above; but if the leaft Storm, or Roughness come, all the glorious Images are immediately defac'd and difappear. This is the most happy and moft defireable State, that can on Earth be obtain'd; this is that Peace which the World cannot give, that which Paffeth all Understanding, which it is cafier for those that Enjoy it, to Feel and Experiment, than to Exprefs; this is that which fo notoriously distinguishes the Good Man from the Wicked, The Wicked are like the troubled Sea, when it cannot rest, whose Waters caft up Mire and Dirt; there is no Peace, faith my God, to the Wicked. Ifaiah 57. the two laft Verses. But left this should be thought an Idle and Contemplative Study only, an unactive Stupidity and unconcernedness of Mind,as theStoicks; or fuch anEnthufiaftick fort of Quiet, as Molinus and his Followers, (who have from it form'd to themselves a New Sect and Name) pretend to: The Studying to be Quiet, principally intended by the Apostle, is in the next words explain'd by Doing your own Bufinefs, agreeable to what elsewhere he commands, That with Quietness ye work. For it is nothing elfe but Idleness, that hinders Men from being Quiet, nor any fort of Idleness fo troublesome as that, against which St. Paul chiefly feems here to caution his Theffalonians, among whom he had heard, as he tells them in the next Epiftle,

(the

(the 3d Chapter and the 11th Verse) there were fome that walked diforderly, working not at all, but were bufy-bodies; and whom therefore he befeeches here as Brethren, and with them all goodChriftians, Quietly to do their own business, not Impertinently or Uncharitably meddling with that of their Neighbours, nor impudently prefuming to thrust themselves uncall'd, into that of the Publick. For the Original Word will bear both these Senfes, and tá ine, as it fignifies a Man's own proper Affairs, fo alfo it as well may fignify Private business, in Opposition to Publick business, and affairs of State.

I fhall very briefly give you the Character of both these fort of Bufy-bodies, with fome Cautions against the Mischief of each of their Practices.

There is noCreature fo generally defpis'd and hated, and raill'd at, as a Meddler in other Men's matters; and yet how few are there,that are Innocent enough in this point, as to be able to justify themselves in cafting the first Stone? or perceive, that in aiming at others, they may not hit themselves? fince in fome degree or other, moit Men are guilty of the Vanity at least, if not of the Sin, of this impertinent Humour, of troubling themselves with things wherein they have no manner of concern. There are as many forts of these Busy-bodies, as there

are

are of Bufineffes in the World: Some indeed are more Innocent than Others, as they who out of Levity or Officiousness, are still forward and preffing to give Advice and Direction to all they meet, and will needs understand more of each Man's Affairs than he Himself, and fo far indeed they are not without Reason, if they judge of Others by themselves, who are, for the most part, the greatest Strangers at Home.) Or They, who will not fuffer you to be Quiet, for their little Tales of all their Intriegues, and Adventures of the Place wherein they live that know exactly what paft laft between This and the Other, and how far the Bufinefs in hand between the Parties is advanc'd; what was,or what fhould have been done, at fuch a Meeting, and who was the Entertainer, and who the Jeft of the Company; and, overflowing with this precious Knowledge, are very communicative,and would fain have every Body as Wife (indeed a great Favour!) as themselves. Such, and a multitude of the like Nature, are indeed, as I faid, of the more innocent Kind; but even Gnats and Flies, and the smallest Infects, are as Troublesome, tho' not foVenemous, as Toads and Adders: Thefe moleft all Converfation, for the time they are Buzzing in it, as much, nay more, than thofe more dangerous Meddlers, who have the Poyfon of Afps under

their Lips; Such are they who Invent, or Carry about uncharitable Stories, who out of Malice rather than Vanity, by unneceffarily interefting themselves in Affairs, that in no wife belong to them, blow up the Coals of Strife and Contention between Friends and Neighbours; who by falfe Suggestions, disguis'd like Truth, fet the Father against the Son, and the Son against the Father; and propagate fometimes hereditary Quarrels between whole Families. And the worst of it is, these Men have the greater Opportunity of Doing Mischief, they gain the eafier access,and the readier belief upon this account, because they are Bufy-bodies: for the good-natur'd, easy, credulousMan, when he meets with fuch a One, argues Thus to delude himself; Surely this Man does what he does, and fays what he fays, out of pure Honefty, or a particular Love to Me; Why elfe fhould He concern himself? it is none of his Business; and thus, for the very Reafon why he should fufpect, and fhun, and abhor him, gives himself up to be betray'd by him. Others there are, whose whole Difcourfe and Time, is chiefly taken up in Cenfuring their Brethren, and paffing ftill the most uncharitable Judgment upon all their Actions. And what Innocence, what Care, what Circumfpection is able to escape these Men? Is a Man of a Free and Sprightly Temper

Temper? he shall be call'd loofe and debauch'd is he of a ftricter Conversation, or a more folemn Obferver of Religious Duties? he shall be a Counterfeit,and an Hypocrite; if John comes neither Eating nor Drinking, they fay, he has a Devil; if Chrift comes Eating and Drinking, Then the Cry is, Lo a Glutton, aWine-bibber, and a Companion of Sinners. So difficult, fo impoffible it is for any, the most Holy, or Innocent, the most wary and regular, to be wholly exempt from falling under their Cenfures, whofe Malice is ever awake, and on the watch, for real or appearing Occafions, to exercise itself upon. These are they, who will never fuffer any Man's Commendation,(if they are forc'd against their Wills to hear and allow it,) to pass by them, without ripping up fome Story or other as much to his difadvantage, or at least misinterpreting the motives, or defign of thofe his good Actions, the Truth of which they cannot deny. But if ever They begin to Praise any themselves, then expect certainly in the close fome ill-natur'd Exception, that overthrows all the Good that went before; whenever they fpeak well of any one, 'tis but to prepare their Hearers to fwallow the easier the fly Infinuations, and most malicious Suggestions that follow: So juftly are their Tongues compar'd, by the Pfalmift, to a Sharp Rafor, which, when E

moft