OCR Text |
Show Cotir-xr In Life. Life is not entirely maiie up of great evils or heavy trials, but the perpetual recurrence of petty evils and small trials in the ordinary and appointed exercise of the Christian graces. To bear with the failings of those about us with their infirmities, their bad judgment, their ill-breeding, their perverse per-verse tempers; to endure neglect when we feel we deserve attention, and ingratitude in-gratitude w hen we expected thanks; to bear with the company of disagreeable people whom Providence has placed in our way, und whom he has perhaps provided or purposed for the trial of our virtue these are best exercises of our patience and self-denial, and the better because not chosen by ourselves. This habitual acquiescence appears to be more of the essence of self-denial than any little rigors ol our own imposing. im-posing. These constant, inevitable, but inferior evils, properly improved, furnish a good moral discipline, and might, in the days of ignorance, have superceded penance. Hannah More. |