Labour in vain: or, What signifies little or nothing Viz. I. The poor man's petitioning at court. II. Expectation of benefit from a covetous man in his life-time. III. The marriage of an old man to a young woman. IV. Endeavours to regulate mens manners by preaching or writing. V. Being a Jacobite. VI. Confining an insolvent debtor. VII. Promise of secrecy in a conspiracy. VIII. An enquiry after a place.

OBSERVATION.

SELDOM any Resolution is so fix'd, but that apparent be∣nefit, as Self-preservation, or Riches, will alter it, espe∣cially

when the Resolve is evil, for no Man, though never so much prompted by Ambition, Avarice, Lust or Revenge, but has a Moni∣tor within, which Dictates to him, that his Resolve and Attempt is Evil in it self; and from what one's Reason informs to be bad, a Man is easily drawn from Effecting: So we find many Men who dare undaunted, look Death in the Face in a just Cause, will Recant and appear Cowards, when Ill is to be attempted, from whence has proceeded many Discoveries of Plots and Conspiracies, to the Se∣cresie of which, Men have Oblig'd themselves by all the Tyes that are counted Sacred and Binding; such are to be counted Repent∣ants, because they discover the Design out of an Odium to the Evil. But some, without Considering Good or Evil, in Relation to Futu∣rity, discover the secret Conspiracies with them intrusted, not lor Conscience, but for Lucre sake, others when their first Heat is over, grow Pusilanimous, and confess to save their Lives; sometimes insi∣nite Wisdom confounds their Councils and Devices, lead them into Errors and Mistakes, and by ways unimaginable, bring to Light the hidden things of Darkness.

Whilst a protecting Providence do sway, Whilst Men Inspir'd dictates do obey, Whilst Life has Value, and Reward has Love, Protested Secresie in Ill does prove Of small Validity; the first will act What's Consonant to Iustice of a Fact: The Second by Impulsive Power Command, What wo'n't Man do to keep his wasting Sand▪ And bountiful Reward makes Men betray Their dearest Kin, and Friendship wipes away▪ Subject to Power, and tempted by a Bait, Too pleasing to deny, of little weight Proves promis'd Privacy; then why should I Meddle in Plots, in Hopes of Secresie?