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2955 I do not advise thee to take a man that is low in the world into a fixed friendship; he cannot supply thy wants, and thou art bound to fupply his. But if the virtues of his poverty be worthy to be known, be his acquaintance, but not his intimate friend; fo fhall thy liberality come voluntarily from thee, and not be exacted and befides, lefs ferves in charity than what is commanded by friendship.

2956 We never fail to be tirefome to ourselves by too long and too serious a commerce with our own thoughts. If thou intendest to live happy, thou must make but few reflections on life: nay, thou must often depart as it were from thyself, and amidst the pleasures which exterior objects furnish thee with, steal from the knowledge of thy own miferies.

2957 Be careful not only of the matter thou offereft, but also of the manner thou deliverest it in for three words, when fpoken with a pleafant and obliging countenance, gain more than twenty otherwife uttered. There is a manner of fpeaking things that makes men judge they come from the heart, and that the tongue is a faithful interpreter.

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2958 In treating and managing of bufinefs, if thou appeareft too shy and fecret, they will be so to thee, and the affair will proceed flowly, and with obstacles: but, on the contrary, if thou usest an open way of speaking (when it may fafely be done), they will be frank alfo, and thereby thou fhalt draw out discoveries.

2959 Keep a watchful eye upon one thou haft had a difference with. In good earneft it would be a rarity worth the feeing, could any one shew us fuch a thing as a perfectly reconciled enemy. According to the common ways of the world, thou may'st as well expect to make the Devil himself a true friend, as an enemy that has given the firft blow.

2960 Being there are a few that can endure (without being nettled) to have themselves freely cenfured, I warn thee to take it kindly, acknowledging that thofe who venture upon so hazardous an undertaking, manifeft a fingular effect of kindnefs and friendship: for to attempt to make us fmart, and to offend us for our good, that is fincere love indeed.

2961 Manage thy affairs with hope and courage; for fear and backwardness in business secure thee not from the perils that cause them, but often lay

thee

thee more open to them. Howfoever they disable exceedingly, and for the moft part procure mifcarriage and shame.

2962 Say to thyself, This is my final resolution, and this by the grace of God I will stand to. I will from henceforth submit to my duty, how difficult foever it be, and discharge all those base, mischievous lufts of mine, what temptations foever affault me.

2963 If thou canst reflect upon thy actions with fatisfaction and complacency, thou may'ft look all the world in the face, as knowing, the more curiously thou art watched, and the more exactly thou art scanned, the more highly fhalt thou be esteemed by all that are wife and good.

2964 When thou worshippeft God, thou must approach him with a pure and humble mind, with a will inspired with divine affections, and thy foul touched with an over-awing sense of his majesty: without these, he accounts all our bodily adorations to be nothing but demure fcorns and complimental mockeries.

2965 Flatter not thyself with vain expectations of heaven upon the account of thy bodily religion; for unless thy nature be changed, and thy mind refined and bettered by it, thou may'st as well lay

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claim to heaven, because thou eatest, and drinkest, and fleepeft, as because thou prayeft, heareft, and receiveft the facrament.

2966 Be not displeased if the bottom of the affair wherein thou art employed be fomething concealed from thee; but be content to know no more of the business than they think fit to impart; and defire not that thy knowledge fhould exceed or ftrain thy word. If thou must ferve for an inftrument of deceit, let it be at leaft with a safe conscience.

2967 If thou wilt be a perfect man, thou must as well know evil that thou may'st eschew it, as good that thou may'ft embrace it. And this knowledge thou canst have neither fo cheap nor fo certain, as by seeing it in others with approbation or diflike. If thou couldeft pafs the world without meeting vice, then the knowing of virtue only were fufficient. Thou art happy when thou makeft other men's vices fteps for thee to mount to heaven by.

2968 Thou wilt be got up to a high form in philosophy, when thou canst patiently fit by and hear, without concern, the fenfelefs ftuff that pretenders to philosophy and learning pride themselves in, and torture the company with, concerning

matters

matters they know little of, and perhaps never thought of before.

2969 Canft thou imagine, that when God fends his judgments down, thou canst refift them. Amend thy life if thou defireft to be revenged of Fortune, and be proof against all her darts. Increase in virtue if thou wouldest be invulnerable. Nothing but a good life can make thee happy in this world, and live when this world fhall be no

more.

2970 I would have thee perfectly condemn common fame, and the cenfure of the people. It can operate no further than thou makest it; and nothing but an unmafculine timeroufnefs in thee, or flavish ambition of popularity can render it confiderable. If thou valueft thyself from abroad, thou must be the cheapest thing alive.

2971 Make not loud outcries of injuries, when they tend nothing to thy redrefs of them. This is usually a liberty assumed rather by rage and impatience, than authorised by justice. Nay, often the complainer is the most injurious perfon, for he inflicts more than he fuffers.

2972 Fine expreffions are indeed many times very well received, and betoken a livelinefs and vivacity of mind; but being an eloquence of the

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