British author & Freemason (1726-1779)
What does thou ail, O mortal man, or to what purpose is to spend thy life in groans and complaints, under the apprehensions of Death? Where are thy past years and pleasures? Are they not vanish'd and lost in the flux of time, as if thou hadst put water into a sieve? Bethink thyself then of retreat, and leave the world with the same content and satisfaction as a well satisfied guest rises from an agreeable feast.
WELLINS CALCOTT
Thoughts Moral and Divine
Covetousness is an eager desire of getting and keeping the goods of this life in a manner that is contrary to the command of God, and inconsistent with the welfare of men. It consists in an habitual tendency or lust of the soul, whereby it is carried out and inclined towards the enjoyment of worldly riches, as its highest and chiefest good.
WELLINS CALCOTT
Thoughts Moral and Divine
Cowardice ... is a timorous dejection of soul, creating imaginary dangers. When such a faint-hearted wretch as this is at sea, he fancies all the promontories are so many hulks of ships wreck'd on the coast. The least agitation of the waters puts him in a panic fear, and makes him enquire whether all that are aboard ar initiated.
WELLINS CALCOTT
Thoughts Moral and Divine
The eternal God, in whom we live, and move, and have our being, has impressed upon us all one nature, which as an emanation from him, who is universal life, presses us by natural society to a close union with each other; which is, methinks, a sort of enlargement of our very selves when we run into the idea, sensations and concerns of our brethren: by this force of their make, men are insensibly hurried into each other; and, by a secret charm, we lament with the unfortunate, and rejoice with the glad; for it is not possible for an human heart to be averse to any thing that is human: but, by the very mien and gesture of the joyful and distressed, we rise and fall into their condition; and since joy is communicative, 'tis reasonable that grief should be contagious, both which are seen and felt at a look, for one man's eyes are spectacles to another to read his heart: those useful and honest instruments do not only discover objects to us, but make ourselves also transparent; for they, in spite of dissimulation, when the Heart is full, will brighten into gladness, or gush into tears: from this foundation in nature is kindled that noble spark of celestial fire, we call charity or Compassion, which opens our bosoms and extends our arms to embrace all mankind.
WELLINS CALCOTT
Thoughts Moral and Divine
As it is the chief concern of wise men, to retrench the evils of life, by reasonings of philosophy; so it is the employment of fools, to multiply them, by sentiments of superstition.
WELLINS CALCOTT
Thoughts Moral and Divine
Chastity consists in a fix'd abhorrence of all forbidden sensual indulgences, a recollection of past impurities with shame and sorrow; a resolute guard over our thoughts, passions, and actions for the future; a steady abstinence from the distant approaches of lust and indecency; and a lively consciousness of the omnipresence of the Almighty, who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity.
WELLINS CALCOTT
Thoughts Moral and Divine
Friendship is a sweet attraction of the heart, towards the merit we esteem, or the perfections we admire; and produces a mutual inclination between two persons, to promote each others interest, knowledge, virtue, and happiness.
WELLINS CALCOTT
Thoughts Moral and Divine
Study more how to die than how to live; if you would live till you were old, live as if you were to die when you are young.
WELLINS CALCOTT
Thoughts Moral and Divine
Beware of Drunkenness, lest all good men beware of you.
WELLINS CALCOTT
Thoughts Moral and Divine
Revenge, like some poisonous plant, replete with baneful juices, rankles in the breast, and meditates mischief to its neighbour.
WELLINS CALCOTT
Thoughts Moral and Divine
Take heed you harbour not that vice call'd Envy, lest another's happiness be your torment, and God's blessing become your curse.
WELLINS CALCOTT
Thoughts Moral and Divine
Drunkenness being nothing but a voluntary madness, it emboldens men to undertake all sorts of mischief; it both irritates wickedness and discovers it; it does not only make men vicious, but shows them to be so; and the end of it is either shame or repentance.
WELLINS CALCOTT
Thoughts Moral and Divine
How terrible is Death to one man, yet to another it appears the greatest providence in nature; even to all ages and conditions it is the wish of some, relief of many, and the end of all. It puts us all upon a level; the prince and peasant are doomed to the same fate.
WELLINS CALCOTT
Thoughts Moral and Divine
A true friend may be forgiven, if in time of prosperity he seems to forget you; but he is not worth having that neglects you in distress.
WELLINS CALCOTT
Thoughts Moral and Divine
He that is a drunkard is qualified for all vice.
WELLINS CALCOTT
Thoughts Moral and Divine
All nature is full of God. He is enthroned in Light: he creates darkness: he hath his way in the whirlwind, fendeth abroad his lightnings, giveth snow like wool, scattereth the hoar-frost like ashes, and casteth forth his ice like morsels! Who can stand before his cold? Who can thunder with a voice like God? It is He who distils the rain from his bottles, who opens the bubbling fountains, who covers the fields with grass, and the hills with flocks, who spins out the fleecy air, and spreads forth the liquid plains, who refreshes us with his wings, lights us with the sun, and entertains us with his table, richly furnish'd with all the dainty of heaven.
WELLINS CALCOTT
Thoughts Moral and Divine
That which we call Death is but a pause of suspension; and in truth a progress to life, only our thoughts look downwards upon the body, and not upwards upon things to come.
WELLINS CALCOTT
Thoughts Moral and Divine
If you would not be thought a fool in others conceit, be not wise in your own.
WELLINS CALCOTT
Thoughts Moral and Divine
The Friendship which is to be recommended, is union of affections, springing from a generous respect to virtue, and is maintained by harmony of manners. It's a great mistake to call every trifling commerce by this serious name; or to suppose that empty compliments and visits of ceremony, where no more's intended than to pass the time, and show the equipage, should pass for a real and well established Friendship. The frequency of the practice won't wipe off the absurdity; there is as wide a difference as between a bully and a man of honour.
WELLINS CALCOTT
Thoughts Moral and Divine
Where Drunkenness reigns, there Reason is an exile, virtue a stranger, God an enemy, blasphemy is wit, Oaths are rhetoric, and secrets are proclamations.
WELLINS CALCOTT
Thoughts Moral and Divine