The memory of the ancients is hardly in any thing more to be celebrated, than in a strict and useful instruction of youth.

By labor they prevented luxury in their young people, till wisdom and philosophy had taught them to resist and despise it.

It must be therefore a gross fault, to strive so hard for the pleasure of our bodies, and be so insensible and careless of the freedom of our souls.

OF MAN'S INCONSIDERATENESS AND

PARTIALITY.

It is very observable, if our civil rights are invaded or encroached upon, we are mightily touched, and fill every place with our resentment and complaint; while we suffer ourselves, our better and nobler selves, to be the property and vassals of sin, the worst of invaders.

In vain do we expect to be delivered from such troubles, till we are delivered from the cause of them, our disobedience to God.

When he has his dues from us, it will be time enough for him to give us ours, out of one another.

It is our great happiness, if we could understand it, that we meet with such checks in the career of our worldly enjoyments: lest we should forget the giver, adore the gift, and terminate our felicity here, which is not man's ultimate bliss.

Our loses are often made judgments by our guilt, and mercies by our repentance.

Besides, it argues great folly in men to let their satisfaction exceed the true value of any temporal matter: for disappointments are not always to be measured by the loss of the thing, but the over value we put upon it.

And thus men improve their own miseries, for want of an equal and just estimate of what they enjoy or lose.

There lies a proviso upon every thing in this world, and we must observe it at our own peril, viz. to love God above all, and act for judgment; the last I mean.

OF THE MEAN NOTIONS WE HAVE OF GOD.

Nothing more shows the low condition man is fallen into, than the unsuitable notion we must have of God, by the ways we take to please him.

As if it availed any thing to him, that we performed so many ceremonies and external forms of devotion; who never meant more by them than to try our obedience, and through them, to show us something more excellent and durable beyond them.

Doing, while we are undoing, is good for nothing.

Of what benefit is it to say our prayers regularly, go to church, receive the sacrament, and, may be, go to confessions too; aye, feast the priest, and give alms to the poor; and yet lie, swear, curse, be drunk, covetous, unclean, proud, revengeful, vain, or idle, at the same time.

Can one excuse or balance the other? Or will God think himself well served, where

his law is violated? Or well used, where there is so much more show than substance?

It is a most dangerous error, for a man to think to excuse himself in the breach of a moral duty, by a formal performance of positive worship; and less, when of human invention.

Our blessed Saviour, most rightly and clearly distinguished and determined this case, when he told the Jews, "That they were his mother, his brethren, and sisters, who did the will of his Father."

OF THE BENEFIT OF JUSTICE.

Justice is a great support of society, because an insurance to all men of their property this violated, there is no security; which throws all into confusion to recover it.

An honest man is a fast pledge in dealing. A man is sure to have it, if it be to be had.

Many are so, merely of necessity; others not so only for the same reason; but such an

honest man is not to be thanked; and such a dishonest man is to be pitied.

But he that is dishonest for gain, is next to a robber, and to be punished for example.

And, indeed, there are few dealers but what are faulty; which makes trade difficult, and a great temptation to men of virtue.

It is not what they should, but what they can get faults or decays must be concealed, big words given where they are not deserved, and the ignorance or necessity of the buyer imposed upon, for unjust profit.

These are the men that keep their words for their own ends; and are only just for fear of the magistrate.

A politic rather than a moral honesty; a constrained, not a chosen justice; according to the proverb, 'Patience per force, and thank you for nothing.'

But of all injustice, that is the greatest that passes under the name of law. A cutpurse in Westminster Hall exceeds; for that