¶ Keep out of the Sight of Feasts and Banquets as much as may be; for it is more difficult to refrain good-cheer, when it's present, than from the Desire of it when it is away; the like you may observe in the objects of all the other senses.

A temperate diet arms the body against all external accidents; so that they are not so easily hurt by Heat, Cold or Labor; if they at any time should be prejudiced, they are more easily cured either of wounds, dislocations or bruises.

¶ A Sober Diet makes a man die without pain; it maintains the Senses in Vigor; it mitigates the violence of the Passions and Affections.

B

EFORE I enter upon my public appearance in

business, it may be well to let you know the then

state of my mind with regard to my principles and morals, that you may see how far those influenced the future events of my life. My parents had early given me religious impressions, and brought me through my childhood piously in the Dissenting way. But I was scarce fifteen when, after doubting by turns of several points, as I found them disputed in the different books I read, I began to doubt of revelation itself. Some books against Deism fell into my hands; they were said to be the substance of sermons preached at Boyle's Lectures. It happened that they wrought an effect on me quite contrary to what was intended by them; for the arguments of the Deists, which were quoted to be refuted, appeared to me much stronger than the refutations; in short, I soon became a thorough Deist

¶I grew convinced that truth, sincerity and integrity in dealings between man and man were of the utmost importance to the felicity of life; and I formed written resolutions which still remain in my journal book, to practise them ever while I lived.

¶ Revelation had indeed no weight with me, as such; but I entertained an opinion that, though certain actions might not be bad because they were forbidden by it, or good because it commanded them, yet probably these actions might be forbidden because they were bad for us, or commanded because they were beneficial to us, in their own natures, all the circumstances of things considered. And this persuasion, with the kind hand of Providence, or some guardian angel, or accidental favorable circumstances and situations, or all together, preserved me, through this dangerous time of youth, and the hazardous situations I was sometimes in among strangers, remote from the eye and advice of my father, without any wilful gross immorality or injustice, that might have been expected from any want of religion. I say wilful, because the instances I have mentioned had something of necessity in them, from my youth, inexperience and the knavery of others. I had therefore a tolerable character to begin the world with; I valued it properly, and determined to preserve it.

H

UMAN felicity is produced not so much by great

pieces of good fortune that seldom happen, as by little advantages that occur every day. Thus, if you teach a poor young man to shave himself, and keep his razor in order, you may contribute more to the happiness of his life than in giving him a thousand

guineas. The money may be soon spent, the regret only remaining of having foolishly consumed it; but in the other case, he escapes the foolish vexations of waiting for barbers, and of their sometimes dirty fingers, offensive breaths and dull razors; he shaves when most convenient to him, and enjoys daily the pleasure of its being done with a good instrument. With these sentiments I have hazarded the few preceding pages, hoping they may afford hints which sometime or other may be useful to a city I love, having lived many years in it very happily, and perhaps to some of our towns in America.

O

BSERVATIONS on my reading history, in Library, May Nineteenth, Seventeen Hundred Thirty-one. ¶That the great affairs of the world, the wars, revolutions, etc., are carried on and effected by parties. That the view of these parties is their present general interest, or what they take to be such.

That the different views of these different parties occasion all confusion.

¶That while a party is carrying on a general design, each man has his particular private interest in view.

That as soon as a party has gained its general point, each member becomes intent upon his particular interests; which, thwarting others, breaks that party into divisions, and occasions more confusion.

¶That few in public affairs act upon a mere view of the good of their country, whatever they may pretend; and through their actings bring real good, yet men primarily considered that their own and their country's interest was united, and did not act from a principle of benevolence.

That fewer still, in public affairs, act with a view to the good of mankind.

¶ There seems to me at present to be great occasion for raising a United Party for Virtue, by forming the virtuous and good men of all nations into a regular body, to be governed by suitable good and wise rules, which good and wise men may probably be more unanimous in their obedience to, than common people are to common laws. ¶I at present think that whoever attempts this aright, and is well qualified, can not fail of pleasing God, and of meeting with success.

The most acceptable service of God is doing good to

man Ꮽ Ꮽ

¶ Mankind are very odd creatures: One half censure what they practise, the other half practise what they censure; the rest always say and do as they ought.

INTS to Those That Would Be Rich.

H

The use of

money is all the advantage there is in having money.

¶ For six pounds a year you may have the use of one hundred pounds, if you are a man of known prudence and honesty.

He that spends a groat a day idly, spends idly above six pounds a year, which is the price of using one hundred pounds

He that wastes idly a groat's worth of his time per day, one day with another, wastes the privilege of using one hundred pounds each day.

¶He that idly loses five shillings' worth of time loses five shillings, and might as prudently throw five shillings into the river.

¶ He that loses five shillings not only loses that sum, but all the other advantage that might be made by turning it in dealing, which, by the time a young man becomes old, amounts to a comfortable bag of money.

¶ Again, he that sells upon credit asks a price for what he sells equivalent to the principal and interest of his money for the time he is like to be kept out of it; therefore, he that buys upon credit pays interest for what he buys, and he that pays ready money might let that money out to use; so that,

¶ He that possesses anything he has bought, pays interest for the use of it.

¶ Consider, then, when you are tempted to buy any unnecessary household stuff, or any superfluous thing, whether you will be willing to pay interest, and interest upon interest for it as long as you live, and more if it grows worse by using.

¶ Yet, in buying goods, 't is best to pay ready money, because,

¶ He that sells upon credit expects to lose five per cent by bad debts; therefore he charges upon all he sells upon credit, an advance that shall make up that deficiency.

¶ Those who pay for what they buy upon credit pay their share of this advance.

¶ He that pays ready money escapes, or may escape, that charge. Save and have.

A penny saved is twopence clear. A pin a day is a groat a year so

¶ Every little makes a mickle.