71 A PERSUASIVE to 



that ; nay, fornetimes fill the Mind with 

 unfpeakable joy and pleafure. ^Pythagoras 

 was fo overjoyed at the invention of the 

 49th Proportion of the firft Book of Eti-. 

 elide 9 $ El. that he facrificed a Hecatombe 

 to the Gods: And I have read of a Smith, 

 that upon the invention of an Engine to 

 make Water to afcend by descending, which 

 was nothing elfe but Archimedes his Screw, 

 and which had been invented long before, 

 though he knew nothing of it, was fo over- 

 whelmed with joy, that it broke his Brains, 

 and quite diftrafted him. 



No wonder then that Virtue which is 

 the moft excellent of all acquifitions fliould 

 be difficult to attain. Indeed the difficul- 

 ty and labor of attaining and exercifing 

 of it, makes it to be commendable or re- 

 wardable. And therefore though it be in 

 it felf an excellent thing, and may be faid 

 to be its own reward, yet becaufe it is dif- 

 ficult and uneafy to Flefli and Blood, in 

 this our lapfed and degenerate Eftate, God 

 is . pleafed for our encouragement,- to pro- 

 pole to us an ample reward, no lefs than 

 eternal Life and Happinefs. He hath pro- 

 mifed to give grace and glory, and to with- 

 hold no good thing from them who lead a 

 holy life. And if this be not fufficient tq 



quicken 



