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and even infuse some portion of her salutary spirit where unhappily it may not already prevail. A farther good may possibly arise: the manner in which the subject is treated may induce the Reader to cultivate an acquaintance with other Discourses of the Author, from an attentive perusal of which he cannot rise without advantage and improvement. If these effects should in any degree result from the present little volume, the Publishers will have just reason to reflect with satisfaction on having brought it forward.

In order to simplify the work, and adapt it for general use, it has been thought advisable to omit the scriptural authorities, and occasional quotations from Greek and Latin authors. The substance of the passages referred to, if

not the very mode of expression, is in all cases adopted by the author; and to have inserted them in this manual, might probably have had the effect of deterring some classes of readers from a perusal of it, and by others might have been considered, for any practical purpose, as unnecessarily encumbering the text.

I.

OF INDUSTRY IN GENERAL.

ECCLES. ix. 10.

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might.

IN St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans, among divers excellent rules of life prescribed by that great master, this is one, "Be not slothful in business," or to business; and in the second Epistle to the Corinthians, among other principal virtues, or worthy accomplishments, for abounding wherein the Apostle commendeth those Christians, he ranketh all diligence or industry exercised in all affairs and duties incumbent on them: this is that virtue, the practice whereof

B

in this moral precept or advice the royal Preacher doth recommend unto us; being indeed an eminent virtue, of very general use, and powerful influence upon the management of all our affairs, or in the conduct of our whole life.

Industry, I say, in general, touching all matters incident, which "our hand findeth to do," that is, which dispensation of Providence doth offer, or which choice of reason embraceth, for employing our active powers of soul and body, the wise man doth recommend; and to pressing the observance of his advice (waving all curious remarks either critical or logical upon the words) I shall presently apply my discourse, proposing divers considerations apt to excite us thereto; only first, let me briefly describe it, for our better apprehension of its true notion and nature.

By industry we understand a serious and steady application of mind, joined with a vigorous exercise of our active

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