well acquainted and in good correspondence with him especially that
is seated and placed within himself, as in a temple and sacrary:
to whom also he keeps and preserves himself unspotted by pleasure,
undaunted by pain; free from any manner of wrong, or contumely,
by himself offered unto himself: not capable of any evil from others:
a wrestler of the best sort, and for the highest prize, that he may
not be cast down by any passion or affection of his own; deeply dyed
and drenched in righteousness, embracing and accepting with his
whole heart whatsoever either happeneth or is allotted unto him.
One who not often, nor without some great necessity tending to
some public good, mindeth what any other, either speaks, or doth,
or purposeth: for those things only that are in his own power,
or that are truly his own, are the objects of his employments,
and his thoughts are ever taken up with those things, which of
the whole universe are by the fates or Providence destinated
and appropriated unto himself. Those things that are his own,
and in his own power, he himself takes order, for that they be good:
and as for those that happen unto him, he believes them to be so.
For that lot and portion which is assigned to every one,
as it is unavoidable and necessary, so is it always profitable.
He remembers besides that whatsoever partakes of reason,
is akin unto him, and that to care for all men generally,
is agreeing to the nature of a man: but as for honour and praise,
that they ought not generally to be admitted and accepted
of from all, but from such only, who live according to nature.
As for them that do not, what manner of men they be at home,
or abroad; day or night, how conditioned themselves with what manner
of conditions, or with men of what conditions they moil and pass
away the time together, he knoweth, and remembers right well,
he therefore regards not such praise and approbation, as proceeding