risk of appearing to do so, if she would not sacrifice herself to opinion. 6. Weigh not so much what men say, as what they prove; remembering that truth is simple and naked, and needs not invective to apparel her comeliness. 7. Much more may a judge over-weigh himself in cruelty than in clemency. 8. It is hard, but it is excellent, to find the right knowledge of when correction is necesand when grace doth most avail. sary, 9. No man, because he hath done well before, shall have his present evils spared; but rather so much the more punished, as having shewed he knew how to be good, yet would, against his knowledge, be naught. Reward is proper to well-doing; punishment to evil-doing; which must not be confounded, no more than good and evil are to be mingled. Remark. He that allows an admiration of popular applause, accomplishments, or abilities, to lessen the account of the imprudences and faults of the possessor, admits that it is easier to beat a general at the head of a numerous and well-disciplined army, than when he commands a few ill-chosen troops. liberality, or extravagance of candoura scandalous injustice to weak and unendowed minds; and a high treason against the laws of virtue and of common sense. 10. In equality of conjectures, we are not to take hold of the worse; but rather to be glad we find any hope, that mankind is not grown monstrous: it being, undoubtedly, less evil a guilty man should escape, than a guiltless perish. 11. The end of a judge, is to preserve, and not destroy mankind. Remark. Such ought to be the intention of all correctives, whether moral, judicial, or political; for, to prevent disorders, by destroying the people; and to maintain the peace by making war on the subject, is a very backward kind of policy. Reason teaches that "To soften the rate, to convince the mistaken, to mollify the resentful, and to chastise the transgressor, are aims worthy of a statesman; but it affords a legislator little self-applause, when he considers, that where there was formerly an insurrection, there is now a desart!" VICE. 1. THERE is no man suddenly either excellently good, or extremely wicked; but grows so, either as he holds himself up in virtue, or lets himself slide to viciousness. Remark. Habits of goodness are a celestial appareling of the mind, which day by day transforms it to the nature of angels; and raiseth it, like the prophet's mantle, even to the highest heavens. But evil habits are, on the contrary, of earthly mould; though, unlike other terrestrial matters, they do not wear out, but thicken and grow stronger every hour. They cleave to the man, while Link'd by carnal sensuality "To a degenerate and degraded state, "The soul grows clotted by contagion; 2. Every base occupation makes one sharp in its practice, and dull in every other. Remark. And by parity of reasoning, base companions, which are the counsellors of base occupations, in the course of time totally unfit us both for honourable employment and honourable company. The famous William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, in the last admonitions he addressed to his son, thus teaches him, that "it is right for noble minds to keep ever with their likes." "I charge you, my son," says he, "to avoid the company and counsel of proud men, of covetous men, of men of pleasure, and of flattering men, the more especially and mightily to withstand them; for they seek to betray your fame, and your very soul. Draw towards you, with all your strength and power, good and virtuous men; such as be of honourable conversation, |