Resolves, Divine, Moral, and Political, of Owen Felltham

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1806 edition. Excerpt: ... IT IS NEITHER A GREAT ESTATE, NOR GREAT HONOURS, THAT CAN MAKE A MAN TRULY HAPPY. A Great estate, or a high seat of honour, it must be admitted, do, at first view, carry along with them, a pleasing and inviting splendour. Yet, if we examine the true and most essential felicities of man, we shall find, that it is not wealth nor power, which can render us more happy than other men: all that really man is capable of truly enjoying here, must be cither, of benefit to his mind, or his body. For the mind; surely, kings never found so much content as has attended mean philosophers; a crown of gold is too heavy to be worn with case. Their fears, their hopes, their joys, their griefs, their loves, their hates, with all their other passions, are more distracting, and more torturing, than those that belong to an obscurer man, who quietly, and without notice, can steal unheeded through the world's confusion. Without a guard, they cannot sleep; and with one, they do not. A martial watch disturbs the night with noises; a midnight council starts their broken rest; and meals are filled with frights, or with suspicion. He that commands the most, enjoys himself the least: thrust one way, pulled another; hailed on this side, forced on that; driven and coaxed at the same time; enemies abroad, treacheries at home; ambition of nenrh bours, dissatisfaction of friends; jealousy of most, and fear of all;--in short, who can form a guess at those incessant cares that go to bed with princes, to disturb their rest? It is also to be observed of princes, as well as of great persons, that their delicacy and tenderness make them more subject to injury, more sensible of affronts, more impatient of labour and care, than such as, through habituated custom, are hardened to...