s to life; and tells us, "that it is not enough to know God
unless we obey Him." She looks upon all accidents as acts of
providence; sets a true value upon things; delivers us from false
opinions, and condemns all pleasures that are attended with
repentance. She allows nothing to be good that will not be so forever;
no man to be happy but he that needs no other happiness than what he
has within himself; no man to be great or powerful, that is not master
of himself;--and this is the felicity of human life; a felicity that
can neither be corrupted nor extinguished.

AGAINST RASH JUDGMENT.

(_By Seneca._)

It is good for every man to fortify himself on his weak side; and if
he loves his peace, he must not be inquisitive and harken to
tale-bearers; for the man that is over-curious to hear and see
everything, multiplies troubles to himself; for a man does not feel
what he does not know. He that is listening after private discourse,
and what people say of him, shall never be at peace. How many things
that are innocent in themselves, are made injurious yet by
misconstruction? Wherefore some things we are to pause upon, others to
laugh at, and others again to pardon. Or if we can not avoid the sense
of indignities, let us, however, shun the open profession of it; which
may be easily done, as appears by many examples of those who have
suppressed their anger, under the awe of a greater fear. It is a good
caution not to believe anything until you are very certain of it; for
many probable things prove false, and a short time will make evidence
of the undoubted truth. We are prone to believe many things which we
are unwilling to hear, and so we conclude, and take up a prejudice
before we can judge. Never condemn a friend unheard; or without
letting him know his accuser, or his crime. It is a common thing to
say, "Do not tell that you had it from me; for if you do, I will deny
it; and never tell you anything again." By which means friends are set
together by the ears, and the informer slips his neck out of the
collar. Admit no stories, upon these terms; for it is an unjust thing
to believe in private, and be angry openly. He that delivers himself
up to guess and conjecture, runs a great hazard; for there can be no
suspicion without some probable grounds; so that without much candor
and simplicity, and making the best of everything, there is no living
in society with mankind. Some things that offend us we have by report;
others