Just thou secretly confessest thy Anger to be unjust He that is angry with the Just Reprover kindles the fire of the Just Revenger MAX. 43. Do well whilst thou mayst least thou do evil when thou wouldst not He that takes not advantage of a good power shall lose the benefit of a good will MAX. 44. Let not Mirth be thy profession lest thou become a make-sport He that hath but gained the title of a Jester let him assure himself the Fool is not far off MAX. 45. In every Relative action change Conditions with thy Brother then ask thy Conscience what thou wouldst be done to being truly resolved exchange again and do thou the like to him and thy Charity shall never err It is injustice to do what without impatience thou canst not suffer MAX. 46. Love thy Neighbour for God's sake and God for his own sake who created all things for thy sake and redeemed thee for his mercy sake if thy love have any other object it is false love if thy object have any other end it is self Love MAX. 47. Let thy conversation with Men be sober and sincere let thy Devotion to God be dutiful and decent let the one be hearty and not haughty let the other be humble and not homely so live with Man as if God saw thee so pray to God as if Men heard thee MAX. 48. God's pleasure is the wind our actions ought to sail by Man's will is the stream that Titles them up and down if the wind blow not thou mayst take the advantage of the Tide if it blow no matter which way the stream runs If with thee thy Voyage will be the shorter if against thee the Sea will be the Rougher It is eaffer to strive against the Stream than to sail against the Wind. MAX. 49. If thou desire much rest desire not too much there is no less trouble in the preservation than in the acquisition of abundance Diogenes found more Rest in his Tub than Alexander on his Throne MAX. 50. Wouldst thou multiply thy Riches diminish them wisely or wouldst thou make thy Estate entire divide it charitably Seeds that are scattered encrease but hoarded up they Perish MAX. 51. How cam'st thou by thy Honour by Money How cam'st thou by thy Money by Extortion compare the Pennyworth with the Price and tell me truly how truly Honourable thou art It is an ill purchase that is Cumbred with a Curse and that Honour will be Ruinous that is built on Ruines MAX. 52. If thy Brother hath privately offended thee reprove him privately and having lost himself in an injury thou shalt find him in thy forgiveness he that rebukes a private fault openly betrays it rather than reproves it MAX. 53. What thou desirest inspect throughly before thou prosecute cast one Eye upon the Inconveniencies as well as the other upon the Conveniencies weigh the fulness of the Barn with the charge of the Plough weigh Honour with her burthen and Pleasure with her dangers so shalt thou undertake wisely what thou desirest or moderate thy Desires in undertaking MAX. 54. If thou owest thy whole self to thy God for thy Creation what hast thou left to pay for thy Redemption that was not so cheap as the Creation In thy Creation he gave thee thy self and by thy self to him in thy Redemption he gave himself to thee and through him restored thee to thy self Thou art given and restored now what owest thou to thy God If thou hast paid all thy Debts give him the Surplusage and thou hast merited MAX. 55. In thy Discourse take heed what thou speakest to whom thou speakest how thou speakest and when thou speakest What thou speakest speak truly when thou speakest speak wisely A Fool 's Heart is in his Tongue but a Wise man's Tongue is in his Heart MAX. 56. Before thou act a Theft consider what thou art about to do if thou take it thou losest thy self if thou keep it thou disenablest thy Redemption till thou restorest it thou canst not be restored when it is restored` it must cost the more Sorrow and Pain than ever it brought thee Profit or Pleasure It is a great Folly to please thy Palate with that which thou knowest must either be vomited or thy Death MAX. 57. Silence is the highest Wisdom of a Fool and Speech is the greatest Trial of a Wise man if thou would'st be known a Wise man let thy Words shew thee so if thou doubt thy Words let thy Silence feign thee so It is not a greater point of Wisdom to discover Knowledge than to hide Ignorance MAX. 58. The Clergy is a Copy-book their Life is the Paper whereof some is purer some courser their Doctrine is the Copies some written in a plain hand others in a flourishing hand some in a Text hand some in a Roman hand others in a Court hand others in a Bastard Roman If the choice be in thy power choose a Book that hath the finest Paper let it not be too straight nor too loosely bound but easie to lye open to every Eye Follow not every Copy lest thou be good at none among them all choose one that shall be most legible and useful and fullest of just Writing But if the Paper chance to have a Blot remember that Blot is no part of the Copy MAX. 59. Virtue is nothing but an Act of loving that which is to be beloved and that Act is Prudence from whence not to be removed by constraint is Fortitude not to be allured by Enticements is Temperance not to be diverted by Pride is Justice the declining of this Act is Vice MAX. 60. Rebuke thy Servant's Fault in Private publick Reproof hardens his Shame if he be past a Youth strike him not he is not fit for thy Service that after wise Reproofs will either deserve thy Stroaks or digest them MAX. 61. Take heed rather what thou receivest than what thou givest what thou givest leaves thee what thou takest sticks by thee he that presents a Gift buys the Receiver he that takes a Gift sells his Liberty MAX. 62. Things temporal are sweeter in expectation things eternal are sweeter in the fruition the first shames thy hopes the second crowns it It is a vain Journey whose end affords less pleasure than the way MAX. 63. Know thy self that thou may'st fear God know God that thou may'st love him in this thou art initiated to Wisdom in that perfected The Fear of God is the Beginning of Wisdom the Love of God is the fulfilling of the Law MAX. 64. If thou hast Providence to foresee a Danger let thy Providence rather prevent it than fear it the fear of future Evils brings often times a present Mischief whil'st thou seekest to prevent it practise to bear it He is a wise man can prevent an Evil he is a patient man that can endure it but he is a valiant man can conquer it MAX. 65. If thou hast the place of a Magistrate deserve it by thy
Simple a Child because tender and growing giving Honey because Honey is pleasant and comfortable To a Bee because a Bee is laborious and deserving without Wings because helpless and wanting If thou deniest to such thou killest a Bee if thou givest to other than such thou preservest a Drone MAX. 3. Before thy Undertaking of any design weigh the Glory of thy Action with the Danger of the Attempt If the Glory out-weigh the Danger it is Cowardise to neglect it If the Danger exceed the Glory it is rashness to attempt it If the Ballances stand pois'd let thy own Genius cast them MAX. 4. Wouldst thou know the Lawfulness of the action which thou desirest to undertake Let thy Devotion recommend it to Divine Blessing If it be Lawful thou shalt perceive thy Heart Encouraged by Prayer If Unlawful thou shalt find thy Prayer discouraged by thy Heart That action is not Warrantable which either blushes to beg a Blessing or having succeeded dares not present Thanksgiving MAX. 5. If Evil men speak good or good men Evil of thy Conversation Examine all thy actions and suspect thy self But if Evil men speak Evil of thee hold it as thy honour and by way of thankfulness Love them but upon condition that they continue to hate thee MAX. 6. If thou hope to please all thy hopes are vain If thou fear to displease some thy fears are Idle The way to please thy self is not to displease the best and the way to displease the best is to please the most If thou canst fashion thy self to please all thou shalt displease him that is all in all MAX. 7. If thou Neglectest thy Love to thy Neighbour in vain thou professest thy Love to God for by thy Love to God the Love to thy Neighbour is begotten and by the Love to thy Neighbour thy Love to God is nourish'd MAX. 8. Thy Ignorance in unreveal'd Mysteries is the Mother of a Saving Faith and thy Understanding in reveal'd Truths is the Mother of a Sacred Knowledge Understand not therefore that thou mayst Believe but believe that thou mayst Understand Understanding is the wages of a Lively Faith and Faith is the reward of an humbler Ignorance MAX. 9. Pride is the Ape of Charity in shew not much unlike but somewhat fuller of action In seeking the one take heed thou light not on the other they are two Parallels never but asunder Charity feeds the Poor so does Pride Charity builds an Hospital so does Pride In this they differ Charity gives her Glory to God Pride takes her Glory from Man MAX. 10. Hast thou lost thy Money and dost thou Mourn another lost it before thou hadst it Be not troubled perchance if thou hadst not lost it now it had lost thee for ever Think therefore what thou hast rather escaped than lost Perhaps thou hadst not been so much thine own had not thy Money been so little thine MAX. 11. Flatter not thy self in thy Faith to God if thou wantst Charity for thy Neighbour and think not that thou hast Charity for thy Neighbour if thou wantst Faith to God where they are not both together they are both wanting they are both dead if once divided MAX. 12. Be not too slow in breaking of a sinful Custom a quick Couragious Resolution is better than a Gradual Deliberation In such a Combate he is the bravest Soldier that lays about him without fear or wit Wit Pleads Fear disheartens He that would kill Hydra had better strike off one Neck than Five Heads Fell the Tree and the Branches are soon cut off MAX. 13. Be careful rather of what thou dost than of what thou hast for what thou hast is none of thine and will leave thee at thy death or thou the pleasure of it in thy sickness But what thou dost is thine and will follow thee to thy Grave and plead for thee or against thee at thy Resurrection MAX. 14. If thou enjoyest not the God of Love thou canst not obtain the Love of God neither until then canst thou Enjoy a desire to Love God nor relish the Love of God thy Love to God is nothing but a faint reflection of God's love to thee till he please to Love thee thy Love can never please him MAX. 15. Let not thy Fancy be guided by thine Eye nor let thy Will be govern'd by thy Fancy Thine Eye may be deceived in her Object and thy Fancy may be deluded in her Subject Let thine Understanding moderate between thine Eye and thy Fancy and let thy Judgment Arbitrate between thy Fancy and thy Will so shall Fancy apprehend what is true so shall thy Will elect what is good MAX. 16. Endeavour to subdue as well thy irascible as thy concupiscible Affections To endure Injuries with a brave Mind is one half of the Conquest and to abstain from pleasing Evils with a couragious Spirit is the other The Sum of all Humanity and height of Moral Perfection is Bear and Forbear MAX. 17. If thou desire not to be too poor desire not to be too rich He is rich not that possesseth much but he that covers no more and he is poor not that enjoys little but that wants too much The contented Mind wants nothing which it hath not the covetous Mind wants not only what it hath not but likewise what it hath MAX. 18. The outward Senses are the common Cinque-Ports where every Subject lands towards the Understanding The Ear hears a confused Noise and presents it to the Common Sense the common Sense distinguishes the several Sounds and conveys them to the Fancy the Fancy wildly discants on it The Understanding whose Object is Truth apprehending it to be Musick commends it to the Judgment the Judgment severally and jointly examines it and recommends it to the Will the Will whose Object is Good approves it or dislikes it and the Memory records it And so in the other Senses according to their Subjects observe this Progress and thou shalt easily find where the defect of every Action lyes MAX. 19. The way to subject all things to thy self is to subject thy self to Reason thou shalt govern many if Reason govern thee Would'st thou be crowned the Monarch of a little World Command thy self MAX. 20. Tho' thou givest all thou hast for Charity 's sake and yet retainest a secret desire of keeping it for thy own sake thou rather leavest it than forsakest it He that hath relinquish'd all things and not himself hath forsaken nothing He that sets not his Heart on what he possesses forsaketh all things tho' he keep his Possessions MAX. 21. Search into thy self before thou accept the Ceremony of Honour If thou art a Palace Honour like the Sun-beams will make thee more Glorious if thou art a Dunghil the Sun may shine upon thee but not to sweeten thee Thy Prince may give thee Honour but not make thee honourable MAX. 22. Every Man is a King in his own Kingdom If Reason command and Passion obey his Government
many Debtors and by giving receives He that gives for his own ends makes his Gift a Bride and the receiver a Prisoner He that gives often teacheth requitance to the Receiver and discovers a crafty confidence in the Giver MAX. 86. Hath any wrong'd thee bravely reveng'd slight it and the Work is begun forgive it and it is finisht He is below himself that is not above an Injury MAX. 87. Let not thy Passion miscall thy Child lest thou Prophesy his misfortunes let not thy Tongue curse him lest it return from whence it came Curses sent in the room of Blessings are sent back with a double Vengeance MAX. 88. In all the Ceremonies of the Church which remain indifferent do according to the Constitution of that Church where thou art The God of Order and Unity who created both the Soul and the Body expects Unity in the one and Order in both MAX. 89. Let thy Religious Fast be a voluntary Abstinence not so much from Flesh as fleshly Thoughts God is pleased with that Fast which gives to another what thou deniest to thy self and when the afflicting of thy own Body is the repairing of thy Brother 's he fasts truly that abstains sadly grieves really gives cheerfully and forgives charitably MAX. 90. In the hearing of mysteries keep thy Tongue quiet five Words cost Zacharias 40 weeks Silence In such heights convert thy Questions into Wonders and let this suffice thee the Reason of the Deed is the Power of the Doer MAX. 91. Deride not him whom the looser World calls Puritan lest thou offend a little one if he be an Hypocrite God that knows him will reward him if zealous that God that loves him will revenge him if he be good he is good to god's glory if evil let him be evil at his own Charges He that judges shall be judged MAX. 92. So long as thou art ignorant be not ashamed to learn he that is so fondly modest not to acknowledge his own Defects of Knowledge shall in time be so foully impudent to justifie his own Ignorance Ignorance is the greatest of all Infirmities and justified the chiefest of all Follies MAX. 93. If thou be a Servant deal justly by thy Master as thou desirest thy Servant should deal by thee where thou art commanded be obedient where not commanded be provident let Diligence be thy Credit let Faithfulness be thy Crown let thy Master's Credit be thy Care and let his Welfare be thy Content Let thine Eye be single and thine Heart humble be sober that thou may'st be circumspect He that in Sobriety is not his own man being drunk whose is he Be neither contentious nor lascivious the one shews a turbulent Hcart the other an idle Brain A good Servant is a great Master MAX. 94. Let the Foundation of thy Affection be Virtue then make the Building as rich and as glorious as thou canst if the Foundation be Beauty or Wealth and the Building Virtue the Foundation is too week for the Building and it will fall Happy is he the Palace of whose Affection is founded upon Virtue wall'd with Riches glaz'd with Beauty and Roofed with Honour MAX. 95. If thy Mother be a Widow give her double Honour who now acts the part of a double Parent Remember her nine months Burthen and her ten months Travel forget not her Indulgence when thou didst hang upon her tender Breast call to mind her Prayers for thee before thou cam'st into the World and her Cares for thee when thou wert come into it remember her secret Groans her affectionate Tears her broken Slumbers her daily Fears her nightly Frights relieve her Wants cover her Imperfections comfort her Age and the Widow's Husband will be the Orphan's Father MAX. 96. As thou desirest the Love of God and Man beware of Pride it is a Tumour in thy mind that breaks and poisons all thy Actions it is a Worm in thy Treasure that eats and ruines thy Estate it loves no man is beloved of no man it disparageth Virtue in another by Detraction it disrewards Goodness in it self by Vain Glory the Friend of the Flatterer the Mother of Envy the Nurse of Fury the Band of Luxury the Sin of Devils and the Devil in mankind It hates Superiours it scorns Inferiours it owns no Equals in short till thou hate it God hates thee MAX. 97. So behave thy self amongst thy Children that they may love and honour thy presence be not too fond lest they fear thee not be not too bitter lest they fear thee too much Too much Familiarity will embolden them too little Countenance discourage them So carry thy self that they may rather fear thy displeasure than thy correction when thou reprovest them do it in season when thou correctest them do it not in Passion As a wise Child makes a happy Father so a wise Father makes a happy Child MAX. 98. When thy hand hath done a good Act ask thy heart if it be well done the matter of a good action is the deed done the form of a good action is the manner of the doing in the first another hath the Comfort and thou the Glory in the other thou hast the Comfort and God the Glory That Deed is ill done wherein God is no Sharer MAX. 99. Should'st thou purchase Heaven advise not with thy own ability The Price of Heaven is what thou hast examine not what thou hast but what thou art give thy self and thou hast bought it If thy own Vileness be thy Fears offer thy self and thou art pretious MAX. 100. The Birds of the Air dye to sustain thee the Beasts of the Field dye to nourish thee the Fishes of the Sea dye to feed thee our Stomacks are thâ—… common Sepulchres 〈…〉 God! with how many Deaths are our Lives patch'd up how ful of Death is the miserable Life of momentary Man The End of the second Century INSTITUTIONS AND MAXIMS Moral and Divine c. CENT III. MAXIM 1. IF thou take pains in what is good the Pains vanish the Good remains if thou take pleasure in what is evil the Evil remains and the Pleasure vanisheth What art thou the worse for Pains or the better for Pleasure when both are past MAX. 2. If thy Fancy and Judgment have agreed in the choice of a Wife be not too fond lest she surfeit nor too peevish lest she languish Love so that thou may'st be feared rule so that thou may'st be honoured be not too diffident lest thou teach her to deceive thee nor too suspicious lest thou teach her to abuse thee If thou see a fault let thy Love hide it if she continue it let thy Wisdom reprove it Reprove her not openly lest she grow bold rebuke her not tauntingly lest she grow spiteful proclaim not her Beauty lest she grow proud boast not her Wisdom lest thou be thought foolish shew her not thy Imperfections lest she disdain thee pry not into her Dairy lest she despise thee prophane not her Ears with loose
is what thou hast and is not lost for what thou hast not if thou desire to have it MAX. 31. With the same height of Desire thou hast sinned with the like depth of Sorrow thou must repent thou that hast sinned to day defer not thy Repentance till to morrow He that hath promised thee Pardon to thy Repentance hath not promised Life till thou repent MAX. 32. Take heed how thou receivest Praise from men from good men neither avoid it nor glory in it from evil men neither desire it nor expect it To be praised of them that are evil or for that which is evil is equal Dishonour he is happy in his Worth who is praised by the good and imitated by the bad MAX. 33. Proportion thy Charity to the strength of thy Estate lest God proportion thy Estate to the weakness of thy Charity Let the Lips of the Poor be the Trumpet of thy Gifts lest in seeking applause thou losest thy Reward Nothing is more pleasing to God than an open hand and a close mouth MAX. 34. Dost thou want things necessary Grumble not perchance 't was a necessary thing thou should'st want endeavour lawfully to supply it If God bless not thy Endeavours bless him that knoweth what is fittest for thee thou art God's Patient prescribe not thy Physitian MAX. 35. If another's Death or thy own depend upon thy Confession if thou canst say nothing if thou must say the Truth It is better thou lose thy Life than God his Honour it is as easie for him to give thee Life being condemned as Repentance having sinned It is more Wisdom to yeild thy Body than hazard thy Soul MAX. 36. Cloath not thy Language either with obscurity or affectation in the one thou discoverest too much darkness in the other too much lightness He that speaks from the Understanding to the Understanding is the best Interpreter MAX. 37. If thou expect Death as a Friend prepare to entertain it if thou expect Death as an Enemy prepare to overcome it Death hath no advantage but when it comes a Stranger MAX. 38. Fear nothing but what thy Industry may prevent Be confident of nothing but what fortune cannot defeat It is no less folly to fear what is impossible to be avoided than to be secure when there is a possibility to be deprived MAX. 39. Let not the necessity of God's Decree discourage thee to pray or dishearten thy Prayers do thou thy Dury and God will do his Pleasure If thy Prayers make not him sound that is sick they will return and confirm thy health that art sound If the end of thy Prayers be to obtain thy Request thou confinest him that is infinite if thou hast done well because thou wert commanded thou hast thy Reward in that thou hast obeyed God's Pleasure in the end of our Prayers MAX. 40. Marry not too young and when thou art too old marry not lest thou be fond in the one and dote in the other and repent for both Let thy Liking ripen before thou love let thy Love advise before thou chuse and let thy Choice be first before thou marry Remember that the whole Happiness of thy Life depends upon this one Act remember that nothing but Death can dissolve this Knot He that weds in haste repents oftentimes by leisure and he that repents him of his own Act either is or was a Fool by Confession MAX. 41. If God hath sent thee a Cross take it up and follow him use it wisely lest it be unprofitable bear it patiently lest it be intollerable behold in it God's Anger against Sin and his Love towards thee in punishing and chastising the other If it be light slight it not if heavy murmur not Not to be sensible of a Judgment is the symptom of a hardned Heart and to be displeased at his Pleasure is a sign of a Rebellious Will MAX. 42. If thou desire to be magnanimous undertake nothing rashly and fear nothing thou undertakest Fear nothing but Infamy dare any thing but Injury The measure of Magnanimity is neither to be rash nor timorous MAX. 43. Practise in Health to bear Sickness and endeavour in the strength of thy life to entertain Death He that hath a Will to dye not having Power to live shews Necessity not Virtue It is the Glory of a brave mind to embrace Pangs in the very Arms of Pleasure What name of Virtue merits he that goes when he is driven MAX. 44. Be not too punctual in taking place If he be thy Superiour 't is his due if thy Inferiour 't is his Dishonour it is thou must honour thy place not thy place thee It is a poor Reward of Worth that consists in a Righthand or a brick Wall MAX. 45. Pray often because thou sinnest always repent quickly lest thou dye suddenly He that repents it because he wants power to act it repents not of a Sin till he forsakes it He that wants power to actuate his Sin hath not forsaken his Sin but his Sin him MAX. 46. Make Philosophy thy Journey Theology thy Journey 's end Philosophy is a pleasant way but dangerous to him that either tires or retires In this Journey it 's safe neither to loyter nor to rest till thou hast attained thy Journey's-End He that sits down a Philosopher rises up an Atheist MAX. 47. Fear not to Sin for God's sake but thy own thy Sin o'erthrows not his Glory but Good He gains his glory not only from the Salvation of the Repentant but also from the confusion of the Rebellious There be Vessels for honour and Vessels for dishonour but both for his honour God is not griev'd for the glory he shall lose for thy Improvidence but for the horror thou shalt find for thy Impenitence MAX. 48. Insult not over Misery nor deride Infirmity nor despise Deformity The first shews thy Inhumanity the second thy Folly the third thy Pride He that made him miserable made thee happy to lament him He that made him weak made thee strong to support him He that made him deformed gave thee favour to be humbled He that is not sensible of another's Unhappiness is a Living Stone but he that makes Misery the object of his triumph is an Incarnate Devil MAX. 49. Make thy Recreations servants to thy business lest thou become slave to thy Recreations when thou go'st up into the Mountain leave this Servant in the Valley when thou goest to the City leave him in the Suburbs and remember the Servant is not greater than his Master MAX. 50. Praise no man too liberally before his face nor censure him too lavishly behind his back The one savours of Flattery the other of Malice and both are Reprehensible The true way to advance another's Virtue is to follow it and the best means to cry down another's Vice is to decline it MAX. 51. If thy Prince command a lawful act give him all active Obedience If he command an Unlawful act give Passive Obedience What thy well-grounded
He is unworthy of a good Master that is ashamed of a bad Livery MAX. 69. Let not the falling of a Salt or the crossing of a Hare or the crying of a Cricket trouble thee They portend no evil but what thou fearest He is ill acquainted with himself that knows not his own Fortunes better than they If evil follow it it is the Punishment of thy Superstition not the fulfilling of their Portent All things are lucky to thee if thou wilt nothing but is ominous to the Superstitious MAX. 70. So behave thy self in thy course of Life as at a Banquet Take what is offered with modest Thankfulness and expect what is not as yet offered with hopeful Patience Let not thy rude Appetite press thee nor a slight carefulness indispose thee nor a sullen discontent deject thee Who desires more than enough hath too much and he that is satisfied with a little hath no less than enough MAX. 71. Is thy Child dead He is restored not lost Is thy Treasure stoln It is not lost it is restored He is an ill Debtor that counts Repayment loss but it was an ill chance that took thy Child and a wicked hand that stole thy Treasure What is that to thee It matters not by whom he requires the things from whom he lent them what Goods are ours by Loan are not lost when willingly restored but when unworthily received MAX. 72. Censure no man detract from no man praise no man before his Face traduce no man behind his back Boast not thy self abroad nor flatter thy self at home If any thing cross thee accuse thy self if any extol thee humble thy self Honour those that instruct thee and be thankful to those that reprehend thee Let all thy Desires be subjected to Reason and let thy Reason be corrected By Religion Weigh thy self by thy own Ballances and trust not the Voice of wild Opinion Observe thy self as thy greatest Enemy so shalt thou become thy greatest Friend MAX. 73. Endeavour to make thy discourse such as may administer Profit to thy self or Standers by lest thou incur the danger of an idle Word Above all Subjects avoid all those that are scurrilous and obscene Tales that are impertinent and improbable and Dreams MAX. 74. If God hath blest thee with a Son bless thou that Son with a lawful Calling chuse such Employment as may stand with his Fancy and thy Judgment if his Country claims his Ability towards the building of her Honour if he cannot bring a Cedar let him bring a Shrub He that brings nothing usurps his Life and robs his Country of a Servant MAX. 75. At thy first Entrance into thy Estate keep a low Sail thou must rise with Honour thou canst not decline without Shame He that begins as his Father ended shall end as his Father begun MAX. 76. If any obscene Tale should chance to slip into thine Ears among the Varieties of Discourse if opportunity admit reprove it if otherwise let thy Silence or change of Countenance interpret thy dislike The smiling Ear is Bawd to the lascivious Tongue MAX. 77. Be more circumspect over the Works of thy Brain than the Actions of thy Body these have Infirmity to plead for them but they must stand upon their own bottoms these are but the Objects of few they of all these will have Equals to defend them they have Inferiours to envy them Superiours to deride them all to censure them It is no less danger for these to be proclaimed at Paul's-Cross than for them to be protested in Paul's Church-yard MAX. 78. Use Common-place-books or Collections as Indexes to light thee to the Authors lest thou be abused He that takes Learning upon Trust makes him a fair Cupboard with another's Plate he is an ill advised Purchaser whose Title depends more on Witnesses than Evidences MAX. 79. If thou desire to make the best advantage of the Muses either by reading to benefit thy self or by writing others keep a peaceful Soul within a temperate Body A full Belly makes a dull Brain and a turbulent Spirit a distracted Judgment The Muses starve in a Cook 's Shop and a Lawyer 's Study MAX. 80. When thou communicatest thy self by Letters heighten or depress thy Stile according to the Quality of the Person and Business that which thy tongue would present to any if present let thy pen represent to him absent The Tongue is the Mind's Interpreter and the Pen is the Tongue 's Secretary MAX. 81. Keep thy Soul in exercise lest her Faculties rust for want of Motion to eat sleep or sport too long stops the natural course of her natural actions To dwell too long in the Employments of the Body is both the Cause and Sign of a dull Spirit MAX. 82. Be very circumspect to whose Tuition thou committest thy Child every good Scholar is not a good Master He must be a man of invincible Patience and singular Observation He must study Children that will teach them well and Reason must rule him that would rule wisely he must not take advantage of an ignorant Father nor give too much ear to an indulgent Grandmother The common Good must outweigh his private Gains and his Credit must out-bid Gratuities He must be diligent and sober not too familiar nor too reserv'd neither amorous nor phantastick just without fierceness merciful without fondness If such an one thou meet with thou hast found a Treasure which if thou know'st how to value is invaluable MAX. 83. Let not thy Laughter handsel thy own Jest lest whil'st thou laugh at it others laugh at thee neither tell it often to the same Hearers lest thou be thought forgetful or barren There is no Sweetness in a Cabbage twice sodd or a Tale twice told MAX. 84. If Opinion hath lighted the Lamp of thy name endeavour to encourage it with thine own Oyle lest it go out and stink The Chronical Disease of Popularity is Shame If thou be once up beware from Fame to Infamy is a beaten Road. MAX. 85. Cleanse thy Morning Soul with private and due Devotion Till then admit no business the first born of thy Thoughts are God's and not thine but by Sacrilege Think thy self not ready till thou hast praised him and he will be always ready to bless thee MAX. 86. In all thy actions think God sees thee and in all his actions labour to see him that will make thee fear him this will move thee to love him The Fear of God is the beginning of Knowledge and the Knowledge of God is the Perfection of Love MAX. 87. Let not the Expectation of a Reversion entice thy heart to the wish of a Possessor's Death lest a Judgment meet thee in thy Expectation or a Curse overtake thee in thy fruition Every wish makes the a murtherer and moves God to be an accessary God often lengthens the Life of the Possessor with the days of the Expector MAX. 88. Prize not thy self by what thou hast but by what thou art He that