me to come and talk to him, and speedily gave himself to
Christ. He has been a most useful Christian ever since. But he told me I
was the first person who had talked to him about his soul in twenty
years. One hour of work did more for that man than the pulpit effort of
a life-time."

--_Selected._

989

HIS MOTHER'S INFLUENCE.

It is reported that a young man being examined preparatory to joining
the church was asked--"Under whose preaching?" The prompt reply--"I was
converted under my mother's practising." Did any preacher ever utter so
powerful a sermon as the young man embodied in those few words?

990

It is a common thing for men to hate the authors of their preferment, as
the witnesses of their mean original.

991

At the first entrance into thy estate keep a low sail; thou mayest rise
with honor; thou canst not decline without shame; he that begins as his
father ended, will be apt to end as his father began.

992

Some grave their wrongs on marble; He more just,
Stooped down serene, and wrote them on the dust;
Trod under foot, the sport of every wind,
Swept from the earth, and blotted from His mind;
There, secret in the grave, He bade them lie,
And grieved they could not escape the Almighty's eye.

993

One is keen to suspect a quarter from which one has once received a
hurt. "A burnt child dreads the fire."

994

The noblest remedy for injuries is oblivion.

--_From the French._

995

Hath any wronged thee?
Be bravely revenged;
Slight it, and the work is begun;
Forgive it, and 'tis finished.
He is below himself who is not above an injury.

996

A man hurts himself by injuring me: what, then shall I therefore hurt
myself by injuring him?

997

_Ink--Described_:--The colored slave that waits upon thought; a drop may
make a million think.

--_Byron._

998

The innocent are gay.

--_Cowper._

999

There is no real courage in innocence.

1000

What narrow innocence it is for one to be good only according to the
law.

--_Seneca._

1001

Better confide and be deceiv'd
A thousand times by treacherous foes,
Than once accuse the innocent