UNCLE IN ENGLAND. 201 



least appearance of being irksome, search and 

 you will find that some incompatible but favourite 

 pursuit entices away your thoughts : throw it then 

 aside, however blameless it may otherwise be, or 

 however innocent may be its pleasures. Re- 

 member with whom St. Paul classes those who 

 are ' lovers of pleasures more than lovers of 

 God. J 



" Frequently examine the state of your moral 

 and religious feelings, and when you perceive 

 a deficiency in any point, beware of lowering 

 the standard of virtue to meet your practice ; 

 instead of endeavouring to rise to the level of 

 your duty. 



" Watch vigilantly your small faults. You will 

 find the unhesitating sacrifice of any one of them 

 productive of the purest satisfaction ; and each 

 victory will make the next struggle more easy. 

 But, in doing this, be careful to resist that most 

 seductive propensity of all minds, the looking 

 back with too much complacency at the faults 

 we have conquered, or at the virtues we possess, 

 instead of fixing our eyes on the sins we have 

 yet to overcome, and the improvement we have 

 yet to achieve. 



" And, lastly, arm yourselves with a determined 

 resolution not to rate human estimation beyond 

 its true value. No one should affect a needless 

 singularity ; but to aim at things which in their 

 nature are inconsistent, to seek to please both 



