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in youth, it will naturally conclude, that there is no neceffity to regard what was never inculcated upon it as a matter of importance then. Hence it will grow up into a difesteem of those things which are more effential to a wife and truly underftanding man, than all thofe rudiments of fcience he brought with him from the fchool or college.

It is melancholy to fee. a young gentleman of fhining parts, and a fweet difpofition, who has gone thro' the ufual courfe of academical ftudies, come out into the world under an abfolute government of his paffions and prejudices; which have increafed with his learning, and which, when he arrives to a better acquaintance with human life and human nature, he is 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 Chriftian and philofopher juftly observes) that so few have the right government of their paffions (h).

I would

(1) Εγγίνονται δε τα φαύλα παθη τη ψυχή δια τριων τούτων δια κακης αγωγης, εξ αμαθίως υπο καχεξίας μη αχθέντες γαρ καλας εκ παίδων ως δύνασθαι κρατείν των παθών εις την αμεριαν QUELLTILLTOμer. Bad paffions fpring up in

the

I would not be thought to depreciate any part of human literature, but should be glad to fee this most useful branch of fcience, the knowledge of the heart, the detecting and correcting hurtful prejudices, and the right government of the temper and paffions, in more general esteem; as neceffary at once to form the gentleman, the scholar, and the Christian.

And if there be any thing in this short treatise which may be helpful to ftudents, who have a regard to the right government of their minds, whilft they are furnishing them with useful knowledge, I would particularly recommend it to their perufal.

I have nothing farther 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 render it beneficial to his concerns both in the prefent life, and for all Eternity.

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bad education, animal frame. For if we

the mind three ways; viz. thro' a great ignorance, or a diforder in the Principally from a bad education. have not been taught from our Child-hood to govern our paffions, with all poffible care, they will foon come to have the government of us. Nemef. de Nat. Hom. pag. 182.

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