and happy Match of all his Apparel, and how well every thing becomes him; and in this Tickling extasy, he fancies no less than that he attracts the Eyes of every Body.

There appear now and then in the World, fome Worthy and Excellent Men, whose rare Virtuės and Eminent Qualities caft an incomparable brightnefs: They have neither Ancestors nor Defcendants, but make up themselves all their own Pedigree, like thofe extraordinary Apparitions, in the Heavens, which we know not how they rife, or how they come to disappear.

Great Talents and Abilities, are not fo neceflàry to advance ones felf to great Employments, as to difcharge 'em with Credit; and that's the reason why those that are in place, have generally but an indifferent Merit, and fo very few acquit themfelves well of their Charge." The most general way to Perferment, is to be under the Protection of a general Favourite, who is ambitious of having many Creatures: But then, if the Upstart has nothing of his own to, inaintain the Dignity of his Character, he becomes Ten times more defpicable and ridiculous than he was before.

Some Men are born Prudent: By a natural Inclination they enter into the way of Wisdom; and they are got almost half way at firft. Their Reafon ripens with Age and Experience, and at length; they attain to the highest degree of judgement. Some Men deferve to fit at the Helm of Governmeut, or at least to be Councellors to thofe who hold it.

There are but few Men, but what ftand indebted to Adversity for their Virtues.

People that are conceited of their own Merit, dơ fometimes take a pride in being unfortunate, in or der to perfwade theinfelves and others, that they

arc

are confiderable enough to be the Envy and the Mark of Fortune.

The undeceiving a Man ftrongly poffefs'd with an Opinion of his own Merit, is the very fame ill Office that was done the Fool at Athens, who fancied all the Ships that came into Harbour were his

own.

The fureft Evidence of true Merit, is when a Man is commended even by thofe that envy him most.

The Merisof fome People confifts in saying and doing useful Fooleries; and when they are once taken out of this Road, you quite spoil them, and they are good for nothing.

Princes put a value upon Men as well as Money; and we are forc'd to take them both, not according to their true Worth, but according to what they are stamp'd for.

Nature gives Merit and Parts, but 'tis Fortune improves and exerts them.

The Addrefs and Industry of improving moderate Abilities to the beft Advantage, fteal away, if I may fo fpeak, our Efteem, and bring a Man of tentimes into greater Reputation than real Merit.

Real Merit gains a Man the Efteem of good Men; but 'tis only Fate and Chance that gains him that of the Multitude.

The Appearances of Merit are oftaer Rewarded than Merit it felf.

There are a great many Men valu'd in the World, who have no other Merit than Vices profitable to Commerce and Society.

A Man's Merit has its particular Seafon, as well as Fruits.

A Man's Palate (or difcerning Faculty) lowers proportionably to his Merit.

As much as the World is inclia'd to think ill of one another, we see them oftner favourable to falfe Merit, than icjurious to true.

Some Men are like Fallads, which are in vogue only for a while.

A Noble Birth, or a Great Fortune proclaims Merit, and makes it the more confpicuous.

Nature.

Mwhen they are only unpolifh'd and ill

Oft young People think often to follow Nature,

bred.

Nothing hinders Men fo much from being plain and natural, as the straining themselves to be thought fo.

Nature was given to exercise the Philofophers, like fome dark intricate Riddle; every one makes his own Senfe the Key, and out of that contrives his Syftem. He that by his Principles explains most Difficulties, may be allow'd thus far to value himself, That he has hit upon the moft probable Opinion.

Something of one's Temper always enters into the beft formed Defigns; and Nature is never fo much reduc'd, but that fhe keeps as much Right over our Actions, as we can take over her Motions.

It is a wonderful thing how the very Force of Nature will exert it felf, in the meanest and the weakest of Creatures, in cafes of extream Neceffi ty and Danger.

*The different Abilities of Men, which we call Wisdom, or Prudence, for the Conduct of publick Affairs, or private Life, grow directly out of that little Grain of Intellect, or good Senfe, which they

bring with them into the World; and the Defect of it in Men, comes from fome want in their Conception, or Birth. And though this may be improv'd, or impair'd, in fome degree, by Accidents of Education, Study, Converfation, or Bufinefs; yet it cannot go beyond the reach of its Native Force, no more than Life can, beyond the Period to which it was deftin'd, by the Strength or Weakness of the Seminal Virtue.

'Tis impoffible to renounce Nature, and to raise our felves above the Condition God has plac'd us in. We shall fee a Wife Man not able to defend himself from Humour and Folley; an Heroe feeble, full of Defects, and as much a Man as they which are below him: For, in truth, there are no great Men, if we compare 'em one with another; but they are in themselves weak, unequal, and deficient, in fome part or other.

Nothing is durable, that is not fuited to Nature. Too auftere a Philofophy,makes few wife Men; too rigorous a Government, few good Subjects; too harfh a Religion, few religious Souls; I mean, that will long continue fo.

Nobility, Gentility.

Here cannot be a meaner thing, than to take advantage of one's Quality and Greatness, to ridicule and infult over thofe of an inferiour Condition.

They that are fo ridiculous, as to value themfelves meerly upon their Quality, do in a manner flight that very thing that gave them their Quality;

T 4

fince

As much as the World is inclin'd to think ill of one another, we see them oftner favourable to falfe Merit, than injurious to true.

Some Men are like Ballads, which are in vogue only for a while.

A Noble Birth, or a Great Fortune proclaims Merit, and makes it the more confpicuous.

Nature.

Oft young People think often to follow Nature, when they are only unpolifh'd and ill

Mo

bred.

Nothing hinders Men fo much from being plain and natural, as the training themfelves to he thought fo.

Nature was given to exercise the Philofophers, like fome dark intricate Riddle; every one nakes his own Senfe the Key, and out of that contrives his Syftem. He that by his Principles explains most Difficulties, may be allow'd thus far to value himself, That he has hit upon the most probable Opinion.

Something of one's Temper always enters into the beft formed Defigns; and Nature is never fo much reduc'd, but that fhe keeps as much Right over our Actions, as we can take over her Motions.

It is a wonderful thing how the very Force of Nature will exert it felf, in the meaneft and the weakeft of Creatures, in cafes of extream Neceffi ty and Danger.

* The different Abilities of Men, which we call Wisdom, or Prudence, for the Conduct of publick Affairs, or private Life, grow directly out of that little Grain of Intellect, or good Senfe, which they