FORCE, FORGETFULNESS. 201 Ed. The reader will find something more to the purpose in Matthew 5:39-48: "Do good to them that hate you," etc. One of the most beautiful gems of oriental literature is contained in a passage from the Persian poet Sadi, quoted by Sir William Jones, the sentiment of which is embodied in the following lines: The sandal-tree perfumes, when riven, The axe that laid it low; Let man who hopes to be forgiven, Forgive and bless his foe. The injurer never forgives. Forgive others every personal injury; forgive yourself nothing. Pardon, when it conquers, is the most effectual revenge. Ed. Bear and forbear, are strange philosophy and religion, with most persons, - but no more strange than true. [See 19, 576.] 357. FORCE, FORCE OF ARMS. Who wins by force, but half overcomes his foe. Ed. Mohammed supplied his lack of moral force, with the force of arms. 1. Barbarians can conquer by civil force. To make conquests by moral force forms the true hero. 358. FORGETFULNESS. Sh. Men are men; the best sometimes forget. Angelo. He who forgets obligations, deserves to be himself forgotten. Em. Mankind have a multitude of moral exercises, of which they take no notice, while passing through their minds; and many of those of which they do take notice, they soon forget. When they endeavor to recollect the past exercises of their hearts, it is but a very small number of the whole, that they can possibly remember. Who can recollect all his internal exercises and external actions for days, weeks, months, and years past? The minds of men are too weak and feeble to take such an extensive survey of their hearts and lives. But God not only bless the foot which crushes Has any one injured yo' words rankle the wound cures it, forgetfulness + It is better to ov them. By the las first, above him. He is more forgives him Each of r Cowp actions of every he do not continually oportion to the importance and the vanity of what is etfulness, which respects injuries. get guilt, only gives tenacity and acutewhenever conscience and reflection preThere is no escape from painful reflecdeliverance from sin. soul. most criminal forgetfulness is the most common — For who, to dumb forgetfulness a prey, Young. If, sick of folly, I relent; he writes My name in heaven, with that invested spear (A spear deep dipp'd in blood!) which pierced his side, And open'd there a fount for all mankind. He who refuses forgiveness, breaks down the bridge over which he must pass, or perish. Ed. God will forgive all who are heartily willing to be either or punished. But the self-righteous, self-justifying, pardoned, and impenitent, who will not cordially acknowledge their desert of the penalty of his holy law, nor accept the punishment of their iniquity, nor accept of an absolute pardon, are so utterly unfit for heaven, they will fail of eternal life, and must endure the second death, the wages of sin. 360. FORMS, FORMALITY. Em. The more men have multiplied the forms of religion, the more vital godliness has declined. Ed. Formalism,—one of the most formidable obstacles to the prevalence of pure and undefiled religion. "ORGETFULNESS. "UDE, FORTUNE, FRAGMENTS, FRAUD, FREEDOM. 203 lists make everything of nothing, and nothing of 361. FORTITUDE. elf an essential virtue, is a guard to the wicked for important purposes, nem at or before death, and go over to everlasting companion. and the power of fixing attention, are two marks mind. 362. FORTUNE, FORTUNES. Syrus, (Publius). Depend not on fortune, but on conduct. Mean fortunes and proud spirits make an unhappy match. Ed. Fortunes, themselves a natural good, often do more hurt than good. Ib. It requires a very rare general to manage a fortune. 363. FORTUNE-TELLERS. Ed. Fortune-tellers the gypsies of Satan's kingdom. Those who confide in them must be supremely gullible. Experience and wisdom are the best fortune-tellers. 364. FRAGMENTS. Whoever gathers up fragments, will be astonished that he so soon fills twelve baskets.. 365. FRAUD, FRAUDS. Fraud in childhood, will become knavery in manhood. Ed. Fraud always secures, for companions, repentance and shame. lb. When the fraudulent are overcome by fraud, they may expect no sympathy. Cowper. 366. FREEDOM. He is the freeman whom the truth makes free, And all are slaves beside. Dark was the night, when might made right, But darkness now holds doubtful sway, 202 FORGIVENESS, FORMS, FORMALITY. sees and marks all the thoughts, words, and actions of every person, but remembers them all. A man continually forgets; so that, if he do not continually learn, he will know less and less. Ed. Forgetfulness is criminal in proportion to the importance and sacredness of what is forgotten, and the vanity of what is remembered. lb. That is a noble forgetfulness, which respects injuries. Ib. An effort to forget guilt, only gives tenacity and acuteness to the memory, whenever conscience and reflection predominate in the soul. There is no escape from painful reflections, only by deliverance from sin. Ib. The most criminal forgetfulness is the most common forgetting God. Gray. For who, to dumb forgetfulness a prey, Left the warm precincts of the cheerful day, Young. If, sick of folly, I relent; he writes My name in heaven, with that invested spear (A spear deep dipp'd in blood!) which pierced his side, And open'd there a fount for all mankind. He who refuses forgiveness, breaks down the bridge over which he must pass, or perish. Ed. God will forgive all who are heartily willing to be either pardoned, or punished. But the self-righteous, self-justifying, and impenitent, who will not cordially acknowledge their desert of the penalty of his holy law, nor accept the punishment of their iniquity, nor accept of an absolute pardon, are so utterly unfit for heaven, they will fail of eternal life, and must endure the second death, the wages of sin. 360. FORMS, FORMALITY. Em. The more men have multiplied the forms of religion, the more vital godliness has declined. Ed. Formalism, one of the most formidable obstacles to the prevalence of pure and undefiled religion. FORTITUDE, FORTUNE, FRAGMENTS, FRAUD, FREEDOM. 203 Ib. Formalists make everything of nothing, and nothing of everything. 361. FORTITUDE. Locke. Fortitude, itself an essential virtue, is a guard to every other virtue. Ed. Fortitude is lent to the wicked for important purposes, but is directed to leave them at or before death, and go over to the righteous, for an everlasting companion. Fortitude, and the power of fixing attention, are two marks of a great mind. 362. FORTUNE, FORTUNES. Syrus, (Publius). Depend not on fortune, but on conduct. Fortune favors the brave. Mean fortunes and proud spirits make an unhappy match. Seneca. Success consecrates the foulest deeds. Ed. Fortunes, themselves a natural good, often do more hurt than good. Ib. It requires a very rare general to manage a fortune. 363. FORTUNE-TELLERS. Those who confide in them must be supremely gullible. . Experience and wisdom are the best fortune-tellers. 364. FRAGMENTS. Whoever gathers up fragments, will be astonished that he so soon fills twelve baskets.. 365. FRAUD, FRAUDS. Fraud in childhood, will become knavery in manhood. Ed. Fraud always secures, for companions, repentance and shame. lb. When the fraudulent are overcome by fraud, they may expect no sympathy. Cowper. 366. FREEDOM. He is the freeman whom the truth makes free, And all are slaves beside. Dark was the night, when might made right, But darkness now holds doubtful sway, |