Bees, that painfully fly all about to fearch for their Honey. If I had made an Index (which I once thought of doing) it would have flood me in a great deal of Pains; and must have been unfizeably large for the Bulk of the Book, because of the multitude of Subjects to be taken into it: And at laft would not have been tanti. For my fenfe of it is, that as a Man would not floop to take up Pearls, if they lay about like Hail, fo neither would be bestow the fetching in of Inftructions, if they coft him no Labour. And if he had nothing to do, but just to turn over the Pages of a Table, to pick out here and there a Tid-bit, he would in time grow fo lazy and delicate as not to beflow chewing on it; and conSequently would never digeft nor convert it into good Nourishment. I confefs I have not fo much regarded Words and Expreffions, as Thoughts and Things; and therefore you may perhaps frequently happen upon what you may deem Negligence of Style; but I am not very careful to excufe it: For For truly I found it pains enough to dig in the Mines, and bring home to you fo many Diamonds, and could not ftand to polish every rough one. If you chance upon divers Paragraphs tending to the fame Purpose, you may well think it so happened, becaufe I met with the fame Thought in Several Authors, and each of them had dreffed it up in fuch Modes and Fafbions as liked him beft. And at this you are not to take Offence, in regard that the doubling of it upon you can in no wife prejudice you, but may have its good Ufe; for as much as a View of the Several Fronts and Sides (as I may fay) of a Notion will map it out upon the Table of your Mind the plainer, and engrave it in your Mind the deeper. However, that I may not clog you too much with twice boiled Crambe; in my Review for the Second Edition, I have weeded out near Seventy fuch, and planted new ones in their ftead. Poffibly you may fancy fome of the fe too low and trifling, and wish they had been been left out; tho' others perhaps as wife as you, at the fame time may judge otherwife. But be that as it will, you are not to reject all for the fake of a few: for who but the arrantest Fool and Madman in the World would throw away a Bag of Guineas, because he faw Some Counters among them? All Mens Taftes are not the fame ; therefore where any thing occurs that is not agreeable to yours, it will be good Manners in you to let it ftand for other People; and reach to your felf fomething else that you like better: For I think I have provided Variety of Dishes, enough to gratify, and even compliment yours, and every other Man's Palate. If fome Paffages feem at first fight contradictions to others, judge not too faft; it may be when you have confider'd better, you will find them, as they have different Reafons and Refpects, reconcileable enough; at least not thwarting, as Ecclefiafticus xxii. 11. Weep for the Dead, for he hath loft the LightMake little weeping for the Dead, for be is at reft. I have held throughout to the Words, Thou, Thee, Thy, Thine; becaufe Ithought it proper Language for a Parent to express Familiarity and Kindness; and for a Preceptor to maintain Superiority and Authority. And herein I follow our Tranflators of the Bible. My Son, give me THINE Heart. I will blefs THEE. I am the Lord THY God. THOU fhalt have none other gods before me. Vivere quifque Diù quærit; Benè vivere Nemo: I W ISH not fo much to live long, ast to live well. 2 Since thou art not fure of an Hour, throw not away a Minute. 3 Beware of a fine Tongue, it will fting thee. 4 Be not concerned with what concerns not thee. 5 Never be weary of well-doing. 6 Fly Pleasure; and 'twill follow thee. 7 Think of eafe, but work on. 8 Have a care how thy Tongue walks in ill Company. 9 Pay what thou oweft; and fo thou'lt know what's thy own. 10 Go to bed with the Lamb, and rife with the Lark. 11 Wager not where thou maift lofe, but canft not win. 12 Play with Children; but let the Saints alone. 13 Wish it not done, but do it. 14 Never intreat a Servant to dwell with thee. |