PUBLICK REVENGES are, for the most part, Fortunate; as were those for the Death of Cafar; for the Death of Pertinax; for the Death of Henry IV, King of France, and of many more. But in private REVENGES, this by no Means holds. Nay rather, Vindicative Perfons in a manner live the Life of Witches, who, as they are deftructive to others, fo themselves generally come to an unfortunate End.

V. of ADVERSITY.

I

Twas a very high and exalted Speech of Seneca (after the manner of the Stoicks ;) That the good Things which belong to PROSPERITY are to be Wifbed; but the good Things that belong to ADVERSITY are to be Admired. Certainly, if that be rightly termed a Miracle, which is above Nature, the greatest Miracles appear in Calamities. There is another Speech of his

C 4

yet

yet higher than the former (much too high for an Heathen;) It is true Greatness, to have the Frailty of a Man, and the Security of a God. Surely this Saying would have been more tolerable in Poefy, where fuch Tranfcendencies are more allowed. And the Poets indeed have been bufy with it; for it is in Effect, the Thing which is figur'd in that ftrange Fiction of the ancient Poets; which feemeth not to be without Mystery; nay, and to resemble not obscurely the State of a Chriftian; namely, that of Hercules: Who, when he went to unbind Prometheus (by Prometheus Human Nature is reprefented) failed the length of the Ocean in an Earthen Pot, or Pitcher; lively defcribing Christian Refolution, that faileth in the frail Bark of the Flesh, through the Waves of the World flowing every way about it.

THE principal Virtue of PROSPERITY, is Temperance; of ADVERSITY, Fortitude; which in Morals is reputed the most heroical Virtue. Again, PRO

SPERITY

SPERITY belongs to the Bleffings of the Old Teftament; ADVERSITY to the Beatitudes of the New, which are both in Reality greater, and carry a clearer Revelation of the Divine Favour. Yet, even in the Old Teftament, if you listen to David's Harp, you'll find more lamentable Airs, than Triumphant ones: And the Pencil of the Holy Ghost, hath more diffusely handled the Afflictions of Job, than the Felicities of Solomon. PROSPERITY paffes not without abundance of Fears and Troubles; ADVERSITY likewife is not without its Comforts and Hopes. Certainly, Virtue bears fome Similitude to fome precious Odours; which are most fragrant either incens'd or crufh'd: For a profperous Fortune doth beft difcover Men's Vices; but an adverfe one their Virtues.

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VI. Of Simulation and Dif fimulation.

D

ISSIMULATION is a fort of Abridgment of Civil Arts, and but a faint kind of Policy or Wifdom. For it requireth a ftrong Wit, and a strong Heart, to know when to tell Truth, and to dare to do it. Therefore it is the weaker fort of Politicians, that are the great Diffemblers.

THIS Difference is well noted in Tacitus, between Cafar Auguftus, and Tiberius. For thus he fays of Livia, that she was a happy Compofition of the Arts of her Husband, and the Diffe mulation of her Son: Attributing ARTS of Government, or Policy to Auguftus, and DISSIMULATION to Tiberius. The fame Hiftorian in another place brings in Mucianus incouraging Vefpafian to take up Arms against Vi tellius

tellius in these Words: * We rife not up against the deep Insight and piercing Judgment of Auguftus, nor against the extreme cautious old Age of Tiberius. Wherefore thefe Properties of Arts or Policy, and of DISSIMULATION and Clofenefs, are indeed Habits and Faculties, several, and to be diftinguifh'd. For if a Man have that happy Acutenefs and Penetration of Judgment, as to difcern what Things are to be laid open, and what to be kept fecret, and what to be fhewed at half Lights, with an exact Confideration alfo of Time and Perfon; which are indeed Arts of State, and Arts of Life, (as Tacitus well calleth them,) to fuch an one DISSIMU LATION is a Hindrance, and a Poorness. But if a Man cannot attain to that Degree of Judgment and Difcernment, then it is left him, generally to be clofe, and a Diffembler. For where a Man cannot chufe, or vary in Particulars, there it is good to take the safest and warieft

*Tac. Hift. B. 11. Ch. 76.