. Fables of Aesop and others. nseh but they whoexamine by the scale of common sense, must find something ofweight and substance, before they can be persuaded to set avalue. The mind which is stored with virtuous and rationalsentiments, and the beiiaviour, which speaks complacence andhumility, stamps an estimate upon the possessor, which alljudicious spectators are ready to admire and acknow if there be any merit in an embroidery coat, a brocadewaistcoat, a shoe, a stocking, or a sword knot, the person thatwears them has the least claim to it; let it be ascribed where itjustly belong
. Fables of Aesop and others. nseh but they whoexamine by the scale of common sense, must find something ofweight and substance, before they can be persuaded to set avalue. The mind which is stored with virtuous and rationalsentiments, and the beiiaviour, which speaks complacence andhumility, stamps an estimate upon the possessor, which alljudicious spectators are ready to admire and acknow if there be any merit in an embroidery coat, a brocadewaistcoat, a shoe, a stocking, or a sword knot, the person thatwears them has the least claim to it; let it be ascribed where itjustly belongs, to the several artisans who wrought or dispos-ed the materials of which they consist. This moral is not intend,ed to derogate any thing from the magnificence of fine clothesand rich equipages, which, as times and circumstances require,may be used with decency and propriety enough; but one can-not help being concerned, lest any worth should be affixed tothem more than their own intrinsic value. FAB. L. The Oak and the An Oak, which hung over tiie bank of a river, wasiblown down by a violent storm of wind: and as it wascarried along by the stream, some of its boughs brush-ed against a Reed, which grew near the shore. This ^SOPS FABLES. 107 struck the Oak with a thought of admiration; and hecould not forbear asking the Reed, how he came tostand so secure and unhurt in a tempest, which hadbeen furious enough to tear an oak up by the roots?Why, says the Reed, I secure myself by putting ona behaviour quite contrary to what you do? insteadof being stubborn and stiff, and confiding in mystrength, I yield and bend to the blast, and let it goaver me; knowing how vain and fruitless it woi;ld beto resist it. THE APPLICATION Thoug-h a tame submission to injuries which it is in our pow-er to redress, be generally esteemed a base and dishonourablething; yet to resist where there is no probability, or even hopesof our getting the better, may also be looked upon as the effectof a blin
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Keywords: ., bookauthoraesop, bookcentury1800, books, booksubjectchristianlife
