Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/314

 134 of Unususal Treatment. For you stand upon no worse ground than the rest of the World ; and will only have your share of the common Fate.

VII. Every Being is at ease, when the Powers of it move regularly, and without interruption. Now a Rational Being is in this prosperous Condition, when her Judgment is gain'd by nothing but Truth, and Evidence; when her Designs are all meant for the Advantage of Society. When her Desires, and Aversions, are confin'd to Objects within her Power; when she rests satisfied with the Distributions of Providence : For which she has great reason; in regard she is a part of it her self; And with as much propriety as a Leaf belongs to the Nature of the Tree which bears it : Only with this difference, that a Leaf is part of a Nature, without Sence, or Reason, and lyable to be check'd in its Operations ; Whereas a Man is a Limb, as it were, of an Intelligent Righteous, and Irresistible Being. A Being that is all Wisdom ; And assigns Matter and Form, Time, Force, and Fortune, to every thing in due Measure, and Proportion. And this you'l easily perceive if you don't stop short in your speculation; and make a lame Enquiry ; But compare the whole of one thing, with the whole of another. Rh