When you are going to confer with any one, and particularly of those in a superior Station, represent to yourself how Socrates[1], or Zeno, would behave in such a Case, and you will not be at a Loss to make a proper Use of whatever may occur.
When you are going to any of the People in Power, represent to yourself, that you will not find him at home: that you will not be admitted [into the House]: that the Doors [of his Apartment] will not be opened to you; that he will take no Notice of you If, with all this, it be your Duty to go, bear what happens, and never say [to yourself], "It was not worth so much." For this is vulgar, and like a Man disconcerted by Externals[2].
In Parties of Conversation, avoid a frequent and excessive mention of your own Actions, and Dangers. For, however agreeable it may be to yourself to mention the Risques, you have run, it is not equally agreeable to others to hear your Adventures. Avoid, likewise, an Endeavour to excite Laughter. For this is a slippery Point, which may throw you into vulgar Manners: and, besides, may be apt to lessen you in the Esteem of your Acquaintance. Approaches to indecent Discourse are likewise dangerous. Whenever, therefore, any thing of this Sort happens, if there be a proper Opportunity, rebuke him who makes Advances that way: or, at least, by Silence, and Blushing, and a forbidding Look, show yourself to be displeased by such Talk.
- ↑ It should be observed here, that, the Mind being thus naturally affected by the Thought of imitating a superior Character, Christians enjoy a singular Advantage, in not being left to study and copy the imperfect and faulty Patterns of Persons no way particularly related to them, but having an authentic Delineation of divine Excellence, familiarized to their Apprehensions in Him, who, both in acting and suffering for us, hath left us an Example, that we should follow his Steps.
- ↑ A late Editor of the Enchiridion hath proposed to read διαπεπληγμενον instead of διαβεβλημενον.
