What is it which is most proper to be said, or done, upon the present Occasion? That Question I confess is pertinent, but let it be what it will, I'm sure 'tis in your power to come up to't; and therefore never pretend it impracticable. You'l never leave Grumbling , and Growling till you have brought your Fancy to your Philosophy, till you can practise Virtue with a Gust, and make your Duty your Pleasure: And why you should not do this I can't imagine; For the Practise of Virtue is nothing but Humane Powers naturally set on work; 'Tis only putting the Wheels in the Motion they were contriv'd for, and going just as you were Made. Now Nature's postures are always easie, and which is more, nothing but your own Will, can put you out of them. The Motion of a Cylinder may be stopt. Fire and Water may be check'd in their Tendency, and so may any part of the Elementary, Vegetative, and Animal World; In this Case a great many Obstructions may interpose. But there's nothing can block up a Soul, stop the Course of Reason, or hinder a Thought from running in the right Channel. He that considers the irresistible Liberty of the Mind, that she moves as easily as Fire does upwards, as a Stone downwards, as a Cylinder on a smooth Descent; will trouble his head about nothing farther. For all other Impediments proceed either from the Body, which he looks upon rather as a Carkass, than a Companion , or else they are founded in Opinion, and unless we betray our selves, and desert our Reason, can do us no manner of Mischief: Otherwise, Ill Fortune, as 'tis commonly call'd, would make a Body an ill Man: For all other Productions of Nature, or Art, when any harm happens to them they are certainly the worse for't: But here a Man is the better for what he suffers; He improves his Value, and raises his Character, by making a right use of a Rugged Accident. In short I would have you remember, that no Burgher can receive any Damage by that which does not Affect his Corporation; Neither can the Community suffer, unless the Laws, by which 'tis Govern'd, are broken, and suffer too: But these Misfortunes as they are call'd, don't violate the Constitution; nor break in upon the Laws, therefore they don't Damage the Corporation ; nor by consequence any Member in it. ²⁰