Benevolence is not in word and in tongue, but in deed and in truth.  It is a business with men as they are, and with human life as drawn by the rough hand of experience.  It is a duty which you must perform at the call of principle; though there be no voice of eloquence to give splendor to your exertions, and no music of poetry to lead your willing footsteps through the bowers of enchantment.  It is not the impulse of high and ecstatic emotion.  It is an exertion of principle.  You must go to the poor man’s cottage, though no verdure flourish around it, and no rivulet be nigh to delight you by the gentleness of its murmurs.  If you look for the romantic simplicity of fiction you will be disappointed; but it is your duty to persevere, in spite of every discouragement.  Benevolence is not merely a feeling but a principle; not a dream of rapture for the fancy to indulge in, but a business for the hand to execute.—­Chalmers.

The only way to be loved, is to be and to appear lovely; to possess and display kindness, benevolence, tenderness; to be free from selfishness and to be alive to the welfare of others.—­Jay.

Beneficence is a duty.  He who frequently practices it, and sees his benevolent intentions realized, at length comes really to love him to whom he has done good.  When, therefore, it is said, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself,” it is not meant, thou shalt love him first and do him good in consequence of that love, but, thou shalt do good to thy neighbor; and this thy beneficence will engender in thee that love to mankind which is the fulness and consummation of the inclination to do good.—­Kant.

The lessons of prudence have charms,
And slighted, may lead to distress;
But the man whom benevolence warms
Is an angel who lives but to bless. 

          
                          —­Bloomfield.

Every virtue carries with it its own reward, but none in so distinguished and pre-eminent a degree as benevolence.

Bible.—­The Bible begins gloriously with Paradise, the symbol of youth, and ends with the everlasting kingdom, with the holy city.  The history of every man should be a Bible.—­Novalis.

The Scriptures teach us the best way of living, the noblest way of suffering, and the most comfortable way of dying.—­FLAVEL.

Within that awful volume lies
The mystery of mysteries! 
Happiest they of human race,
To whom God has granted grace
To read, to fear, to hope, to pray,
To lift the latch and force the way;
And better had they ne’er been born,
Who read to doubt, or read to scorn. 

          
                          —­Scott.

Like the needle to the North Pole, the Bible points to heaven.  —­R.B.  Nichol.

There are two books laid before us to study, to prevent our falling into error:  first, the volume of the Scriptures, which reveal the will of God; then the volume of the Creatures, which express His power.  —­Bacon.