points of the greatest moment to the bng and continuance of the world, God has inteied our passions to prevail over reason. Theirst s, the propagation of our species; since ɔ wie man ever married from the dictates of eason. The other is, the love of life; which, frome ditates of reason, every man would despe, and wish it at an end, or that it never had begit ning.

FURHER

FUTHER THOUGHTS ON RELIGION,

HScripture-system of man's creation is what Chrisans are bound to believe, and seems most greeɔle of all others to probability and reason. danwas formed from a piece of clay, and Eve fom one of his ribs. The text mentioneth notingf his Maker's intending him for, except to ale er the beasts of the field and birds of the r. As to Eve, it doth not appear that her husandwas her monarch; only she was to be his elpaate, and placed in some degree of subjecon. However, before his fall, the beasts were is pst obedient subjects, whom he governed by bsate power. After his eating the forbidden uitthe course of nature was changed; the anialbegan to reject his government; some were bleto escape by flight, and others were too erc to be attacked. The Scripture mentioneth o prticular acts of royalty in Adam over his postrity who were contemporary with him. r of ay monarch until after the flood; whe f the rst was Nimrod, the mighty hunter, who, S Milon expresseth it, made men, and not bests, his rey: for men were easier caught by promise, and subdued by the folly or treachery of their own species; whereas the brutes prevailed only by their courage or strength, which, among

them,

them, are peculiar to certain kinds. Lions, bears, elephants, and some other animals, are strong or valiant; and their species never degenerates in their native soil, except they happen to be enslaved or destroyed by human fraud: but men degenerate every day, merely by the folly, the perverseness, the avarice, the tyranny, the pride, the treachery, or inhumanity, of their own kind.

RESOLUTIONS

RESOLUTIONS

WHEN I COME TO BE OLD.

(WRITTEN IN 1699.)

NOT

OT to marry a young woman.

Not to keep young company, unless they desire it.

Not to be peevish, or morose, or suspicious. Not to scorn present ways, or wits, or fashions,

or men, or war, &c.

Not to be fond of children.

Not to tell the same story over and over to the same people.

Not to be covetous.

Not to neglect decency or cleanliness, for fear of falling into nastiness.

Not to be over-severe with young people, but give allowances for their youthful follies and weak

nesses.

Not to be influenced by, or give ear to, knavish tattling servants, or others.

Not to be too free of advice, nor trouble any but those who desire it.

To desire some good friends to inform me which of these resolutions I break or neglect, and wherein; and reform accordingly.

Not to talk much, nor of myself.

Not

Not to boast of my former beauty, of strength, or favour with ladies, &c.

Not to hearken to flatteries, nor conceive I can be beloved by a young woman; et eos qui hæreditatem captant, odisse ac vitare.

Not to be positive or opinionative.

Not to set for observing all these rules, for fear I should observe none.

THOUGHTS