'Tis the Custom of People to go to Unfrequented Places and Country Seats for Retirement; And this has been your Method formerly. But after all, this is but a Vulgar Fancy. For 'tis in your Power to withdraw into your self whenever you have a Mind to't. Now ones own Breast is a place the most free from Crowd and Noise in the World, if a Mans Retrospections are easy, his Thoughts entertaining, and his Mind well in Order. Your way is therefore to make frequent use of this Retirement, and Refresh your Virtue in't. And to this End, be always provided with a few short uncontested Notions, to keep your Understanding True, and make you easy in your Business. For Instance, what is it that Troubles you? Is it the Wickedness of the World, and the ill Usage you meet with? If this be your Case, Out with your Antidote, and consider. That Mankind were made for mutual Advantage; that Forbearance is one part of Justice, and that People misbehave themselves against: their Will. ¹ Consider likewise, how many Men have embroyl'd themselves, and spent their Days in Disputes and Animosities; and what did they get by it? Why They had more Trouble and it may be, less of Life than they would have had. Be Quiet then, and don't disturb your self to no purpose. But it may be the Government of the World does not please you: Take out t'other Notion, and Argue thus. Either Providence, or Chance fits at the Helm; If the First, the Administration can't be question'd; if the Latter, there's no mending on't. Besides, you may remember that the World is as it were one Great City and Corporation. But possibly the ill State of your Health afflicts you. Pray Reflect, your Soul does not lie in your Lungs, nor your Reason in your Breath, so that if you are somewhat Asthmatick, or out of Order, 'tis no such great Matter. No, Not if your Mind will retire, and take a view of her own Priviledge and Power. And when she has done this, Recollect her Philosophy about Pleasure and Pain; And to which she has formerly assented. Well! It may be the Concern of Fame sits hard upon you. If you are pinched here, consider how quickly all things vanish, and are forgotten; what an immense Chaos there stands, what an Extent of Darkness and Confusion; on either side of Eternity.² Applause! consider the Emptiness of the Sound, the Precarious Tenure, the little Judgment of those that give it us; and the narrow Compass 'tis confin'd to: For the whole Globe is but a Point; And of this Little how Little is Inhabited? And where 'tis Peopled, you'l have no Reason to Brag either of the Number, or Quality of your Admirers. Upon the whole; Don't forget to Retire into the Seat of your Reason; And above all Things, Let there be no Haling, nor struggling in the Case, but move Freely, and Gracefully, and manage Matters like a Man of Sense and Spirit, like a Burgher of the whole World, and like a Creature that must die shortly. And among the rest of your Stock, let these two Maxims be always ready; First, That 'tis not Things but Thoughts, which give Disturbance; For Things keep their Distance, and Tease no Body, till Fancy raises the Spleen, and grows Untoward. ³The Second, is to consider, that the Scene is just shifting, and sliding off into Nothing; And that you your self have seen abundance of Great Alterations. In a Word, generally speaking, the World is all Revolution, and Conduct ⁴ little better than Fancy.