Roger L'Estrange

“ But we have a sort of sordid Wretches among us that had rather Cast their Silver and Gold into the very Mine again from whence it was Taken, or leave it at the Mercy of Thieves, and Common Hazzards, then that any Man Living should be the Better for't. ”

“ Barely for the Propriety sake, but ‘tis the Use and Application of it towards the Conveniences of Life, and the Comforts of Humane Society, that gives Every thing its Value. The Divine Goodness we see is perpetually at Work; Nature keeps-on her Course, and the Heavens shed their Influences without Intermission ”

“ Why you had no Gold at all, and so you Lost None. You did but Fancy all this while that you Had it, and you may e'en as well Fancy again that you have it still,'°Tis but laying a Stone where you layd your Mony, and Fancying That Stone to be your Treasure, and there's your Gold again. You did not Use it when you Had it; and you do not Want it so long as you Resolve not to Use it.
The Moral.
Better no Estate at all, then the Cares and Vexations that Attend the Possession of it, without the Use on't.
REFLEXION.
We are never the better for the Possession of any thing. ”