Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/218

 38 XII. If you will be govern'd by Reason, and manage what lies before you with Industry, Vigour, and Temper; if you won't run out after New Game, but keep your Mind Stanch, and well Disciplined, as if this trial of Behaviour was your Last: And then, if you will but stick to your Measures, and be True to the Best of your Self; and keep your Fears and Desires from going farther : If living up to your Nature, minding an opportunity, and standing boldly by the Truth : If these Things I fay will satisfie you, you may be a Happy Man; now if you are but willing, the World can't hinder you from doing all this.

XIII. As your Surgeons have their Instruments ready for sudden Occasions, so be you always furnish'd With Rules and Principles, to let you into the Knowledge and Extent of Things Humane and Divine; for these Two have their Reference and Connexion with each Other. The consequence is, that your Whole practice ought: to Turn upon this supposition : For without looking into the Nature and Administration of the Gods, you'l fail in your Behaviour towards Men; and thus the Reasoning holds backward, to the other side of the Argument.

XIV. Don't go too far in your Books, and overgrasp your self. Alas! you have Rh