Long Livers:

Peace ; to obtain which you must avoid all Tumult , much Company , and tho Hurry of all Publick Employment ; for which Reasons avoid as much as possible the Court , where a man must indispensably be obliged to wear the Maskand where

, the Language and Customs very ill agree with the Simplicity of the Brotherhood ; where the Baits to do 111 are so many and enticing , and the Encouragements to Virtue so few and cold , that a good man has much ado to hinder himself from

being carried away with the Torrent ; and ten to one but all his honest Endeavours to serve his Prince and Country , are represented hi a wrong Light , and his faithful Service repaid with Disgrace ; there being ever about great Men some fawning Sycophants whose Interest it is to keep

honest Persons from them , lest they come to know the Truth of Things . This is the State of all Princes ; for let them he never so good themselves , they must see through other People ' s ' Eyes , and hear through other People ' s Ears .

But if any of you should happen to be in any Employment which obliges your constant Attendance here ; if your Prince , who knows how to distinguish Merit , should cast his Honours on you unsought , unbooked for ; exert yourselves like Men . Be affable and courteous to all Men , and that not in Words only , but in Reality ; and especially to the Brethren ; it is your

Duty particularly to be kind to them ; they will ask nothing unreasonable , they cannot do it ; ( Natura paucii contenta ) and they least of all will envy your high Station . Alas ! they are sensible the Heights of Honour are not only very

slippery , but shew yon to all the World , where every one will see your Spots , but few sound your Virtues . The Crowd indeed is pleased with Show and Pageantry ; all see your Pomp , but few know your Sorrows . A true Brother ( Heaven defend

us from the bluest Plagues , from false ones ) envies no one who is mounted on the high Battlements of State ; he had infinitely rather live in security than Grandeur ; the Pleasure in such lofty Stations he knows ( even of the few Good ) can

be but little , but the Ruin long , if they chance to fall . He would choose to hide himself in the Clefts of the Rock , or so securely pass his Days in some sweet

quiet Shade , happy in Leisure and profoundost Obscurity . His Happiness is , not to bo taken notice of ; and whilst others place all their imaginary Joy and Satisfaction in Noise and being popular , he desires ( to use the Style of a great , but obscure Philosopher ) that his soft Minutes

may glide away in Obscurity ( like subterraneous Streams ) unheard , unknown . And thus , when his Days are past away in Silence , would die a good , plain , honest Man ; knowing that Death cannot choose but he to him a mighty Terror , who is

popularly known to all the World , and dies only to himself a Stranger . Be wise therefore , ye great ones of this World , bo learned , ye that are Judges of the Earth . Kiss tho Son , lest he be angry , and so ye perish from the right way ; lest he bruise you with his Rod of Iron , and crush you into Pieces like a Potter ' s Vessel :

Remember you must die , and with her meanest Sons pay that Debt of Nature , and be reduced to your primitive Earth , which then will be no ways different from that of the poorest Cottager . Here the Weary rest from Labour , here the Prisoner sleeps in Peacetho Rich and the Poor

, , the haughty Monarch and the abject Slave lie promiscuous , undisturbed , and have no Distinction in the cold , silent Grave . This is the end of all human Glory . Do therefore Justice , yet be merciful ; discharge faithfully your respective Dutiesand then

, if you fall from your eminent Hei ghts , you will carry Peace of Mind along with you , and a good Conscience : if you do not die rich , you will die honest Men , and that is much better ; for a good Name is better than riches .

The next Tiling that I shall remember you of is , to avoid Politics and Religion Have nothing to do with these , as you tender your own Welfare ; they will be destructive to your beloved Peace and Quiet , and have undone Millions ; and therefore in these latter Days , happy are

they who do not trouble themselves about cither . You know what I mean . But lest the rash censorious World , or such into whose hands this Book may fall , from hence fancy we have neither Reli gion nor Politics , lot such know their Error ; Ours is the best Policy , it is Honesty ; it is the Policy of the Holy Jesus , who never disturbed Governments , but left them as he