This Fable Condemns All Rash Vows and Promises, and the Unsteadiness of
those Men that are first mad to have a Thing, and as soon Weary of it.
Men should Consider well before hand what they Promise, what they Vow;
nay, and what they wish for, least they should be Taken at their Words,
and afterward Repent. We make it half our Bus’ness to Learn our Gain, and
Compass those Things, which when we come to Understand, and to have in
our Possession, we’d give the whole Earth to be Rid of again: Wherefore
he that Moderates his Desires without laying any Stress upon Things
Curious, or Uncertain; and Resigns himself in All Events to the Good
Pleasure of Providence, succeeds Best in the Government of his Fortune,
Life, and Manners. The Herds-man was in a State of Freedom, we see, till
he made himself a Voluntary Slave, by Entering into a Dangerous and
Unnecessary Vow; which he could neither Contract without Folly, nor Keep
without Loss and Shame; For Heaven is neither to be Wheedled, nor Brib’d.
Men should so Pray, as not to Repent of their Prayers, and turn the most
Christian and Necessary Office of our Lives into a Sin. We must not Pray
in One Breath to _Find_ a Thief, and in the Next, to get shut of him.