:

Every man hath in his own life sins enough, in his own mind trouble enough, in his own fortune evils enough, and in the performance of his offices failings more than enough, to entertain his own enquiry so that curiosity after the affairs of others cannot be without envy and an evil mind. What is it to me if my neighbour's grandfather were a Syrian, or his grandmother illegitimate, or that another is indebted five thousand pounds, or whether his wife be expensive? Put commonly, curious persons, or (as the Apostle's phrase is) busybodies, are not solicitous or inquisitive into the beauty and order of a well-governed family, or after the virtues of an excellent person; but, if there be anything for which men keep locks and bars and porters, things that blush to see the light, and either are shameful in manners, or private in nature, these things are their care and business. Envy and idleness married together, and produced curiosity.

Curiosity is a direct incontinency of spirit: its inquisitions are seldom without danger, never without baseness; they are neither just, nor honest, nor delightful, and very often useless to the honest inquirer. For men stand upon their

guards against them, as they secure their meat against harpies and cats, laying all their counsels and secrets out of their way; or as men clap their garments close about them when the searching and saucy winds would uncover them: as knowing that what men willingly hear, they do willingly speak of. Knock, therefore, at the door before you enter upon your neighbour's privacy;

and remember that there is no difference between entering into his house, and looking into it.

Let us always bear about us such impressions of reverence and fear of God as to tremble at His voice, to express our apprehensions of His greatness in all great accidents, in national judgments, loud thunders, tempests, earthquakes; not only for fear of being smitten ourselves, or that we are concerned in the accident, but also that we may humble ourselves before his Almightiness, and express that infinite distance between His infiniteness and our weaknesses, at such times especially when He gives such visible arguments of it. He that is merry and airy at shore, when he sees a sad and loud tempest at sea, or dances briskly when God thunders from heaven, regards not

when God speaks to all the world, but is possessed with a firm immodesty.

Be reverent, modest, and reserved in the presence of thy betters, giving to all according to their quality, their titles of honour, keeping distance, speaking little, answering pertinently, not interposing without leave or reason, not answering a question put to another: and ever present to thy superiors the fairest side of thy discourse, of thy temper, of thy ceremony, as being ashamed to serve excellent persons with unhandsome inter

course.

Never lie before a king or a great person, nor stand in a lie when thou art accused, nor offer to justify what is indeed a fault, but modestly be ashamed of it; ask pardon, and make amends.

Do not pretend to more knowledge than thou hast, but be content to seem ignorant where thou art, lest thou beest either brought to shame, or retirest into shamelessness.

In all public meetings take place of none of thy betters, and in all cases of question concerning

civil precedency, give it to any that will take it, if it be only thy own right that is in question.

Abstain from wanton and dissolute laughter, petulant and uncomely jests, loud talking, jeering, and all such actions which in civil account are called indecencies and incivilities.

Be a curious observer of all those things which are of good report, and are parts of public honesty. For public fame, and the opinion of prudent and public persons, is the measure of good and evil in things indifferent: and charity requires us to comply with those fancies and affections which are agreeable to nature, or the analogy of virtue, or public laws, to old customs. It is against modesty for a woman to marry a second husband as long as she bears a burden by the first, or to admit a second love while the funeral tears are not wiped from her cheeks.

Be grave, decent, and modest in thy clothing and ornament: never let it be above thy condition, nor always equal to it.

As those meats are to be avoided which tempt our stomachs beyond our hunger; so also should

prudent persons decline all such spectacles, relations, theatres, loud noises and outcries, which concern us not, and are beside our natural or moral interest. Our senses should not, like petulant and wanton girls, wander into markets and theatres without just employment; but when they are sent abroad by reason, return quickly with their errand, and remain modestly at home under their guide till they be sent again.

CONTENTEDNESS.

(Holy Living, ch. ii. § 6.)

Let us prepare our minds against changes, always expecting them, that we be not surprised when they come. For nothing is so great an enemy to tranquillity and a contented spirit, as the amazement and confusions of unreadiness and inconsideration: and when our fortunes are violently changed, our spirits are unchanged, if they always stood in the suburbs and expectation of sorrows.

If you will secure a contented spirit, you must measure your desires by your fortune and condition, not your fortune by your desires: that is, be governed by your needs, not by your fancy;