THE editor has thought it neceffary to remark, that a few verbal alterations have been made in fome of the extracts, the better to adapt them to the use of the prefent defign; but as the sentiments and tenor of the original pieces are not thereby materially changed, it is hoped this freedom will be excused by their respective authors, to whom not the leaft injury or offence has been intended.

ONE of the most approved judges of books amongst us, after perufing fome parts of the manufcript, has expreffed his approbation thereof as follows:

"I HAVE read, with much pleasure, the manuscript "fpecimen communicated to me of the Mifcellanies in "Profe and Verfe I am glad to hear they are now or"dered for the prefs.

"A BOOK, Containing fo many well chofen fenti"ments, and excellent inftructions, put into the hands "of our children, cannot but be highly useful to the rifing generation.

B. FRANKLIN.

A MORNING

A MORNING HYMN.

To thee, let my firft offʼrings rise,

Whofe fun creates the day,
Swift as his glad'ning influence flies,
and spotlefs as his ray.

What numbers with heart-piercing fighs
Have past this tedious night!
What numbers too have clos'd their eyes,
No more to fee the light!
Sound was my fleep, my dreams were gay:
How fhort fuch time review'd?
My night ftole unperceiv'd away;
I'm like the day renew'd.
This day thy fay'ring hand be nigh,
So oft vouchfaf'd before;
Still may it lead, protect, fupply,
And I that hand adore.
If blifs thy Providence impart,
For which reign'd I pray,
Give me to feel the grateful heart,
And without guilt be gay.
Affliction, fhould thy love intend,
As vice or folly's cure,
Patient to gain that gracious end,
May I the means endure.

Thus from my fix'd or varying fate,
Some virtue let me gain,

That Heaven, nor high, nor low estate,
When fent, may fend in vain.

Be this, and ev'ry future day

Still wiser than the past,

That life's improvement to furvey
May well fuftain my last.

A 3

THE

THE duties of religion, fincerely and regularly performed, will always be fufficient to exalt the meaneft, and to exercife the highest understanding. That mind will never be vacant, which is frequently recalled by ftated duties or meditations on eternal interefts; nor can any hour be long, which is spent in obtaining fome new qualification for celeftial happiness.

TO love an enemy, is the diftinguishing characteristic of a religion, which is not of man, but of God. It could be delivered as a precept, only by him who lived and died to establish it by his example.

IF thou doft good to man, as an evidence of thy love to God, thy virtue will be exalted from moral to divine; and that happinefs, which is the foretafte of paradife, will be thy reward upon earth.

RECREATION after bufinefs is allowable; but he that follows his pleasure instead of his business, shall in a little time have no bufinefs to follow.

RESIGNATIO N.

THOU Pow'r Supreme, by whose command I live,
The grateful tribute of my praise receive;
To thy indulgence, I my being owe,

And all the joys which from that being flow.
Scarce eighteen funs have form'd the rolling year,
And run their deftin'd courses round the sphere,
Since thou my undiftinguifh'd form furvey'd,
Among the lifeless heaps of matter laid.
Thy skill my elemental clay refin'd,

The ftraggling parts in beauteous order joined ;
With perfect fymmetry.compos'd the whole,
And ftampt thy facred image on my foul;
A foul, fufceptible of endless joy!

Whose frame, nor force, nor time, can e'er destroy,,
But shall fubfift, when nature claims my breath,
And bid defiance to the power of death,

The

To realms of blifs, with active freedom foar,
And live when earth and hell fhall be no more.
Indulgent God, in vain my tongue affays,
For this immortal gift to fpeak thy praise.
How fhall my heart, its grateful fenfe reveal,
When all the energy of words must fail ?
Oh! may its influence in my life appear,
And every action, prove my thanks fincere.
Grant me, great God! a heart to thee inclin'd,
Increase my faith, and rectify my mind;
Teach me betimes to tread thy facred
And to thy fervice confecrate my days;
Still as thro' life's uncertain maze I stray,
Be thou the guiding-star to mark my way;
Conduct the steps of my unguarded youth,
And point their motions to the paths of truth.
Protect me by thy providential care,

And teach my

ways,

foul t' avoid the tempter's fnare.
Thro' all the various fcenes of human life,
In calms of ease, or bluftering ftorms of strife,
Thro' every turn of this inconftant ftate,
Preferve my temper, equal and fedate.
Give me a mind that bravely does defpife,.
The low defigns of artifice and lies.
Be my religion, fuch as taught by thee,
Alike from pride and fuperftition free.
Inform my judgment, rectify my will,
Confirm my reafon, and my paffions still.
To gain thy favour be my only end,
And to that fcope may every action tend.
Amidst the pleafures of a profp'rous ftate,
Whofe flatt'ring charms too oft the mind elate,
Still may I think to whom these joys I owe,

And blefs the bounteous hand from whence they flow:
Or if an adverse fortune be my fhare,

Let not its terrors tempt me to despair,
But bravely arm'd, a fteady faith maintain,
And own all best which thy decrees ordain
On thy Almighty Providence depend,
The beft protector, and the furent friend.

A A

Thus

Thus on life's ftage may I my part maintain,
And at my exit thy applaufes gain;
When thy pale herald fummons me away,
Support me in that great catastrophe ;
In that laft conflict guard me from alarms,
And take my foul, expiring, to thy arms.

"BLESSED are the poor in fpirit, for their's is "the kingdom of Heaven."-Thus our bleffed Saviour opened his fermon on the mount; and from his example we may be affured that humility is the richest garb that the foul can wear. By this word is to be understood, not an abject poornefs of fpirit, that would ftoop to do a mean thing; but fuch an humble sense of human nature, as fets the heart and affections right towards God, and gives us every temper that is tender and affectionate towards our fellow-creatures. This is the foil of all vir tues, where every thing that is good and lovely grows.

DESPISE not labour; if you do not want it for food, you may for phyfic: It ftrengthens the body, invigorates the mind, and prevents the ill confequences of idleness.

OBSERVE the ant, for fhe inftructs the man,
And preaches labour, gath'ring all the can,
Then brings it to increafe her heap at home,
Against the winter which she knows will come;
And when that comes fhe creeps abroad no more,.
But lies at home, and feafts upon her store.

AN EVENING REFLECTION.

WHILE night, in folemn fhade, invefts the pole, And calm reflection fooths the penfive foul; While reason, undisturb'd, afferts her sway, And life's deceitful colours fade away To thee, all-confcious Prefence! I devote This peaceful interval of fober thought.

Here