Soo The Evil and Folly of Covetoufnefs. SERM.lefs perfeft for our having or wanting them. XI. As yob wifely obferveth concerning himfelf `"vim when he was ftripped of all worldly poffef- fions, that he came naked into the world, and ftould go naked out of it ; riches and poverty might make an accidental alteration in his slate while here, but had nothing to do ei- ther with the commencement or the end of life; the interior faculties of thinking, rea- Coning, and willing, and the exercife of them, together with all the noble affections of the mind, and the enjoyments they af- ford; all thefe are independent on our out- ward poffeßïons ; and fo is the animal life it felf; for it equally fubf fteth in the poor and in the rich; the latter by all his care and and folicitude, however fuccefsful he may be in earthly acquifitions, can no more than the other add one cubit to his ftature, or one hour to his age. The truth is, this part of our nature dependeth much more upon thofe things which are not the en- grofs'd property of a few, but the common gifts of providence to all mankind, and all living things, as the fun, the air, earth, and water; I fay, it dependeth much more up- on thefe than upon thofe things, the abun- dance of which diftinguifheth the external condition of fome men from others. If it be
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