Imatges de pàgina
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most cogent inducements to the exercise of virtue, by his virtuous example. Remember then, in the first place, that all duties are reciprocal; and, if you hope to receive favour and indulgence from him, you must, first of all, endeavour to deserve it by your obliging and ingenuous behaviour. As you fill the character of a servant, it will be expected you will act as a master: and if you acquit yourself, not only inoffensively, but meritoriously, you have, as it were, bespoke the opinion of the world in your favour, and may hope to be encouraged, trusted, and served accordingly. The grand foundation of which, must be an inviolable attachment to truth, both in word and deed.

of Lying.

To lie to the prejudice of others, argues malice and villainy; to lie in excuse of ourselves, guilt and cowardice; both ways, a design to elude with false representations of things, and advantage ourselves by the deceit. Now, however artificially we may carry on this infamous practice for a while, in the end it is always discovered, and it is hardly to be imagined what infinite contempt is the consequence. Nay, the more plausibly we have conducted our fallacies before, the more severely shall we be censured afterwards from that moment, we lose all trust, all credit, all society; for all men avoid

a liar, as a common enemy: truth itself in his mouth loses its diguity; being always suspected, and often disbelieved.

If, therefore, you should ever unwarily fall into an offence, never seek to cover it with a lie for the last fault doubles the former; and each makes the other more inexcusable; whereas what is modestly acknowledged, is easily forgiven; and the very confession of a small trespass, establishes an opinion that we are innocent of a greater.

[A habit of strict adherence to the truth, should be sedulously cultivated on all occasions, whether important or trivial. If one of your children, said Dr. Johnson to a lady of his acquaintance, in speaking of any little circumstance, represents it as having occurred at one window, while it actually took place at another, be sure to check him and put him right. Small deviations from the truth, naturally lead on to greater; and there is no knowing where they may eventually land us.]

Of Dishonesty.

But truth in speech must likewise be accompanied by integrity in all your dealings; for it is as impossible for a dishonest person to be a good servant, as it is for a madman, or an idiot, to govern himself, or others, by the laws of common sense. Dare not, therefore, allow yourself

even to wish to convert the property of another to your own use; more especially, where it is committed to your charge; for breach of trust is as heinous an aggravation of theft, as pretended friendship is of murder. If, therefore, you should be lucky in your frauds, and escape without being punished or detected, you will nevertheless stand self-condemned, be ashamed to trust yourself with your own thoughts, and wear in your very countenance, both the consciousness of guilt, and dread of a discovery; whereas, innocence looks upwards, meets the most inquisitive and suspicious eye, and stands undaunted before God and man. On the other hand, if ever your knaveries come to light, (to say nothing of the penalties of the law) with what shame and confusion of face must you appear before those you have wronged? and with what grief of heart must your relations and friends be made eye or ear-witnesses of your disgrace? Nor is this all; for, even supposing you should be convinced of your folly, and sincerely abhor it for the future, you must nevertheless be always liable to suspicion, and others will have the boldness to pilfer, on the presumption that you will be understood to be the thief.

Of Connivance.

But it is incumbent on you, not only to be honest yourself, but disdain to connive at the

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dishonesty of others: he that winks at an injury he might prevent, shares in it; and it is as scandalous to fear blame or reproach for doing your duty, as to deserve reproof for the neglect of it should there be, therefore, a general confederacy among your fellow servants, to abuse the confidence or credulity of your master, divulge it the very moment you perceive it, for fear your very silence should be thought to participate of their guilt.

Of Fidelity.

There is still another sort of fidelity, which may be called that of affection, as the other is of action; being almost of as much consequence too; and what never fails to endear you to those in whose favour it is employed: I mean, that of defending their reputations; not only negatively, by avoiding all reproachful, indecent, or even familiar terms in speaking of them; but positively, by endeavouring, at all times, to vindicate them from the open aspersions, and base insinuations of others.

Of Temperance.

But that your integrity may be permanent, it must be founded on the rock of temperance. First, therefore, banish sloth, and an inordinate love of ease; active minds being only fit for em

ployments; and none but the industrious, either deserving or having a possibility to thrive; which gave occasion to Solomon to exclaim, The sluggard shall be clothed with rags, because he cries, Yet a little more sleep, a little more slumber! But the folly of sleeping away one's days, is obvious to the dullest capacity; it being so much time abated from our lives, and either returning us into a like condition with that we were in before our births, or anticipating that which we may expect in the grave. In short, sleep is but a refreshment, not an employment; and while we give way to the pleasing lethargy, we sacrifice both the duties and enjoyments of our being.

Of Pleasure.

Neither is it enough to avoid sloth; you must likewise fly the excesses of that enchantress, Pleasure. Pleasure, when it becomes our business, makes business a torment; and it is as impossible to pursue both, as to serve God and Mammon. You may, perhaps, think this lesson hard to learn ; but it is nevertheless the reverse of the prophet's roll; and, if bitter in the mouth, is sweet in the belly.

To explain myself more fully on this head; do not imagine I mean by this, that though you must live by the sweat of your brow, you must not reap the harvest of your own labours. Nei

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