All the ufual Forms on the like Occafions; but confine my felf to the subject Matter of the following Treatife. the Topicks, indeed, which are proper to exhibit the Idea of a great Man, have been already employed by the finest Pens of the Age, in this Method of doing Homage to your Lordship, as the known Patron of Learning in general And I fhall not pretend to copy after fo many of the beft Masters, native and foreign. I was principally induced to Requeft, with all Humility, your your Lordship's Patronage of this Work, from the Nature and Defign of it. For no Principles, or Rules of any kind, ever operate with fo great Force, as when we confirm, and illuftrate them by living Examples, efpecially, from very high, and confpicuous Stations; where most, if not all, the great Offices in civil Life have been fucceffively fuf tained with a juft, but eafy, Dignity. For fuch Inftances fhew, in the best Light, that the Maxims of Morality, which are fo reasonable, or and and beautiful in the Theory, are also, in Fact, truly adapted to the present State, and Condition of human Nature. Nothing, under fuch mighty Advantages, can contribute, to render the Influence of moral Virtue, more powerful and diffufive; unless here we fee the Authority, the Wisdom, and Experience of Age, confiftent, fo far as they can be conceived to confift, with all the Vivacity, the Goodnefs, and Complacency of Youth. 1 My My LORD, I fhall add Nothing more, concerning the Motives to this Addrefs; but that I was ambitious of acknowledging, on fo proper an Occafion, a late Inftance of your Lordship's Generofity, in preventing my Application, for one of the greatest, and most defireable Favours, for which I could have been inclined to apply. |