o my advantage. Though I know
neither the time nor the manner of the death I am to die, I am not at
all solicitous about it; because I am sure that he knows them both, and
that he will not fail to comfort and support me under them.

_A good Conscience the best Security against Calumny and Reproach_.

GUARDIAN, No. 135.

1. A good conscience is to the soul what health is to the body; it
preserves a constant ease and serenity within us, and move than
countervails all the calamities and afflictions which can possibly befal
us. I know nothing so hard for a generous mind to get over as calumny
and reproach, and cannot find any method of quieting the soul under
them, besides this single one, of our being conscious to ourselves that
we do not deserve them.

2. I have been always mightily pleased with that passage in Don
Quixotte, where the fantastical knight is represented as loading a
gentleman of good sense with praises and eulogiums. Upon which the
gentleman makes this reflection to himself: how grateful is praise to
human nature!

3. I cannot forbear being secretly pleased with the commendations I
receive, though, I am sensible, it is a madman who bestows them on me.
In the same manner, though we are often sure that the censures which are
passed upon us, are uttered by those who know nothing of us, and have
neither means nor abilities to form a right judgment of us, we cannot
forbear being grieved at what they say.

4. In order to heal this infirmity, which is so natural to the best and
wisest of men, I have taken a particular pleasure in observing the
conduct of the old philosophers, how they bore themselves up against the
malice and detraction of their enemies.

5. The way to silence calumny, says _Bias_, is to be always exercised in
such things as are praise-worthy. _Socrates_, after having received
sentence, told his friends that he had always accustomed himself to
regard truth and not censure, and that he was not troubled at his
condemnation, because he knew himself free from guilt. It was in the
same spirit that he heard the accusations of his two great adversaries,
who had uttered against him the most virulent reproaches.

6. _Anytus_ and _Melitus_, says he, may procure sentence against me, but
they cannot hurt me. This divine philosopher was so well fortified in
his own innocence, that he neglected all the impotence of evil tongues
which were engaged in his destruction. This was properly the suppor