The way therefore to Govern ’em is to be always in a Temper fit for this, Recollect and Compos’d, holding our Minds in as even a poise as ever we can between Mirth and Melancholy, one of which Stupifies the Soul and the other Dissolves it; and both of ’em weaken and dispose it for Passion. Nothing but what feeds the ill humor will make Impression whilst it is under the power of _this_, nor any useful thing stay in it, but it lies open to all manner of evil, when it is violently agitated by _that_. Too much of either rendring us unfit to Converse with our selves or others; such a mixture of both as makes us Serious without Sourness, and Chearful without Levity, being the happy Temper. It is by surprize that the Passions injure us, they violently attack our Reason when she is not prepar’d to receive them, so that the Will is determin’d all of a sudden by Confuse Perceptions and Sensations. Nor is it easie to repulse them when once they have gain’d ground, because they often bribe our Guard, and get the Mastry of us by those very Considerations which shou’d have been arm’d against ’em. But Recollection, a sedate and sober frame of Mind, prevents this Mischief, it keeps our Reason always on her Guard and ready to exert her self; it fits us to Judge truly of all occurrences, and to draw advantage from whatever happens. This is the true Art of Prudence, for that which properly speaks us Wise, is the accommodating all the Accidents of Life to the great End of Living. And since the Passiveness of our Nature makes us liable to many Sufferings which we cou’d wish to avoid, Wisdom consists in the using those Powers, which GOD has given us the free disposal of, in such a manner, as to make those very things which befal us against our Will, an occasion of Good to us. For if we do not live like Machines, but like Reasonable Creatures, that is if we Observe, Examine and Apply whatever comes under our Cognizance, every Turn in our own and our Neighbours Life will be Useful to us. It is not to be deny’d that we’re generally Critical Observators on our Neighbours, but I’m afraid it is with an Ill not a Good Design. We do’t to feed our Pride by an ungenerous insulting over their Infirmities, or thinking to Excuse and Justifie our own Faults by theirs. But we seldom set a mark on the Precipices from whence they fell that we may avoid ’em, or note their False Steps, that ours may be more Exact.