MENTAL AND PHYSICAL EXERCISE. 



source of vexation, which increases rather than alleviates 

 the evil. 



769. Now both moroseness and cheerfulness are often 

 acquired 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 become 

 habitual ; and the vexed spirit which it indicates will 

 finally become so far a second nature, as to be retained, 

 even long after the circumstances which produced these 

 unhappy results have ceased. Such is the force of 

 habit. 



770. On the contrary, we often see those whose dispo- 

 sitions 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 per- 

 plexities, finally become agreeable, and even courteous 

 companions, having acquired happy dispositions, in conse- 

 quence of being constantly pleased with their own condi- 

 tions and circumstances. 



771. But whatever their conditions in life may be, it is 

 undoubtedly the duty of all persons to cultivate cheerful 

 and happy dispositions. Christians in an especial manner 

 are called upon to rejoice to set examples of a happy 

 state of mind, and to show by their countenances and- ac- 

 tions, that they are contented with the lot in which Provi- 

 dence has cast them. A sour, crabbed Christian, presents 

 a combination of elements so heterogeneous, that the world 

 are always doubtful whether they ever exist in the same 

 person. How, indeed, do such adorn the doctrines they 

 profess ? 



772. 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 unbecoming and 

 improper ; but under all the ordinary cares and perplexi- 

 ties 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 conversation, or 



