Page 179 - Third Book of Reading Lessons

178 THIRD BOOK OF
MAG1NIFY, v., to exaggerate. L.magn co,-magnus, great, and/acio, I make.
REcEss', n., a retreat, place of secrecy. L. recessus, om recedo,-re, and cedo, I recede, I retire.
ADVER'SITY, n., a state of a iction or su ering. F. adversite, om L. advertere, to turn to or against ;-ad and vertere-versum, to turn. RETRIBU'TION, n., return accommodated to the action ; repayment.
F. retribiition, om (L.) retribuo,-re, and tribuo, I give.
BALSAM (bawl' sum), n., an unctuous, oily mixture of soothing or lenifying properties. F. balsame; G. balsamon, om Heb. ba l­
schemen.
1. MoDESTY is one of the most amiable qualities of a superior man: it is, in ct, observed to increase in proportion to his superiority, and this is well ex­ plained by the ideas suggested by religion. Su­ perio:ity is nothing more than a great advancement in the knowledge and love of truth: the rst renders a man humble, the second makes him modest. Take an example: a man ars praise and shrinks om it, and he does so, though praise is naturally,agreeable to our nature, and there appears, at rst sight, no impropriety in seeking occasions in which it is spon­ taneously o ered to us. I is behaviour in this re­ spect is approved by all those who prize virtue: why so, but because his behaviour is reasonable? The
modest man els that praise reminds him only of the bright part of his character, which is exactly that part which he is most disposed to consider and magnify; while he knows he ought not to look at one side only if he wishes to judge irly: he els that praise easily induces him to ascribe to himself that which is the gift of God; to suppose in himself some excellence springing om his own strength,
·which would be a manifest error; where re, he avoids it, he conceals his best actions, and preserves his noblest sentiments in the secret recesses of his own heart: he knows that whatever induces him to display them, is pride and a love of being observed,