life and conversation, when he so spends every day, as if it
were his last day: never hot and vehement in his affections,
nor yet so cold and stupid as one that had no sense;
and free from all manner of dissimulation.
XLI. Can the Gods, who are immortal, for the continuance of so
many ages bear without indignation with such and so many sinners,
as have ever been, yea not only so, but also take such care for them,
that they want nothing; and dust thou so grievously take on,
as one that could bear with them no longer; thou that art but for
a moment of time? yea thou that art one of those sinners thyself?
A very ridiculous thing it is, that any man should dispense
with vice and wickedness in himself, which is in his power
to restrain; and should go about to suppress it in others,
which is altogether impossible.
XLII. What object soever, our reasonable and sociable
faculty doth meet with, that affords nothing either for
the satisfaction of reason, or for the practice of charity,
she worthily doth think unworthy of herself. XLIII. When thou
hast done well, and another is benefited by thy action,
must thou like a very fool look for a third thing besides,
as that it may appear unto others also that thou hast done well,
or that thou mayest in time, receive one good turn for another?
No man useth to be weary of that which is beneficial unto him.
But every action according to nature, is beneficial.
Be not weary then of doing that which is beneficial unto thee,
whilst it is so unto others.
XLIV. The nature of the universe did once certainly before it
was created, whatsoever it hath done since, deliberate and so
resolve upon the creation of the world. Now since that time,
whatsoever it is, that is and happens in the world,
is either but a consequent of that one and first deliberation:
or if so be that this ruling rational part of the world,
takes any thought and care of things particular, they are
surely his reasonable and principal creatures, that are
the proper object of his particular care and providence.
This often thought upon, will much conduce to thy tranquillity.