248 MENTAL AND PHYSICAL EXERCISE. 



only proves a source of vexation, which increases, rath- 

 er than alleviates the evil. 



Now both moroseness and cheerfulness are often ac- 

 quired habits, arising from the circumstances in which 

 the person is placed. Let one, for instance, to whom 

 nature has given a pleasant disposition, be so situated in 

 life, as to be constantly perplexed with its cares, or let 

 him be under the necessity of pursuing studies, which do 

 not interest his mind, and which, therefore, are a source 

 of vexation to him ; and the contracted brow, will be- 

 come habitual ; and the vexed spirit which it indicates 

 will finally become so far a second nature, as to be re- 

 tained, even long after the circumstances, which produ- 

 ced these unhappy results have ceased. Such is the 

 force of habit. 



On the contrary, w^ often see those whose disposi- 

 tions are far from being naturally pleasant, but who, 

 mixing with enlivening society, and being placed in such 

 conditions in life as to escape its corroding cares and 

 perplexities, finally become agreeable, and even courte- 

 ous companions, having acquired happy dispositions, in 

 consequence of being constantly pleased with their own 

 conditions and circumstances. 



But whatever their conditions in life may be, it is un- 

 doubtedly the duty of all persons to cultivate cheerful 

 and happy dispositions. Christians in an especial man- 

 ner are called upon to rejoice to set examples of a hap- 

 py state of mind, and to show by their countenances, 

 and actions, that they are contented with the lot in which 

 Providence has cast them. A sour, crabbed Christian, 

 presents a combination of elements so heterogenous, that 

 the world are always doubtful whether they ever exist in 

 the same person. How indeed, do such adorn the doc- 

 trines they profess ? 



It is true, that there are afflictions, under which, 

 for a time, a happy countenance would betray a want 

 of common feeling, and therefore would be unbecom- 

 ing and improper; but under all the ordinary cares 

 and perplexities of life, of which every one has more or 

 less, we are bound by the duties we owe each other, as 

 well as ourselves, to preserve and cultivate a cheerful 

 spirit and disposition, and aside from levity of conversa- 



