2586 I would not have thee over much difpleafed with thyself, for being of so peevish a difpofition. It is obferved, that paffionate people are always beft natured, and free from fecret malice.

2587 If we could carry things fo painted, that neither man, nor even God himself, could difcover us, yet thou oughteft to have fuch a reverence for thyself, and thy conscience, as never to admit of an ill thought.

2588 If any one offer thee an affront, and it be a great one, and defignedly done, if he be not much thy betters, it may be convenient to call him to account; but let prudence find out an opportunity, and then fhew thou thyself a man, but a christian withal.

2589 Never be too prefumptuously fure in any business. Things of this world depend upon fuch a train of chances, that are to us as yet in the dark; that if it were in man's power to set the tables, yet he could not command his throws, and would not be certain of winning the game.

2590 It is a fign that thou wanteft penetration. and firmness of judgment, if thou abandonest evident truths for the fake of fome difficulties, which thou canst not folve; though perchance those

dif

difficulties ftand upon no other ground than the common ignorance and weakness of human minds.

2591 If I leave thee a moderate fortune, as my father left me, and thou provest wise and virtuous, it will be fufficient. It is none of the least of God's favours, that wealth comes not trolling in upon us; for many of us fhould have been worse, if our eftates had been better.

2592 An handsome mein, and pleasant converfation, and ingenious friendly discourse, will prove more advantageous to thee than greater virtues and attainments; for these are of daily use, and fuitable to all capacities.

2593 A prudent and discreet filence will be fometimes more to thy advantage than the most witty expreffion, or even the best contrived fincerity. A man often repents that he has spoken, but feldom that he has held his tongue.

2594 Let thy recreations be neither too effeminate nor too robuft: let them be suitable to thy condition and employment: let them be not too expenfive of money or time; but above all, let them not be vain, vicious, or wicked.

2595 If thou wouldest be watchful, and think of death, and prepare for it, thou shouldest seriously

examine

examine the life thou leadeft, to fee if it agree with that which thou wouldest lead, when thou art at the point of death.

2596 Never fear want: do thou but do thy duty and endeavour, and then thou may'st comfort thyfelf with this-that the fame Providence that took care of thee before thou waft born into the world, will never be wanting to thee now thou art in it.

2597 Keep thy judgment to thyself. Why fhould others know what thou art? or paraphrase upon thy opinion? Herein thou haft the advantage of changing thy mind when thou art mistaken, and yet continue (for ought others know) in the fame mind.

2598 Raillery will make men despise thee; for they will believe that all the strength and quicknefs of thy wit has no further aim, and can go no further than a trifling, injurious, unmannerly, illnatured pleasantry.

2599 In reproving, mind the perfon and the time. If he be above thee, let it be with meekness and humility with thy equal thou may'st be more bold; and with thy inferior bolder. Be sure to take the fittest seafon; therefore, without great reafon, reprove none but when alone.

2600 Con

2600 Confider well firft, and promise nothing. to thy prejudice: however (unless it be in itself unlawful) perform what thou promisest. It matters not though the obligation be not fealed with an oath, or subscribed by witness; thy confcience is a thousand, and will put the bail in fuit.

2601 Do not make it thy business or custom to have always too much company with thee: that would be to love others too much and thyself too little. Nor to have none at all; for that would be to love thyself too much, and to carry thy reservednefs too far.

2602 Think with thyfelf, the day thou enterest upon marriage, and ventureft for children, thou art no more lord of thy goods and eftate, but only a steward and keeper of them; and therefore, if thou fquandereft them away, thou art no lefs guilty than he that robbeth wife and children.

2603 Be not angry with Fortune, if she deny thee her rattles and toys, for fuch are the best of her gifts. They are generally too dear. Let her keep her wealth and honour, if thy necessary sleep, quiet, and fafety, be the price of them.

2604 Among thy needs, thou art to reckon, not only what will just support life, but alfo what will maintain the decency of thy ftate, perfon, and family i

family; not only in present neceffaries, but in future wants, and very probable contingencies, but no further.

2605 If thou wouldest moderate a man's fury that is wronged, thou art not to deal with him directly to pardon the injury, but rather to delay and respite revenge. Time may open his cool his fpirits, and things may alter.

eyes,

and

2606 Always adapt thy fpeech to the capacities of those thou treateft with; otherwife, though thou difcourfeft never fo elaborately, thou wilt rather confound than edify or perfuade, and wilt appear rather to affect boafting than communicating of knowledge.

2607 Lose not thy morning ftudies; if thou doft, 'twill give an ill precedent to the afternoon, and make fuch a hole in the beginning of the day, that all the winged hens will be in danger of flying out thereat.

2608 Refift a temptation, and fight till thou conquereft. There is no greater triumph than that which the foul feels when it comes off victor, and applauds itself for the valour and courage it hath expreffed in its conflicts.

2609 Never think that the things thou wanteft will cure thee of thy discontents; for they will

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