Q. Whether doth it wax old or not? A. All Writers do agree, and one Age testifieth unto another, that it waxeth old as doth a Garment : And Experience itself finds, that in the Fruitfulness and Operation of Herbs, Plants, and Vegetables, the Defect and Decay thereof is daily seen ; and this lessening of the Operation and Vir, tue most sensibly perceived in the languishing Dolour of many incurable Diseases in these Times. Job xxxviii. 4. Where waft thou when I laid the Foundations of the Earth, declare, if thou haft Understanding ? Who hath laid the Measures thereof, if thou knowelt, or who hath stretched the Line upon it?

Q. Is the Life of a rich covetous Citizen, better than that of a rich country Farmer?

A. No; for it is better to be a Man among Beasts of the Field, than in the midst of a peopled City to be a Beast among Men. In the homely Village thou art more safe than in a fortified Caftle'; the Stings of Envy, or the Ballets of Treason are never shot through those thin Walls. Sound Health is drank out of the wooden Dish, when the golden Cup boils over with Poison. The country Cottage is neither battered down in Time of War, nor pestered with clamorous Suits in Time of Peace; the Fall of Cedars, that tumble from the Top of Kingdoms, and the Ruin of great Houses that bury Families in their overthrow, and the Noise of Shipwrecks, that beget even Shrieks in the Hearts of Cities, seldom send their Terrors there. The Countryman is thrice happy in this, that he plays not with his Wings in the golden Flames of the Court, nor putteth his foot in the busy throng of the City; but resting contented in Winter to fit by a Country Fire, and in Summer to lay his Head on the green Pillows of the Earth, where his Sleep is soft Slumbers, and his waking, pleasant as golden Dreams his highest Ambition is to get up to the Mountains,

where he thinks himself a petty King; the greatest Trees bow to do him Reverence, and the Willows that bend at every Blast he may count his Flatterers, and the Valleys humbled at his Feet, his Slaves ; no Prince keeps more skilful Musicians, the Birds are his Concerts, and their Instruments yield ten thousand several sorts of Tunes. As the Poet farther writeth,

If Heaven the grateful Liberty would give,
That I might chuse my Method how to live,
And all those Hours propitious Fate should lend,
In blisful Ease and Satisfaction spend.
Near some fair Town I'd have a private Seat,
Built uniform, not little, nor too great ;
Better, if on a rising Ground it stood,
Fields on this side, on that a neighbouring Wood.
It should within no other Thing contain,
But what was useful, neceflary, plain :
Methinks its nauseous, and I'd ne'er endure,
The needless Pomp of gawdy Furniture.
A pleasant Garden grateful to the Eye,
And a cool River running murm'ring by ;
On whose delicious Banks, a stately Row
Of Cedar, Pine, or Sycamore should grow ;
At th' End of which a silent Study plac'd,
Should by the noblest Authors there be grac'd ;
Horace and Virgil, on whose mighty Lines,
Immortal Wit and solid Learning shines ;
And Brett's Miscellany should there be plac'd,
Whose Pages are with Heav'nly Language grac'd.
In some of these, as Fancy should advise,
I'd always take my Morning Exercise ;
For sure no Minutes bring us more Content,
Than those in useful pleasing Studies spent.
I'd have a clear and competent Eftate,
That I might live genteelly, but not great ;
As much as I could moderately spend,
A little more, sometimes t'oblige a Friend.

Nor

Nor should the Sons of Poverty repine,
Too much at Fortune, they should taste of mine,
And all that Objects of true Pity were,
Should be reliev'd with what my Wants could

spare ;
For what our Maker has too largely given,
Should be returned in Gratitude to Heaven.
A frugal Plenty should my Table spread,
With healthful, not luxurious, Dishes fed,
Enough to satisfy, and something more
To feed the Stranger, and the neighbouring Poor :
Strong Meat indulges Vice, and pampering Food
Creates Diseases, and inflames the Blood ;
But what's sufficient to make Nature strong,
And the bright Lamp of Life continue long,
I'd freely take, and as I did possess,
The bounteous Author of my Plenty bless.
I'd have a little Cellar, cold and neat,
With humming Ale, and Virgin Wine repleat ;
Wine whets the Wit, improves its native Force,
And gives a pleasant Flavour to Discourse.
My House should no such rude Disorders know,
As from high Drinking consequently fow;
Nor would I use, what was so kindly given,
To the Dishonour of indulgent Heaven.
That Life may be more comfortable yet,
And all my Joys refin'd, fincere and great ;
I'd choose two Friends, whose company should be
A great Advance to my Felicity ;
In their Society I could not miss,
A permanent, fincere, substantial Bliss.
Wou'd bounteous Heav'n once more indulge, I'd

choose, (For who would so much Satisfaction lose, As witty Nymphs in Conversation giver) Near some obliging modest Fair to live ; For there's that Sweetness in a Female Mind, Which, in a Man's, we never yet could find.

Law.

Law-Suits I'd fun with as much studious Care;
As I would Dens where hungry Lions are ;
And rather put up Injuries than be,
A Plague to him, who'd be a Plague to me,
I value Quietness at a Price too great,
To give for my Revenge so dear a Rate.
If Heaven a Date of many Years would give,
Thus I'd in Plenty, Ease, and pleasure live ;
To some choice Friend commit my worldly Care,
While I did for a future State

prepare;
Then I'd not be with any Trouble vext,
Nor have the Evening of my Day perplext;
But by a filent, and a peaceful Death,
Without a Sigh, resign my aged Breath;
And when committed to the Duft, I'd have
Few Tears, but friendly, dropt into my Grave;
Then would my Exit fo propitious be,
All Men might with to live and dye like me.

Happiness consilts not in Sovereignty, or Power, or in great Riches, but in a right Composure of your Affections, and in directing all your Actions according to right Reason. What are Riches? Riches are but Cyphers, it's the Mind that makes the Sum. What am I the better for a great Eftate if I am not content with it? for the Desire of having, will quickly take away all the Delights and Comforts in poflefling. Alexander upon his Imperial Throne, with a restless and an ambitious Mind, is in a worse Condition than Diogenes in his Tub. What are Crowns and Scepters but gulden Fetters and splendid Miferies, which if Men did but truly understand, there would be more King., doms than Kings to govern them ; look not on the Splendor of a Crown, but upon the many Cares which accompany it; fix not your Eyes on the Purple, but upon the Mind of the King, more sad and dark than the Purple itself: Look not at the Squadrons of his Guards, but at the Armies E

of

A great

of his Molestations that disturb him.
Fortune is a great Slavery, and Thrones are but
uneasy Seats. A contented Mind is of more Worth
than all the Spice and Treasure in both the Indies;
and he that enjoys himself in an innocent and
homely Retreat, enjoys all the Wealth and Curio-
fries in the Universe. It is the Mind, not the
Place, nor any outward Circumstance, that makes
as happy; a Man must find Content in his own
Borom or no where, for without Content the
greatest Poffeffions are no Satisfaction, and the
Way to Heaven is as rear from a Cottage as a
palace. Think Contentment the greatest Riches,
and Covetousness the greatelt Poverty. He is not
rich that has much, but he that has enough. That
Man is poor who covets more, and yet wants a
Heart to enjoy what he has already. A wise Man
will be happy in all Conditions, because he subjects
all Things to himself; for he submits himself to
Reason, and governs himself by Widom, not
Pafsion ; he is never troubled for what he has not,
but rejoices, and is thankful to God, from the
Bottom of his Heart, for what he at present pof-
feffes. He is richest who is contented, for Con-
tent is the Riches of Nature.

When the Report came to Galiinus the Emperor, that Egypt was lost, what then said he? “ Cannot I live without the Flax of Egypt?"_And when he had Notice that a great Part of his Dominions in Asia were waited, what then said he ? “ Cannot I live without the “ Delicacies of Apa?" It is an excellent Thing for Christians to speak thus of their Losses, from a Principle of true Resignation and Dependance

Habakkuk 3. 17. 18. Verses. Alho' che Fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall Fruit be in the Vines, the Labour of the Olive Mall fail, and the Fields shall yield no Meat, the Flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no

Herd

upon God.