242 FABLES. 



celebrated for your wisdom ; for unless some benefit 

 attend our actions, to perform them for the sake of 

 glory is but a silly business. 



APPLICATION. 



Ix all our actions, we should intend something* 

 useful and beneficial; for the standing value of all 

 things is in proportion to their use. To undertake 

 affairs with no other view but that of empty glory, 

 whatever some curious dreamers may fancy, is em- 

 ploying our time after a very foolish manner. The 

 Almighty created the world out of his infinite good- 

 ness, for the good of his creatures, and not out of a 

 passion for glory, which is a vain, silly, mean prin- 

 ciple ; and when we talk of glorifying the Author 

 of our being, if we think reasonably, we must mean 

 shewing our gratitude to him, by imitating this 

 goodness of his, as far as we are able, and endeav- 

 ouring to make some good or other the aim of all 

 our undertakings. For if empty glory be unworthy 

 the pursuit of a wise man, how vastly improper 

 must it be to make an offering of it to an allwise 

 Deity. 



