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If the Spring of a Watch be over-strained, it will cease to Draw; if the Ballance be overloaded, the Motion stops. It is the like in all other natural Motions, and 'tis so in this of the Man. He that will put Nature out of her proper Course, and upon Extreams which he has not equal Powers to perform, will ruin those Powers which she has, and, in a word, ruin the whole Fabrick.
If the Man is himself; if he is Master of his Reason, and sound Argument can make any due Impression upon him, he will consider this Part for his own sake, abstracted from its being an Offence against his Superior, the Governor of his Life, to whom he must Account; if, I say, he would only consider himself, act like a rational Creature, and study his own Interest, it must move him to behave himself prudently.
I know nothing, no not one Instance in Life, wherein Virtue may be more truly said to be its own Reward, than in this Particular: Take the Case inverted, who has length of Days, who sound Constitution? who has strength of Body, agility of Limbs, who enjoys an uninterrupted Health, but the Temperate, the Moderate, and the Virtuous? Their Vitals are not exhausted, Nature is not oppress'd; the Vigour of the Spirits expended, and the Marrow of their Bones wasted: Their Youth has not robbed their old Age; or their untimely Vice diverted the Channels of Nature, and turn'd the Water from the Mill.
The Modest, the Chast, the temperate Youth, is the hail, the chearful, and the healthy old Man: He that lives too fast, goes to his Grave too soon; 'tis a course, but significant Expression, He that lives a Gallop, goes to the Devil aTrot.
