第 7 节
作者:      更新:2021-03-08 19:26      字数:9319
  certainly by the practice of general kindness; by rejecting the importunity
  of     our    senses;     by    distinguishing      truth    from     falsehood;      and     by
  contemplating the works of the Almighty。
  34。    Be sure to mind that which lies before you; whether it be thought;
  word; or action; and never postpone an opportunity; or   make virtue wait
  for you till to…morrow。
  35。     Whatever tends   neither  to   the  improvement   of   your   reason   nor
  the benefit of   society;  think   it   below  you;   and   when   you have   done   any
  considerable service to mankind; do not lessen it by your folly in gaping
  after reputation and requital。
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  36。    When you find yourself sleepy in a morning; rouse yourself; and
  consider   that   you   are   born   to   business;   and   that   in   doing   good   in   your
  generation; you answer your character and act like a man; whereas sleep
  and idleness do but degrade you; and sink you down to a brute。
  37。    A mind that has nothing of hope; or fear; or aversion; or desire; to
  weaken   and   disturb   it;   is   the   most   impregnable   security。   Hither   we   may
  with safety retire and defy our enemies; and he that sees not this advantage
  must be extremely ignorant; and he that forgets it unhappy。
  38。    Do not disturb yourself about the faults of other people; but let
  everybody's crimes be at their own door。                Have always this great maxim
  in your remembrance; that to play the knave is to rebel against religion; all
  sorts of injustice being no less than high treason against Heaven itself。
  39。    Do   not   contemn   death;   but   meet   it   with   a   decent   and   religious
  fortitude;  and look   upon it   as   one of   those   things   which   Providence   has
  ordered。      If   you   want   a   cordial   to   make   the   apprehensions   of   dying   go
  down a little the more easily; consider what sort of world and what sort of
  company you will part with。             To conclude; do but look seriously into the
  world; and there you will see multitudes of people preparing for funerals;
  and   mourning   for   their   friends   and   acquaintances;   and   look   out   again   a
  little   afterwards;   and   you   will   see   others   doing   the   very   same   thing   for
  them。
  40。    In   short;   men   are   but   poor   transitory   things。    To…day   they   are
  busy and harassed with the affairs of human life; and to…morrow life itself
  is taken from them; and they are returned to their original dust and ashes。
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  PART III
  Containing prophetic observations relating to the affairs of Europe and
  of Great Britain; more particularly from 1720 to 1729。
  1。   In the latter end of 1720; an eminent old lady shall bring forth five
  sons   at   a birth; the   youngest   shall   live   and   grow  up   to   maturity;  but   the
  four   eldest   shall   either   die   in   the   nursery;   or   be   all   carried   off   by   one
  sudden and unexpected accident。
  2。   About this time a man with a double head shall arrive in Britain
  from   the    south。    One    of  these   heads    shall  deliver   messages     of   great
  importance      to  the   governing     party;  and   the  other   to  the   party  that   is
  opposite to them。        The  first shall believe the  monster; but the last  shall
  discover the impostor; and so happily disengage themselves from a snare
  that was laid to destroy them and their posterity。            After this the two heads
  shall unite; and the monster shall appear in his proper shape。
  3。   In the year 1721; a philosopher from Lower Germany shall come;
  first to Amsterdam in Holland; and afterwards to London。                   He will bring
  with him a world of curiosities; and among them a pretended secret for the
  transmutation   of   metals。      Under   the   umbrage   of   this   mighty   secret   he
  shall pass upon the world for some time; but at length he shall be detected;
  and   proved   to   be   nothing   but   an   empiric   and   a   cheat;   and   so   forced   to
  sneak off; and leave the people he has deluded; either to bemoan their loss;
  or laugh at their own folly。        N。B。… This will be the last of his sect that will
  ever venture in this part of the world upon the same errand。
  4。   In this year great endeavours will be used for procuring a general
  peace; which shall be so near a conclusion that public rejoicings shall be
  made at the courts of several great potentates upon that account; but just in
  the critical juncture; a certain neighbouring prince shall come to a violent
  death; which shall occasion new war and commotion all over Europe; but
  these shall continue but for a short time; and at last terminate in the utter
  destruction of the first aggressors。
  5。   Towards the close of this year of mysteries; a person that was born
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  blind   shall   have   his   sight   restored;   and   shall   see   ravens   perch   upon   the
  heads of traitors; among which the head of a notorious prelate shall stand
  upon the highest pole。
  6。    In   the   year   1722;    there   shall   be   a  grand    congress;     and   new
  overtures   of  peace  offered   by  most of   the   principal parties   concerned   in
  the war; which shall have so good effect that a cessation of arms shall be
  agreed upon   for six   months;  which   shall be   kept   inviolable till   a  certain
  general;   either   through   treachery   or   inadvertency;   shall   begin   hostilities
  before the expiration of the term; upon which the injured prince shall draw
  his sword; and throw the scabbard into the sea; vowing never to return it
  till he shall obtain satisfaction for himself; and done justice to all that were
  oppressed。
  7。    At the close of this year; a famous bridge shall be broken down;
  and the water that runs under it shall be tinctured with the blood of two
  notorious      malefactors;      whose      unexpected       death    shall   make      mighty
  alterations   in   the   present state   of   affairs;   and   put   a   stop   to   the   ruin   of   a
  nation; which must otherwise have been unavoidable。
  8。    1723 begins with plots; conspiracies; and intestine commotions in
  several countries; nor shall Great Britain itself be free from the calamity。
  These   shall   continue   till   a   certain   young   prince   shall   take   the   reins   of
  government        into   his  own     hands;    and   after   that;  a   marriage     shall   be
  proposed;   and   an   alliance   concluded   between   two   great   potentates;   who
  shall join   their  forces; and   endeavour;  in good   earnest; to set   all   matters
  upon a right foundation。
  9。    This year several cardinals and prelates shall be publicly censured
  for   heretical   principles;   and     shall   narrowly   escape      from   being   torn   to
  pieces   by   the   common   people;   who   still   look   upon   them   as   the   grand
  disturbers      of   public    tranquillity;    perfect    incendiaries;     and    the   chief
  promoters of their former; present; and future calamities。
  10。    In 1724…5 there will be many treaties and negociations; and Great
  Britain;     particularly;     will    be   crowded       with    foreign     ministers     and
  ambassadors from remote princes and states。                   Trade and commerce will
  begin     to  flourish    and   revive;   and   everything      will  have    a  comfortable
  prospect; until some desperadoes; assisted by a monster with many heads;
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  shall start new difficulties; and put the world again into a flame; but these
  shall be but of short duration。
  11。    Before the expiration of 1725; an eagle from the north shall fly
  directly   to   the   south;   and   perch   upon   the   palace   of   a   prince;   and   first
  unravel   the   bloody   projects   and   designs   of   a   wicked   set   of   people;   and
  then    publicly    discover     the   murder     of  a  great   king;    and   the   intended
  assassination of another greater than he。
  12。    In 1726; three princes will be born that will grow up to be men;
  and inherit the crowns of three of the greatest monarchies in Europe。
  13。     About      this  time   the   pope    will   die;  and