THE

MORAL INSTRUCTOR,

AND

GUIDE TO VIRTUE AND HAPPINESS

IN FIVE PARTS.

PART I. Essays on the general diffusion of Knowledge and Moral Improvement.

PART II. Lives and Moral Precepts of the most eminent ancient Philosophers of China, Greece, and Rome.

PART III. A System of Morality, founded on the Law of Nature. PART IV. Summary of Moral Principles, from the works of eminent German and English Philosophers.

PART V. Miscellaneous Articles. concerning erroneous National, Moral, and Political Customs; on the prospect of melio rating the condition of the human race, by Universal Education, &c.

WITH AN APPENDIX,

CONTAINING A CONSTITUTION AND FORM OF SUBSCRIPTION INSTITUTION OF FREE PUBLIC

FOR THE

LIBRARIES, &c.

ESIGNED TO BE A WELCOME GUEST IN DOMESTIC CIRCLES, AND SEMINARIES OF EDUCATION.

EY JESSE TORREY, Jun. Physician.

"Vice shrinks from Instruction, like Ghost from the light."

BALLSTON-SPA:

PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR BY U. F. DOUBLEDAT

1819.

SEAL.

BE

IT REMEMBERED, That on the tenth day of March, in the forty third year of the Independence of the United States of America, A. D. 1819, JESSE TORREY, JUN. of the said District, hath depsited in this office the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as author and proprietor, in the words and figures following, to wit:

"The Moral Instructor, and Guide to Virtue and Happiness: in five Parts. Part I. Essays on the general diffusion of knowledge and Moral Improvement. Part II. Lives and Moral Precepts of the most eminent ancient Philosophers of China, Greece, and Rome.Part III. A System of Morality, founded on the Law of Nature. — Part IV. Summary of Moral Principles, from the works of eminent German and English Philosophers. Part V. Miscelaneous articles, concerning crroneous National, Moral and Political customs; on the prospect of meliorating the condition of the human race, by universal Education, &c. With an Appendix, containing a constitution, and form of subscription for he institution of free public Libraries, &c.Designed to be a welcome guest in domestic circles and seminaries of Education. By Jesse Torrey, Jun. Physician. Vice shrinks from Instruction like Ghost from the light.””

·

In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States, entitled An ace for the encouragement of learning by securing the copies of Maps, Charts and Bocks to the authors and proprietors of And also to the such copies during the times therein mentioned " act entitled "An act supplementary to an act entitled An act for the encouragement of learning by securing the copies of maps, charts and books to the authors and proprietors of such copies during the times therein mentioned and extending the benefits hereof to the ars of designing, engraving and eching historical and other prints.

RICHD R. LANSING, Cierk

of the Northern District of New York,

INTRODUCTION.

THE

HE author's object, in writing and compiling this Publication, is not to entertain frivolous curiosity, nor to gratify classic taste, but to disseminate useful instruction amongst all classes of Society.

He has long cherished a decided confidence, that if the community would appropriate as much wealth to the instruction of the rising generation, as is now devoted to the punishment of crimes and vice, the desired object would be attained, and human misery averted, to a much greater extent.

But a small proportion of the people, have the means to purchase, or leisure to study voluminous systems of Moral Philosophy. On the other hand, dogmatical sententious precepts, unsupported by demonstration, are not generally convincing, nor adapted to human temper.-Whenever men shall agree to make moral rectitude their inflexible rule of action, each individual must be persuaded in his own mind, independently of the dictatorial precepts of one another, that his welfare and happiness will be thereby promoted.

The author has been, for sixteen years, impressed with the utility of such a work as the one now offered; and has accordingly improved every means in his power, by reading, observation, and reflection, for accumulating materials.

The candid reader, who meets with several ar ticles in this work, with which he has already been familiarised, will not be displeased, when he reflects, that nearly all the youth, and a large propor

tion of adult readers, will find it as new to them, and as useful, as if it were an entire original work. It is of but little avail to the mass of mankind, that Philosophers of different ages and nations, have exerted their talents, in perfecting the science of moral wisdom, as long as no one will take the pains to collect the best fruits of their labors into a portable vehicle, whereby they may be spread before all who love the delicious nectar of wisdom, upon the boundless table of the Printing Press.

Mental improvement is relied on as the most ef fectual antidote to the prevailing temperate and intemperate indulgence in the use of spirituous li quors.

One particular object of the work, is to incul. cate the necessity and duty of general economy and simplicity of manners. It may be confidently presumed, that if the idolatrous and slavish sacrifices of property, to pride, fashion, custom, extrav. agance, and depraved appetite, were abolished, Poverty, with its hideous train of woes, might be expelled from society, and general Plenty, with its smiling train of blessings, substituted in their

stead.

The author, having sought with patient and persevering diligence, to detect the origin of the various calamities, which afflict the human family, feels urged, by a sense of fraternal duty, to promulgate the result of his enquiries and experience; and solicits of his fellow-citizens, only such portion of their approbation and patronage as they may find his well-intended efforts entitled to.

Ballston Spa, March 4, 1819.