Secret Journal of a Self-Observer; Or, Confessions and Familiar Letters of the Rev. J. C. Lavater Volume 2

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1795 edition. Excerpt: ... and comfortlefs; this was, however, the natural-confequence of her con-ftitution and illnefs. I was obliged to ftruggle very hard, in order to get rid of the' drowfinefs which lay heavy on my eyes. I read to her the confeffion of fins which I had compofed yefterday. I find, indeed, that if one cannot fpeak direftly, and in a moft confidential manner to fick people (a very uncommon cafe), one can, by means of prayers and hymns, convey to their mind every thing one: ought to fay, and yet dares not venture to fay without offending and lofing the moft neceflary confidence, provided one does not neglefil the natural precaution to begin with generalfubjefts, and to become by degrees more fpecial and aflfefting.--Being again in private, I reflefted on funerals, grave, and other fimilar things.--Mr. i Mr. Sch, my brother-in-law, came to fee me. We fpoke of an action which, at firft fight, appeared to be very mean. I was very angry at it, at firft; however, cooler refleftion convinced me that I had been too precipitate. I imagined myfelf in a fimilar fituation, and we agreed that a great deal of the feeming injuftice of that action difap-peared. It is one of the moft common vanities of good hearts, that they put then felves too precipitately and too violently in a paffion, on account of certain aftions and certain kinds of behaviour.--It looks fo moral and fo fentimental, to affume a fcornful air onoccafion of certain faults committed by other people; but, alas! how mafterly do pride and cenforioufnefs conceal themfelves behind that look! I will accuftom myfelf to change names, and to imagine myfelf in the room of others--and never to lofe lofe fight of myfelf in criticifing others.--.--After dinner, fhort vifits. Continued my Journal. Stifled..