Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/407

 Rh Men, I say, to be finally extinguish'd by Death, and not give them their Being again? Now if the Case stands thus, you may be assur'd had it been proper, the Gods would have ordered it otherwise : For had it been Reasonable, it would have been possible : Nature would certainly have brought it forth, if it had been suitable to her Perfections. Therefore from its not being Matter of Fad, if indeed it is not, you may undoubtedly conclude, it ought not to be so : For don't you perceive that in Reasoning this point, you dispute the Administration of Providence : Now if the Justice and Goodness of the Gods were not extraordinary, this Liberty would not be allow'd ; Neither would you presume so far if you thought otherwise. But if they have these Perfections, they'l never neglect their Affairs, nor Blemish their World with any thing that's Unreasonable, or Unjust.

VI. Accustom your self to Master things of the greatest difficulty, and which you seem to despair of ; For if you observe, the Left-hand, tho' for want of Practice, 'tis insignificant to other Business, yet it holds the Bridle better than the Right, because it has been used to it.

VII. Consider what Death will make of you, both as to Body, and Mind : Rh