David, "Thou art more righteous than I; for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have awarded thee evil;" and that same day the king and David were reconciled.― 1 Sam. xxiv.

After Gideon had routed the host of the Midianites, the men of Ephraim "did chide with him sharply," because he called them not when he went to the fight;" but Gideon said, "What have I done in comparison of you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the whole vintage of Abi-ezer? God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian; and what was I able to do in comparison of you?" These pacific words abated the anger of the men of Ephraim, and prevented a division in the tribes of Israel.—Judges, vii. 15-25. and viii. 1-3.

Xantippe, the wife of Socrates, was a woman of such a vile and angry temper, that her name has passed into a proverb: yet the philosopher, by his meek and conciliating behaviour, so completely changed her disposition, that she watched over him with unwearying assiduity and affection during his imprisonment.

John, having greatly injured his brother Richard, surnamed Cœur de Lion, was most severely rebuked by him on his return from the Holy Land; but so completely averted the anger of his royal brother by his meek and supplicatory conduct, that Richard frankly forgave him, and said, "I as freely forgive your offences, as you will forget my pardon."

When William Penn purchased of the American Indians as much land as a man could traverse in a day, and the chiefs expressed great displeasure because the "man had run too fast," he was advised by his companions to fall upon the Indians and cut them to pieces: But Penn rejected the advice with abhorrence, and asked the discontented chiefs how much more would satisfy them. They asked a few baubles of little value, which being instantly given, their anger was appeased; and, ever after that time, William Penn was called by the Indians, "their father and friend."

QUOTATIONS.-Resist not evil, but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.Matt. v. 39.

Recompense to no man evil for evil.-Rom. xii. 17.

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath.-Rom. xii. 19.

See that none render evil for evil unto any man, but ever follow that which is good.-1 Thess. v. 15.

Be courteous; not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing.-1 Pet. iii. 8, 9.

If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing, thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.-Rom. xii. 20.

Bless them that curse you.-Matt. v. 44.

Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. -Rom. xii. 21.

A soft tongue breaketh the bone.-Prov. xxv. 15.
Grievous words stir up anger.-Prov. xv. 1.

A spoonful of oil is better than a pint of vinegar.
He that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.-Prov. xv. 18.
As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a
contentious man to kindle strife.-Prov. xxvi. 21.

The second word makes the fray.

It is the glory of a man to pass by an offence.-Prov xix. 11.

Forgive and ye shall be forgiven.-Luke vi. 37.

The way to appease anger is to sever, as much as may be, the construction of the injury from the point of contempt; imputing it to misunderstanding, fear, passion, or what you will.-Lord Bacon.

Licentia, si nimium videbitur acrimoniæ habere, mitigationibus lenietur.-Cicero.

Quanto sumus superiores, tanto nos submissiores geramus.-Cicero.

Bona verba quæso.

Provocantes alter alterum injuria.-Paterculus.

Conciliat animos comitas affabilitasque sermonis.Cicero.

Lenitas verbi tristitiam rei mitigat.-Cicero.

Animi in odium alicujus concitati comitate retinentur. -Cicero.

CONCLUSION.

THEME XXXIV. Every Bird is known by his Note.

INTRODUCTION. We know to what species any bird belongs, although we cannot see it, by the tone and nature of its voice: We may also discern the character and disposition of men by the general tenour of their conversation.

1ST REASON.-A man will naturally talk about those things with which he is most familiar: So that his occupation and habits of life may be discovered by attending to his general conversation.

2ND REASON.-Our Lord says, "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh;" and, therefore, the mouth reveals the predilections and aversions of the heart.

3RD REASON. Can the leopard change its spots, or the Ethiopian his skin? neither can nature be so entirely subdued by education and the conventionalities of society, as not to burst through restraint, and betray itself to a careful observer.

4TH REASON.-A good man has too much reverence to God, and respect to his own character, to seek concealment: And a bad one has too much indifference to God and man, and too little inclination for any acts of self-denial, to trouble himself about "the government of his tongue."

5TH REASON.-If a person attempts to converse on a subject with which he is not conversant, or to give utter

ance to a sentiment he does not feel, he will soon expose himself by some impertinent remark; and reveal his true character, even by his unsuccessful attempt to conceal it.

6TH REASON.-Every bird has a distinctive note to prevent confusion; otherwise it would be impossible to discriminate one bird from another, except by sight: So also every person has a distinctive voice as well as a distinctive face, that identity may be more easily esta blished; and friends may not be confounded with foes, or the guilty with the innocent.

7TH REASON. A pleasing variety is preserved by this wise provision of the great Creator: If every bird sang the same note the monotony would be wearisome: So, also, if every man were cast in the same mould, commerce would languish, society become stagnant, sympathy would slumber, and enterprise entirely decline.

SIMILES. An Ass once clad himself in a Lion's hide; but was detected by the cunning Fox immediately he attempted to roar.Esop's fable.

A soldier knows whether the trumpet is calling to battle, or sounding a retreat.

A skilful eye can discriminate different kinds of wood by observing the grain; and a skilful ear can discriminate different species of birds by observing their note.

One musical instrument is easily distinguished from another by its tone; and one man is easily distinguished from another by the tenour of his conversation.

Every dumb animal has a peculiar cry.

Every musical string has a distinctive sound.
Every flower has its peculiar perfume.

HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS.-When Mr. Ollapod speaks of being "inoculated by a military ardour;" and describes a military coat as a scarlet jacket, tastely turned up with a rhubarb-coloured lapelle," we judge him at once to be a country apothecary. When Mr. Foss is asked by his

master, if he has seen any stranger lurking about the premises, and gives answer, "There is no enemy in the field, your honour, except he be in ambuscade," we know him to be an old corporal. When Jack Waters talks of getting on board' the horse or railway carriage, we feel certain he is a sailor, &c.

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The proverbs of a nation are a diagnosis of its character. Thus the proverb, "Judge not a ship as she lies in the stocks," indicates a maritime people ; 'All is not gold that glitters," savours of a commercial, moneyloving nation: The ancient Romans, who hated maritime affairs, would never have adopted the former of these proverbs; and the ancient Spartans, who despised gold, would never have invented the latter. Again; the proverb, "All are not huntsmen who blow the horn," is a sportsman's observation; "All are not monks who wear a cowl," smatters of Italy or Spain: The morose ascetics of the early Christian church would never have perpetuated the former aphorism, and the gay sparks of the court of Charles II. would never have lighted on the other. This idea, carefully developed, would furnish amusement and instruction.

Shakspeare, in his comedy of " As you like it," has most graphically described the seven notes of the seven ages of man: 1st, the mewling infant; 2nd, the whining schoolboy; 3rd, the sighing lover; 4th, the swearing soldier ; 5th, the documentary magistrate; 6th, the shrill old man; and, 7th, the voiceless imbecility of second child

ishness.

The note of love is gentle and ardent; that of anger, loud and turbulent; that of friendship, hearty and cheerful of business, cautious and curious; of sociability, careless and free; of modesty, reserved and coy; of vulgarity, coarse and overbearing; of politeness, courteous and smooth: So that much of a man's moral character, as well as of his position in life and educational advantages, may be discerned even by the tone of his voice.

Blind people are unusually skilful in discerning men's character by their voice.