fuitable to the Tincture it hath received in Youth, it will naturally conclude, that there is no Neceffity to regard, or at least to lay any Strefs upon what was never inculcated upon it as it as a Matter of Importance then. And fo will grow up in a Neglect or Difesteem of those Things which are more neceffary to make a Perfon a wife and truly understanding Man, than all thofe Rudiments of Science he brought with him from the School or College. It is really a melancholy Thing to fee a young Gentleman of fhining Parts and a fweet Difpofition, who has gone through the common Courfe of Academical Studies, come out into the World under an abfolute Government of his Paffions and Prejudices; which have increafed with his Learning, and which when he comes to be better acquainted with Human Life and Human Nature, he is foon fenfible and afhamed of; but perhaps is never able to conquer as long as he lives, for want of that Affiftance which he ought to have received in his Education. For a wrong Education is one of those three Things to which it is owing (as an antient Christian and Philofopher juftly obferves) that fo few have the right Government of their Paffions (b). I would not be thought to depreciate any Part of Human Literature, but should be glad to fee this moft ufeful Branch of Science, the Knowledge of the Heart, the detecting and correcting hurtful Prejudices, and the right Government of the Temper and Paffions, in more general Efteem; as neceffary at once to form the Gentleman, the Scholar, and the Chrif tian. And if there be any Thing in this fhort Treatife which may be helpful to Students who have a Regard to the right Government of their Minds, whilst they b 3 are: (5) Εγγινονται δε τα φαύλα παθη τη ψυχή διατρίων πόλων δια κακής αγωγής, εξ αμαθίως υπο καχεξίας" μη αχθέντες γαρ καλως εκ παίδων ως δυνασθαι κρα λων των παθών εις την αμέλειαν αυτων εμπιμπλομεν Bad Paffions fpring up in the Mind three Ways; viz. through a bad Education, great Ignorance, or a Disorder in the animal Frame. (1.) From a bad Education. For if we have not been taught from our Childhood to govern our Paffions, with all poffiblẹ Care, they will foon come to have the Government of us. Nemef. de Nat. Hom. pag. 182. are furnishing them with useful Knowledge, I would particularly recommend it to their Perufal. I have nothing further to add, but to defire the Reader's Excufe for the Freedom with which I have delivered my Sentiments in this Matter, and for detaining him fo long from his Subject; which I now leave to his candid and ferious Thoughts, and the Bleffing of Almighty GOD to make it useful to him. THE |