Page:Collection of interesting anecdotes, religious, moral and entertaining, selected from several eminent authors.pdf/6

( 6 ) made this memorable reply, “ Let him ſtudy the holy Scriptures, eſpecially the New Teſtament. Therein are contained the words of eternal life. It has God for its author, ſalvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter."

19. A Perſian ſoldier, who was heard reviling Alexander the Great, was well admoniſhed by his officer. " Sir, you are paid to fight againſt Alexander, and not to rail at him.” May we not ſay of mankind at large, that they are bound to pray for their cnemies, and not to rail at them ?

20. The famous Boerhaave was one not eaſily moved by detraction. He uſed to ſay, “ The ſparks of ealumny will be preſently extinct of themſelves, unleſs you blow them.” It was a good remark of another, that " the malice of ill tongues caſt upon a good man, is only like a mouthful of ſmoke blown upon a diamond, which, though it clouds its beauty for the preſent, yet it is eaſily rubbed off, and the gem reſtored with little trouble to its owner.”

21. As Mr. Romaine was one day walking in the ſtreet with another gentleman, he heard a poor man call upon God to damn him. Mr. R. ſtopped, took out half-a-crown, and, preſenting it, ſaid, “ My friend, I will give you this if you will repeat that oath.” The man ſtarted: “ What! Sir," ſaid he, " do you think I will damn my ſoul for half-a crown?" Mr. R. anſwered, “ As you did it juſt now for nothing, I could not ſuppoſe you would refuſe to do it for a reward!" The poor creature ſtruck with this reproof, as Mr. R. intended he ſhould be, replied, “ God bleſs and reward you, Sir, whoever you are, I believe you have ſaved my ſoul: I hope I ſhall never ſwear again while I live."

22. It was a cuſtom in former days for merchants in their