THE CONCLVSION. 



they be , that are exempted from the dreadfull fate of this incorn- 

 prehenfible mifery, to which I fee, and grieve to fee, the whole face 

 of mankind defperately turned. May it not then be my fad chance, 

 to be one of their unhappy number ? Be content then, fond man,to 

 live. Live yet , till thou haft firft fecured the paflage which thouart 

 but once to venture on. Be fare before thou throweft thy felfe in- 

 to it , to put thy foule into the fcales : ballance all thy thoughts 5 

 examine all thy inclinations; put thy felfe to the left, try what 

 drofle, what pure gold is in thy felfe : and what thou findeft wan- 

 ting, be (lire to fupply, before nature calleth thee to thy dreadful! 

 account. It is foone done, if thou beeft what thy nature di&atetfa 

 thee to be. Follow but evident reafon and knowledge, and thy 

 wants are fupplyed, thy accounts are made up. The fame everftii- 

 ning truth, which maketh thee fee that two and two are foure, will 

 (hew thee without any contradiction, how all thefe bafe allurements 

 are vaine & idle -, 8t that there is no comparifon between the higheft 

 of them, and the meaneft of what thou may eft hope for, haft thou 

 but ftrength to fettle thy heart by the fteerage of this moft evident 

 fcience ; in this very moment, thou mayeft be fecure. But the ha- 

 zard is great, in miffing to examine thy felfe truely and throughly, 

 And if thoumifcarry there, thou art loft for ever. Apply therefore 

 ajl thy care, all thy induftry to that. Let that be thy continuall 

 ftudy, and thy perpetuall entertainment. Thinke nothing elfe 

 worth the knowing, nothing elie worth the doing, but Screwing up 

 thy foule unto this height , buc directing it by this levell, by this 

 rule. Then feare notj nor admit the leaft doubt of thy being happy, 

 when thy time (ball come ; . and that time fliall have no more power 

 over thee. Ininemeanefeafon,, fpare no paines, forbeare no dili- 

 gence, employ all exaftnefle , burne in fummer, freeze in winter, 

 watch by night, and laboar by day, joyne rnonethes to monethe9 3 

 entayle yea res upon yeares. Thinke nothing fufficient to pre- 

 vent fo maine a ha2ard , and deeme nothing long or tedious 

 in this life, to purchafefo happy an eternity. The firft difcoverers 

 of the Indies, eaft themfelves among fwarmes of maneters 5 they 

 fought and ftrugled with unknowne waves ; fo horrid ones, that of- 

 ten times they perfwade themfelves they climbed up mountaines of 

 waters, and ftraight againe were precipitated headlong downe he- 

 tweene the cloven (ea, upon the foaming fand, from whence they 

 epuldnothopeforarefource: hunger was their foodc^ (nakesand 



(erpents 



