 intimate Acquaintance,
particularly of Mr. Watson, who dissuaded me from burying myself, as he called
it, out of a simple Compliance with the fond Desires of a foolish old Fellow.
Such Solicitations, however, had no Effect, and I once more saw my own Home. My
Father now greatly solicited me to think of Marriage; but my Inclinations were
utterly averse to any such Thoughts. I had tasted of Love already, and perhaps
you know the extravagant Excesses of that most tender and most violent Passion.«
Here the old Gentleman paused, and looked earnestly at Jones; whose Countenance
within a Minute's Space displayed the Extremities of both red and white. Upon
which the old Man, without making any Observations, renewed his Narrative.
    »Being now provided with all the Necessaries of Life, I betook myself once
again to Study, and that with a more inordinate Application that I had ever done
formerly. The Books which now employed my Time solely, were those, as well
ancient as modern, which treat of true Philosophy, a Word, which is by many
thought to be the Subject only of Farce and Ridicule. I now read over the Works
of Aristotle and Plato, with the rest of those inestimable Treasures which
ancient Greece had bequeathed to the World.
    These Authors, though they instructed me in no Science by which Men may
promise to themselves to acquire the least Riches, or worldly Power, taught me,
however, the Art of despising the highest Acquisitions of both. They elevate the
Mind, and steel and harden it against the capricious Invasions of Fortune. They
not only instruct in the Knowledge of Wisdom, but confirm Men in her Habits, and
demonstrate plainly, that this must be our Guide, if we propose ever to arrive
at the greatest worldly Happiness; or to defend ourselves with any tolerable
Security against the Misery which every where surrounds and invests us.
    To this I added another Study, compared to which all the Philosophy taught
by the wisest Heathens is little better than a Dream, and is indeed as full of
Vanity as the silliest Jester ever pleased to represent it. This is that divine
Wisdom which is alone to be found in the Holy Scriptures: for they impart to us
the Knowledge and Assurance of Things much more worthy our Attention, than all
which this World can offer to our Acceptance. Of Things which Heaven itself hath
condescended to reveal to us, and to the smallest Knowledge of which the highest
human Wit unassisted could never ascend. I began now to think all the Time I had
spent with the best Heathen Writers, was little more than Labour
