law. The only gratification he gives his neighbors, is to let them see that he himself is as little the better for what he has as they are. For he always looks like Lent; a sort of Lay-Minim. In some sense he may be compared to Pharaoh's lean kine; for all that he has does him no good. He commonly wears his clothes till they leave him, or that nobody else can wear them. He affects to be thought poor, to escape robbery and taxes; and by looking as if he wanted an alms, excuse himself from giving any. He ever goes late to markets to cover buying the worst; but does it because that is cheapest. He lives on the offal. His life were an insupportable punishment, to any temper but his own: and no greater torment to him on earth, than to live as other men do. But the misery of his pleasure is, that he is never satisfied with getting, and always in fear of losing what he cannot

use.

How vilely he has lost himself, that becomes a slave to his servant, and exalts him

to the dignity of his Maker!

Gold is the

God, the wife, the friend, of the money-mon

Do thou be wise: prefer the person before money, virtue before beauty, the mind before the body: then thou hast a wife, a friend, a companion, a second self, one that bears an equal share with thee, in all thy toils and troubles.

Choose one that measures her satisfaction, safety, and danger, by thine; and of whom thou art sure, as of thy most secret thoughts: a friend as well as a wife; which indeed, a wife implies; for she is but half a wife that is not, or is not capable of being such a friend. Sexes make no difference; since in souls there is none and they are the subjects of friendship.

He that minds a body and not a soul, has not the better part of that relation; and will

consequently want the noblest comfort of a married life.

The satisfaction of our senses is low, short, and transient; but the mind gives a more raised and extended pleasure, and is capable of a happiness founded upon reason: not bounded and limited by the circumstances that bodies are confined to.

Here it is we ought to search out our pleasure, where the field is large and full of variety, and of an enduring nature: sickness, poverty, or disgrace, being not able to shake it; because it is not under the moving influences of worldly contingencies.

The satisfaction of those that do so is in well doing, and in the assurance they have of a future reward; that they are best loved by those they love most; and that they enjoy and value the liberty of their minds above that of their bodies: having the whole creation for their prospect; the most noble and wonderful works and providences of God, the histories of the ancients, and in them the ac

tions and examples of the virtuous: and lastly, themselves, their affairs and family, to exercise their minds, and friendship upon.

Nothing can be more entire and without reserve; nothing more zealous, affectionate and sincere; nothing more contented and constant, than such a couple; nor no greater temporal felicity, than to be one of them.

Between a man and his wife, nothing ought to rule but love. Authority is for children and servants; yet not without sweet

ness.

As love ought to bring them together, so it is the best way to keep them well together.

Wherefore use her not as a servant, whom thou wouldst, perhaps, have served seven years to have obtained.

A husband and wife that love and value one another, show their children and servants that they should do so too. Others visibly lose their authority in their families by their contempt of one another; and teach their

children to be unnatural by their own examples.

It is a general fault, not to be more careful to preserve nature in children; who, at least in the second descent, hardly have a feeling of their relation; which must be an unpleasant reflection to affectionate parents.

Frequent visits, presents, intimate correspondence, and intermarriages within allowed bounds, are means of keeping up the concern and affection that nature requires from relations.

FRIENDSHIP.

Friendship is the next pleasure we may hope for and where we find it not at home, or have no home to find it in, we may seek it abroad. It is an union of spirits, a marriage of hearts, and the bond thereof virtue.

There can be no friendship where there is no freedom. Friendship loves a free air, and will not be penned up in straight and narrow inclosures. It will speak freely, and