Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/318

 138 of the World and your own, are the very same; And all these last Changes are made without the least Repining : And why then should the same Matter that lyes quiet in an Element, Grumble in a Man?

XIX. Providence does not grant Force, and Faculties at Random, but every thing is made for some end : The Sun as high as 'tis, has its business assign'd, and so have the Celestial Deities : And where's the wonder of all this ? But pray what were you made for ? For your pleasure ? Common Sence won't bear so scandalous an Answer.

XX. Nature pre-ordains the End of every thing, no less than its Beginning, and Coutinuance : As he that strikes a Ball, designs whither it should go, as well as which way : And what's the Ball the better all this while for mounting, or the worse for flying Lower, and coming to the Ground ? What does a Bubble get in the swelling, or lose in the breaking ? The same may be said of a Candle, which is every jot as happy out, as burning.

XXI. Turn your Carkass the wrong side outwards, and be proud if you can ; And to improve your thought, consider what a Beauty, Age, Diseases, and Death, will make of you , And to keep you low in your Computations upon Rh