once undertakes, but upon well-grounded and well-weighed causes; for, being witness to itself of its own inward good, it finds nothing without it of so high a price, for which it should be altered. Even the very countenance and behaviour of such a man doth shew forth images of the same constancy; by maintaining a right harmony betwixt it and the inward good, in yielding itself suitable to the virtuous resolution of the mind.

11.

A secret assurance of worthiness, though it be never so well cloathed in modesty, yet always lives in the worthiest minds.

12.

The virtuous man limits his thoughts within that he esteems good; to which he is neither carried by the vain tickling of uncertain fame, nor from which he can be transported by enjoying any thing whereto the ignorant world gives the excellent name of good,

13.

A good man loves to do well, for virtue's self, and not for thanks.

14.

A virtuous man, without any respect whether his grief be less or more, is never to do that which he cannot assure himself is allowable before the EVER-LIVING RIGHTFULNESS; but rather is to think honours or shames, which stand in other men's true or false judgments, as pains or not pains, (which never yet approach our souls) to be nothing in regard of an unspotted conscience.

Remark.

The only impregnable citadel of virtue, is religion; for there is no bulwark of mere morality, which some temptation may not overtop, or undermine, and destroy.

15.

Longer I would not wish to draw breath, than I may keep myself unspotted of any heinous crime.

16.

When a man's heart is the gage of his debt; when a man's own thoughts are willing witnesses to his promise; lastly, when a man is the jailor over himself, there is little doubt of breaking credit, and less of escape.

17.

In the clear mind of virtue, treason can find no hiding-place.

Remark.

The maxim of politicians, That all means are admissible, which further their plans, is rejected by virtue. One of the greatest heroes that England ever produced, discoursing one day on the successes of a famous northern king, who, (notwithstanding his many noble qualities) sometimes acted upon Machiavelian principles, made this observation" If a proposed good cannot be accomplished but by the commission of an evil, it must be relinquished; for no end, however excellent, can sanctify immoral means. Besides, as the desired aim of an action is not always its necessary consequence, it is bad calculation to incur po sitive evil, for the sake of uncertain good. In short, a man of honour should esteem nothing an acquisition, that demands the sacrifice of integrity."

18.

As in geometry, the oblique must be known, as well as the right; and in arithmetic, the odd as well as the even; so in actions of life, who seeth not the filthiness of evil, wanteth a great foil to perceive the beauty of virtue.

19.

A man is bound no farther to himself, than to do wisely; which is virtue.

20.

The general goodness which is nourished in noble hearts, makes every one think that strength of virtue to be in another, whereof they find assured foundation in themselves.

21.

The only disadvantage of an honest heart, is credulity.

22

Think not that cruelty, or ungratefulness,

1

can flow from a good mind. From the founain of virtue, nothing but virtue could ever spring.

Remark.

Confidence in this maxim (for where affection points, virtue is pre-supposed), produces the credulity complained of in the one that immediately precedes it. But too much reliance on apparent worth, can never bring to the confiding person such stings as must pierce he upbraiding conscience of the unjustly suspicious. It would be less hurt to the heart of a man of honour, to close on the dagger of him whose faith he had accepted, than to have treated as a traitor, a creature, who on proof had never swerved from fidelity. Suspicion is the shield of dishonour. Rochefoucault says, "our own distrust justifies the deceit of others;" and Fenelon has something of the same kind" He who is suspicious of deceit deserves to be deceived." When Dion, who deposed Dionysius, was told that Callippus, his bosom friend, conspired against him, he