many men in the world of an innate worth and honour, whose whole lives are governed by the stricteft principles of Truth and Chriftianity, and are far from being incapable of acting confiftent with fuch principles upon every occafion, and with no other view or motive than that of acting right.

This may fuffice by way of preface; and as for the following reflections, the author (or editor, call him which you please, as he is not overabove follicitous for the reputation, any more than the fuccefs of them) has little to add, than that they are the fruit of a general reading, joined to a feries of the stricteft obfervations on the various tempers and difpofitions of mankind.

The numerous citations (from a variety of different authors) which will frequently occur to the reader,

were

were at first intended merely as fo many remarks, in order to affist the memory greatly embaraffed by a too laborious application in fearch after a thorough knowledge of mankind, abftracted from the leaft intention of their ever making a public appearance, which will fufficiently apologize for any little orthographical incorrectness, the judicious reader may too frequently meet with.

It may. alfo not be altogether improper, before I drop this fubject, to obferve, that upon perufal of the following fheets, there may poffibly be found feveral fentences that carry the fame idea in their meaning, though fomewhat differently expreffed, yet the author hopes he shall stand excused from the imputation of tautology, as it was almoft impoffible to avoid it in fuch a collection.

MORAL

MORAL

REFLECTIONS.

I

I.

T is of the last importance, to season the paffions of a child with devotion, which

feldom dies in a mind that has received an early tincture of it; tho'

it

may feem extinguished for a while, by the cares of the world, the heat of youth, or the allurements of vice, it generally breaks out and discovers itfelf again, as foon as difcretion, confideration, age, or misfortunes, have brought the man to himself. The fire may be covered and over-laid, but cannot entirely be quenched and

fmothered.

II.

It is an unspeakable advantage to pofsess our minds, with an habitual good intention, and to aim all our thoughts, words, and actions, at fome laudable end, whether it be the glory of our Maker, the good of mankind, or the benefit of our own fouls.

III.

There cannot be a greater flavery in this world, than to dote upon what we ought to condemn ; yet this must be our condition, in all the parts of life, if we fuffer ourselves to approve any thing but what tends to the promotion of what is good and honourable.

IV.

Wisdom, virtue, and valour, have a natural right to govern; he alone ought to command others, who has

moft

most wisdom to discover what is just; most virtue to adhere to it; and most courage to put it into execution.

The truly virtuous man enjoys a mind perfectly compofed; he has a fecret spring of happiness in his heart; his conversation is pleafant; and his countenance ferene: he tastes all the innocent fatisfactions of life pure and fincere; he has no share in pleasures that leave a fting behind them, nor is he cheated with that kind of mirth in the midst of which there is heavi nefs.

VI.

Seeing a man is more happy that has nothing to lofe, than he that lofeth that which he hath, we should neither hope for riches, nor fear

po

verty.

B 2

VII.