the mere production of reason. In conclusion, let the parent be ever on the watch, to establish and fix as a governing principle, any one action, which proceeds from right motives, however these may have been occasional, and excited only by the peculiar circumstances of situation; for by taking advantage of these golden opportunities, it will often happen, that that action, which has originated under the impulse of correct feeling, may become a pervading habit of the mind, and may be rendered the instrument of much good. Apparent accident has been the frequent source of useful discovery; but in education, there should be nothing left to accident; yet unexpected events, if diligently embraced, will often conduct the parental instructress to the confirmation of good, and the subversion of bad habits.

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CHAP. XV.

OF THE PASSIONS.

SECTION I. Of Selfishness.

SELFISHNESS consists in the preference of personal and individual interest, and in the abandonment of attention to the wants and feelings of others. Its first influence is to confine the views within the narrow limits of self-gratification-that reigning principle of action in all the different ages of life, from the cradle to the grave. Its agency is prominently marked so soon as desire can be developed; it is the natural effort of the human heart, till controuled by other principles; and although it may be more effectually concealed during the mid-day of existence, by a refinement of self-interest, assuming the form of dissimulation, and stimulated by the fear and the shame of being thought selfish; yet even here, the finer shades of this character may be traced by an unprejudiced observer; and towards the evening of life, it will again stalk abroad in lengthened outline, and will hover, with augmented power, around the twilight of decrepitude, and cling fondly to the last wasting remnants of vitality, until "man goeth to his long home."

Selfishness is an absorbing passion; it never rests satisfied with any preceding advantage: before it, policy, expediency, principle, virtue, motive, religion, the love and the fear of God, and the desire of obedience to his will, all yield their peculiar prerogatives, and bow to its extensive sway; the kindlier affections are kept in check, and exclusive inclination, egoistic passion, and narrow disposition, reign uncontrouled, disseminating unhappiness, and obliterating all traces of benevolence.

The passions will generally be found virtues or vices, according to the use which may be made of them. Thus selfishness is a virtue within just bounds, and originates in the principle of selfconservation; that which was given us for the purpose of preserving the individual, of ensuring a proper attention to the health, and enforcing the desire after the continuance of life; a desire, which however it may be subordinated to the will of God, ought never to be superseded; for though to die were infinite gain, yet to live to the glory of God, and for the good of others, should be the Christian's hope. This passion has however been depraved by the fall; it is no longer marked as a principle of self-preservation; but assumes the distinct form of a desire to accumulate as much gratification as possible around the individual, without regard to the feelings and good of others: it seeks the extension of life, only because it affords the means of augmented and reiterated

enjoyment; it lives within itself; it seeks not the happiness of others; it recks not obedience to the will of heaven; it is unjust and anti-social in all its tendencies, and renders man-rational, intelligent man-man who was created in the image of God-the debased slave of his organization and appetites. Melancholy portrait! Yet such is a faithful representation of the natural heart of man; he lives to himself; he acts, and thinks, and speaks, and feels for himself; and, awful thought! with no better principle than this, he dieth to himself, and will then live through all.eternity, a prey, and a misery to himself!!

If we examine the first actions, and mental workings of infancy, we shall find that the child pursues selfish gratification without any other consideration; and no sooner is an effort made to oppose this unvarying pursuit, than anger and other hateful passions are excited; all demonstrating, if such demonstration were thus necessary, that some devastating change has passed upon the fairest work of Omnipotence; and shewing the tendency to evil, as well as proving that there is none that doeth good. But since selfdenial, and forbearance towards others, are the only basis on which the happiness of society can be constituted, it is of consequence that the child be taught to exercise these principles; a lesson which must be commenced early, before the evil principle has gained strength by exercise, and has ripened into habit; and the acquisition of which, though necessarily painful, will not only

add greatly to the value and influence of the character, but will also be a comfort through life, and lead the individual to place its best hopes on futurity.

The subjection of selfishness, the government of self, includes the suppression of improper passions, the submission of our wishes and desires to secure the comfort of others, the sacrifice of present pleasure to promote another's welfare, the subjection of improper motives to action, and the encouragement of those which are just, and which will lead us with pleasing reflections through the most difficult circumstances of life. There are certain and defined limits placed to the gratification of our wishes; and the young should be early taught to act upon them: as for instance, are they lawful in kind and in degree? Are they openly sanctioned by, and in strict conformity with the will of God? Are they reasonable, and in accordance with the wants, and hopes, and fears of an intelligent being? Are they expedient, or suited to the circumstances and situation of social, relative man? Are they worthy of an aspirant after immortality, one whose transient period of earthly existence is but as the vestibule which marks his entrance upon eternity; the mere line, which it requires scarcely a second of time, or the slightest effort to pass, and which once passed, is subject to no possibility of retrogradation? And finally, are they worthy of such a Being destined to live for ever, and whose eternity of reward or punishment, will be fixed