fearing to lose it; and many a man lofes his life, for being over follicitous to fave it.ly CCLXXVIII, A bufy and fortunate man in the world calls many men his friends, that are at most but his guests; and, if people flock to him, it is but as they do to a fountain, which they both exhauft and trouble. CCLXXIX. All that I would defire of Providence to beftow on me, is, fuch a fufficiency, that my poverty may not be a burthen to myself, or make me fo to others. CCLXXX. The chief intent of correction is to amend the wicked, and to prevent the confequence of ill example. CCLXXXI. He that obferves the wicked man care carefully, will fees the canker in his heart, however disguised under the appearance of riches and affluence... CCLXXXII. The very pleasure that attends a good action, to a fenfible unprejudiced mind, would be fufficient one would think to deter us from doing a bad one, were there no profpect of hereafter. CCLXXXIII. The most profligate and abandoned approve of virtue, and would willingly have the reputation, notwithstanding they have not refolution enough to pursue it. CCLXXXIV. It requires the greatest caution to look narrowly to ourselves; that, whilst we confer praises on others, we give no ground for fufpicion, that we make them but the vehicles of our own. CCLXXXV. CCLXXXV. That kind of difcourfe, which confifts in difpraising and finding fault, is dangerous, and yields opportunity to those that watch it, for the magnifying their own little worth. Of this, old men are inclinable to be guilty, when, by chastifing and debafing others for their vices, they exalt themfelves as wonderfully great in the oppofite virtues. CCLXXXVI. We should talk extremely little of ourfelves. Indeed, what can we say? It would be as imprudent to discover our own faults, as ridiculous to count over our fancied virtues; and our private and domeftic affairs, are no lefs improper to be introduced in converfation. CCLXXXVII. Nothing is more infupportable to men men of sense, than an empty formal man, who speaks in proverbs, and de'cides all controverfies with a fhort fen tence. CCLXXXVIII. ... Love is generally accompanied with good-will in the young; intereft in the middle-aged; and a paffion too grofs to name in the old. CCLXXXIX. The endeavours to revive a decaying paffion, generally extinguish the remains of it. CCXC. A woman, who, from being a flattern, becomes neat; or, from being over neat, becomes a flattern, is most certainly in love. ab CCXCI. The contemplation of celeftial things, will make a man both speak and think more fublimely and magnificently H nificently when he defcends to human affairs. à CCXCII. P When we are once fettled in a regular course of life, we ought to take particular care how we too frequently indulge ourselves in any of the most innocent diverfions and entertainments; fince the mind may infenfibly fall off from the relish of virtuous actions; and, by degrees, exchange that pleafure, which it takes in the performance of its duty, for delights of a much inferior and unprofitable nature. CCXCIII. If virtue be the end of our being, it must either engrofs our whole concern, or at least take place of all our other interests. CCXCIV. Friendship immediately banifhes |