166 = art of life,—in cultivation of habits. Oct. 2, 
Such a latitude of years holdeth a considerable cor= 
ner in the map of genera! history, especially if we 
count that only which is fully authentick, and fitted 
by the multiplicity of annals, to let us truly see the 
character of our kinde in that of our forefathers. 
Thus a man may have a fhort epitome of the whole 
course of time in the daves of his own life, and clears 
ly see that he hath but acted over again the drama of 
his predecefsors, and what sort of thing living will be’ 
in all ages to. come. 
In every stage or period of a man’s pilgrimage u-+ 
pon earth, he looketh intently and with eagernefs u- 
pon some fhining point at a distance, and is ballanced 
in his progrefsion by some weight of glory, or phan- 
tasm of pleasure, that cometh upon’ his imagination, 
his memory, or his judgement, and guideth his energy, 
or his ambition, or his prudence. At the termination of 
these vistas, he figureth to himself, and setteth forth in 
romantick and gawdy fiction, places of rest and quiet 
delight, where he fhall turmoil himself no more with 
the pursuit of the vain and transient objects of hu- 
man ambition, but enjoy the calm delights of retires 
ment from bustle and businefs, speculate upon the 
past, and prepare for the prize that he flatters him, 
self with at the end of his career. 
This is an admirable ordination of eternal provi- 
dence, in the spurring of a man’s journey, in the 
steep and asperous roads through which he hath to 
pafs o: to climb, in the eventful course from the crag 
dle to the grave. 
No sooner hath he artived by the direction of a’ 
brilliant point, to that which he supposed to bea seat 
