PREFACE. No CROSS, NO CROWN, fhould have ended here; but that the power which examples and authorities have put upon the minds of the people, above the most reasonable and preffing arguments, inclined me to prefent my readers with fome of those many inftances that might be given, in favour of the virtuous life recommended in our difcourfe. I chose to caft them into three forts of teftimonies, not after the threefold fubject of the book, but, fuitable to the times, qualities, and circumftances of the perfons that gave them forth; whose divers excellencies and stations have transmitted their names with reputation to our own times. The first teftimony comes from thofe called Heathens; the fecond from profeffed Chriftians; and the laft, from retired, aged, and dying men; being their laft and ferious reflections, to which no oftentation or worldly interefts could induce them. Where it will be eafy for the confiderate reader to observe, how much the pride, avarice, and luxury of the world, stood reprehended in the judgments of perfons of great credit amongst men; and what was that life and conduct, that in their most retired meditations, when their fight was clearest, and judgment most free and difabused, they thought would give peace here, and lay foundations of eternal bleffedness. CHAP. XIX. The Teftimonies of feveral great, learned, and virtuous perfonages among the Gentiles, urged against the exceffes of the age, in favour of the Self-denial, temperance, and piety recommended in the first part of this difcourfe. I. Among the GREEKS, viz. §. 1. Cyrus. §. 2. Artaxerxes. §. 3. Aga thocles. f. 4. Philip. §. 5. Alexander. §. 6. Ptolemy. §. 7. Xenophanes. §. 8. Antigonus. S. 9. Themiftocles. §. 10. Ariftides. §. 11. Pericles. §. 12. Phocion. §. 13. Clitomachus. §. 14. Epaminondas. . 15. Demofthenes. §. 16. Agaficles. §. 17. Agefilaus. §. 18. Agis. §. 19. Alcamenes. 5. 20. Alexandrides. f. 21. Anaxilas. . 22. Arifton. f. 23. Archidamus. §. 24. Cleomenes. §. 25. Derfyllidas. §. 26. Hippodamus. §. 27. Leonidas. 5. 28. Lyfander. f. 29. Paufanias. f. 30. Theopompus, &c. 31. The manner of life and government of the Lacedæmonians in general. §. 32. Lycurgus their lawgiver. f. I. CYRUS, than whom a greater monarch we hardly find in ftory, is more famous for his virtue than his power; God calls him his fhepherd. Now let us fee the principles of his conduct and life. So. temperâte was he in his youth, that when Aftyages urged him to drink wine, he anfwered, • I am afraid left there fhould be poison in it, having feen thee reel and fottish after having drank thereof.' And fo careful was he to keep the Perfians from corruption of manners, that he would not fuffer them to leave their rude and mountainous country, for one more pleafant and fruitful, left through plenty and eafe, luxury at laft might debafe their fpirits. And fo very chafte was he, that having taken a lady of quality, a most beautiful. woman his prifoner, he refufed to fee her, faying, I have no mind to be a captive to my captive.' It feems, he claimed no fuch propriety; but fhunned the occafion of evil. The comptroller of his houfhold afking him one day what he would pleafe to have for his dinner; 6 Bread,' faid he; for I intend to encamp nigh the water: a fhort and eafy bill of fare: but this fhews the power he had over his appetite as well as his foldiers; and, that he was fit to command others, that could command himfelf: according to another faying of his, No man,' faith he, is worthy to com 6 6 6 mand, who is not better than thofe who are to obey.' And when he came to die, he gave this reafon of his belief of immortality; I cannot,' faid he, perfuade myself to think that the foul of man, after having fustained itself in a mortal body, fhould perifh when delivered out of it, for want of it:' a faying of perhaps as great weight, as may be advanced against Atheism, from more enlightened ,times. §. II. Artaxerxes Mnemon, being upon an extraordinary occafion reduced to eat barley bread, and dried figs, and drink water, • What pleasure,' faith he, have I loft till now, through my delicacies and excefs!' §. III. Agathocles becoming king of Sicily, from being the fon of a potter, always to humble his mind to his original, would be daily ferved in earthen veffels upon his table: an ex. ample of humility and plainness. S. IV. Philip king of Macedon, upon three forts of good news, arrived in one day, feared too much fuccefs might transport him immoderately; and therefore prayed for fome difappointments to feafon his profperity, and caution his mind under the enjoyment of it. He refufed to opprefs the Greeks with his garrisons, faying, I had rather retain them by kindnefs than fear, and to be always beloved, than for a while terrible.' One of his minions perfuading him to decline hearing of a caufe, wherein a particular friend was interested, ◄ I had much rather' says he, 'thy friend should |