MISSIONARIES. And Britain has her sons, both frank and brave, DR. WILLIAM BEATTIE. The above is extracted from a poem entitled Polynesia, of which the author observes, "That it is intended to convey a concise, but vivid and faithful picture of the Missionary scheme, as it operates among the beautiful islands of the South Seas-islands on which the light of religion has now conferred a moral existence; and that, in selecting this subject, he was actuated by an oft-repeated domestic exhortation- Let each do something to recommend the noblest of all enterprises-The regeneration of Pagan nations, by the diffusion of Christian principles." Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.-MARK XV. 15. Long, too long, this nation's glory Bids that blood no more be spilt. So we hope, and so expect ! Forth, by wilderness and flood, Each within his sphere, according Precepts seeketh to obey : What are these? - Love one another; Strive to save a fallen brother; Sinners teach the way to heaven! Teaches, have we wrought and striven ? H. G. ADAMS. PASSION, VIOLENCE, &c. PASSION; violent commotion of the mind; anger; zeal; ardour; eagerness; love. JOHNSON. The word passion signifies the receiving any action in a large philosophical sense; in a more limited philosophical sense, it signifies any of the affections of human nature, as love, fear, joy, sorrow; but the common people confine it only to anger. WATTS. In the scriptures the word passion is sometimes put for the last sufferings of the Redeemer of the world. See Acts 1. 3; 1 PETER 1. 11. Our natural and sinful infirmities are also called passions. See Acts XIV. 15; JAMES V. 17, &c. The word PASSION, like COMPASSION, comes from the Latin verb Patior, I suffer; from this root we have also PATIENT; PATIENCE; PASSIVE; the same words with the prefix IM; PASSIONATE, DISPASSIONATE, &C. &c. A most ridiculous singularity has crept into our language in the signification of the word passion. One would suppose by its general appropriation to the passion of anger, that this was the strongest of all passions, and that therefore it was so called by way of eminence. It is true, the effects of anger are like the rest of the passions of an active nature; but the cause of it, like that of the rest, is an impression made on the mind by some object which occasions a kind of suffering. If you were to tell a Frenchman that such a man were in a passion, he would ask, "Quel le passion, Monsieur?" -" What passion, Sir?" And if you were to explain it further, he would say, “Eh! vous vondriez dire qu'il est en colere."—" Ah ! you mean to say that he is angry." In consequence of this common application of the word, a passionate man means an angry man; while the most awful and important fact in Christianity, the "Passion of our Saviour," is in direct opposition to such a sense. See WALKER'S English Grammar. VIOLENCE; outrage; unjust force; eagerness; vehemence; injury; infringement. JOHNSON. Grieved at his heart, when looking down he saw MILTON. Violentus is the Latin for FORCIBLE, coming, it is said from Vis, FORCE; and hence we derive our words VIOLENCE; VIOLENT; VIOLATE; INVIOLATE; VIOLATION; INVIOLABLE, &c. PASSION, in the active sense in which we commonly understand the word, very frequently leads to VIOLENCE, and this is a sufficient reason for their being placed together. In the scriptures occur many allusions to the latter mode of action, as the following examples will show. The scriptural references to PASSION, will be found more at large under the head of ANGER. And God said unto Noah, the end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them: and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. GENESIS VI. 13. He (our Saviour) had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. ISAIAH LIII. 9. Thus saith the Lord; Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood. JEREMIAH XXII. 3. John the Baptist said to the Roman soldiers-do violence to no man. LUKE III. 14. Evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him. PSALM CXL. 11. The passions and desires, like the two twists of a rope, mutually mix one with the other, and twine inextricably round the heart; producing good, if moderately indulged; but certain destruction, if suffered to become inordinate. BURTON. PASSION is not an energy but a sufferance. It is to be deprived of the possession of ourselves the mind is overborne by the force of circumstances; yet it is no uncommon error to consider a passionate temper as the manifestation of strength, precisely because it is an annoyance. But, in truth, passion is not the less on that account, essentially weakness. The passionate man is himself F under a perpetual state of annoyance; and at best, is as little to be relied on by himself, as by others. The transports of a passionate man are the expressions of his internal sufferings; and his conduct is as much disconcerted by them, as are his powers of thinking. There is plenty of room for a peaceable man in the most thronged assembly. But a quarrelsome spirit is straightened in the open field. TUPPER'S PROVERBIAL PHILOSOPHY. He submits to be seen through a microscope, who suffers himself to be caught in a passion. LAVATER. Every human being is sensible of the propensities of some infirmity of temper, which it should be his care to correct and subdue, particularly in the early period of life; else, when arrived at a state of maturity, he may relapse into those faults which were originally in his nature, and which will require to be diligently watched and kept under through the whole course of life, since nothing leads more directly to the breach of charity, and to the injury and molestation of our fellow-creatures, than the indulgence of an ill temper. Easily, from the smallest chink, are the bitter waters of strife let forth; but their course cannot be foreseen, and he seldom fails of suffering most from their poisonous effect, who first allowed them to flow. BLAIR. It is told by Prior, in a panegyric on the Earl of Dorset, that his servants used to put themselves in his way when he was angry, because he was sure to recompense them for any indignities he made them suffer. This is the round of a passionate man's life; he contracts debts when he is furious, which his virtue, if he has virtue, obliges him to discharge at the return of reason. He spends his time in outrage and acknowledgment, injury and reparation. Or if there be any one who hardens himself in oppression, and justifies the wrong because he has done it, his insensibility can make but small part of his praise or his happiness: he only adds deliberate to hasty folly, aggravates petulance by contumacy, and destroys the only plea that he can offer for the tenderness and patience of mankind. Yet even this degree of depravity we may be content to pity, because it seldom wants a punishment equal to |