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part with them yet; and therefore, that thou may'st fin on securely, without the perpetual fears and terrors of another world, thou refolvest to repent hereafter.

2906 Do not complain of the world; for what great good can be expected from it? do not the greatest kings themselves fuffer in it? what reft then, what quiet, or felicity, can the poor expect in it? Buftle thou in it among the reft: but if thou art fet upon it, to enjoy quiet, I tell thee, thou canst find it no where but in retirement, and perhaps not there neither.

2907 Whatever diverfion recreates thy mind without ensnaring it, whatever repairs thy body without impairing thy virtue, I counsel thee to embrace with open arms. I would have thee not only tafte, but drink thy fill of pleasure: if it exalt, and debase not nature, thou needeft never complain, that thy mind is too chearful, or thy body too vigorous.

2908 If upon the beft furvey thou canst make of thy own forces, and after fome trials, thou findeft thyself no match for the world, and art unable to countermine its policies and oppose its power; and thy affairs are fo, that thou canft,

thou

thou oughteft to retire from the world, as from the face of a too potent enemy.

2909 What is ill fame, but a little corrupted unfavoury breath? Do but turn thy ear from the reception of it; and, pray, what art thou the worfe? It is thy weakness, if thou fuffereft thy-` self to be blown over by the mere air of fome putrified lungs; which if thou doft but a little decline, by not valuing it, will foon vanish, and be nothing.

2910 It is generally more advantageous to give, than to receive. When thou doft good to others, thou engageft them into thy interests, and seemest to affume to thyself a fuperiority over them; but when thou receiveft any thing of them, (especially if it be very confiderable) thou becomeft their debtor, and perhaps their flave.

2911 No man can have a certainty of happiness, who is not firm against all contingencies: thou oughteft to accept patiently what Fortune shall allot thee; and fo to adjust things in their proper places, that what is thy own may be disposed of to the best advantage; and what is against thy will, may offend thee as little as poffible.

2912 If thou haft at thy own disposal the bufiness of life, and haft none but God, and thyself,

to

to account to for the minutes that wind thee off for eternity; and hast health, and a small competency, thou may'st (if thou thinkest fit) be happy; thou needest not flatter the vain, nor be tired with the impertinent; nor ftand to the courtesy of knaves and fools.

2913 In the study of human learning, let thy mind always preferve its own freedom, and not enflave itself to other men's fancies: thy liberty of judgment fhould have its full scope. Too fervile a fubmiffion to the books and opinions of the Ancients have fspoiled many an ingenious man, and plagued the world with abundance of fad ftuff.

2914 Be content with the eftate I can leave thee; and think with thyfelf, that a great one would but entail upon thee a proportionable share of great temptations to pride, ambition, sensuality, covetoufnefs, forgetfulness of God, and neglect of the falvation of thy foul; and fo bring thee into that broad way that leads to destruction.

2915 Suffer a friend to reprove thee, and thank him heartily for it. It is a happiness for a man that he can be reproved when he does amifs, and be recalled when he runs wrong. Princes are deprived of that benefit; for they

converse fami

liarly

liarly but with very few perfons, and those make it their only business to humour them.

2916 To understand conversation rightly, thou must know, that the first ingredient is truth; the next good fenfe; the third good humour; the fourth hand fome confidence; the fifth wit: this laft was in former times left to fools and buffoons, kept in all great families: but good breeding is a neceffary quality to accomplish all the rest.

2917 If an enemy have any real deserts, praise him openly for the fame; fo fhalt thou procure thyself esteem; and if thou afterwards haft an occafion of cenfuring him, thou wilt be credited in what thou fayest: because men will have taken up an opinion of thy impartiality; and that thou speakest out of a diflike of his vices, not of his perfon.

2918 If thou wilt not lend an ear to the perfuafions of calm reason, thou shalt not yet be left without an instructor; for thy very troubles, pains, and forrows that fucceed, fhall feverely fcourge and difcipline thee; and tell thee thy faults, and (fometimes it fo happens) bring thee to repentance

and amendment.

2919 Thou

2919 Thou canst very feldom hurt thyself by patience, or filence; but by hafty revenge thou may'st undo thyself. What if there be just occafion for thee to be angry? yet ever it is best to stay till the heat of thy paffion be over; because thou may'st err in either the manner or the measure. Thou art at that time mad and blind, and wilt make wrong strokes.

2920 Arm thyself against calamities with an even mind: I have often found this a fure way either to ward them off, or at least to protract the seasons of their arrival: and if there were nothing else in it, but the rendering them more easy when they come, 'twere worth thy pains to try the experiment.

2921 Take not one for thy friend that is thy companion in bufinefs, or diforders; nor one that can return vifits the next day after; fend how-do

ye's when thou art sick; leaft duties of civil life:

and is not failing in the but fuch a one as is fit

and willing to advise thee in adversity or difficulties.

2922 In writing, when thy notion is clear and diftinct to thee, the best way to fet it off is, in the most obvious plain expreffion. Obscurity is commonly an argument of darknefs in the mind.

The

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