, SECTION XXIII. 497 every body will nót yield up their sentiments and will to ours, nor is it fit they should. Accustom yourselves to candour, and takeevery thing in the best sense : why should you suppose your neighbour designs to affront you ? 3. Suffer not your thoughts to dwell on the injuries you have received, or on the provoking words that have been spoken against you. Not only learn the art of neglecting injuries at the time you receive them, but let them grow less and less every mo- ment, till they die out of your mind. Suffer not your musing imagination, when you are alone, to swell and magnify the pro- vocations that have been given you, nor to blow up the fire of this uneasypassion. 4. Avoid much conversation withmen of wrath, and endea- vour to keep clear of all disputes with weak minds, with obsti- natespirits, and especially, with persons of an angry and peevish temper, as far as you can. If the flint and steel strike against eachother in a way of dispute, the sparks and fire will be ready to fly out, and the angry flame will be kindled. 5. Love your neighoour as yourself. You are not immedi- ately kindled into wrath against yourself, nor express it with such violence, though you have often done yourself more injury by your own sins, than all other persons ever could do you. You do not bear maliceagainst yourself, nor hateyourself, though you have, perhaps, some evil qualities belonging to you, and you have often sinned against your own soul : You forbear yourself long, and you forgive yourself easily : Learn then to forbear and forgiveyour neighbours. " Deal not with others as you, would not have others deal with you." Would you think it reasonable that your neighbour should take your words in the worst sense, and quarrel with you for every trip in conversation ? That he should resent every little miscarriage that you are guilty of, that he should fly into a sudden fury of passion against you upon every failure of duty or civility? Have you not some follies that other men must bear with, and will younot bear with others? Do you never provoke your neighbour, and yet will you forgive no provocations? Have youno offences to be pardoned, why thendo younot pardon others ? It was very justly said, by a writer on this subject, that men's mistakes, imprudenéies, and inadvertences are so mutual and so numerous, that were not this piece of kindness mutual also, quarrellings and feuds must be infinite. In short, I must say, a person that would claim a right continually to resent, ought himself to be perfect and free from faylts : And then I might add, he would be sowiseand good as seldom to indulge his re- sentments. 6. Observe a person in all his airs and behaviours, when his angry passions are raised high, and exert themselves : Mark the YoL. it. I t
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