Weather-beaten Vessels into that Port of Happiness he has promis'd us and that which ought particularly to touch us to the quick is that a pure and disinterested Charity was the Foundation of all that he did for us that God who found in himself the never flowing Fountain of his own Felicity needed none of the impotent Company of his Revolted Creatures yet he with God-like Mercy was willing to unite himself to our Nature and to suffer Death for Sinners worthy of the deepest Lashes what Tenderness what Love was visible in that God who did in some sort humble himself to save us How proper is this Motive to affect generous Minds and how difficult is it when we think seriously of the Benefits we have received from our Lord how difficult is it I say to refuse him a Heart to which his Title is so antecedently Just Ah! if we are so sensible of the good Offices which are done us where commonly the Actors look asquint on their own Interest what Acknowledgment ought we not to pay for so many Gratuitous Bounties as Jesus Christ has conferr'd on us only because he lov'd us This adorable Saviour has given us in his Life and Death a perfect Model of all the Virtues which can lead us up to that Immortal Crown he designs us and he is desirous that we should not deviate from his Steps but yet surveying our Weakness he has promis'd us a Reinforcement of his own Succours with which we need not decline to combat those formidable Enemies that have vow'd our Destruction Let us charge then with Confidence under so great a Leader we may well be undaunted under so good a Master let us inviolably imitate the Brightness of his Example and that our Wills may not be biass'd by the publick Obliquity of the 〈◊〉 let us judge of things as he judg'd of 'em let us pronounce that those Riches Pleasures and Honors which he despis'd do not deserve our constant Attendance on 'em let us believe also that the Sufferings which he lov'd to that heighth as to die upon a Cross are less to be fear'd than wish'd for and let us remember that the way which he march'd to his Glory that is now Triumphant is not surcharg'd with the Gaiety of Flowers but yet looks Graceful tho 't was dy'd with Blood and water'd with Tears LXXX Of Death AFter having propos'd my Thoughts about what we are to do and what we are to avoid whilst we wander in this Lower Region methinks 't is pat to the purpose to say something of Death which gives the finishing Stroke and is the most important Moment of fleeting Life I know very well that the Separation of the Soul from the Body can be no Friendly Parting and that the most resolute Minds cannot behold it without some Discomposure that borders upon Fear nevertheless I do not think it is so hard a Task as some fearful Souls who multiply their Terrours imagine 't is to bid the World adieu with the same Generosity with which we liv'd in it indeed why should we dread the Passage thro' this Streight that has been open'd by other Columbus's so many Ages ago Is it not better with Bravery to stand the Shock of that Danger which we know before-hand is unavoidable and from which not the subtlest of all Mankind by any evasive Tricks can bolt the Hope of Happiness which is assur'd to us if we die with holy Dispositions to be capable of it ought sooner to quicken us to search for Death than to increase our Fear of losing Life If we are jealous that we shall be rack'd with some painful Agony let us reflect that often 't is light eno ' or at least that 't is quickly adjourn'd and if the Severity of God's Judgments frights us the Blood of Jesus Christ shed for our Salvation and the infinite Love which he has for Souls that have cost him so dear ought to still our Fears and inspire us with much Confidence of Reconcilement If we are just which yet a Man ought not to persuade himself that he is let us hope he will breath immortal Love on us and crown those Works which are the Results of his own Grace and if we are Sinners let us not despair of his Mercy seeing that knows no Bounds and that the Scripture tells us that a broken and a contrite Heart he will not despise The Grace of such a happy Repentance which we ought to ask with Faith Humility and Perseverance is eno ' to give us new Life after Death Nevertheless it must be own'd that those who neglecting the Obligations of their Religion degrade themselves by immersing their Lives in sensual Fruitions have reason to apprehend Death as a King of Terrours for besides that their Ruine is certain if they are catch'd unawares by it which God knows is too often as we are assur'd by our Redeemer put case a Distemper should leave such Men some Dregs of Time to think upon their Salvation either they flatter themselves that it will not prove mortal and so stop short even in the Tendency to a Preparation for a dying hour or if seeing themselves at the last Gasp they desire to receive the Sacrament to huddle up a mispent Life commonly 't is more the Effect of a slavish Fear than any Fruit of a true Conversion they do not sincerely renounce the Pleasures of the World nor abandon the Objects of their criminal Passions which they have always doted on with so much vehemence for that Love fortifi'd by long Custom has branch'd it self in their Hearts with such stubborn Roots that it must be only a Miracle of Grace that can divorce such a cemented Acquaintance and will God vouchsafe this extraordinary Grace to those who for so many years have impudently violated and contemn'd his holy Laws The surest Means then to be arm'd against the Fears of Death is for Gentlemen to prepare themselves by a pure and innocent Life timely to draw off from that which one day they must part withal for ever to reflect often that in that critical Moment where Eternity begins the Pleasures of Sense expire a Veil is drawn over all human Greatness every glistering temporal Advantage is vanish'd Lastly they have no more to do but to persuade themselves convincingly that there is no other Bottom to stay their Consolation upon but the Remembrance that they have lov'd God and that they have serv'd him with an invariable Stedfastness in spight of the over-bearing Corruption of a profligate Age. FINIS THE CONTENTS I. AN Honest Man Page 4 II. Honoring of Parents Page 10 III. The Importance of Education Page 12 IV. What a Young Gentleman ought to Learn Page 15 V. What ought to be the Scope of his Studies Page 19 VI. To make a right Use of Knowledge Page 21 VII What a Man is to do for his Relations Page 23 VIII To be subject to the Laws of the Country Page 24 IX The Duty of Allegiance
Vehemence of his Carier The Fiftieth recommends Regular Conduct of Life and shews where 't is inoffensive it should be All of a piece The Fifty first plainly makes it appear that the quickest Understanding cannot pronounce judiciously of a Man unless they have seen him under the Gawdy Temptations of a Full Fortune or the pressing Necessities of a Scanty The Fifty second prefers that Man of Quality as deserving the most ample Commendations who can steer evenly betwixt both with an easie Indifference The Fifty third sets down the Inconvenience there is in reaching forth Credential Letters to every one who has the Confidence to request 'em and if that renders Men of Honor liable to be put upon signing 'em with Blanks carries 'em into double Danger The Fifty fourth stints Curiosity and discovers where its true Use is to be fix'd The Fifty fifth puts an Incapacity upon two Sorts of People for Companions which are Deboshees and Cowards In the Fifty sixth all Tricking is arraign'd besides what is necessary to countermine the Trickers In the Fifty seventh you are told what a fatal Stroke the Death of a Friend is and which is the best way to heal the Wound it makes The Fifty eighth bids a Man of Quality seriously consider what ticklish Ground he stands on at Court and how many are at work to trip up his Heels The Fifty ninth gives us to understand what a Provocative to Laughter the Motly Figure of a Grey-headed Gallant is The Sixtieth specifies what Counsels a Man of Quality is not only to excuse but to encourage and what he is oblig'd in Honor to reject and to punish the Broacher The Author in the Sixty first seems to be sensible what a number of untraceable Spirits a Man advanc'd to a high Statior has to conjure down and therefore he proportions suitable Qualifications either to carry on the Attack agaisnt 'em or at least resolutely to stand upon the Defensive Because Froth is always ways uppermost the Sixty second Section adviseth never to answer when you are in a Ferment for when the Matter is of Moment 't is good to stay for a becalm'd Temper The Sixty third clears that Truth that he who has already a profligate Bias ought to have no Patron by the Authority of his Reputation to countenance him farther to out-run his Duty The Sixty fourth teaches a Man of Quality thus to deal with the Ungrateful not to be suddenly vindictive but by the wonted Tenour of soft Treatment to shame 'em into a Sense of their own Omission In the Sixty fifth you are given to understand that because there are no petty Consequences which attend Great Undertakings 't is stark Nonsence to bring an ordinary Application to ' em The Sixty sixth leads a Person of Quality into a Belief how necessary Secresie is to him that it is a mighty false step to proclaim his Steerage to the World and so arm his Adversary to undo him and that nothing can dispense with his divulging of a Secret but where the concealing of it would affront his God betray his King and naturally tend to the Ruine of his Country In the Sixty seventh the Author makes it a proof of a Mishapen Mind that it must either be flush'd with extravagant Hopes of Things that are out of its reach to determine upon or else with as irregular a Motion to be immediately toss'd into the Depths of scandalous Despair The 68th Section endeavours to convince a Great Man that it is his Duty to deter Vice and to take Virtues Part let the Attempt cost what it will The 69th makes it appear how wretchedly Trivial that Humour is to be continually hovering about Business and entering upon none spinning out Time so long till the Lucky Minute for executing a Design is slip'd by and can by no Art be brib'd to return The 70th give secure Directions to moderate that over-boiling Heat by which Men are precipitated to pass fatal Sentences on themselves by making a wrong Judgment both on Persons and Things The 71st Head decyphers both how unmanly and impolitick that Conduct is where two have been Partners in an Undertaking that has succeeded for one to usurp all the Praise and to rob the other of his Share The 72d marks out the Road a Man of Quality must pursue when he is urpriz'd by a sudden Accident which is just upon the Verge of breaking all his Measures The 73d Section is a little Medley of Moral Lessons about Good Turns Rewards and the wise Disposal of Employments The 74th derives down to us the Knowledge of what a Power there is in some Mens Method of obliging their Kindness flows so easily that it insinuates it self with Variety of Charms into the Soul of the oblig'd 't is here you learn the Knack how some Men of Quality can lend away Petitioners satisfi'd at the same time they are refus'd The 75th points out to you both the Advantages that a Man in Solitude has to discover Truth and the Comforts which finish the Repose of his Mind in that Thinking State but yet discovers that all are not to be of this Bookish Flegmatick Form this Machine of the World can never be turn'd but by Wheels that move with mone Vigour and therefore as the Shoulders of Men of Quality are loaded with the Weight of publick Affairs they deserve at least Commendation to help 'em to support it The 76th unveils to us what noble Thoughts may be extracted from a quick Inspection into the Creatures we daily converse with The 77th draws Banishment in such fair Colours that a State-Officer disgracd may fetch Armour eno ' from this little Magazine to defend him from any harsh Resentment of such a Change The 78th sets forth this Consolation that if a Man of Quality keeps up but those three Springs of Innocence Patience and Resolution in his Frame he can never have one uneven Motion in a Prison In the 79th the Author bids you step off the Stage of a tumultuous World and to make a Christian-like Preparation for the Climes of Bliss puts you upon this single Duty to give Wings to your Devotion and to be inflam'd wâ—th such a resin'd Love of your dearest Saviour Jesus Christ as may exert it self in a suitable Imitation of his bright Example And now to wind up all this kind Hand that has led you rhro ' all the Mazes of a tedious Life would not forbear accompanying you to the last Apartment the Chambers of what has been call'd the King of Terrours and Grisly Death But with the truest Stamp of Friendship tells you you may make it as desirable as you please and tho there may be a little Violence at the first separation of two so nearly ally'd as the Soul and the Body yet upon an antecedent pious Provision the Reunion of those dear Companions will be attended with such Extasies of Joy that no Man living need stand shivering on the Brink of Eternity at the Minute
draw upon you Clouds of Hatred and Black Envy whereas Genteelness and fair Carriage will imprint a Belief that you deserve your Post In the next place never beg any thing for your self or at least very rarely if a Prince or a Great Man understands that your Application to his Service is sincere and disinterested his Largesses will be before-hand with your Intreaties then be sure you never move for an unjust thing Fourthly do not stake down your own Credit but for persons who have a large Stock of it themselves and that too but seldom In the fifth place let your Requests be always well tim'd and tender'd with great Modesty and Respectfulness Lastly be not lame in acknowledging the Bounty you reap and publish to the World by your redoubled Zeal for your Mastet's Service that you are not insensible of the Value of your Benefactor 'T is thus you are to manage the Favour of of Great Men and by such a Method you will assuredly oblige 'em to retain the Affection for you XXXVII Of Superfluity and Neatness TO be Neat is not only advantageous but one may even vouch for its Necessity for besides that it contributes to our Health it goes a great Way in mending our Decorum in the World so that a Genteel Man must by no means neglect himself yet there is a great deal of Difference betwixt being cleanly and being over-nice every one in this matter is to live in a due Compass and to have Respect to his Age and his Quality In reference to another sort of Neatness which consists in the way of Dressing I hold it to be innocent and as to that we may follow the Mode but to be extravagantly expensive in Cloaths in Furniture in Buildings in Entertainments in Equipage to value himself for eclipsing others in any of these and even to Rival the Magnificence Princes is an Effect of Pride and an Affectation unbecoming a wise Man They that take such Pains to be distinguish'd by things that scarce deserve our Thought give great ground to believe that being conscious of a Deficiency of Merit they would dazle their Admirers with outward Splendour When a Man comes once to understand what true Glory is and to find himself capable to acquire it he contemns that Luxury which so much puts upon the Brutal Herd of Men. XXXVIII To have as few Enemies as you can YOU cannot beat it into some Mens Heads that there is any reason to fear the Underling World which they scorn and abuse on all occaâ—â—ons say they we stand on such high Ground that their Arrows tho levell'd at us can do us no Mischief 't is as whimsical as the Giants Attempt to dethrone Jupiter but they are much in the wrong for Hatred and the sweet Desire of Revenge are such ingenious Passions they are so wakeful to gain their Ends that they will sall upon such Methods as you could never have imagin'd they would pursue Men of the vilest Condition having nothing of their own to save are easily whetted to have at all of other Mens and as inconsiderable as we think 'em 't is dangerous to drive 'em to extremity Now if a Set of Enemies beneath us have so much Power sometimes to plague us what shall become of us if we provoke the Malice of our Equals which are in better Circumstances to annoy us or by inflaming our Superiors blow up that Fire which is nor to he quenched but by our own entire Ruine It follows from hence that we are to disoblige no Body but to behave our selves with such Circumspection and discreet Management towards all that we may leave every Body vying who shall have the best Opinion of us XXXIX Not to be Discourag'd 'T IS the peculiar of a narrow Soul to have his Courage flatten'd at the approach of the least Difficulty a Man of Resolution and who truly bears his Maker's Image is astonish'd at nothing but finds a Cure for every Ill he stands brave where others sneak where others stumble and are born down with fear he stands his Ground and snatches an Occasion from hence to look above danger and to triumph where others fell 't is then that by a more vigorous pursuit he doubles his Pace and pressing on with extraordinary Efforts he often breaks thro' every thing that stands in his way Great Men never shew more Courage than when they are at the very Brink of Despair because Experience has inform'd 'em that a little Matter has chang'd a whole Scene of Affairs or at least that a seasonable Shew of Boldness and generous pushing has not only extricated themselves out of Danger but struck Terror in their Enemies this stout Resistance in terrible Shocks tho it should meet with ill Success would yet mightily befriend the Character of the Commanders and therefore 't is chiefly necessary for Kings and Generals of an Army for if they be stunn'd and do but seem stagger'd with any frightful Apprehension the main Body of the Soldiers immediately eye it and will not stay to stare Death in the Face but become a cheap Prey to the willing Conqueror XL. Of Pride WHY should we value our selves so much upon our Desert and give our selves the Preference to so many others who perhaps have more worth concentred in 'em than we have are not our Bodies deriv'd from the same Original and our Souls the bright Product of the same Author whatsoever Advantages we are endebted for either to Nature or Fortune 't is a great Instance of our Weakness it they make us more high-spirited for these are but a poor Enjoyment at the best but yet they are presently weighed down if we put 'em in the Scale with the Privileges of Heaven to which our Faith prompts us to aspire they often slee away in spight of all our jealous Care to retain 'em and a Man of sound Understanding slights 'em because by being Master of 'em he does not find that he is vested in any solid Happiness he looks after and altho he could possess 'em without Dislike or preserve 'em without Disturbance the Thread of Life is so suddenly cut off that he must be proud of a very little matter who will be puff'd up with the Conceit of all these Advantages which in a few fleeting Hours he must surrender sooner or later Death seizes on 'em it strips us as I may say of our glittering but borrow'd Dress and by that instructs us that when we have div'd into the greatest perfection of Men they are all equally miserable and there is no Fence against that Claim I confess sometimes we do a thing that a Commendation does not seem to be thrown away upon it but then consider that self-love is almost ever the Motive that spurs us on to Action we have more reason to mortifie our Pride in doing it than to assume any Vain-Glory for the Performance Persons whose Piety is the most resin'd and unmix'd who only it seems should have some Right
'em to dissolve their Estate in their Furnaces to overpass their real Duties and to consume to no purpose a Life that has so many precious Minutes to be guarded and improv'd with the most Jealous Care LV. To shun the Conversation of Libertines and Cowards DIscourse back'd with Example is so very prevalent that it is almost impossible to resist the Impressions which it makes wherefore 't is of great use to avoid the Company of Loose-Livers and who publickly set up for Atheism for besides that every such Entercourse would ruine our own Reputation their lewd Speeches their Sets of false Maxims and the Contagion of their Examples would at first Dash deprave our best Inclinations and insensibly corrupt our Souls and after the Advances of a few Steps would precipitate us into the common Shore of Misfortunes where commonly such sort of People sink themselves 't is moreover one of the Rules of Prudence never to hold Conversation with Cowards and the Henbearted who are generally over-run with Scruples and Superstition as their Distemper is infectious they casily shed down to their Associates their own anxious Fears and Thorny Doubts which diffract the Mind and stave it off from taking an adequate Dimension of Things These Quandaries and Fits of Irresolution excite frivolous Suspicions in us which as weak as they are do yet discompose us divest us of the Liberty of our Minds and rob us of the Tranquillity of our Souls without a Conjunction of which we can neither know how to make the belt Choice nor to embrace what we have chosen with an entire Confidence LVI Not to use Reserves but in Cases of Necessity WHen there is no firm Reason to give Birth to our Dissimulation it ought to stand for an undeniable Law that we should act with Openness to what purpose is it always to put on the Foxes Skin to affect to speak in the Clouds to talk like the Oracles of Delphos when there there is no occasion to justifie such a mysterious Cant this only serves to spirit on others to suspect you whence it happens that tho Subtilty might sometimes be necessary yet it will do him no Service who wears it out with continual Practice because every Body is ready arm'd against his Craft the Designs of a Man who is currently stamp'd for sliness are the most easie to untwist for as every Body suspects him and watches him narrowly it seldom falls out but that all his Measures are broken I do not intend here those Wiles which are only us'd with Design to surprize and cheat every one throws something into the Scale to condemn 'em I would be understood of that tricking which nakedly in it self is no ill and I say as innocent as it is 't is but seldom to be employ'd and that too by the Urgency of Necessity The general Rule to be given in this Case is this that Tricks are never to be us'd to impose upon any Body but only to countermine those who make a fraudulent Attack LVII Of the Death of a Friend NO Grief stabs in so sensible a part as that which a Gentleman feels when he loseth a deserving Person betwixt whom and himself Love was wrought up to the highest Pitch of Sincerity Such a Loss wounds the deeper forasmuch as 't is irreparable and a Man had need of the Constancy or rather the Insensibility of a Stoick if he be not touch'd to the quick with it Altho such a Sorrow might seem defensible yet 't is good to call in the Succors of Faith and the Beams of Reason to dart Comfort into our Shades and to sweeten the Bitterness which we then most exquisitely taste and to take this along with us that in such a doleful Scene shedding of Tears is not eno ' to discharge the Trust of a true friendship there ought to be besides some sacred Repository dearly to lodge the Remembrance of his Friend and as the best Badge that his Memory is honor'd to see the faithful Execution of his last Will to assist his Family if 't is distress'd and above all to implore the Almighty that his Happiness of the next Life may even be double to his Hopes LVIII At the Court Diffidence is necessary HE that steps into a Court ought to look upon himself in an Enemies Country where a thousand Ambuscades are laid to ensnare him 't is there where Gentlemen are most Civil and least Sincere let us suspect their artificial Caresses and that they wheedle us to confide more in 'em than we have reason to do and let us remember that 't is their common Course to give us the Picture of their Minds quite different from the Original such a one smiles on you and makes all the Overtures of your humble Servant when at the same time he waits only for the Opportunity effectually to undo you Not to be cully'd by these treacherous Friends a dextrous Courtier equally conceals his Designs and his Thoughts particularly in what relates to the Conduct of Great Men he cloaks his Designs that his Rivals may not prevent the Execution of 〈◊〉 and smothers his Sentiments lest his Enemies should make a wrong Construction of 'em and give him Trouble amongst those who are in a Post to do him a Mischief You will say doubtless that 't is irksome to be always upon your Guard and to be shy of Persons whom you are oblig'd to converse with every day I agree it but at Court such Precautions ate not to be avoided And after all 't is preferable to be circumspect and reserv'd both in Words and Actions tho 't is at the Expence of a little Uneasiness than to lay himself liable to be betray'd by unbosoming himself to those whose Fidelity has not passed the Test Nevertheless I do not encourage such a general suspicion as shall admit of no Exception I own that a discreet Friend of an approv'd Virtue is to be rely'd on but till a Courtier can be so happy to find one such the surâ—â—t way not to be chous'd is to trust no Body LIX Of Passions in those who are well in Years EVery Gentleman is so much the more taking as his Way corresponds with his Age and the Rank which he holds in the World so we are pleased with a Big and Majestick Air in a Monarch with Gravity upon the Bench with a lofty and fierce Meen in the General of an Army Thus we love to see Sprightliness in a Child Activity in a young Man but expect an old Man to be serious But contrary wise a Person is so much the more nauseous as he departs from his proper Character wherefore we abhor to see youthful Passions tempered with aged Snow but Love especially at that time aday makes a Man 〈…〉 indeed what 〈…〉 thâ—◠〈…〉 â—â—llâ—nt And who can forbear Laughing when they see a Man act a part that is all strain'd 'T is a great Unhappiness for a Man to cancel in a few Minutes all those Acquisitions of