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MY dear Children, if you will be Hap∣py, and be esteemed in the World; fear God, be faithful to your Prince, and live like Men of Honour and Integrity.
If any one comes a Mile to do you a Kind∣ness, go two to do him the like, or greater, in acknowledgment of it.
If you want a Fortune, endeavour to merit one, and force blind Fortune to open her Eyes, by your constant and industrious Well-doing.
Do not reprove publickyy, those whom you think you have Right to correct, lest you be thought to hate them rather than their Weak∣ness and Faults.
You cannot be too circumspect in your Words; for oftentimes one word spoke un∣awares, or in raillery, or even wittily, costs him dear that thought to get Honour by it.
Make as many Friends as you can, for you will find but few true ones. You will find your best Friends in your self, if you perform your Duty to God, and to those you are to live with.
Do not fix your Affections upon the World, but proportionably to the time you are to live in it: He that intends to Travel, does not stop at the first fine City he comes at, know∣ing he must go further before he comes to the end of his Journey.
And in what condition soever you are in; make your self known more by your Actions than your Words: The Honesty and Integrity of a Man, supports his Quality better than all that can be spoken to his Advantage.
If you be in any considerable Employment, entertain none in your Service, but Men of Ex∣perience, and such as are capable to do service
to their Prince, and Country: Promise nothing that you do not perform; and take Counsel of none but such as are disinterested, and of good Judgment.
Avoid Idleness, as the most dangerous Evil. When the Mind is not employ'd, it becomes corrupt; but when employ'd, it becomes Spi∣rit. A Man in Business remembers what he is, but when he is Idle he forgets himself, and abandons himself to Pleasure like a Beast.
Make known the bottom of your Heart by your Words; but your Birth and Quality by your actions.
If you have Friends visit them often, but do not press to stay with them; that would expose you to the danger of losing them.
Labour every one in the Profession you are in, to deserve well. Merit is esteemed of all the World, and is of so great price, that it cannot be bought with Money.
Hold it for certain, that there is no Trade so bad as to have none at all; and there is no life so tedious, as that which is passed in Plea∣sures and continual Visits: To be always tyed to Company, and never alone, is in appearance to be at liberty, but in effect and really a Slave.
If you be the Chief in the Company of Men of the Sword, or of the Gown, remember that a Chief that well becomes his place, is an Ex∣ample to the rest, and ought to more than he speaks.
If the Profession you have chosen, do not carry you to the study of Learning, at least love Men of Letters; and if you be not learn∣ed your self, esteem those that are.
Have the same respect for all Men, that you desire they should have for you.
Be easie of access, and pleasant and agreeable in your Conversation, and so every Man will delight in your Company.
If you be upright and true to your Word, you will gain Credit with all the World, and your Word will give you more facility in your Affairs, than all the Writings of Notaries.
If any of your Family be discontented, conceal it by your silence at home; but if it come to the Knowledge of others, hide it a∣broad by your good and gay Humour; that will be the means to make it believed, that the Report of the discontent is false, or at least that it is such, that it is not worth your taking notice of it.
You will have no greater Enemies than your self, if you abandon your self to your Pas∣sions.
Receive your Kindred and Friends with a chearful and obliging Countenance; to receive them otherwise, is not to enjoy them.
Put not an entire Confidence in any but those that have made themselves known by their
Merit, Wit, and Integrity; look upon them alone as fixt Stars, capable to enlighten you in the darkness that the Affairs of the World has brought upon the different accidents of your Life; look upon all others as wandring Stars, that have some Light which they lose in a moment.
Modesty in your Apparel, Furniture, Equi∣page, and your Words, will make it known that you have a Mind well govern'd, and a Heart without Passion.
The ill Conduct of a Man, consists more in what appears, than in what is concealed; and make use of this Advice: Trust not to a false out-side, sooner or later it will betray you, and make you known for what you truly are
Riches make many unhappy; as well those who have them not when they desire them, as those that are afraid to lose them when they are in their Possession. It is in your power to avoid both the one and the other.
It is not your Birth, your Riches, or great Employments, that can make you happy and considerable in the World; but the use of them will do it.
You may gain your Enemies by obliging and doing them service; but by flattering your Passions, they become your Masters.
There are two gates of Life, one by which you enter, the other by which you go out; the farther you go from the one, the nearer
you approach to the other. Think of it often, and make reflection.
Live always as if you were Old, that you may never repent that you have been young.