Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1828-12-30
ME0RAL.
SELECTED FOR THE LANCASTER GAZETTE.
q CONTROL YOUR PASSIONS.

CONTROL YOUR PASSIONS.
"A censorious spirit always argues want
of education and good manners; and we see
nothing set more awkwardly upon man
who lays claim to wisdom and honour. It
belongs to men of lower education and en-
Payments, and who vent their passions in
the loudest strains--it belongs to those who
have no reputation of their own, who are
almost insensible to shame and disgrace |;
and who, therefore, have very little regard
to the reputation of their neighbours, to be-
come professed censors of others. But
censures cannot easily be drawn from those,
who apply their thoughts to nobler purposes,
and who are used to think soberly. Such
persons, knowing the advantages of good
and fair reputation, having preserved their
own, win never be ready and willing to rob
others of that good, of which they know the
value. A private, but not the general, Of an
army, viii speak CONTEMPORARY and dis.
gracefully of his enemy.
True, indeed, the good man may some-
times be compelled to use the language of
censure, from sense Of duty, from regard
to the welfare of others, or his own safety,
he may be called to unmask the pretences
of hypocrisy, and to rebuke the advances of
presuming ignorance. This duty he viii
discharge faithfully, but without unnecessa-
ry asperity and if the charge of SANDER and
detraction be cast upon him by the offended
person for his fidelity, he will be consoled
by conviction that such censures as he has
uttered are noe reprehensible, but commend
able. But the wise and good man never
seeks to take up a reproach against his
neighbour; and hard thoughts of others
when received into his pure mind, are like
the waters of the sea when exhaled towards
heaven, which lose their bitterness, and
sweeten into humanity, till they descend in
gentle showers of kindness and charity.
What reasonable man would do that which
is disgustful to the wise, and grateful only
to the simple. Besides, he who censures
his neighbour, not only vexes and troubles
him, but thereby creates a variety of trou-
bles and perpiexities to himself
There is nothing that men in general are
more loath to part with than their good
name, and which they wish 10 enjoy, even
after they are dead. Nothing excites their
indignation and resentment more deeply.
and fixes an aversion more strongly, than
censure. They enter into the very souls of
the sensible, and poison the fountain head
of their happiness and no wonder they do,
for q man of common observation sees at
once, that when his reputation is gone, there
is nothing left worth living for in this world.
The unjust censor, therefore, is sure to be
scorned and hated, and the moment oppor-
tunity proves favourable, reprisal will be
made. The injury received is SO capital, as
to warrant the utmost that revenge can do
with safety. Hence Glamour, tumult, care.
suspicion, fear, danger, sorrow, and trouble,
must fall to the share Of him who causeless-
ly Injuries his neighbours good name. One
would think this a great punishment, and
sufficient of itself TO deter US from this wick.
ed conduct. And if justice and charity ia