Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/303

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Meditations, &c.
123

no Body out-do you in Virtue and Behaviour. Let no Body be more Liberal,and Modest, more Resign'd, and Forgiving than your self.

LIV. As long as a Man can make use of his Reason, and Act in concert with the God's, he needs not question the Event. There can be no grounds to suspect Misfortune, provided you stick close to Nature, and manage within the Character of your condition.

LV. 'Tis always, and every where in your power, to resign to the God's, to be just to Mankind ; And to examine every Object with that Nicety, as never to be impos'd on.

LVI. Ne're make any rambling enquiries after other Peoples Thoughts, but look direftly at the Mark which Nature has set you. Nature I say, either that of the Universe[1] or your own: The first leads you to submission to Providence; The latter to act as becomes you. Now that which is suitable to the Frame and Constitution of things, is what becomes them. To be more particular: The rest of the World is design'd for the Service of Rational Beings, in consequence of this general Appointment, by which the lower order of Things, are made for the use of the more Noble. And Rational Creatures,

standing
  1. The Nature of the Universe, is God in the Language of the Stoicks.