state, that, instead of diminishing with my age, they seem to increase as I grow old? All my acquaintance are furprised at it; but I, who know the cause of this fingular happiness, do every where declare it. I endeavour, as much as in me lies, to convince all mankind, that a man may enjoy a paradife on earth even after the age of four-score.

! Now my Lord, I must tell you, that within these few days past, several learned Doctors of this University came to be informed by me, of the method I take in my diet, having understood that I am still healthful and strong; that I have my fenfes perfect; that my memory, my heart, my judgment, the tone of my voice, and my teeth, are all as found as in my youth; that I write seven or eight hours a day, and spend the rest of the day in walking out a-foot, and in taking all the innocent pleasures that are allowed

F 2

allowed to a virtuous man; even mufic itself in which I bear my part.

Aн, Sir! how fweet a voice would you perceive mine to be, were you to hear me, like another David, chant forth the praises of GOD to the found of my Lyre! You would certainly be surprised and charmed with the harmony which I make. Thofe gentlemen particularly admired, with what eafinefs I write on fubjects that require both judgment and fpirit.

THEY told me, that I ought not to be looked on as an old man, fince all my employments were fuch as were proper for a youth, and did by no means refemble the works of men advanced in years; who are capable of doing nothing after fourfcore, but loaded with infirmities and diftempers, are perpetually languishing in pain, not half fo chearful, pleafant and happy as I am.

SEVERAL

SEVERAL phyficians were fo good as to prognofticate to me, ten years ago, that it was impoffible for me to hold out three years longer: however, I still find

year

than any

that went be

myself less weak than ever, and am ftronger this fore. This fort of miracle, and the many favours which I received from GOD, obliged them to tell me, that I brought along with me at my birth, an extraordinary and special gift of nature; and for the proof their opinion, they employed all their rhetoric, and made feveral elegant speeches on that head. It must be acknowledged, my Lord, that eloquence has a charming force on the mind of man, fince it often perfuades him to believe that which never was, and never could be. I was very much pleased to hear them difcourfe; and could it be helped, fince they were men of parts who harangued at that rate? But that which delighted me most,

was

was to reflect, that age and experience may render a man wifer than all the col

leges in the world can.

truth by their help,

ror of that notion.

And it was in

that I knew the er

To undeceive those

gentlemen, and at the fame time set them right, I replied, that their way of arguing was not juft: that the favour I received was no fpecial, but a general and univerfal one that I was but a man as well as others: that we have all judgment and reafon, which the Creator has bestowed on us to preferve our lives: that man, when young, being more fubject to fenfe than reafon, is too apt to give himself up to pleafure; and that when arrived to thirty or forty years of age, he ought to confider, that, if he has been fo imprudent as to lead, till that time, a disorderly life, it is now high time for him to take up and live temperately; for he ought to remember, that though he has hitherto been held up by the vigour of

youth

youth and a good conftitution, yet he is now at the noon of life, and must bethink himself of going down towards the grave, with a heavy weight of years on his back, of which his frequent pains and infirmities are certain forerunners; and that therefore, if he has not been fo happy as to do it already, he ought now, immedi ately to change his courfe of life

I MUST confefs, it was not without great reluctance that I abandoned my luxurious way of living. I began with praying to GOD, that he would grant me the gift of Temperance, well knowing that he always hears our prayers with delight. Then, confidering, that when a man is about to undertake any thing of importance, he may greatly ftrengthen himself in it, by often looking forward to the great pleasures and advantages that he is to derive from it. Just as the hufbandman takes comfort under his

toils, by reflecting on the fweets of abundance;