g this blessing, I mean life and health, than which it has
not pleased God we should enjoy a greater on this side of the grave,
life and existence being a thing so naturally coveted, and
willingly preserved, by every living creature. But, as I do not
intend to write a panegyric on this rare and excellent virtue, I
shall put an end to this discourse, lest I should be guilty of
excess, in dwelling so long on so pleasing a subject. Yet as
numberless things may still be said of it, I leave off, with an
intention of setting forth the rest of its praises at a more
convenient opportunity.

A COMPENDIUM OF A SOBER LIFE

My treatise on a sober life has begun to answer my desire, in
being of service to many persons born with a weak constitution,
who every time they committed the least excess, found themselves
greatly indisposed, a thing which it must be allowed does not
happen to robust people: several of these persons of weak
constitutions, on seeing the foregoing treatise, have betaken
themselves to a regular course of life, convinced by experience
of its utility. In like manner, I should be glad to be of service
to those, who are born with a good constitution, and presuming
upon it, lead a disorderly life; whence it comes to pass, that, on
their attaining the age of sixty or thereabouts, they are attacked
with various pains and diseases; some with the gout, some with
pains in the side, and others with pains in the stomach, and the
like, to which they would not be subject, were they to embrace a
sober life; and as most of them die before they attain their
eightieth year, they would live to a hundred, the time allowed to
man by God and nature. And, it is but reasonable to believe, that
the intention of this our mother is, that we should all attain that
term, in order that we might all taste the sweets of every state of
life. But, as our birth is subject to the revolution of the
heavens, these have great influence over it, especially in rendering
our constitutions robust or infirm; a thing, which nature cannot
ward against; for, if she could, we should all bring a good
constitution with us into the world. But then she hopes, that man,
being endowed with reason and understanding, may of himself
compensate, by dint of art, the want of that, which the heavens
have denied him; and, by means of a sober life, contrive to mend
his infirm constitution, live to a great age, and always enjoy
good health.

For man, it is not