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they have gained their end; fo man, being born for benevolent actions, when he does a kind office to any one, or acts in any way for the good of the community, does what he was formed for, and has obtained his utmost perfection.

END OF THE NINTH BOOK.

BOOK X.

S. I.

WILT

ILT thou ever, O my foul, become perfectly good, simple, and uniform; free from all disguise, and more pure and refined than the grofs body that furrounds thee? Wilt thou ever taste the happiness of a truly benevolent and affectionate difpofition? In a word, wilt thou ever be fully fatisfied, without wants or wishes of any thing, either animate or inanimate, to complete thy enjoyment; without defiring any more leifure for ease and amufement; any change of place, or climate, or warmer air; or more friendly intercourfe with mankind?†

He certainly alludes to his fituation amongst the Quadi and Pannonians, on the banks of the Danube; where his repofe was difturbed by perpetual incurfions and wars with the Barbarians.

Are

Are you then contented in your prefent fituation, and determined to be pleased with your prefent circumftances, whatever they are; and convinced, that you poffefs every thing neceffary, and that things are well with you? And, moreover, that every thing proceeds from the Gods; and that every thing is right, which they already have, or fhall hereafter vouchsafe to bestow, as conducing to the welfare of the universe; that perfect, good, juft, and fair system of animated nature; the parent of all things; which fupports, comprehends, and embraces all things, which are in a ftate of diffolution, for the production of other beings 1.ke themselves?

Wilt thou then, at length, arrive at fuch a ftate of perfection, as to live and converfe with the Gods and men, in fuch a manner, as neither to complain of them, nor give them reafon to complain of you?

2. Obferve what your nature requires of you in her vegetative capacity, as if you were fubject to no higher a law; and comply with her instincts fo far, as not to injure

See B. iv. §. 23.

your

your animal nature. In the next place, obferve what your animal nature requires; and fo far indulge her appetites, as not to be detrimental to your rational nature. Now, as a rational creature, you are evidently formed for the duties of fociety. If then, you attend to these rules, you need not be very folicitous about any thing further.

3. Whatever happens, it is of fuch a kind, that either you are formed by nature to bear it, or you are not fo. If it is of fuch a kind as you are able to bear, do not be chagrined, but bear it as nature has enabled you to do. But fuppofe it is fuch as you are not naturally qualified to bear; yet do not fret, or lofe your temper: for, if it deftroy your life, and confequently your power of feeling it, there is an end of the matter.

Remember however, that you are formed by nature to bear whatever your own opinion of things chufes to make tolerablet or supportable, by representing it to your imagination, either as your duty, or as conducive to your advantage.

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4. If any one is in an error, you ought kindly to inftruct him, and point out his error. But, if this is not in your power, do not blame him, but yourself; nay, probably, you yourself are not to be blamed.

5. Whatever befalls you, was your lot, predeftined from all eternity; and the feries of causes so interwoven, that this event and your existence were neceffarily connected.

6. Whether the world fubfifts by a fortuitous concourse of atoms, or an Intelligent Nature prefides over it, let this be laid down as a maxim, that I am a part of a whole, governed by its own nature, whatever that is; and, in the next place, that I have a focial connection with thofe parts of this whole, which are of the fame kind with myself. Keeping this then in mind, that I am a part of a whole, I fhall never be displeased with whatever is allotted me by that whole. For, nothing can be injurious to any part, which is for the good of the whole. Now, the whole can have nothing within itself, which is not conducive to its advantage: it being common to all natures,

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