could hinder, suffer it to be done by others? Who employ all their little Wit and Pains in Scoffing at such who they say in derision wou’d be wiser then their Neighbours? We must be content to suffer a scornful fleer, a parcel of hard Names and a little ridiculing, if we’re Resolv’d to do such things as do not deserve ’em. Dogs will bark at the Moon, and perhaps for no other reason but because she is out of their reach, elevated above them. But the Author of our Nature to whom all the Inconveniencies we are liable to in this Earthly Pilgrimage are fully known, has endow’d us with Principles sufficient to carry us safely thro them all, if we will but observe and make use of ’em. One of these is _Generosity_, which (so long as we keep it from degenerating into Pride) is of admirable advantage to us in this matter. It was not fit that Creatures capable of and made for Society, shou’d be wholly Independent, or Indifferent to each others Esteem and Commendation; nor was it convenient considering how seldom these are justly distributed, that they shou’d too much regard and depend on them. It was requisite therefore that a desire of our Neighbours Good Opinion shou’d be implanted in our Natures to the end we might be excited to do such things as deserve it, and yet withall a Generous neglect of it, if they unjustly withheld it where it was due. There’s so little reason that we shou’d be discourag’d from what is truly excellent and becoming on account of being Scoft and Laugh’d at for it, that on the contrary this is a new accession to our Glory, we never shine so Illustriously as when we break thro these little Clouds and Oppositions which impotently attempted to obscure our Rays. To be Reproach’d for Weldoing is a higher Encomium, than the loftiest Praises when we do not deserve them: So that let the World think as it list, whilst we are in the pursuit of true Wisdom, our Reputation is secur’d, our Crown is furbishing and tho it do not shine out in this Envious and Ill-natur’d World, it will however, which is infinitely more desirable appear in all its Lustre and Splendor in a better.