losopher; namely, 'That no man has so much care as he who
endeavours after the most happiness.'

12. In the second place, every one ought to reflect how much more
unhappy he might be than he really is. The former consideration took in
all those who are sufficiently provided with the means to make
themselves easy; this regards such as actually lie under some pressure
or misfortune.

13. These may receive a great alleviation from such a comparison as the
unhappy person may make between himself and others, or between the
misfortunes which he suffers, and greater misfortunes which might have
befallen him.

14. I like the story of the honest Dutchman, who upon breaking his leg
by a fall from the main-mast, told the standers-by, it was a great mercy
that it was not his neck. To which, since I am got into quotations, give
me leave to add the saying of an old philosopher, who, after having
invited some of his friends to dine with him, was ruffled by his wife
that came into the room in a passion and threw down the table that stood
before them; 'Every one, says he, has his calamity, and he is a happy
man that has no greater than this.'

15. We find an instance to the same purpose in the life of Doctor
Hammond, written by Bishop Fell. As this good man was troubled with a
complication of distempers, when he had the gout upon him, he used to
thank God that it was not the stone; and when he had the stone, that he
had not both these distempers on him at the same time.

16. I cannot conclude this essay without observing, that there was never
any system besides that of christianity, which could effectually produce
in the mind of man the virtue I have been hitherto speaking of. In order
to make us content with our present condition, many of the present
philosophers tell us, that our discontent only hurts ourselves, without
being able to make an alteration in our circumstances; others, that
whatever evil befals us, is derived to us by a fatal necessity, to which
the gods themselves are subject; while others very gravely tell the man
who is miserable, that it is necessary he should be so to keep up the
harmony of the universe, and that the _scheme_ of Providence would be
troubled and perverted were he otherwise.

17. These, and the like considerations, rather silence than satisfy a
man. They may shew him that his discontent is unreasonable; but are by
no means sufficient to relieve it. They rather give despair than
consolation. In a