Return no man evil for evil. Follow not the ways of evil men, they are of those that rebel against the light; they know not its ways, nor abide in its paths. He who formed the heart knows what passes within it. In the following words, the last syllable is pro nounced as in na tion. From the creatures of God, let man learn wisdom; and let him apply to himself the lessons which they give. Go to the desert, my son; observe the young stork; let him speak to thyself; he beareth on his wings his aged sire; he lodgeth him with safety, and bringeth him his food. The pious duty of a child is sweeter than all the incense of the east; yea, sweeter than the richest odours wafted from a field of spices by the western gales. Be grateful to thy father, for he gave thee life; and to thy mother, for she fed thee. Hear the words of his mouth, for they are spoken for thy good; give ear to his precepts, for they proceed from love. He hath watched for thy welfare; he hath toiled for thine ease; do honour, therefore, to his age, and let not his grey hairs be treated with want of respect. Forget not thy helpless state, when thou wast an infant; nor the folly of thy youth; indulge the weakness of thy aged parents; assist and support them in the decline of life, so shall their hoary heads go down to the grave in peace, and thine own clildren, after thy pattern shall repay thy care with love. We should be kind to all persons, even to those who are unkind to us. Envy torments both body and mind. He that cares only for himself, has but few pleasures; and those few are of the lowest order. The days that are past we cannot recall; those that are to come, may not come to us; the present time only is ours: let us, therefore, improve it as much as is in our power. |