The Mirrour — Concord, N.H., 1794-10-17 00:00:00, page 1

'' Strive not with a man without cause, if he
have done thee no barm."
PERHAPS nothing discovers the
depravity of human nature in a
more glaring light, than the assaults,
which are frequently made upon in
nocent charaderi.. How often do
x we fee men indefatigably laborious in
their exertions, to stigmatize the cha
rafters of those from whom they nev
er received the least injury. But, who
have ever treated them in an affable,
complaisant and friendly manner—
Surely conduct like this must proceed
from total depravity. From a dis
position, which thieves and robbers
may view with perfea contempt.—
For they have a ftimulous for their
conduct, which renders them far less
criminal ; when they deprive their
fellowmen of property, it is to in
crease their own. But those, who
with to deffroy the reputation of their
fellowmen ; if they succeed do not
thereby in the least degree advance
their own. Therefore they must be
stimulated, by envy, or malice pre
penfe ; which is perfectly chara&er
iftic of Beelzebub, the prince of devils
—Hence then, how furpaioingly in
consistent must those persons be, who
are daily breathing out calumnies ;
making unjust and unprovok'd at
tacks upon their neighbors characters :
And yet make high profeffions
in that religion, which has its very
foundation in benevolence t—Profei
to be for him, who enforced it upon
his Disciples, as a new command
ment; that they Ihould love one-a
nother.—They have also a scrupulo
sity, which is familar to that of the
Scribes and Pharisees ; they are ex
tremely confciencious refpefting par
ticular modes and forms of worship,
—and yet violate humanity itfelf
without a blush. If we may judge
through a medium of conduct ; we
are authorifed to fay of such, that
notwithstanding their eminent pro
feffions VjSeir confcioufriefs ; were
their hearts to be laid open, they
would appear black as hell—Divine
revelation,, forms us, " that if any
map feemeth to be religious and brid
leifttyt' his tongue, his religion is
vim." ft is peculiarly charaaeriftic
of the good man that he bridleth his
tongue. /Those horrid imprecations
and anathema which the envious and
malevolent are pouring forth against
their fellowmen, his benevolent heart
abominates. The good mao like
wise not only refrains from speaking
evil of his neighbor, but from think
ing evil ; he is not apt to think his
fellowmen more guilty than they are,
but, generally, tefi. For he is so
thoroughly convinced of his own de 4
SHOES to MAKE.
WANTED to contraa for the making of
federal thousand pairs of good thick leather
men's SHOES—to be delivered Joon —The pa,for
making said fooes, to be wholly in leather—and a
generous price given, if application be made imme
diately to NATHANIEL LADD.
WAN TED IMMEDIATELY,
An active BOY, from 14 to 16
years of age, as an apprentice to the Print
ing Business, to whom good encouragement
will be given by the Printer hereof.
[Vol. ll.]
FOUND — FOR THE MIRROUR.
MORALIST.
MifeeUany.
©6c 'Wiffoitt
prav'^r, fees so much of the plague
[own heart—that he thinks it
alnffi impossible, that any Should be
rfrfe, and therefore does not think
that others can be guilty of vices,
which to him, appear in such hideous
and degrading forms.
Whenever a man fufpeds another
of any certain vice, without fufficient
evidence, the presumption is strong
that, under similar circumstances, he
would be guilty of it himfelf. In
short, whenever 1 hear a man extreme
ly censorious upon his neighbor for
any particular vice, I confider it is a
striking evidence, of its being a vice
to which he himfelf is peculiarly ad
dided ; and therefore takes this me
thod to avoid being fufpe&ed,—How
frequently do we hear men exclaim
ing against the pride of others, the
foie reason of which appears to be,
that they have not treated them with
that attention, to which they think
their superior dignity entitles them !
and how often do the. Rustic and Mi
ser discover more pride in condemn
ing the fopperies, fuperfluities and ex
travagancies of the age, and boasting
of their humility and frugality, than
the trifling Beau, with all his splendid
equipage ? Hence then let us atten
tively and impartially examine our
own hearts and lives, left while we
are passing sentence upon the cobdud
of others, it recoil upon our own with
redoubled force. A.
MR. RUSSELL,
Being muebpkajed with the following letter, late
l, received from a diJiant friend, I fend it to
you, and if you deem it worth, the perusal of
the public,,ou are at libert, to give it a place
in the Mirrour. Excuse Maiden mode), in
jubjeribing berjelf, —
CHEARFULLY I comply with
the request of my amiable friend
to write, but as I am a little fatigued
with the business of the day, a very
sentimental letter cannot be expe&ed.
At a loss for a fubjeft to write upon,
Happiness (an object which every
one is in pursuit of) presents itfelf for
confideratioo.
To obtain this objed, one of the
ancients observes, that man need only
make a right use of his eyes—First,
we are to look around us, and count
over the various blessings we enjoy,
and withal reflea how many there are
in the Great Family, more miserable
than we—then we are to look down,
and think how small a portion of the
earth we shall want at last, and withal
reflea how all riches, honors and
pleasures of life end—then we are to
look up, and think how endless and
complete the joys of the heavenly
state, and withal reflea char purity of
heart and life most certainly leads to
that blifsful state, where we shall en
joy not only a freedom from all pain,
but also the completion of all our
wifhes.—ln this way I think we"may
enjoy a contented mind, than which
nothing in the world is more desira
ble ; and by purity of heart and life,
if we do not attain to a quiet and hap
py state here, yet it leads to a happi
ness of a much superior nature, and
endless duration—The cup of felicity,
pure and unmixed, is by no means a
draught for mortals—the most highly
favored in this life, have many evils
to bear,and trials to go through—ev
ery one withes for something which
he has not got —or to get rid of fom^
BY E. FUSSELL CONCORD —NEWHAMPSHIRE.
FRIDAY, October 17, 1794.
thing which he cannot avoid—hence
the necessity of patience—hence the
wisdom of that philefophy and relig
ion, which teaches us, to learn to en
dure that which we cannot avoid—
& to endeavor to conform our minds
to cur situation, if we can't make our
situation agree to our minds.
A contented mind, disposed to look
on the faireft fide of things, disposed
to be happy, may be so in almost any
situation—Even in uncultivated wilds
such an one would find a warm fheh
ter in some friendly cave—the mur
muring rills, the melody of birds, the
humbler plants and lofty trees, these
would afford matter of pleating con
templation—The cooling stream, the
rich venison, together with some lus
cious fruits, gathered from the lap of
nature, these have been a delicious re
past to many —While a discontented,
uneasy mind, possessed of every thing,
yet enjoys nothing—He is either cloy
ed with fullnefs, tired of sameness,
something disturbs him, or nothing
pleases him—or if all his withes are
fulfilled, then he is uneasy, because he
has nothing to be uneasy with.
Riches—" Man wants but little
here below, nor wants that little
long." To be over eager to lay up
for posterity, is not perfect wifdom—
they are not always the happier, nor
yet the richer, for setting out in life
io affluence ; and in regard to one's
felf, if it be true that a competency
in life, be more favorable to happi
ness, than riches, then we ought in
reason to be fatisfied with a compe
tency, and to enjoy it without repin
ing for more.
Solitude —But if we have a com
petency, (fay 80 or 40 pounds per
annum) yet Social Man, What is be
alone ?—The wide pafture—fruitful
fields—gardens—groves, or bending
orchards—how can these afford con
tent to the mind which fondly wishes
something else ? Or, in winter, we
may have a close & an elegant room,
generous fire, clean brufh'd hearth,
the " sportive kitten may play, and
crackling faggot fly," and even the
cheating glafi may give its aid —but
what is all this to Social Man, in Sol
itude? As pain lessens, so pleasure
increases, by participation —hence the
happiness of having A FRIEND, in
whole fidelity we can confide, on
whole goodness we can rely—' Friend
ship, that charmer of the mind,' more
than any .thing else this world can
give, soothes our cares, multiplies and
improves our joys, cheers the gloom
of night, and makes the day more
pleasant. But False Friends ever was
a common complaint—Hence some
have supposed, that those who have
an agreeable friend, whom a more
dear and delicate connedion makes
constant to them, are in the most fa
vorable situation for happiness—how
ever, in ordet to happiness of this
kind, a mutual suitableness of temper,
alikeness of taste and disposition, I
should suppose in some degree requi
site—Tn geometry, it is necessary for
two lines to agree, that they should
be alike, whether they be crooked or
straight. Inmufic, harmony of found
is all in all— Perhaps one reason why
brothers and lifters are so much at
tached to one another is, because that
being naturally related and brought
up together, there is a natural like-
rtefs, which makes harmony natural
and leafy—But, waving a fubjeft with
which I ana so unacquainted, 1 would
beg leave to observe, that a little or
ever so much Pure Religion, free from
any thing four and gloomy, or wild
and frantic, will give the best fopport
to advei fity, will be the best guide io
prosperity, and crown our lives with
that becoming gracefulnefi, that dig
nity and happiness, which nothing
else can—this appears the ornament
and the glory of man ; and has this
superior advantage, that it Ihall go
with us, not only through the various
feenes of this life, but accompany us
to that other world, where all the
good are ever happy.—Thus, I have
hurried over this sheet ; I could Wish
it was less insipid ; but I have not
time to mend it, and so will submit
it to that candor, and generosity, ev
er attending true friendfhip.
WHEN we fee young gentlemen pranc
ing o'er the streets, dreft in the gay
est mode their fancies can devise, as though
they were worth millions a year, and perhaps
if their debts Were paid, they would be hun
dreds worse than nothing—Surely we look
upon these gentlemen with pity & contempt,
what can be the expectations of young gen
tlemen, who spend the melt precious mo
ments of their lives in mere idlenefs,or (what
is far worse than idleness) the most notorious
vices ? Would they but seriously indulge the
thought, that old age, with lengthy strides,
is approaching them —that the years draw
nigh when they shall take no pleasure in them
—that the Angel who ftandeth on the sea &
on the earth, ere long will swear that time
shall be no longer—certainly (if their con
sciences were not feared as with a hot iron)
they would hearken to the voice ofreafon. —
But if they turn a deaf ear to all cautions, &
persist in the black catalogue of their vices,
what a dismal afpe& will conscience wear,
when death, with unwelcome approaches,
enters their dwelling ! What will be their
consternation, when they are hurried into the
presence of an offended Deity ! Not under
the conducting care of beneficent angels, but
exposed to the insults of accursed spirits, who
lately tempted, now upbraid,and will forever
torment them !—Ram youth ! if all those
horrors await you, at the end of your wild
career, you will do well to turn your atten
tion to a more noble object.
The £Era, Country, and Writings of learned
Men.
The whole comprehending, in one view, the
analysis, or outlines, of Universal Hiftory,
from the Creation. (Continued.)
Years AFTER CHRISTY
1 35 /-THE second Jewish war ends, when
they were all banished Judaea.
139 Justin writes his firft Apology for the
Christians.„
^i A number of heretics appear about
this time..
152 The emperor Antoninus Pius flops
the persecution against the Christians.
217 The Septuagint said to be found in a
calk.
222 About this time the Roman empire
begins to fink under its own weight. The
Barbarians begin their irruptions, and the
Goths have annual tribute not to molest the
empire.
260 Valerius is taken prisoner by Sapor,
king of Persia, and flayed alive.
274 Silks firft brought from India : the
manufa&ory of it introduced into Europe by
some monks, 551; firft worn by the clergy
in England, 1534.
291 Two emperors,and two Cefars, march
to defend the four quarters of the Empire.
306 Constantine the Great begins his
reign.
308 Cardinals firft began.
OF
Remarkable Events, Inventions,
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE
EXTRACTED FOR THE MIRROUR.
OBSERVATOR, N°. 11.
FOR THE MIRROUR.
AND
, [Num. 104.]