we are much troubled, if we are deprived of any Part of this Happiness.

It is a thing highly conducing to the Tranquility of the Mind, for a Man chiefly to confider himself, and his own Affairs: But if this always cannot take Place, he fhould not make Comparisons with Men of a fuperior Condition to himself; though this is the Epidemical Frenzy of the Vulgar. The Truth is, we have generally in us the worfer Part of the Levellers Principles; and though we can very contentedly behold Multitudes below us, yet we are impatient to fee any above us; and thus we create Torments to ourselves, by our own Repinings, which only fet us farther from our Aims. And what is all this, but ungratefully to accufe Providence, and be industriously picking out Occafions to quarrel with it, and torment ourselves? But he that is in his right Senfes, and wife for his own Advantage, out of thofe many Millions whom the Sun looks upon, if he sees any one in the mighty Throng, who is more rich or honourable than himfelf, he is neither dejected in his Mind, nor Countenance, nor doth he pensively fit down deploring his Unhappiness, but he walks abroad publickly, with an honest Affurance. He celebrates his good Genius, and boasts

of

of his good Fortune, in that he is happier than a thoufand other Men who are in the World.

When we hear others declare that our Condition is but miferable, because we are not Magiftrates, and in eminent Command, let us then look upon ourselves to live, not only in a bare Happiness, but Splendor, in that we do not beg our Bread, are not forced to fubfift by carrying of Burdens,. or, what is altogether as fervile, Flattery. But fuch is our Folly, that we accuftom ourfelves rather to live for other Mens Sakes than our own; and our Difpofitions are fo prone to Upbraidings, and to be tainted with Envy, that the Grief we conceive at another's Profperity, leffens the Joy we ought to take in our own.

It likewife greatly prevents our Content, and obftructs the Tranquility of the Mind, that our Defires are immoderate, and not fuited to our Abilities of Attainment, which, like Sails beyond the Proportion of the Veffel, help only to overfet it: So that being blown up with extravagant Expectations, if ill Succefs fruftrates our Attempts, we presently curfe our Stars, and accufe Fortune, when we ought rather to lay the Blame upon our enterprizing Folly. The partial Love of ourfelves is chiefly in Fault,

which infufeth a vicious Inclination to arrogate, and an infatiable Ambition to attempt, every Thing. He who impatiently covets what he cannot attain, puts himself upon a perpetual Rack, keeps his Appetites up to the utmoft Stretch, and yet hath nothing wherewith to fatisfy them; for, either we are troubled for the Want of fomeihing we defire, or at the fuffering fomething we would avoid. Life is fhort and tirefome; spent in wifhing and defiring: We adjourn our Joy and Repofe to the Time to come, often to a Period, when our best Bleffings, Youth and Health, are already departed. Age comes and furprizes us in the Midft of new Defires; we are got no farther, when a Fever feizes us, and extinguishes us: If we recover, 'tis only to have longer Time to wifh and defire in.

It has been always the Opinion of the wife Ancients, That Happiness is founded upon Wisdom and Virtue; for that we muft first know what we ought to do, and then live according to that Knowledge: That a good Man can never be miserable; nor a wicked Man happy; nor any Man unfortunate that chearfully fubmits to Providence. Thus, then, the certain Way to Happiness lies fair before us: But Men

will yet fteer their Course on the other Side, which as manifeftly leads to Ruin. We live, as it were, by Chance; and by Chance, are we govern'd. Some there are, that torment theinfelves afresh with the Memory of what is past: Others again, afflict themselves with the Apprehenfions of Evils to come; and very ridiculously both: For the one does not now concern us; and the other not yet.

Levity of Mind is a great Hindrance of Repose: From one Appetite we pass to another, not fo much upon Choice, as for Change. Some People are never at quiet; others are always fo; and they are both to blame: For that which looks like Vivacity and Industry in the one, is only a Reftlefnefs and Agitation; and that which paffes in the other, for Moderation and Referve, is but a drowsy and unactive Sloth. Some are perpetually fhifting from one thing to another; others again, make their whole Life but a kind of uneafy Sleep. Some lie toffing and turning, 'till very Weariness brings them to Reft: There are many Properties and Diversities of Vice; but it is one never-failing Effect of it to live difpleas'd. We do all of us labour under inordinate Defires; we are either timorous, and dare not venture; or venturing we do not

fucceed;

fucceed; or elfe we caft ourselves upon uncertain Hopes, where we are perpetually follicitous, and in Sufpence. We live and die restlefs and irrefolute; we grow impatient, and ashamed of ourselves; and fupprefs our inward Vexation, 'till it breaks our Hearts for want of Vent. In fhort, we divide our Lives betwixt a Diflike of the prefent, and a Defire of the future; but he that lives as he should, orders himself fo, as neither to fear, nor to wish for Tomorrow: If it comes,, 'tis welcome; but if not, there's nothing loft; for that which is come, is but the fame over again with what's paft.

One fovereign Remedy againft Misfortunes and Difcontent, is Conftancy of Mind. Nothing can be above him that is above Fortune: He is Proof against Calamities; can take as found a Sleep in a Barn as in a Palace, and a Bottle of Hay makes him as good a Lodging as a Bed of Down: Should every thing fucceed to his Wish, it would not tranfport him; nor would he think himself miferable, if he fhould not have one quiet Hour in his whole Life. But he that fets up his Reft upon Contingencies, fhall never be quiet. We cannot pronounce a Man happy, that depends upon Fortune for his Happinefs; for nothing

can