they will be fure to do it unjustly, as well as unconftantly.

15. I am far from making this an univerfal charge, I know there are Women of the higheft Quality, that guide themselves by other Rules, that are deaf to all the fongs of Syrens, and have the prudence to value a seasonable reproof, before the most extravagant Panegyrick; but this is owing to that Humility which I am now recommending, without which 'tis as impoffi ble for greatness to be proof against flattery. as it is for a Pinnace with spreading Sails, and a violent gust of wind, to fail teddily without Ballast. And the frequent want of this is it, which makes it no lefs frequent to fee those unevenneffes and inequalities in behaviour those partialities in difpenfing even the commoneft Civilities, which I have now reprefented.

16. AND fure 'tis none of the meaneft attributes due to that excellent Vertue of Humility, that it can thus fix and poise the Mind, cure those Vertigo's and giddy Humours, incident to those who are mounted aloft: and above all, that it is a fure Antidote against the most infinuating poifon of flattery, a holy fpell or amulet against the venom of a Parafite, which the Philofopher juftly calls the worst of Tame Beafts, as a Detractour is of Wild: He being indeed a kind of Vulture, in the way of feizure, no less than Ravine, who firft picks out the Eyes

of

of that which he defigns to prey upon; fuffering not the perfon concern'd to fee any thing of that deftruction which he is to feel. And certainly none of the ominous Birds, no NightRaven, or Screech-Owl, can bode half fo difmally as these Domestick Birds of prey, which are not only prefages, but inftruments of Ruin wherefoever they haunt.

17. 'Tis therefore the univerfal concern of those that are great and profperous, to chase them away, as Abram did the Fowls from his Sacrifice, Gen. 15. 11. but yet more peculiarly fo of those to whom fortune has given a fudden rife, and unexpected grandeur, they being of all others the moft obnoxious to this fort of Harpyes. The furprizes of profperity do no less disturb the judgment, than thofe of adverfity and as one who is in an inftant fnatch'd up to fome high Tower, is fo amaz'd to fee himself there, that he has no just measure of the Altitude, but thinks every thing farther below him than it is; fo they that afcend to greatnefs by fwift and rapid motions, have their heads fo turn'd, that they are apt to overvalue it; and to look with contempt on those whom before, perhaps, they thought worth their envy. And on a mind thus prepar'd, flattery may make any impreffion, it fuborning even Providence, as a witness on it's fide, and inferring from the Dignities obtain'd, the transcending merit of the obtainer. A piece of Sophiftry which

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the flighteft obferver may easily confute, all Ages giving inftances of thofe, whofe Vices have preferr'd them, and by a strange Chymiftry, have extracted Honour out of infamous Acts. Yet to a mind poffefs'd with it's own admiration, this fhall pass for a demonftration. So treacherous a thing is Pride, that it combines with all who defign to cheat us: and indeed 'tis not only an acceffary, but the principal; none being in danger by others flatteries, who are not first seduc'd by their own.

18. IT will therefore be a point of Wisdom for all Perfons of Honour, to encrease their Caution with their Fortune, and as they multiply their Revenues without, fo efpecially to enforce their Guard within, that they become not flaves to their own Greatness, fix not themselves in fuch a pofture of State, as to be come immoveable to all the offices of Humanity and Civility, nor think that their admiffion to Greatnefs, is upon the fame terms on which the Jews were wont to receive their Profelytes, that they must renounce all their former relations; but to remember that they differ no more from others, than as a Counter fet in the place of thousands or hundreds, do's from one fet in the place of tens or units. A little tranfpofition may quite alter the cafe; or however, when they are all taken off the score, they are then indifcriminately tumbled toge ther, and one has no precedence of another,

either in place or value. So undiscernable will be the difference between the greatest Queen and the meaneft Servant, when Death, that great Leveller, fhall have mix'd them there will be no inquifition in the Grave, who came Embalm'd or Perfum'd thither; and, as a Learned Man fays, the Ulcers of Lazarus, will make as good duft as the Paint of Jezebel.

19. BUT I shall be thought to have outrun my Subject, and instead of that amiable Image of Affability, and universal obligingnefs, the great Ornament of Life, to introduce the grim figure of Death, that fullen Executioner, whom no Gift, no Prayers, can mollify. Yet I cannot yield it wholly impertinent; for as it's final ftroke cures all the infirmities of the Body, fo the forefight and contemplation of it, is as much a Catholicon for all the maladies of the Mind; efpecially that of infolence and difdain. For fure they can. not much pride themselves in any Exaltation, that remember they muft finally fall into the duft: nor arrogantly defpife others, who confider that themfelves fhall one day be infulted over by Worms and Infects. Such mental descents into the Vault or Charnel-house, are the beft difciplines for the demeanour in other places, according to the Admonition of the Wife Man, Remember thy end, and thou shalt never do amifs.

SECT

I.

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SECT. V.

Of Piety.

ASTLY, To Compleat and Crown all other Excellencies, nothing is fo proper, fo neceffary, as Piety and Devotion. This is the Salt which feasons all Sacrifices; yea, the Altar which fanctifies the Gift; no good (how fplendid foever in the fight of Man) being acceptable to God, 'till it be thus Confecrated, and has this feal of the Sanctuary upon it. This is a Vertue truely Divine, as well in it's original as it's end; for as it comes from Heaven, (is an afflation of the bleffed Spirit) fo it tends thither also, and thi ther raises it's Votaries. This is it which fublimates and fpiritualizes Humanity, defecates and refines it from all the dregs of Mortali ty, and fo wings our Earthly lumpish Nature, that we can foar aloft to the Region of Spirits, and by it's Raptures, make fome Effay of that ftate of Separation, even while we are link'd to the Body. This is it which combines us fo with God, that we have the fame interest, the fame choices; nay, it do's in a fort, Communicate and Enterchange proprieties with Him; the All-powerful God feems impotent and un

able