientious man of business, the pious worshipper, the public-spirited citizen. He assumes no borrowed appearance. He seeks no mask to cover him; for he acts no stupid part; but he is indeed what he appears to be, full of truth, candour, and humanity. In all his pursuits, he knows no path, but the fair and direct one; and would much rather fail of success, than attain it by reproachful means. He never shows us a smiling countenance, while he meditates evil against us in bis heart. He never praises us among our friends, and then joins in traducing us among our enemies. We shall never find one part of his character at variance with another. In his manners, he is simple and unaffected; in all his proceedings, open and consistent.

SECTION XIV.

Gentleness.

RLAIR.

I BEGIN with distinguishing true gentleness from passive tameness of spirit, and from unlimited com

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pliance with the manners of others. That passive tameness, which submits, without opposition, to every encroachment of the violent and assuming, forms no part of Christian duty; but, on the contrary, is destructive of general happiness and order. That unlimited complaisance, which, on every occasion, falls in with the opinions and manners of others, is so far from being a virtue, that it is itself a vice, and the parent of many vices. It overthrows all steadiness of principle; and produces that sinful conformi. ty with the world, which taints the whole character. In the present corrupted state of human manners,always to assent and comply, is the worst maxim we can adopt. It is impossible to support the purity and dignity of Christian morals, without opposing the world on various occasions, even though we should stand alone. That Gentleness, therefore, which be. longs to virtue, is to be carfully distinguished from the mean spirit of cowards, and the fawning assent of sycophants. It renounces no just right from fear.It gives up no important truth from flattery. It is indeed not only consistent with a firm mind, but it necessarily requires a manly spirit, and a fixed prin. ciple, in order to give it any real value. Upon this solid ground only, the polish of gentleness can with advantage be superinduced.

It stands opposed, not to the most determined regard for virtue and truth, but to harshness and severity, to pride and arrogance, to violence and oppression. It is properly that part of the great virtue of charity, which makes us unwilling to give pain to any of our brethren, Compassion prompts us to relieve their wants. Forbearance prevents us from retaliating their injuries. Meekness restrains our angry passions; candour,our severe judgements. Gentleness corrects whatever is offensive in our manners; and, by a constant train of humane atten. tions, studies to alleviate the burden of common Its office, therefore, is extensive. It is

not like some other virtues, called forth on peculiar emergències; but it is continually in action, when we are engaged in intercourse with men. It ought to form our address, to regulate our speech, and to diffuse itself over our whole behaviour.

We must not, however, confound this gentle"wisdom which is from above," with that artificial cour. tesy, that studied smoothness of manners, which is learned in the school of the world. Such accom. plishments, the most frivolous and empty may pos sess. Too often they are employed by the artful, as a snare; too often affected by the hard and unfeeling, as a cover to the baseness of their minds. We cannot, at the same time avoid observing the homage, which,even in such instances, the world is con strained to pay to virtue. In order to render socie. ty agreeable, it is found necessary to assume some. what, that may at least carry its appearance. Virtue is the universal charm. Even its shadow is courted, when the substance is wanting. The imitation of its form has been reduced into an art; and in the commerce of life, the first study of all who would either gain the esteem, or win the hearts of others, is to learn the speech, and to adopt the manners, of candour, gentleness, and humanity. But that gentleness which is the characteristic of a good man, has, like every other virtue, its seat in the heart: and let me add,nothing except what flows from the heart, can render even external manners truly pleasing.

For no assumed behavior can at all times hide the real character. In that unaffected civility which springs from a gentle mind, there is a charm infin. itely more powerful, than in all the studied manners of the most finished courtier.

True gentleness is founded on a sense of what we owe to HIM who made us,and to the common nature of which we all share. It arises from reflec tions on our own failings and wants; and from just views of the condition, and the duty of man.

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native feeling,heightened and improved by principle. is the heart which easily relents; which feels for every thing that is human; and is backward and slow to inflict the least wound. It is affable in its address, and mild in its demenour; ever ready to ob. lige, and willing to be obliged by others; breathing habitual kindness towards friends, courtesy to strangers, long suffering to enemies. It exercises authority with moderation; administers reproof with tenderness; confers favors with ease and modesty. It is unassuming in opinion, and temperate in zeal. It contends not eagerly about trifles: slow to contradict, and still slower to blame; but prompt to allay dissension, and to restore peace. It neither intermeddles unnecessarily with the affairs, nor pries inquisitively into the secrets of others. It delights above all things to alleviate distress; and, if it cannot dry up the falling tear, to soothe at least the grieving heart. Where it has not the power of be. ing useful, it is never burdensome. It seeks to please, rather than to shine and dazzle; and conceals with care that superiority, either of talents or of rank, which is oppressive to those who are beneath it.

In a word, it is that spirit and that tenour of manners, which the gospel of Christ enjoins, when it commands us to bear one another's burdens; to rejoice with those who rejoice, and to weep with those who weep; to please every one his neighbor for his good; to be kind and tender-hearted; to be pitiful and courteous; to support the weak, and to be patient towards all men."

BLAIR.

CHAPTER VI.

PATHETIC PIECES.

SECTION I."

Trial and execution of the Earl of Strafford, who fell a sacrifice to the violence of the times, in the reign of Charles the First.

THE earl of Strafford defended himself against the accusations of the House of Commons, with all the presence of mind, judgment, and sagacity, that could be expected from innocence and ability. His children were placed beside him, as he was thus defending his life, and the cause of his royal master. After he had in a long and eloquent speech, delivered without premeditation, confuted all the accusations of his enemies, he thus drew to a conclusion. "But, my lords, I have troubled you too long: longer than I should have done, but for the sake of these dear pledges, which a saiut in heaven has left me."-Upon this he paused; dropped a tear; looked upon his children; and proceeded. "What I forfeit for myself is a trifle: that my indiscretions should reach my posterity, wounds me to the heart. Pardon my infirmity.-Something I should have added, but I am not able; and therefore I let it pass. And now, my lords, for myself. I have long been taught, that the afflictions of this life are overpaid by that eternal weight of glory, which awaits the innocent. And so, my lords, even so, with the utmost tranquillity, I submit myself to your judgment, whether that judgment be life or death; not my will, but thine, O God, be done!”

His eloquence and innocence induced those judges to pity, who were the most zealous to condemn Lim. The king himself went to the House of Lords, and spoke for some time in his defence; but the spirit of vengeance, which had been chained for eleven years,

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