Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1843-01-25

human virtue; theoretic, divine virtue"
Speaking OF the practical virtues in his
golden verses, he exhorts the pupil OF
wisdom thus -
"These know, and with incentive care pursue,
But anger, soth, and luxury subdue:
These study, practice these, aud these affect,
To sacred rirtRe these thy steps direct"
Ol this sacred virtue, no one who has
not the courage 10 commence the regula-
ton and subjugation of his lower appeliles
will ever know anything. Such must
continue TO revIIe and scorn The pilgrim
whose path he cannot understand The
straight and narrow disciplnes are the
way TO felicity, and its wicket stands on
The other side the slough Of debauchery..
The principles on which Pythagoras
regulated diet, may be gathered from the
following passages. He evidently includ-
ed diet as regimen for the salvation of
the soul, not as means Of money econ
omy, CT inducing health of body, or on
any subordinate ground, but as an element
o. true piety.
Whatsoever foo IT, he says, "obstructs
divnation, or is prejudicia TO the purity
and sanctity Of the mind, or to temperance,
chastity, and habitual vir.ue, is to be shun.
ned: as also that which is contrary to puri-
", aud defles the imagna,ions which &C.
ours 10 sleep. Those who would be phi
losophers, or apprehend the sublimesl
things, must abstain ffom all the things
which had life, and must drink no wine,
or sacrifice or hurt any living creature,
but recognize and preserve the Justice
which even beasts may claim: worship
ping al unbloody affairs, and taking care
that others should not put tame beasts TO
death but making even the savage
tame, but moderatng and Illuminating
them both by words and actions, but by
no means paining or saughtering them.
! Civil law.givers must absain from the
| flesh Of living creatures, because il be-
hoves those who would make use of the
height oil justice, no way 10 Injure living
creatures which are Of affinity with us.
For how can they persuade other men TO
do just things, who themselves are trans
ported by avarice or appetite to feed on
living creatures ?"
youths and virgins ought to be edu-
Gated in labor, and exercises. and actions
conducting to fjrtitude, using food con-
venient thereto, and in a laborious, TEN
perant, and tolerant life. Ofthings in hu-
man life there are many in which to be
late conversaht is best; of this kind is hu-
man generation. A youth ought 50 to
be educated and fed, as not to have the de-
sires awakened dill the nuptial hour To
resort seldom TO connubial embraces is
best. if we esteem good habit Of body"
Temperance and chastity are inSepara-
bic from virtue, as virtue is the essence oil
which happiness is the substance.
Modern reformers may do well to re-.
cur to some Of the pithy aphorisms OF
sayings of this early apostle OF purity. Ii
. will be time to pass them UNDECIDED when
we have advanced beyond tnem-till then
Pythagoric dictates may hell to the Ply
, lthagorean, or religious life, which is one
!, with the sublmesl idea OF Christianity
: which Jesus himself afirms. when be says
r I" Not tina! which goelh into the mouth
: but that which cometh out defileth''-
y that is to say, the appetites, passions, anc
l Iusts in the human heart, which mau feel
n and stimulates into fury by fiery and rab
: id incremenls."
II Through temperance the soul is clar
: flied; for then being free from passion,
e is illumed by divinity"
IS ITO serve passions is more grievou
- than TO serve tyrants.
), "It is impossible he can be free VIII
r. serves passions and is governed BY them.
1.-The labor OF confluence precedes a
n excellent things. Confluence is al ono
!, health, strength, and wealth"
: 81: is belter-to die than to cloud th
:. soul by intemperance."
ss The voice of the flesh is perpetually
= Il hunger, thirst, am cold"
- Pvthagoras seeing one made tat oy ca
" ing, said, This man will not cease
: make a stricter prison for himself"
20 Hero, the sumptuous king Of SiciI
10 having invited him 10 his court, Pythago
IS as transmitted the following reply:
ev "My life is secure and quiet, but you
will no way sui: with me modera
-. and sclf.denying person needs not Sic
al liam table. Pythagoras, wheresoever
=, comes, hath all things Sufficient for Il
ma day; but TO serve lord is heavy and il
- toerable for one unaccustomed 10
s.. SeIfsuffi:iency isl great and safe Thin
:. for it hath none that envies or consplr
50 against it; whence that life seemelh
come nearest TO God. A good habit.
IRE not acquired by venereal pleasures, n
he high feeding but by indulgence, whi'
co. leade,h to virtue. Various and intenpe
'k' ate pleasures eLslave the souls OF WEI
e, persons, but especially those which "
,eo enjoy. inasmuch as you have given yot
lle1y self over to them for you axe carried
inc suspense, and cannot be safe. becau
I'm your reason oppos, tn not itself to the
ON things which are pernicious. Therefl
In- write moi Pythagoras 10 live with you
de- / fl h.