Page:Collection of interesting anecdotes, religious, moral and entertaining, selected from several eminent authors.pdf/15

( 15 ) 99. Brand Hombury, Sunday, Nov. II, 1770. I told my people, from the pulpit, that, as I was walking to church, this morning, I could not help obſerving, how different the trees looked to day, from what they did this day ſe'nnight. They were, then, covered with almoſt an infinity of leaves: they are, now, half-ſtript, and their verdant ornaments lie conſuming on the ground. Juſt ſuch an alteration does death make in a country, a pariſh, or a family. Providence ſhakes the tree, and down fall the human leaves. But though the leaf drops, the tree remains: though the body dies, the ſoul ſurvives.

100. Men adopt vice and error, for want of knowing the true deformity of both: as, in Ruſſia, where unmarried women conſtantly wear veils, 'tis frequent for the bridegroom never to ſee his wife's face till after marriage.

101. Unfair diſputants are ever for dwelling on the moſt unfavourable ſide of an argument; like the blundering painter, who, being to take the profile of a lady that had loſt an eye, very judiciouſly drew her blind ſide.

102. A man's free-will can't cure him even of the toothach, or of a ſore finger; and yet he madly thinks 'tis in it's power to cure his ſoul.

103. Look where you will, and you'll generally find, that free-willers are very free livers.

104. Reaſon is God's candle in man. But, as a candle muſt firſt be lighted, e'er it will enlighten; ſo reaſon muſt be illuminated by divine grace, e'er it can ſavingly diſcern ſpiritual things.

105. Free-will left to itſelf, may carry a man to Tyburn, and from thence to hell: but 'tis only free-grace that can lead to holineſs and heaven.

106. Bigots are ſtiff, ſtraitened, and confined, like