Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/360

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180
Marcus Antoninus's

Interrest of your Senses demands ; And here you may indulge your Appetite as far as you please, provided your Rational Nature does not suffer by the Liberty. Now your Rational Nature admits of nothing but what is serviceable to the rest of Mankind; Keep to these Rules and you'l have no need of Rambling for farther Instruction.

III. What ever happens, you have no reason to take it ill ; For either you have strength to bear it or you have not : If you have, exert your Nature, and ne're murmur at the matter. But if the weight is to heavy for you, 'twill crush your Sences, and then you wont feel it. And here you are to remember that to think a Thing tolerable, is the way to make it so : Now to, think it necessary, is the way to think it tolerable. Press it but strongly from the Topicks of Interest, or Duty, and you will go Thorough.

IV. Is any one Mistaken ? Undeceive him Civily, and show him his Oversight. But if you can't convince him, blame your own Management, tho' its possible you may not always deserve it.

V. What ever happens to you, was preordained your Lot, and that Chain of Causes which Constitutes Fate, tyed your Person, and the Event together, from all Eternity

VI. Either Atomes and Chance, or Na-

ture [1]
  1. God.