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222 chasing those intervals of sorrow and remorse for the ill-spent past,—yet so weak and frail is man, and difficult to reform, that Douglas often detected himself straying from the way he had proposed to tread. In the new fund of attainments he acquired, he found, by the force of his reasonings and convincing propositions, he was enabled to bear away the palm, and become the victor in almost every dispute or point of controversy, whether in philosophy, metaphysics, or theology, even with those professedly learned, and much his seniors,—receiving the suffrages bestowed upon him as due to his superior abilities.

He had yet to learn the salutary lesson, that none can arrogate aught to themselves, since man of himself is wholly destitute of intelligence. Thus self-love, with all its concomitant dangers, was yet, by further trials, mortifications, and sorrows, to be subdued, ere he could arrive to that capacity and state, fit to approach and view more closely the splendour and glory of the perfect day!

The constitution of Douglas had been already seasoned to the climate, and as he carefully avoided the least excess, his improved morals leading his choice to temperance, he became so sensible of recovery, as to feel but little diminution of his former vigour. In his desire for meditation, and