Full

fon and happiness, they at once nobly broke through their fnares, and applied themselves to virtue and good works, and fo became men of good and fober lives. And when in procefs of time, and after a long series of years, they see the period of their days drawing nigh, they are neither grieved nor alarmed. of acknowledgments for the favours already received from God, they throw themselves into the arms of his future mercy. They are not afraid of thofe dreadful punishments, which they deferve who have shortened their days by guilty intemperance. They die without complaining, fenfible that they did not come into this world to ftay for ever, but are pilgrims and travellers to a far better. Exulting in this faith, and with hopes big with immortality, they go down to the grave in a good old age, enriched with virtues, and laden with honours.

AND

AND they have the greater reafon not to be dejected at the thought of death, as they know it will not be violent, feverifh or painful. Their end is calm, and they expire, like a lamp when the oil is spent, without convulfion or agony, and so they pass gently away, without pain or fickness, from this earthly and corruptible to that celeftial and eternal life, whofe happiness is the reward of the virtuous.

O HOLY, happy, and thrice bleffed temperance! how worthy art thou of our highest esteem! and how infinitely art thou preferable to an irregular and diforderly life! Nay, would men but confider the effects and confequences of both, they would immediately fee, that there is as wide a difference between them, as there is betwixt light and darkness, heaven and hell. Some there are who tell us that old age is no bleffing, that when a man is past seventy,

his life is nothing but weaknefs, infirmity, and mifery. But I can affure these gentlemen, they are mightily mistaken; and that I find myself, old as I am, (which is much beyond what they speak of) to be in the most pleasant and delightful stage of life.

To prove that I have reafon for what I fay, they need only enquire how I fpend my time, what are my ufual employments; and to hear the testimony of all thofe that know me. They unanimously testify, that the life I lead, is not a dead and languishing life, but as happy a one as can be wifhed for in this world.

THEY will tell you, that I am still fo ftrong at fourfcore and three, as to mount a horse without any help or advantage of fituation; that I can not only go up a fingle flight of ftairs, but climb a hill from bottom to top, a-foot, and with the greatest ease; that I am

always

always merry, always pleased, always in humour; maintaining a happy peace in my own mind, the sweetness and ferenity whereof appear at all times in my

countenance.

BESIDES, they know that it is in my power to pass away the time very pleafantly; having nothing to hinder me from tasting all the pleafures of an agreeable fociety, with feveral perfons of parts and worth. When I am willing to be alone, I read good books, and fometimes fall to writing; feeking always an occafion of being useful to the public, and doing service to private perfons, as far as poffible. I do all this without the least trouble; and in fuch times as I fet apart for these employ

ments.

I DWELL in a house, which, befides its being fituated in the pleasantest part of Padua, may be looked on as the most convenient and agreeable mansion in

that

that city. I there make me apartments proper for the winter and fummer, which ferve as a fhelter to defend me from the extreme heat of the one, and the rigid coldness of the other. I walk out in my gardens, along my canals and walks; where I always meet with fome little thing or other to do, which, at the fame time, employs and amufes me.

I SPEND the months of April, May, September, and October, at my countryhoufe, which is the fineft fituation imaginable the air of it is good, the avenues neat, the gardens magnificent, the waters clear and plentiful; and this feat may well pass for an inchanted palace.

SOMETIMES I take a walk to my Villa, all whofe ftreets terminate at a large fquare; in the midft of which is a pretty neat church, and large enough for the bignefs of the parish.

THROUGH