If a _gentleman_ should have killed _fewer foxes_, been less frequent at _balls_, _gaming_, and _merry meetings_, because stated parts of his time had been given to _retirement_, to _meditation_, and _devotion_, could it be thought, that when he left the world, he would regret the loss of those hours that he had given to the improvement of his soul? If a _tradesman_, by aspiring after Christian perfection, and retiring often from business, should, instead of leaving his children fortunes to spend in _luxury_ and _idleness_, leave them to live by their own honest labour; could it be said that he had made a _wrong use_ of the world, because he had more regard to that which is eternal, than to this which is so soon to be at an end? Since therefore devotion is not only the best and most desirable practice in a _cloyster_, but in _every state_ of life, they that desire to be excused from it, because they are men of _figure_, and _estates_, and _business_, are no wiser than those that should desire to be excused from _health_ and _happiness_, because they were men of _figure_ and _estates_. 3. I can’t see why every _gentleman_, _merchant_, or _soldier_, should not put these questions seriously to himself; _What is the best thing for me to aim at in all my actions? How shall I do to make the most of human life? What ways shall I wish that I had taken, when I am leaving the world?_ Now, to be thus wise, seems but a _small_ and _necessary_ piece of wisdom. For how can we pretend to sense and judgment, if we dare not seriously consider, and govern our lives by that which such questions require of us? Shall a _nobleman_ think his birth too high, to condescend to such questions as these? Or a _tradesman_ think his business too great, to take any care about himself? Now, here is desired no more devotion in any one’s life, than the answering these _few questions_ requires. Any devotion that is not to the greater advantage of him that uses it, than any thing he can do in the _room_ of it; any devotion that does not procure an _infinitely greater_ good, than can be got by neglecting it, is yielded up. But if people will live in so _much ignorance_, as never to put these questions to themselves, but push on a blind life at all chances, in quest of they don’t know what, or why; without ever considering the worth, or value, or tendency of their actions; without considering what God, _reason_, _eternity_, and their own happiness requires of them: it is for the honour of devotion that none can neglect it, but those who are thus inconsiderate, who dare not enquire after that which is the best and most worthy of their choice. 4. *It is true, _Claudius_, you are a man of _figure_ and _estate_, and are to act the part of such a station in life; you are not called, as _Elijah_ was, to be a prophet, or as St. _Paul_, to be an apostle. But will you therefore not love yourself? Will you not seek and study your own happiness?