RULES OF LIFE by Joseph Clarke

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 9, 1876

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 47, No. 10.

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RULES OF LIFE.

By Joseph Clarke

Guard against anger and passion.
Beware of hasty words.
Move understandingly and with caution.
Let no time run to waste.
Keep the mind from useless occupation.
Speak without exaggeration.
Keep the heart from evil thoughts.
In all difficulties be humble.
When slandered, do not retaliate.
Never hunt up evil reports.
Be slow to promise, and swift to perform.
Always pray in faith and never despair.
Read the Bible and pray with a firm resolve to profit by these exercises.
Beware of careless, vain, light, conversation.
Never eat more than nature demands.
Always speak in a proper tone and spirit.
Get out of debt as soon as possible.
Contract as few debts as possible.
Attend closely to business.
Do not arm for battle because your enemy does.
Speak against no one.
Beware of mental confusion.
Despise no one; hate no one; surmise not.
In a mixed company, put a tight rein upon your tongue, and a fetter upon your heart.
Wound no one's feelings unnecessarily.
Be not desirous of others' praise.
Be not cast down when spoken against.
Silence is better than unwise talk.
Always endeavor to please; but do not overdo the matter, lest your efforts cause a surfeit.
Have a good conscience, and keep it good.
Cherish calmness, and all good thoughts.
If you have a good train of thoughts, do not let the enemy steal them out of your heart.
Never fear to rebuke profanity and obscenity.
Do not fear to adopt too many good rules.
Be not discouraged in overcoming; it takes many blows to cut down a tree, and many years to accumulate a fortune.
Approach serious subjects with seriousness, and solemn subjects with solemnity.
Let every day's record, be an improvement upon the preceding day.
It is a good mark, if you know when to smile, when to laugh, when to frown, and when to weep. JOSEPH CLARKE.