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that he ordered the following inscription to be put on his monument:

Hic jacet hujus sententiæ primus auctor"Disputandi pruritus ecclesiæ scabies, Nomen alias quære."

Here lies the first author of this sentence

church.

"Seek his name elsewhere!"

them in disputation. "I have witnessed," says Dr. Beattie, "many, contests of this kind; but have seldom seen them lead, or even tend, to any useful discovery. Where ostentation,

"The itch of disputation is the bane of the self-conceit, or love of paradox, are not concerned, they commonly arise from some verbal ambiguity, or from the misconception of some fact, which both parties, taking it for granted that they perfectly understand, are at no pains to ascertain. I once saw a number of persons neither unlearned

The same person being asked if he thought a Papist could be saved, "You may be saved,” replied he, "without knowing that." An excellent answer to the questions of impertinent curiosity in religious mat-nor ill-bred meet together to pass a so

ters.

A certain disputant was once labouring a point (in which himself was more interested than God,) and, finding his antagonist hard to be convinced, he so far forgot himself as to reverse the nature of his argument, and, lifting up a dreadful club stick which he had in his hand, says he, "If you won't believe it, I'll make you believe it."

cial evening. A dispute arose about the propriety of a certain action, in which some of the company had been interested the evening before. Two parties of disputants were immediately formed, and the matter was warmly argued from six o'clock till midnight when the company broke up. Not being able to enter into the merits of the cause, I did not take any part in the controversy; but I observed that Philip Melancthon being gone to each of the speakers persisted to the the conferences at Spire in 1529, he last in the opinion he took up at the made a little journey to Bretten to see beginning, in which he seemed to be his mother. This good woman asked rather confirmed than staggered by him what she must believe amidst so the arguments that had been urged many disputes, and repeated him her in opposition. Thus most disputes, prayers, which contained nothing su- if I mistake not, will be found to be perstitious. "Go on, mother," said equally unprofitable. If a catalogue he, "to believe and pray as you have were to be made of all the truths that done, and never trouble yourself about have been discovered by wrangling religious controversies." It is said of in company, or by solemn disputation this great man, that he longed for in the schools, I believe it would apdeath for two reasons: 1. That he pear that the contending parties might enjoy the much desired pre-might have been employed as advansence and sight of Christ, and of the tageously to mankind, and much more heavenly Church; and, 2. That he so to themselves, in whipping a top, might be freed from the cruel and or brandishing a rattle.” implacable discords of divines.

Even Luther, who was no small controversialist, used to pray in the following manner : "From a vainglorious doctor, a contentious pastor, and nice questions, the Lord deliver his church."

"The following little parable or story," says Bishop Patrick, “I have somewhere met with out of Anselm. They were two men, says he, who, a little before the sun was up, fell into a very earnest debate concerning that part of the heavens wherein that There are some persons who are glorious body was to arise that day. habitually disposed to wrangling, and In this controversy they suffered it is curious enough to hear such jus-themselves to be so far engaged, that tify their conduct by a pretence of at last they fell together by the ears, zeal for the truth. It is not the love and ceased not their buffetings till of truth, but of victory, that engages they had beaten out each others eyes

and so it came to pass that, when a little after the sun did show his face, neither of these doughty champions could discern one jot. So it is often with controversialists."

in a very plain dress, and often went abroad without any servant or attendance: in this manner he came alone to the house of a friend, who had invited him to dinner. The mistress It must, however, be observed that of the family, who expected him, (as there is a difference to be made be- the General of the Achæans,) took tween disputations and the wrong him for a servant, and begged he management of them. Disputation of would give her assistance in the itself is not an evil. "The ministry kitchen, because her husband was of our Lord was a perpetual contro- absent. Philopemen, without cereversy. St. Paul's Epistles are, most of mony, threw off his cloak, and fell to them, controversial. The Apostles the cleaving of wood. The husband came at truth by much disputing a-coming in at that instant, and surmong themselves, Acts xv. 7, and they prised at the oddness of the sight: convinced Jews and Gentiles by dispu- How now, Lord Philopemen?" ting with both, Acts xvii. 17; xix. says he: "what's the meaning of 8." But the evil arises from the bad this?" "O," answered the other, spirit with which controversy is often "I am paying the interest of my bad conducted. It is prettily said by looks." Archbishop Tillotson, that those who are transported by passion, by their ill management of a good cause, and by their ungracious way of maintaining the truth, have found out a cunning way to be in the wrong, even when they are in the right. Alas! what a pity that our passions should be such barriers to the promotion of truth and the improvement of our

minds!

DRESS.

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Augustus Cæsar used to wear no other apparel but such as his wife, his sister, or daughter, made him; and used to say, "That rich and gay clothing was either the ensign of pride or the nurse of luxury."

It is said of the celebrated Mr. Whitfield, that he was always very clean and neat, and often said, pleasantly, "That a minister of the Gospel ought to be without a spot."Sir Edward Coke was very neat in his dress, and it was one of his sentiments, "That the cleanness of a To say much upon this subject, man's clothes ought to put him in perhaps, would be considered as im- mind of keeping all clean within."pertinent and intruding, since indi- Mr. Nelson, the learned and pious viduals are here supposed to judge author of many excellent books of for themselves. Let it, however, be devotion, was peculiarly elegant in observed, that in this, as well as in his dress and appearance. Though other things, an extreme should be such an advocate for strict piety, he guarded against. To be led by was willing to convince the world every fashion which fancy dictates, that it did not consist in a monkish is a mark of a little, effeminate, and habit, or exterior habiliment. Men worldly mind; and to be rigidly plain, of a studious turn sometimes, howcarries with it an air of affected sin-ever, have been so absorbed in pursuit gularity. There is a simple elegance, of intellectual pleasures, that they connected with uniform neatness, have paid little attention to their boabout some persons, that appears more dies. consistent than all the meretricious ornaments of the gay, or the very peculiar dress of those who run to the other extreme.

Francis Eudes de Mezery, an eminent French historian, was so negligent of his dress, that he might have passed for a beggar rather than what Philopemen, the greatest soldier of he was. He was actually seized one his age in Greece, was usually clad | morning by the archers des pauvres,

or parish officers; which mistake was so far from provoking him, that he was highly diverted with it, and told them that " He was not able to walk on foot, but, as soon as a new wheel was put to his chariot, he would attend them wherever they thought proper."

Sir Matthew Hale, while a student at Lincoln's Inn, neglected his apparel so much, that he was once taken, when there was a press for the King's service, as a fit person for it. Some that knew him coming by, and giving notice who he was, the pressmen let him go; from which time he began to be more decent in his dress.

great battle, hanged himself. When he was seen by the army in this melancholy situation, notwithstanding he had behaved himself very bravely, the common jest was, that the thing they saw hanging on the tree before them was not a man, but a bottle.

Alexander having invited several of his friends and general officers to supper, proposed a crown as a reward for him who should drink most. He who conquered on this occasion was Promachus, who swallowed fourteen measures of wine, that is eighteen or twenty pints. After receiving the prize, which was a crown worth a talent, i. e. about a thousand crowns, he survived his victory but three days. Of the rest of the guests, forty died of their intemperate drinking.

It is said of the late Mr. Romaine, that, when at Oxford, the desire of mental improvement had gained such an ascendancy over him as to render When this same prince was at Bahim inattentive to that decency of bylon, after having spent a whole dress which generally distinguishes night in carousing, a second was prothe clerical order. Passing by the posed to him. He met accordingly, apartments of the master of one of and there were twenty guests at tathe colleges in his dishabille, a gen-ble: he drank to the health of every tleman who was a visitant asked, person in company, and then pledged "What slovenly fellow is that with his stockings about his heels?" The master returned for answer, "That slovenly fellow, as you call him, is one of the greatest geniuses of the age, and is likely to be one of the greatest men in the kingdom."

DRUNKENNESS.

"A DRUNKEN man is a greater monster than any that is to be found among all the creatures which God has made; as indeed, there is no character which appears more despicable and defamed in the eyes of all reasonable persons than that of a drunkard."

them severally. After this, calling for Hercules' cup, which held an incredible quantity, it was filled, when he poured it all down, drinking to a Macedonian of the company, Proteas by name; and afterwards pledged him again in the same extravagant bumper. He had no sooner swallowed it, than he fell upon the floor. "Here then," cries Seneca, (describing the fatal effects of drunkenness) "this hero, unconquered by all the toils of prodigious marches, exposed to the dangers of sieges and combats, to the most violent extremes of heat and cold, here he lies subdued by his intemperance, and struck to the earth by the fatal cup of Hercules." In Eschines, commending Philip, this condition he was seized with a King of Macedon, for a jovial man fever, which, in a few days, terminathat would drink freely, Demosthenes ted in death. He was 32 years and answered, "That this was a good 8 months old, of which he had reignquality in a sponge, but not in a ed 12. No one, says Plutarch, susking.' pected then that Alexander had been Bonosus, one of our own country-poisoned: the true poison which men, who was addicted to this vice, brought him to this end was wine, having set up for a share in the Ro- which has killed many thousands beman empire, and being defeated in a sides Alexander.

"The caution of an heathen prince (see Esther i. v. 8.) even when he would show his generosity, may shame many who are called Christians, that think they do not sufficiently show their good house-keeping, nor bid their friends welcome, unless they make them drunk, and, under pretence of sending the health round, send the sin round, and death with it." Anachonis, the philosopher, being asked by what means a man might best guard against the vice of drunkenness? he made answer, " By bearing constantly in his view the loathsome indecent behaviour of such as are intoxicated in this manner." Upon this principle probably was founded the custom of the Lacedemonians, of exposing their drunken slaves to their children, who, by that means, conceived an early aversion to a vice which makes men appear so monstrous and irrational.

off all the threatenings of the word, upon a presumptuous hope of the mercy of God, was, at last, laid on a bed of sickness, and which, for a time, scared all his old companions in iniquity from visiting him; but hearing he was cheery and pleasant in his sickness, some of them ventured to see him; whom they found very confident of the mercy of God, whereby their hands were much strengthened in their old ways: but before he died, his tone was much changed; his vain hopes vanished, and his guilty conscience awakened. Now ready to die, he cries out in despair, "O! Sirs, Í had prepared a plaister, and thought all was well; but now it will stick no longer." Thus is the word of God verified: "There is no peace to the wicked."

The Drunkard recovered.

The late R. P. of W. was, for some The famous Bernard Gilpin disco- time, awfully ensnared by the sin of vered the seriousness of his disposi- drunkenness, but was, at length, retion very early in life. A begging covered from it in the following sinfriar came to his father's house, where, gular way: he had a tame goat, which according to the custom of the times, was wont to follow him to the alehe was received in a very hospitable house which he frequented. One manner. The friar made too free, day, by way of frolick, he gave the and was not sober enough to save ap- animal so much ale,,that it became pearances. The next morning, how- intoxicated. What particularly struck ever, he ordered the bell to toll; and Mr. P. was, that, from that time, from the pulpit expressed himself though the creature would follow him with great vehemence against the de- to the door, he never could get it to bauchery of the times, and particu- enter the house. Revolving this cirlarly against drunkenness. Young cumstance in his mind, Mr. P. was Gilpin, then a child by his mother's led to see how much the sin by which knee, seemed, for some time, exceed- he had been enslaved had sunk him ingly affected with the friar's dis- beneath a beast, and from that time course, and at length, with the utmost became a sober man. indignation, cried out-" Oh, Mamma, do you hear how this fellow dares speak against drunkenness, and was drunk himself yesternight at our house?" How careful and circum

spect should professors of religion be

in their conduct! Even infantine wisdom cannot help discerning and marking the inconsistencies of such.

The Drunkard confounded.

A notorious drunkard, who used, when told of his ungodly life, to shake

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DUELS.

THE number of duels that are now

fought proves the sad depravity o. the times, and of the little sense men have of another world. "If every duel were to stand in the pillory, it one, says Addison, "that fought a would quickly lessen the number of these men of imaginary honour, and put an end to so absurd a practice.

"When honour is a support to vir

tuous principles, and runs parallel saying with this great man, "That with the laws of God and our coun- there was more true courage and getry, it cannot be too much cherished nerosity in bearing and forgiving an and encouraged; but when the dic-injury for the love of God, than in tates of honour are contrary to those requitting it with another; in sufferof religion and equity, they are the ing rather than revenging, because greatest depravations of human na- the thing was really more difficult. ture, by giving wrong ambitions and Adding, that bulls and bears had coufalse ideas of what is good and laud- rage enough, but it was brutal couable, and should, therefore, be explo- rage; whereas that of men should be ded by all governments, and driven such as became rational beings and out, as the bane and plague of human Christians." society."

A quarrel having arisen between a celebrated gentleman in the literary world and one of his acquaintances, the latter heroically, and less laconically, concluding a letter to the former, on the subject of the dispute, with, "I have a life at your service, if you dare take it." To which the other replied: "You say you have a life at my service, if I dare take it. I must confess to you, that I dare not take it; I thank my God I have not the courage to take it. But though I own that I am afraid to deprive you of your life, yet, Sir, permit me to assure you, that I am equally thankful to the Almighty Being, for mercifully bestowing. on me sufficient resolution, if attacked, to defend my own." This unexpected kind of reply had the proper effect; it brought the madman back again to his reason. Friends intervened, and the affair was compromised.

Gaston, Marquis de Renty, an illustrious nobleman, having a command in the French army, had the misfortune to receive a challenge from a person of distinction in the same service. The Marquis returned for answer, "That he was ready to convince the gentleman that he was in the wrong; or, if he could not convince him, was as ready to ask his pardon." The other, not satisfied with this reply, insisted upon his meeting him with the sword. To which the Marquis sent this answer; "That he was resolved not to do it, since God and his King had forbidden it; otherwise he would have him know, that all the endeavours he had used to pacify him did not proceed from any fear of him, but of Almighty God and his displeasure-that he should go every day about his usual business, and if he did assault him, he would make him repent it." The It is reported of the famous Visangry man, not able to provoke the count de Turenne, that, when he Marquis to a duel, and meeting him was a young officer, and at the siege one day by chance, drew his sword, of a fortified town, he had no less and attacked him. The Marquis than twelve challenges sent him, all soon wounded and disarmed both him of which he put in his pocket without and his second, with the assistance of farther notice: but, being soon after a servant who attended him. But commanded upon a desperate attack then did this truly Christian noble- on some part of the fortifications, man show the difference betwixt a he sent a billet to each of the chalbrutish and a Christian courage; for, lengers, acquainting them, "That leading them to his tent, he refreshed he had received their papers, which them with wine and cordials, caused he deferred answering till a proper their wounds to be dressed, and their occasion offered both them and himswords to be restored to them; then self to exert their courage for the dismissed them with Christian and King's service; that, being ordered friendly advice, and was never heard to assault the enemy's works the next to mention the affair afterwards, even day, he desired their company, when to his nearest friends. It was a usual they would have an opportunity of

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