Now such efforts can scarcely be made too early. Even very little children may, by example and precept, be taught the lessons of Christian love; and as the intellectual powers advance, useful knowledge and influential practical principles on the side of Peace, may by judicious training, in dependence on divine aid, be easily communicated to the ingenuous and uncorrupted mind of youth. No words can express the importance of such endeavours. The seed-time must indeed call for close watchfulness, daily diligence, and above all, fervent prayer. But abundant will be the reward of that harvest of charity-of that wider dissemination and deeper reception of the principle of universal peace, which, we trust, will adorn and distinguish generations yet to come.

Should the Peace Reading-Book now offered to the public, for common use in schools and families, be found in any degree efficacious in promoting these great ends -the object which those concerned in its production have in view, will be fully answered; and they will have great cause for thankfulness to Him, without whose blessing, all their efforts in this good cause must be entirely in vain.

THE PEACE READING BOOK.

ANGER.

ANGER is uneasiness or discomposure of the mind, upon the receipt of any injury, with a present purpose of reLOCKE.

venge.

The Latin for anger is Ira, from whence come IRE, anger; IREFUL, angry; IRASCIBLE, easily provoked; IRASCIBILITY, easiness of provocation, and some other words of a like meaning. We have also DIRE, dreadful, from the Latin Dirus, which is a compound of Dei ira, wrath of God; and DIREFUL, DIRENESS, &c.

He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly.

PROVERBS XIV. 17.

He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding; but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

PROVERBS XIV. 29.

A soft answer turneth away wrath;_ but grievous words stir up anger. PROVERBS Xv. 1. A wrathful man stirreth up strife; but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife. PROVERBS XV. 18.

The wrath of a king is as messengers of death; but a wise man will pacify it. PROVERBS xvi. 14.

He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. PROVERBS XVI. 32.

What a chain of evils does that man prepare for himself who is a slave to anger! He is the murderer of his own soul, yea, to the letter he is so, for he lives in a continual torment. He is devoured by an inward fire, and his body partakes of his sufferings. Terror reigns around him, every one dreads lest the most innocent and most trifling occurrence may give him a pretext for quarrel, or rouse

B

him into fury. A passionate man is alike odious to God and man, and is insupportable even to himself.

ST. EPHRAIM-Book of the Fathers.

The rubbing of the eyes doth not fetch out the mote, but makes them more red and angry; no more doth the distraction and fretting of the mind discharge it of any ill humours, but rather makes them more abound to vex us. BISHOP PATRICK.

"Take everything by the smooth handle," is an old proverb, showing that we should view things in the most favourable light; and, " A slow fire maketh sweet malt," is another, on which it may be observed that a fierce fire half burns the malt, and destroys most of its sweetness. In like manner, that which is done with violence and hurry, is the worst done, for "Deaf as the sea, hasty as fire, is anger," says SHAKSPEARE.

Watch against anger, neither speak nor act in it; for, like drunkenness, it makes a man a beast, and throws people into desperate inconveniences. WILLIAM PENN.

It is said concerning Julius Cæsar, that, upon any provocation, he would repeat the Roman alphabet before he suffered himself to speak, that he might be more just and calm in his resentments. The delay of a few moments has set many seeming affronts in a juster and kinder light; it has often lessened, if not annihilated the supposed injury, and prevented violence and revenge.

To be angry about trifles is mean and childish; to rage and be furious is brutish; but to prevent and suppress rising resentment is wise and glorious, is manly and divine. Let your desires and aversions to the common objects and occurrences in this life be but few and feeble, make it your daily business to moderate your aversions and desires, and to govern them by reason. This will guard you against many a ruffle of spirit, both of anger and sorrow. WATTS' DOCTRINE OF THE PASSIONS.

If a person be passionate, and give you ill language, rather pity him than be moved to anger. You will find that silence, or very gentle words, are the most exquisite revenge for reproaches; they will either cure the distemper in the angry man, and make him sorry for his passion; or they will be a severe reproof and punishment to him.