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Article COLLECTANEA. ← Page 5 of 5
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Collectanea.
may look with confidence on our text as to a motto— "Let no one despair . " IXNKINDNESS . — " More hearts pine away in secret anguish , for unkindness from those who should be their comforters , than for any other calamity in life . " HAPPINESS . — " There is nothing more difficult than to lay down
any fixed and certain rules for happiness , or , indeed , to judge with any precision of the happiness of others from the knowledge of external circumstances . There is sometimes a little speck of black in the brightest and gayest colours and fortune , ivhich contaminates and deadens the whole . On the contrary , when all without looks dark and dismal , there is often a secret ray of light within the mind , which turns every thing to real joy and gladness . "
DOMESTIC AFFECTIONS . —They little know , who talk of a poor man ' s bereavements coldly , as a happy release from pain to the departed , and a merciful relief from expense to the survivor—they little know what the agony of those bereavements is . A silent look of affection and regard , when all other eyes are turned coldly away—the consciousness that we possess the sympathy and affection of one being , when all others have deserted us—is a hold , a stay , a comfort in the deepest affliction , ivhich no wealth could purchase , no honour bestow . —Dickens .
ADVICE NOT CHARITY . —Voltaire , in his " Philosophical Dictionary , " tells us of a beggar asking alms in the suburbs of Madrid , when a passerby said to him , " Are you not ashamed to follow that infamous employment , as you are able to work ? " To ivhich the beggar smartly replied , " Sir , I ask your charity , not your advice . "
A PURSUIT . — " No human being , however exalted his rank and fortune , however enlarged and cultivated his understanding , can long be happy without a pursuit . Life is a ladder on which we cling from hope to hope , and , by expectation , strive to ascend to enjoyments ; but he who fancies he has reached his highest hope , or who enjoys the utmost of his wishes , is miserable indeed ; for many who have been most successful in their respective undertakings , have given the gloomiest description of the emptiness of human pleasures . The pursuit alone can yield true happiness ; aud the most trifling object that has power to fascinate the hopes of man , is worthy his attention . "
THE EJIPEROR TRAJAN . — " You teach , " said the Emperor Trajan to the Rabbi Joshua , " that your God is everywhere , and boast that he resides amongst your nation ; I should like to see him . " " God ' s presence is indeed every where , " replied Joshua , " but he cannot be seen ; no mortal eye can behold his glory . " The emperor insisted . " Well , " said Joshua , " suppose we try to look first at one of his ambassadors ?" The emperor consented . The rabbi took him in the open air at noonday , and bid him look at the sun in its meridian lendour" I cannotthe
sp . , light dazzles me . " " Thou art unable , " said Joshua , " to endure the light of his creatures , and canst thou expect to behold the resplendent glory of the Creator ? Would not such a si ght annihilate you ?"GoodhugKs Lectures on Bibliographical Literature .
VOL . vi . 3 o
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Collectanea.
may look with confidence on our text as to a motto— "Let no one despair . " IXNKINDNESS . — " More hearts pine away in secret anguish , for unkindness from those who should be their comforters , than for any other calamity in life . " HAPPINESS . — " There is nothing more difficult than to lay down
any fixed and certain rules for happiness , or , indeed , to judge with any precision of the happiness of others from the knowledge of external circumstances . There is sometimes a little speck of black in the brightest and gayest colours and fortune , ivhich contaminates and deadens the whole . On the contrary , when all without looks dark and dismal , there is often a secret ray of light within the mind , which turns every thing to real joy and gladness . "
DOMESTIC AFFECTIONS . —They little know , who talk of a poor man ' s bereavements coldly , as a happy release from pain to the departed , and a merciful relief from expense to the survivor—they little know what the agony of those bereavements is . A silent look of affection and regard , when all other eyes are turned coldly away—the consciousness that we possess the sympathy and affection of one being , when all others have deserted us—is a hold , a stay , a comfort in the deepest affliction , ivhich no wealth could purchase , no honour bestow . —Dickens .
ADVICE NOT CHARITY . —Voltaire , in his " Philosophical Dictionary , " tells us of a beggar asking alms in the suburbs of Madrid , when a passerby said to him , " Are you not ashamed to follow that infamous employment , as you are able to work ? " To ivhich the beggar smartly replied , " Sir , I ask your charity , not your advice . "
A PURSUIT . — " No human being , however exalted his rank and fortune , however enlarged and cultivated his understanding , can long be happy without a pursuit . Life is a ladder on which we cling from hope to hope , and , by expectation , strive to ascend to enjoyments ; but he who fancies he has reached his highest hope , or who enjoys the utmost of his wishes , is miserable indeed ; for many who have been most successful in their respective undertakings , have given the gloomiest description of the emptiness of human pleasures . The pursuit alone can yield true happiness ; aud the most trifling object that has power to fascinate the hopes of man , is worthy his attention . "
THE EJIPEROR TRAJAN . — " You teach , " said the Emperor Trajan to the Rabbi Joshua , " that your God is everywhere , and boast that he resides amongst your nation ; I should like to see him . " " God ' s presence is indeed every where , " replied Joshua , " but he cannot be seen ; no mortal eye can behold his glory . " The emperor insisted . " Well , " said Joshua , " suppose we try to look first at one of his ambassadors ?" The emperor consented . The rabbi took him in the open air at noonday , and bid him look at the sun in its meridian lendour" I cannotthe
sp . , light dazzles me . " " Thou art unable , " said Joshua , " to endure the light of his creatures , and canst thou expect to behold the resplendent glory of the Creator ? Would not such a si ght annihilate you ?"GoodhugKs Lectures on Bibliographical Literature .
VOL . vi . 3 o