him on with his clothes, that he might sit up, and so be in a
better posture to take his leave of her and her friends.
When she had taken him up, and placed him at a table where he
usually sat, he desired her to bring him his box of papers, and
after he had collected those he intended should be preserved, he
ordered her to bring a candle, that he might see the rest burnt.
The good woman seemed at first to oppose the burning of his papers,
till he told her they were only useless trifles, some unfinished
observations which he had made in his youthful days, and were not
fit to be seen by her, or anybody that should come after him.
After he had seen his papers burnt, and placed the rest in their
proper order, and had likewise settled all his other affairs, which
was only fit to be done between himself and his sister, he desired
her to call two or three of the most reputable neighbours, not only
to be witnesses of his will, but likewise to hear what he had
farther to communicate before the return of his fit, which he
expected very speedily.
His sister, who had beforehand acquainted two or three of her
confidants with all that had happened, was very much rejoiced to
hear her brother make so unexpected a concession; and accordingly,
without any delay or hesitation, went directly into the
neighbourhood, and brought home her two select friends, upon whose
secrecy and sincerity she knew she might depend upon all accounts.
In her absence he felt several symptoms of the approach of his fit,
which made him a little uneasy, lest it should entirely seize him
before he had perfected his will, but that apprehension was quickly
removed by her speedy return. After she had introduced her friends
into his chamber, he proceeded to express himself in the following
manner; Dear sister, you now see your brother upon the brink of
eternity; and as the words of dying persons are commonly the most
regarded, and make deepest impressions, I cannot suspect but you
will suffer the few I am about to say to have always some place in
your thoughts, that they may be ready for you to make use of upon
any occasion.
Do not be fond of anything on this side of eternity, or suffer your
interest to incline you to break your word, quit your modesty, or
to do anything that will not bear the light, and look the world in
the face. For be assured of this; the person that values the
virtue of his mind and the dignity of his reason, is always easy
and well fortified both against death and misfortune, and is
perfectly indifferent about the length or shortness of his life.
Such a one is solicitous about nothing but his own conduct, and for
fear he should be deficient in the duties of religion, and the
respective functions of reason and prudence.
Always go the nearest way to work. Now, the nearest way through
all the business of human life, are the paths of religion and
honesty, and keeping those as directly as you can, you avoid all
the dangerous precipices that often lie in the road, and sometimes
block up the passage entirely.
Remember that life was but lent at first, and that the remainder is
more than you have reason to expect, and consequently ought to be
managed with more than ordinary diligence. A wise man spends every
day as if it were his last; his hourglass is always in his hand,
and he is never guilty of sluggishness or insincerity.
He was about to proceed, when a sudden symptom of the return of his
fit put him in mind that it was time to get his will witnessed,
which was no sooner done but he took it up and gave it to his
sister, telling her that though all he had was hers of right, yet
he thought it proper, to prevent even a possibility of a dispute,
to write down his mind in the nature of a will, wherein I have
given you, says he, the little that I have left, except my books