Honeft Man's Undertakings. But Craft and Cunning have the quite Contrary Effects, and as naturally give the alarm to all about, to ftand upon their guard and be as fhy, jealous and fufpicious as they can. And as for Diffimulation, it is certain that can be of no use further than it is conceal'd; forafmuch as none will trust a known Cheat. I Now as fome Men ufe Diffimulation for their Intereft, Others have an Intereft as ftrongly engaging them to use all their Art and Industry to find it out; which makes it infinitely hard, if not morally impoffible, for a Man to carry on a long courfe of Dif fimulation, without difcovery. This falle Cunning will betray it felf by a Thousand =ways, by too much or too little care to hide it, by being too open or too fhy, by a real reservedness, or an affected franknefs; but what is a certain and never failing fign of the double dealer, is his Inconftancy to himself,his shifting with the various changes of times, in which he is always a quick Revolver, and as nimble at a Change, as a well manag'd Horfe, that in his fulleft carteer can fuddainly ftop, and turn short in the compass of his own length. There are none of these Men of art but fecretly pride themselves, that they fee thro' all the defigns of those they deal with: and do they think that the World don't see them too thro' thro' all their thin disguises? Let them not flatter themselves fo vainly. For as Solomon tells us in the fame Verfe with my Text, He that perverteth his way's fhall be known. Now Diffimulation once difcover'd is not only no Help, but the greatest Impediment of Action in the World. For fince Men will not Truft any farther than they judge a Perfon for his Sincerity fit to be trufted; it follows that a known Perverter of his ways can archieve nothing great or confiderable: for not being able to gain Men's Truft, he cannot engage their Concurrence, and fo is left to Act fingly upon his own Bottom ; which being all that he can do,muft needs be contemptible. While Integrity and Honesty having irresistible Charms, that draw all Men to Efteem and Reverence and confide in a Man, do confequently contribute to the promoting of all his Righteous defigns and endeavours. But further, how often does the Crafty Politician over-reach himself? how often, thinking others Act with as much Cunning and as little Truth as himself, does he take true Honesty and upright Dealing, when he meets it, for a feint only, and a Copy of the Countenance? and fufpecting over fomewhat deeper intended than what appears, believes wrong, and confequently acts wrong, and fucceeds accordingly. Again, when this fort of Men meet with plain Dealers,and know 'em to be fo, They are as much put out of their Play, as a skilful Fencer is, when he lights on a sturdy Fellow that has no Skill at all; he had better engag'd with a Mafter like himself; For true Honefty, is a folid, unmoveable Quality, that will not let a Man give ground; but on the contrary preffes ftill forward, and by that Means baffles your Man of Art, and often puts your fine Contriver as hard to it, as the determin'd Courage of a truly Gallant Man does him, that has no foundation of real inborn Bravery, but relies only upon the Skill of his Weapon, and the ufe of a Trick he has been taught. This Integrity alfo, which is another Inftance of the Truft that we ought to repose in it, is a fure Comfort, when after all the moft juft and prudent Methods us'd, Dif appointments happen. The Confcience of having propos'd to himself none but honest ends, and of having us'd none but just means, will be an Eafe and Satisfaction, whatfoever Succefs befalls. He, according to David's excellent advice, Refts in the Lord and waits patiently for him, frets not himself because of him who profpereth in his way, because of the Man that bringeth wicked devices to pass. He truftsthat at laftĠod will make his Righteouf nefs as clear as the Light, and his just dealing as as the Noon Day. Pfal. 37. He trusts that Truth must at laft prevail: Truth, that was prov'd in the Presence, and allow'd by the Judgment even of Darius himself, to be the ftrongest of all things; ftronger than either Wine or Women or the King. 1 Efdr. 4. As for Truth it endureth and is always ftrong, it liveth and conquereth for evermore: v. 38. She is the Strength, Kingdom, Power and Majesty of all Ages. 'Tis this Integrity that, in difficultest Times and the greatest Streights, gives a Man conftant Confolation and Support; nay more than that, not only supports Men under Hardships, but often preferves Men from 'em. For it inspires Courage and Refolution, The Righteous is bold as a Lion: and a well fettled Refolution to do ones Ducy, whatever enfues upon it, has often fav'd Men from being forc'd to the contrary, and often, as Solomon tells us, when a Man's ways pleafe the Lord, he maketh his Enemies to be at Peace with him. But Tricks and Shifts and prevaricating with Confcience, make Men only the more contemptible to their Oppreffors, who can then infult over their Vir rues and Minds, as well as their Bodies and Estates. But Laftly, the Upright Walker does not only engage all Good and Wife Men, but the God of all Goodness and Wisdom himself himself to be on his fide and how can he mifcarry, who has him to his Friend, upon whofe fole Will all Events of the Wifeft Counfels and Deliberations do depend? We fee with what Artifice and Compliance Men will infinuate themselves into the Affections of those, who according to several Revolutions are advanc'd into the Places of Power; of how much greater Advantage is it to get an Interest in his Favour, who does and fhall always Rule over the Sons of Men? having all Times at his difpofal, out of whose Hands no Strength or Policy fhall be ever able to wreft the Sway and Dominion of things. For whatever the Wife Men of this World think, Let Men plot as deeply and as finely as they can, yet all the Succefs of the most advis'd Counfels, put in Practice by the most induftrious Diligence and Application, depends ftill on the favour of an Over-ruling Hand. And this is the true Reason of what feems fo strange, thoʻ it has happen'd in all Ages that have paft, and is likely to do fo in all that fhall come, that the most hopeful Projects, tho' never fo finely contriv'd or warily laid, with all the Advantages of Secrecy and Combination of Parties; yet by fome perry Instrument, that perhaps if the Projectors had forefeen they would have defpis'd, have been unaccountably baffled, and in the very Mi |