troubled; but confider thou waft born to encounter Evil, as well as to enjoy Good, in this mortal State.

2231 Tho' thou wert never fo good by thy Nature; yet the best Natures that are have need of fome Method to guide them, and Directions do never any hurt to Virtue.

2232 So long as thou art ignorant, be not afhamed to learn. Ignorance is the greatest of all Infirmities; and when juftified, the chiefest of all Follies..

2233 Reckon upon Benefits well placed, as a Treasure that is laid up; and account thyfelf the richer for that which thou givest a worthy Perfon.

2234 See that thou love by Degrees; left by bestowing all thy Love in Woing, thou leaveft none when thou comeft to Marrying.

2235 - Make an inviolable League with thy Eyes, never to fix on that Object with Defire, which thou may'ft not lawfully enjoy.

2236 Whatever Difappointments thou meeteft with, they should only make thee understand Fortune the better; and not repine at her the

more.

2237 If ever thou comeft to retire from the World; thy firft Work will be to eradicate all Lufts, and the fecond to get the Art of Thinking.

2238 Run not thy felf into a large Acquaintance, and various Familiarities; for thereby thou wilt fet open thy Gates to Invaders, that will plunder thee of thy precious Timė.

2239 There is no fooling with Life by Expectations, and Attempts, when it is turned of forty.

forty. The feeking of a Fortune then, is but a defperate After-game.

2240 Be not fufpicious, cenforious, or fretful; for without much Candour, Simplicity, and making the best of every thing, there is no living in Society with Mankind.

2241 Let thy Gift be fomething that is lafting and durable; for it will ferve as a Monitor to mind the Receiver of the Obligation, which the Prefenter cannot fo handfomely do otherwise.

2242 It was the Advice of I know not what Sage, that every married Man fhould think there was but one good Woman in the World; and that his own Wife was fhe: and fo he would be fure to live contented.

2243 If thou perfeverest in Wickedness, and makest Use of the Name of Mercy, only for a Countenance to thy Impieties; thou doft but mock the Almighty, and haft no Title to his Mercy.

2244 Care not fo much to furnish thyself out with Opinions, that are uncommon and learned; as with fuch as may make thee eafy, and be convenient for Life.

2245 Thy Paffions ought to be thy Servants, not thy Masters; and fhould give thee fome Agitation, for Entertainment or Exercife; but fhould never throw Reafon out of its Seat.

2246 Be not Heraclitus, but Democritus; weep not, but laugh at the World. And where Prudence cannot avail thee, let thy Contempt and Scorn meet its Malice.

2247 Be careful to avoid those Things in thyfelf, which do commonly difpleafe thee in others.

As

As thy Eye obferveth others; fo art thou alfo noted again by others.

2248 What Matter is it, how much, and what thou fuffereft, if fo be thou may'ft at length attain Salvation? Heaven can't be a dear Purchafe, coft what it will.

2249 Whatsoever thou giveft to God befides thyfelf, is of little Account in his Sight: for he feeks not any Gift of thine, but thyfelf.

2250 When thou art in the Company of thy Betters for Sense and Prudence, it is as much more adviseable to hear than to fpeak, as it is more profitable to reap than to fow.

2251 It is in Reputation, as it is in Money there must be Care taken both in the Getting of it, and in the Ufe of it: for thou fhalt have perpetual Occafion for it.

2252 Disappointments and Croffes that come not by thy own Folly, or Negligence, are Corrections of Heaven; and it is thy own Fault if they prove not to thy Advantage.,

2253 As, it was neceflary, that God should become like Man on Earth to purchase Felicity for thee; fo must thou be like God in Heaven, before thou comeft to poffefs it.

2254 In judging of thyfelf: if Confcience either can not, or will not inform thee, there is a certain Thing called Self-love, that will be fure to deceive thee.

2255 The greatest Honour thou canst do to God or good Men, is to endeavour to be like them; to express their Virtues, and reprefent them to the World in thy Life.

2256 Whatsoever thou giveft to the Poor is fafely depofited; and put out of the Reach of Fortune

Fortune, because it is laid up in Heaven; where thou may'st expect the Return and Recompence of it.

2257 So deliberate, that thou may'st resolve: fo refolve, that thou may'ft perform: fo perform, that thou may'ft perfevere. Mutability is the Badge of Infirmity.

2258 If thou fareft well, enjoy it to thyself, and do not cry Roaft-meat. If thou fheweft thy Treasure to a Thief, thou art the Occafion of thy own Pillage.

2259 When thou telleft another any thing that thou art not well affured of, fuppofe him to be thy Enemy at prefent; or in his Rotation of Thought may be fo hereafter.

2260 If thou giveft the Reins to Senfuality, and fhutteft not the Door to Liberty, thou fhalt have what to think on by Day, and also wherefore to weep by Night.

2261 There is nothing whereby thou may'st fooner difcern a Man to be wife or foolish, than to see how he behaveth in Adverfity; and how he reapeth Profit by Sicknefs.

2262 Thou may'ft have the Speculation of Things, and the Method how to effect them; yet if thou wanteft Diligence, Courage and Addrefs for Execution, thou'lt do nothing.

-2263 Thou art of a good Spirit, if thou canft meet thy Enemy without Hatred; and return him Kindnefs, (where it can be) inftead of Re

venge.

2264 Let it frequently come into thy Thoughts, that Death lyeth in Wait for thee; and may catch thee (as it hath many others) any where, fuddenly, and unawares. 2265 Thou

2265 Thou wilt find great Peace and Pleasure in being uninterested in other Mens Affairs; and difengaged from being their Warranty; and refponfible for what they do.

2266 To reform all others, and fet them right, is impoffible; what haft thou then to do, but to defpife all little capricious Humours, and amend thyself.

2267 If thou defireft the Love of God and Man, be humble; for the proud Heart, as it loveth none-but itfelf; fo is it beloved by none but by itself.

2268 To make thy Life pleafant and eafy, thou must use Variety in paffing it: and fome times feek out Company, when thou hast been long without it, and art tired.

2269 Thy Grief will augment and gather new Force, if thou be'ft too fenfible of it; but on the contrary, if thou beareft it patiently, it will diminish by Degrees.

2270 Enterprize no Defign, the failing wherein may bring thee more Difgrace and Lofs, than the Succefs can gain, thee Honour and Profit: for it's plainly an unequal Lay.

2271 Every one has his Share of Abilities. Thou wilt mostly fucceed, if thou goeft not beyond thy own; and doft not fet them at work upon other Mens Projects.

2272 Too much Converfation and unprofitable Vifits will make thy Life foft, and effeminate. Much Bufinefs and fometimes Company, will make it pleasant and useful.

2273 If thou ufeft thyfelf to talk much, thou wilt be like unfortified Frontier-Towns, that are always expofed to the Infults of Enemies.

2274 Con