Page:Collection of interesting anecdotes, religious, moral and entertaining, selected from several eminent authors.pdf/7

( 7 ) books of accounts to have “Laus Deo” (Praiſe to God) written in the beginning of every leaf, and it ſtood on the head of every page in large and fair letters, to put them always in mind that in all their human affairs they ſhould earry on a divine deſign for the glory of God.

23. “ There are four things," ſays Mr. P. Henry, " which I would not for the world have againſt me,-the word of God, my own conſcience, the prayers of the poor, and the account of godly miniſters."

24. The greateſt talkers are not always the cloſeſt thinkers. " Hence," ſays Monteſquieu, “ A man talks in general in proportion to the ſmall degree of thought which he poſſeſſes."

25. A diſſipated young fellow, ſeeing an aged hermit go by him barefoot-" Father," ſaid he, “ you are in a very miſerable condition if there is not another world." " True, ſon," replied the hermit, “ but what is thy condition if there is?"

26. A child of ſix years of age being introduced into company, for his extraordinary abilities, was aſked by a dignified Clergyman, “ where God was," with the proffer of an orange. " Tell me (replied the boy) where he is not? and I will give you two."

27. Richard Boyle, (generally called the great Earl of Cork), it is ſaid, outlived moſt of thoſe who had known the meanneſs of his beginning ; but he delighted to remember it himſelf, and even took pains to preſerve the memory of it to poſterity in the motto which he always uſed, and which he cauſed to be placed on his tomb, viz. “ God's Providence is my inheritance." A noble motto truly !

28. What a different ſpirit did Lewis XII. of France manifeſt, when he was incited to perſecute the Waldenſes, he returned this truly great and noble reply, “ God forbid that I