Another Thing which suspends the Operations of Benevolence, is the Love of the World; proceeding from a false Notion Men have taken up, that an Abundance of the World is an essential Ingredient into the Happiness of Life.  Worldly Things are of such a Quality as to lessen upon dividing, so that the more Partners there are, the less must fall to every Man’s private Share.  The Consequence of this is, that they look upon one another with an evil Eye, each imagining all the rest to be embarked in an Interest, that cannot take Place but to his Prejudice.  Hence are those eager Competitions for Wealth or Power; hence one Man’s Success becomes another’s Disappointment; and, like Pretenders to the same Mistress, they can seldom have common Charity for their Rivals.  Not that they are naturally disposed to quarrel and fall out, but ’tis natural for a Man to prefer himself to all others, and to secure his own Interest first.  If that which Men esteem their Happiness were like the Light, the same sufficient and unconfined Good, whether Ten Thousand enjoy the Benefit of it, or but One, we should see Mens Good-will, and kind Endeavours, would be as universal.

  ’Homo qui Erranti comiter monstrat Viam,
  Quasi Lumen de suo Lumine accendat, facit,
  Nihilominus ipsi luceat, cum illi accenderit.’

But, unluckily, Mankind agree in making Choice of Objects, which inevitably engage them in perpetual Differences.  Learn therefore, like a wise Man, the true Estimate of Things.  Desire not more of the World than is necessary to accommodate you in passing through it; look upon every thing beyond, not as useless only, but burthensome.  Place not your Quiet in Things, which you cannot have without putting others beside them, and thereby making them your Enemies; and which, when attain’d, will give you more Trouble to keep, than Satisfaction in the Enjoyment.  Virtue is a Good of a nobler kind; it grows by Communication, and so little resembles earthly Riches, that the more Hands it is lodged in, the greater is every Man’s particular Stock.  So, by propagating and mingling their Fires, not only all the Lights of a Branch together cast a more extensive Brightness, but each single Light burns with a stronger Flame.  And lastly, take this along with you, that if Wealth be an Instrument of Pleasure, the greatest Pleasure it can put into your Power, is that of doing Good.  ’Tis worth considering, that the Organs of Sense act within a narrow Compass, and the Appetites will soon say they have enough:  which of the two therefore is the happier Man?  He, Who confining all his Regard to the Gratification of his own Appetites, is capable but of short Fits of Pleasure?  Or the Man, who, reckoning himself a Sharer in the Satisfactions of others, especially those which come to them by his Means, enlarges the Sphere of his Happiness?