2183 If thou wouldest not have thy Creďulity abused, thou haft fcarce a fecurer Way, than to let thy Belief run quite counter to Reports.

2184 If thou decreeft for either Party before thou hast heard them both, thy Sentence may be juft, but thou thy felf art unjuft.

2185 Be not too eager in counselling others : The ill Succefs (which happens frequently to good Advice) will be laid to thy Charge, and the good feldom thanked...

2186 Anger is a profeffed Enemy to Counsel. If thou counselleft a Man in Paflion gently, thou art despised; if thou urgeft it vehemently, he's provoked the more.

2187 Never put thy felf (when thou canst help it) into the Power of any Perfon, unless. thou canst probably tell how he will deal with thee.

21.88 'Tis not fafe to open the Clofets of our Hearts to every Travellor: We may lend our Ears and our Tongues to many, to whom we muft not truft our Hearts.

2189 He that loves thee most extreamly,. may as extreamly hate thee; therefore moderate and fober Friendship is much preferable to paffionate Love.

2190 Make not a Friend of one that is apt to babble out all he knows. Secrecy is a necefe fary Qualification, and an unfailing Mark of a true Friend.

2191 If thou art vain-glorious thou wilt get nothing by it, but the general Hatred and Averfion of other Men.

2192 Thou muft either have the Command of thy Money, or thy Money must be thy Ma

ster.

fter. There is no Mean between thefe two Ex

tremes.

2193 All the while thou liveft ill thou haft the Trouble, Distraction, and Inconveniencies of Life, but not the Sweets and true Ufe of it.

2194 Pretend not to be devout beyond all Examples of others in thy Condition, for thou wilt thereby prejudice the Opinion. Men had of thy Sincerity.

2195 Thou wilt never attain to Quiet in this Life, till thou haft conquer'd the Love of the World, and the Fear of Death.

2196 Since nothing here below is certain, thou fhouldeft feldom purchase any thing with great Hazard, and never with Guilt.

2197 If thou endeavoureft to have that received for a Certainty, which thou dost not know to be fo, thou offendest against Truth.

2198 Aim at the pleafing of a few, and be content to let the reft run away with Turks and Infidels, who make the greater Number of Mankind.

2199 Follow the Judgment of the Wife, and the Customs of the Vulgar. Keep thy Thoughts to thy felf. Allow the People thy common Actions and Outfides.

2200 Always ufe thy felf to be diffident of the first Opinion thou takest up of a Man, and never fix thy Judgment without due Deliberation.

2201 Thou may'ft account this one of the great Advantages of Society, that not only the Affiftance, but even the Misfortunes of others may be of Ufe to thee,

2202 Does

2202 Does thy Brother err? And why may'st thou not as juftly quarrel with the Distempers of his Body, as the Imperfections of his Mind.

2203 In Questions of Importance, if thou canft not say enough, endeavour handsomely to get off, and fay nothing at all: 'Tis better not to attempt than fail.

2204 The World cannot but conclude, that either thou art wife, or wilt foon be so, if thou keepest Company with those that are esteemed fuch.

2205 Talk not in mix'd Company of Things thou haft in Difference with others: Perhaps fome that are there, may not be of thy Side, when they hear it.

2206 If thou art a true Friend thou wilt perform without much promifing before, and without boasting afterwards.

2207 How extravagant foever a common Mode may be, thou wouldeft yet be more extravagant, if thou refufeft, in fome Sort, to comply with it.

2208 In ferious Subjects avoid a florid Stile; it toucheth only the Fancy, and maketh no Impreffion upon the Judgment.

2209 It would be better for thee to overcome thy own Defires and Inclinations, than all thy o ther Enemies. I wish thou wert fecure of thyfelf.

2210 It would be an execrable Thing if thou fhouldest wilfully deprive thy felf and me alfo of Immortality, which thou doeft, if thou feekeft not to have Wife and Children.

2211 Be not eafily Exceptious, nor rudely Familiar; the one will breed Contention, the other Contempt.

2212 Ne

2212 Never accufe any to a great Man, unlefs thou art fure he will credit thee; for otherwife he will ruin thee, if fit Occafion happens.

2213 Thy Love to God must not be a Flafh or Fit, but a fteddy and well fettled Affection; an Affection that has the Warmth of Paffion, and the Firmnefs of Habit.

2214 When thou art in the Company of Ladies behave civilly, and fhew good Breeding. They will eafily pardon a Man's Want of Senfe, but rarely his Want of Manners.

2215 If thou borroweft but upon juft Neceffity, and never faileft to pay upon Promife; thou wilt never want a kind Friend to lend thee when thou art at a Pinch.

2216 Dare not to be guilty of ill Things, tho' thou wert fure to be fecret and unpunished. Confcience will fit upon it, and that is Witnefs, Jury, Judge, and Executioner.

2217 If thou art without Paffion, thou art lefs than a Beaft? If thou art without Reafon, thou art below a Man? 'Tis not a Folly to have Paffion, but to want Reason.

2218 Be not lightly deceived: Excefs of good Words, and Refpect leave room to fufpect they are fhewed to cover fomething which is to gain Admittance under a Difguife. :

2219 Conquer thyfelf.. Till thou hast done that thou art a Slave: for it is almost as well for thee to be in Subjection to another's Appetite, as thy own.

2220 In the Height of Prosperity thou fhouldest chiefly confult thy Friends, and allow them, more Authority over thee. than at other times..

2221 Be

2221 Beftow not Benefits without Diftinction and Difcretion; yet without Difficulty or Delay: And make every Kindnefs double, by timely and freely beftowing of it.

2222 Let not Modefty take away thy Courage in a good Cause: but let not thy Courage incline to Impudence in a profperous one.

2223 In all thy Actions know God fees thee; and in all his Actions labour to fee him: That will make thee fear him; This will make thee love him.

2224 If thou wilt breed up a Boy to be good for any thing when he comes to be a Man, thou must not fpare him when young.

2225 Be not hafty to marry; it's better to have one Plough going than two Cradles and more Profit to have a Barn filled, than a Bed.

2226. In Company let nothing be boyish, dif dainful, or affected. Nothing more engages the Affections of Men, than a handsome Addrefs and graceful Converfation.

2227 If thou art innocent; thou fhouldeft no more afflict thyself when thou art faid to be guilty, than if it fhould be faid thou art fick when thou art well.

2228 Since thou muft die certainly, it concerns thee to take all Care, that thou may'ft die happily; and that wholly depends upon thy living well.

2229 When thou art under a Temptation to commit Sin; confider before-hand what Strength thou haft to bear the Fire of Hell, and the Rage of Devils.

2230 When thou faileft of thy End, or defired Succefs in any Undertaking, be not troubled;