The vanity of this mortal life, or, Of man, considered only in his present…

1. That we endeavour for a calm indifferency and dispassionate temper of mind towards the various objects and affairs that belong to this present life. There are very narrow limits already set, by the nature of the things themselves, to all the real objective value that such things have in them: And it is the part of wisdom and justice to set the proportionable bounds to all the thoughts, cares, and passions, we will suffer to stir in our minds in reference to them. Nothing is a more evident acknowledged Character of a Fool, than upon every slight occasion to be in a transport. To be much taken with empty things, betokens an empty spirit. It is a part of manly fortitude to have a soul so fenced against foreign impressions, as little to be moved with things that ⟨p. 96⟩have little in them. To keep our passions under a strict rein, and steady command, that they be easily retractable, and taught to obey. Not to move till severe Reason have audited the matter, and pronounced the occasion just and valuable. In which case the same manly temper will not refuse to admit a proportionable stamp and impress from the occurring object: For it is equally a prevarication from true Manhood, to be moved with every thing, and with nothing. The former would speak a man's spirit a feather, the latter a stone. A total apathy and insensibleness of external occurrents, hath been the aim of some, but never the attainment of the highest pretenders. And if it had, yet ought it not to have been their boast; as upon sober thoughts it cannot be reckoned a perfection. But it should be endeavoured, that the passions which are not to be rooted up (because they are of Nature's planting) be yet so discreetly ⟨p. 97⟩checked and depressed, that they grow not to that enormous tallness, as to over•op a man's intellectual power, and cast a dark shadow over his soul.

1. That we endeavour for a calm indifferency and dispassionate temper of mind towards the various objects and affairs that belong to this present life. There are very narrow limits already set, by the nature of the things themselves, to all the real objective value that such things have in them: And it is the part of wisdom and justice to set the proportionable bounds to all the thoughts, cares, and passions, we will suffer to stir in our minds in reference to them. Nothing is a more evident acknowledged Character of a Fool, than upon every slight occasion to be in a transport. To be much taken with empty things, betokens an empty spirit. It is a part of manly fortitude to have a soul so fenc't against forreign impressions, as little to be mov'd with things that