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MADAM,
I Give you many Thanks for your Counsel, and Advice concerning my Health, for cer∣tainly an Over-studious Mind doth Wast the Body, which is the Cause, for the most part, that Painful Students are Lean, for the Mind Feeds as much upon the Body, as the Body up∣on Meat; But truly, I am sometimes in a Dis∣pute
with my self, whether it be better to live a Long and Idle, than a Short, but Profitable Life, that is, to Imploy a Little time Well, or to Wast a Great Deal of Time to no Purpose; and I Conclude, that a Little Good is better than Nothing, or better than a Sum of Evil; for 'tis better through Industry to Leave a Little to After Age, than Die so Poor as to Leave Nothing, no not so much as After Ages may say, there Liv'd such a one in Former Ages, than to Die, and be quite Forgotten; and there∣fore should I live out the Course of Nature, or could live so Long as Methusalem, when the Time were Past, it would seem as No∣thing, and perchance I should be as Unwil∣ling to Die then, as if I Died in my Youth, so that a Long, and a Short time of Life, is as one and the same; 'Tis true, Death is Terrible to Think of, but in Death no Ter∣rour Remains; so as it is Life that is Painful both to the Body and Mind, and not Death, for the Mind in Life is Fearful, and the Bo∣dy is seldom at Ease. But howsoever, I will endeavour, Madam, so to Divide the time of my Bodily Life, as to Imploy part of my Time for Health, and part for Fame, and all for Gods Favour, and when I Die, I will Bequeath my Soul to Heaven, my Fame to Time, and my Body to Earth, there to be Dissolved and Transformed as Nature Plea∣ses, for to her it belongs. I do not much Care, nor Trouble my Thoughts to think
where I shall be Buried, when Dead, or into what part of the Earth I shall be Thrown; but if I could have my Wish, I Would my Dust might be Inurned, and mix'd with the Dust of those I Love Best, although I think they would not Remain Long together, for I did observe, that in this last War the Urns of the Dead were Digged up, their Dust Dispersed, and their Bones Thrown about, and I suppose that in all Civil or Home-wars such Inhuman Acts are Com∣mitted; wherefore it is but a Folly to be Trou∣bled and Concerned, where they shall be Buri∣ed, or for their Graves, or to Bestow much Cost on their Tombes, since not only Time, but VVars will Ruin them. But, Madam, lest I should make you Melancholy with Discoursing of so sad Subjects as Death and Graves, Bones and Dust, I leave you to Livelier and Pleasanter Thoughts and Conversation, and rest,
Madam,
Your faithful Friend and Servant.