Of early_A.fjli.tlioJts. 193 t:lination unto excefs ·; fo that mofi perfons think it an intolerable burden to be any confiderable time alone. Though they love t,hcmfelves out of n1eafure, yet they cannot endure their own converfation; they had rather be hearing and difcourfing of .the n1ofi: naughty and trivial things, than be fitting alone and holding their peace. Outward profperity heightens this hun1our. When the heart is dilated with joy, it feek– eth to vent itfelfin every company. When a man is free of trouble and cares, he thinks of nothing but how ,to pleafe hin1felf with variety of diverfions and con– verfations. Croffes, on the other hand, render a man penfive and folitary ; they flop the mouth, and bind uip the tongue, . and incline the perfon to be n1uch alone. Sadnefs tnakes his con1pany d1fagreeable ro others, and he findeth theirs as little a– greeable to hirp: He fitteth alone and keep– e:th filenee bectitife he hath.borne -it upon him. Thus the fame prophet faid !fat not £n t!Je ~J!embly ofthe mockers, nor' rejoiced~· I fat alone becauft o.fthine hand-*·. Now, he who confiders, on the on~ hand, · ' the guilt w-e are wont to contra er, and the 'prejud'ice which we fuftain, -by too m·uch R converfation * Jer. xv. If
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