first erase.

Ignorance is contented to stand still with her

back to the truth; but error is more presumptuous, and proceeds in the same direction. Ignorance has no light, but error follows a false one. The consequence is, that error when she retraces her steps, has farther to go before she car arrive at truth, than ignorance.-Colton.

ERROR, THE WAY TO DEFEAT IT.-My principal method for defeating error and heresy, is, by establishing the truth. One purposes to fill a bushel with tares; but if I can fill it first with wheat, I may defy his attempts.-John Newton.

ERRORS, THEIR ORIGIN.-Few practical errors in the world are embraced upon the stock of conviction, but inclination; for though indeed the judgment may err upon the account of weakness, yet, where there is one error that enters in at this door, ten are let into it, through the will; that for the most part being set upon those things, which truth is a direct obstacle to the enjoyment of; and where both cannot be had, a man will be sure to buy his enjoyment, though he pays down truth for the purchase. For in this case, the farther from truth the farther from trouble, since truth shows such a one what he is unwilling to see, and tells him what he hates to hear.-South.

ERUDITION, ILL-CHOSEN. -A heap of ill-chosen erudition, is but the luggage of antiquity.-M. Balzac.

ESTEEM OF THE WISE AND GOOD.-The esteem of wise and good men, is the greatest of all temporal encouragements to virtue; and it is a mark of an abandoned spirit to have no regard to it.—Burke.

ESTEEM, WHAT GAINS IT. The chief ingredients in the composition of those qualities that gain esteem and praise, are good nature, truth, good sense, and good breeding.— Addison.

ETERNITY.-The most momentous concern of man, is the state he shall enter upon after this short and transitory life is ended; and in proportion as eternity is of greater importance than time, so ought men to be solicitous upon what grounds their expectations with regard to that durable state. are built, and on what assurances their hopes or their fears stand. S. Clarke.

EVIL, ITS ORIGIN.-Many have puzzled themselves about the origin of evil. I am content to observe that there is evil, and that there is a way to escape from it; and with this I begin and end.-Newton.

EVIL RETURNED FOR GOOD.-Not to return one good office for another, is inhuman; but to return evil for good is diabolical. There are too many even of this sort, who, the more they owe, the more they hate. There is nothing more dangerous than to oblige those people; for when they are conscious of not paying the debt, they wish the creditor out of the way.-Seneca.

EVILS, IMAGINARY.-Imaginary evils soon become real ones by indulging our reflections on them; as he who in a melancholy fancy sees something like a face on the wall or the wainscot, can, by two or three touches with a lead pencil, make it look visible, and agreeing with what he fancied.— Swift.

EVILS OF LIFE.-As it is the chief concern of wise men, to retrench the evils of life by the reasonings of philosophy, it is the employment of fools to multiply them by the senti ments of superstition.-Addison.

EVIL-SPEAKING.—It may be asked,-whether the inconveniences and ill-effects which the world feels, from the licentiousness of this practice, are not sufficiently counterbalanced by the real influence it has upon men's lives and conduct ?———

for if there was no evil-speaking in the world, thousands would be encouraged to do ills, and would rush into many indecorums, like a horse into the battle, were they sure to escape the tongues of men.-Sterne.

EVIL-SPEAKING.- -It is safer to affront some people than to oblige them for the better a man deserves, the worse they will speak of him; as if the possessing of open hatred to their benefactors, were an argument that they lie under no obligation.-Seneca.

EVIL-SPEAKING AVOIDED BY SILENCE.-A good word is an easy obligation; but not to speak ill, requires only our silence, which costs us nothing-Tillotson.

EXACTNESS IN ACCOUNTS.-Many gentlemen turn out of the seats of their ancestors, to make way for such new masters as have been more exact in their accounts than themselves. Addison.

EXAGGERATIONS.-Never speak by superlatives; for in so doing you will be likely to wound either truth or prudence. Exaggeration is neither thoughtful, wise, nor safe. It is a proof of the weakness of the understanding, or the want of discernment of him that utters it, so that even when he speaks the truth, he soon finds it is received with large discount, or utter unbelief.

EXAGGERATIONS.-There is a sort of harmless liars, frequently to be met with in company, who deal much in the marvellous. Their usual intention is to please and entertain but as men are most delighted with what they conceive to be truth, these people mistake the means of pleasing, and incur universal blame.-Hume.

EXAGGERATIONS.-Exaggeration, as to rhetoric, is "using a vast force to lift a feather;" as to morals and character, it

is using falsehood to lift one's self out of the confidence of his fellow-men.

EXAMPLE. One watch set right will do to try many by; but, on the other hand, one that goes wrong may be the means of misleading a whole neighborhood; and the same. may be said of the example we individually set to those around us.

EXAMPLE.-A wise and good man will turn examples of all sorts to his own advantage. The good he will make his patterns, and strive to equal or excel them. The bad he will by all means avoid.--Thomas à Kempis.

EXAMPLE.-Be a pattern to others, and then all will go well; for as a whole city is infected by the licentious passions and vices of great men, so it is likewise reformed by their moderation.- Cicero.

EXAMPLE, A GOOD ONE POWERFUL.-In early life I had nearly been betrayed into the principles of infidelity; but there was one argument in favor of Christianity that I could not refute, and that was the consistent character of my own father. Counsels, &c.

EXAMPLE AND PRECEPT.-Alexander received more bravery of mind by the pattern of Achilles, than by hearing the definition of fortitude.--Sir P. Sidney.

EXAMPLE HAS INFLUENCE.-No man is so insignificant as to be sure his example can do no hurt.-Lord Clarendon.

EXAMPLE OF ASSOCIATES.- -It is certain, that either wise bearing or ignorant carriage is caught, as men take diseases one of another; therefore, let them take heed of their com pany. Shakspeare.

EXAMPLES, GOOD.-Noble examples stir us up to noble

actions, and the very history of large and public souls in spires a man with generous thoughts.—Seneca.

EXAMPLES IMPRESS PRECEPT.- -Though "the words of the wise be as nayles fastened by the masters of the assemblies, yet sure their examples are the hammer to drive them in to take the deeper hold. A father that whipt his son for swearing, and swore himself whilst he whipped him, did more harm by his example than good by his correction.Fuller.

EXCELLENCE THE FRUIT OF LABOR.-Excellence is never granted to man but as the reward of labor. It argues indeed no small strength of mind to persevere in habits of industry without the pleasure of perceiving those advances, which, like the hand of a clock, whilst they make hourly approaches to their point, yet proceed so slowly as to escape observation. -Sir J. Reynolds.

EXCESS. All things that are pernicious in their progress, must be evil in their birth, for no sooner is the government of reason thrown off, than they rush forward of their own accord; weakness takes a pleasure to indulge itself; and having, if the expression may be allowed, imperceptibly launched out into the main ocean, can find no place where to stop.― Cicero.

EXCESSES. He who indulges his sense in any excesses, renders himself obnoxious to his own reason; and to gratify the brute in him, displeases the man, and sets his two natures at variance.-W. Scott.

EXERCISE AND ABSTINENCE.—The only way for a rich man to be healthy, is by exercise and abstinence, to live as if he was poor; which are esteemed the worst parts of poverty.— Sir W. Temple.

EXERTION. Never live in hope or expectation, while your