es himself in "wine and oil," that is, in
drinking, in feasting, and in sensual gratifications, "shall not be
rich." It is one of St. Paul's characters of a most degenerate age, when
"men become lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God." And that
"fleshly lusts war against the soul," is St. Peter's caveat to the
Christians of his time.

11. Preserve your conscience always soft and sensible; if but one sin
force its way into that tender part of the soul, and dwell easy there,
the road is paved for a thousand; iniquities.

And take heed that under any scruple, doubt, or temptation whatsoever,
you never let any reasonings satisfy your conscience, which will not be
a sufficient answer of apology to the great Judge at the last day.

12. Keep this thought ever in your mind. It is a world of vanity and
vexation in which you live; the flatteries and promises of it are vain
and deceitful; prepare, therefore, to meet disappointments. Many of its
occurrences are teazing and vexatious. In every ruffling storm without,
possess your spirit in patience, and let all be calm and serene within.
Clouds and tempests are only found in the lower skies; the heavens above
are ever bright and clear. Let your heart and hope dwell much in these
serene regions; live as a stranger here on earth, but as a citizen of
heaven, if you will maintain a soul at ease.

13. Since in many things we offend all, and there is not a day passes
which is perfectly free from sin, let "repentance towards God, and faith
in our Lord Jesus Christ," be your daily work. A frequent renewal of
these exercises which make a Christian at first, will be a constant
evidence of your sincere Christianity, and give you peace in life, and
hope in death.

14. Ever carry about with you such a sense of the uncertainty of every
thing in this life, and of life itself, as to put nothing off till
to-morrow, which you can conveniently do to-day. Dilatory persons are
frequently exposed to surprise and hurry in every thing that belongs to
them; the time is come, and they are unprepared. Let the concerns of
your soul and your shop, your trade and your religion, lie always in
such order, as far as possible, that death, at a short warning, may be
no occasion of a disquieting tumult in your spirit, and that you may
escape the anguish of a bitter repentance in a dying hour. Farewel.

Phronimus, a considerable East-land merchant, happened upon a copy of
these advices, about the time when he