may'st render condign thanks to him that grants it to thee.

2725 Either the thing thou forroweft for is to be remedied, or it is not; if it be, why dost thou spend the time in mourning which fhould be used in applying of remedies? but if it be not, then is thy forrow vain and fuperfluous, as tending to no, real effect.

2726 God is as exactly careful of every one of us, and all our concerns, as if he had nothing else to look after; therefore rely upon him. Thou wilt never have quiet in this world, if thou bufieft thyself about God's work, and neglecteft thy own.

2727 Thou haft in thy own life fins enough, in thy own mind trouble enough, in thy own for-, tune evils enough, in the performance of thy offices failings more than enough, to entertain thy own enquiry, without being curious after the affairs of other men.

2728 A little vein of folly or whim may be pleasant and not amiss in thy conversation; because it will give thee a liberty of saying things, that grave men, though they will not fay, yet may be willing to hear.

2729 Shew

2729 Shew not honour, and respect, and complaifance to every one alike; nothing is fo nau feous as undistinguished civility; 'tis like a whore, or a hostess, that looks kindly upon every body that comes to be made a prey of.

2730 Praise ought to be confidered as the fhadow of a good action, and follows it, and does not go before it so that if thou doeft a good action, that thou may'st be praised for it, thou reverseft the order of things, and putteft that before which fhould come behind.

2731 One great use of a friend is, to difburthen one's felf into. Too much secrefy and concealment may caufe the wound of a terrified conscience to bleed inwardly, rankle, fester, and grow defperate, whereas feasonable opening of it might have cleared and cured it.

2732 Thou knowest not thy own strength for want of trying it; and upon that account thinkeft thyfelf really unable to do many things which experience would convince thee, thou haft more ability to effect, than thou haft will to attempt.

2733 The measures that God marks out to thy charity are thefe-thy fuperfluities must give place to thy neighbour's great inconvenience; thy convenience muft yield to thy neighbour's neceffity;

and

and lastly, thy very neceflities muft yield to thy neighbour's extremity.

2734. Never enter into a league of friendship with one whom thou haft known to be an ungrateful perfon to others; prefume not to think thou shalt be able to alter or meliorate him by any acts of kindness, though never fo frequent, never Lo obliging.

2735 As thou shouldest not open thy ear easily to every ill report, and bad character of others, whom thou knoweft not; fo neither fhouldest thou be too free of thy tongue, in cenfuring those thou art not perfectly acquainted with.

2736 Pour not out lavishly upon thy friend many gifts or kindneffes of any fort at once; but be a good husband, and drop him ever now and then one; fo fhalt thou, by tying on frefh obligations, frequently renew and confirm the league of amity.

2737 Great men will forget thee after thou haft done them fervice; and when they have got what they wanted, they will rather hate thee, for saying thou hast been a means of their purpose, or advancement, than acknowledge it.

2738 Do not praife thy telf, except thou wilt be counted a vain-glorious fool, neither take delight

in

in the praises others give thee, unless thou deferveft them; and receive them only from such as are worthy and honeft, and withal warn thee of thy faults.

2739 Thou may'ft live very well contented, though thou feest things go not as thou wishest, if so be thou art but willing to let them take their course, and haft no defire but this, that all may be, though thou knowest not how, to the glory of God, and the general good.

2740 To keep company with men of many different qualities and attainments, thou must also have some for thy share, that thou may'st be able to fay fomething in thy turn, and not be always a bare hearer of other people's discourses.

2741 Whenever thou art tempted to the commiffion of any thing that is ill, think with thyself, that wickedness will most affuredly have quite another aspect when it ftands in the shadow of death, than it has in the dazzling beams of health and vigour.

2742 Shew not thyself joyful and pleased at the misfortunes of any man, though thou hatest him: it argues a mifchievous mind, and that thou hadft a defire to have done it thyself, if thou hadst had power and opportunity to thy will.

2743 Be

2743 Be not like those vulgar spirits, who intereft themselves in all the quarrels of ftates and princes; and will always be parties, on purpose to put themselves in choler, and be miferable in the misfortunes of others.

2744 Thou wert better be an honest man, than a great man. As faft as great men pursue promotion and riches, so fast also do danger, envy, and death pursue them; and not one amongst numbers, but is overtaken before he arriveth at his aim.

2745 Thy life being appointed but a fhort courfe, and the course of a general knowledge being too long for it, thou art to endeavour for that knowledge chiefly, which most concerns thee; otherwise thou may'ft die at laft a good aftronomer, and an evil man.

2746 Take heed of thofe men that are taciturn, referved, and not foon moved as for those paffionate perfons who carry their heat in their mouth, they are rather to be pitied than feared; their threatnings ferving to no other purpose than to fore-arm him that is threatened.

2747 Be not presently angry with a man for breach of promife, but confider reason; for there happen a thousand impediments which may hinder VOL. II.

H

a man