this fimple reigmen. People in health fhould never force themselves to eat when they have no appetite; Nature, the best judge in these matters, will never fail to let us know the proper time of refreshment. To act contrary to this rule, will affuredly weaken the powers of digeftion, impair health and fhorten life. Plutarch.

"LET us beware of fuch food as tempts us to eat when we are not hungry, and of fuch liquors as entice us to drink when we are not thirsty." So

crates.

Ir is really furprifing (fays Plutarch) what benefit men of letters would receive from reading aloud every day; we ought therefore to make that exercife familiar to us, but it fhould not be done immediately after dinner, nor fatigue, for that error has proved hurtful to many. But though loud reading is a very healthy exercise, violent vociferation is highly dangerous; it has in thou

fands

fands of inftances burft the tender blood veffels of the lungs, and brought on incurable confumptions*.

"THE world has long made a juít distinction betwixt men of learning, and wife men. Men of learning are ofttimes the weakest of men: they read and meditate inceffantly, without allowing proper relaxation or refreshment to the body; and think that a frail machine can bear fatigue as well as an immortal

I 2

*Would to God, all minifters of religion (I mention them because they are generally moft want ing in this great article of prudence) would but attend to the advice of this eminent Philofopher. They would, many of them, live much longer, and confequently ftand a good chance to be more useful men here on earth, and brighter faints in heaven. What can give greater pain to a man who has the profperity of religion at heart, than to fee an amiable, pious young divine, (who promifed great fervices to the world) fpitting up his lungs, and dying of a confumption brought on by preaching ten times Icuder than he had need! Since the world began, no man ever spoke with half the energy which the inte refts of eternal fouls deferve, but there is a wide difference betwixt an infirudive, moving, melting elo. quence, and a loud, unmeaning monctony.

mortal fpirit. This puts me in mind of what happened to the camel in the fable; which, refufing though often premonished, to eafe the ox in due time of a part of his load, was forced at last to carry not only the ox's whole load, but the ox himself also, when he died under his burden. Thus it happens to the mind which has no compaflion on the body, and will not liften to its complaints, nor give it any reft, until fome fad diftemper compels the mind to lay study and contemplation afide; and to lie down, with the afflicted body, upon the bed of languishing and pain. Most wifely, therefore, does Plato admonish us to take the fame care of our bodies as of our minds; that like a well matched pair of horses to a chariot, each may draw his equal fhare of weight. And when the mind is most intent upon virtue and usefulness, the body should then be moft cherished by prudence

and

and temperence, that fo it may be fully equal to fuch arduous and noble purfuits."-Plutarch.

NOTHING is more injurous to health than hard study at night; it is inverting the order of nature, and ruining the conftitution.

BUT most of all, it is improper to lie reading in bed by candle light; for it not only partakes of the ufual inconveniences of night ftudy, fuch as ftraining the eyes, weakening the fight, fatiguing the mind, and wearing away the conftitution, but is oft-times the cause of the faddeft calamities; thoufands of elegant houses, with all their coftly furniture, have been reduced to ashes by this very imprudent practice.

BUT how can giddy youth, hurried on by strong paffions and appetites, be prevented from running into thofe exceffes, which may cut them off in the prime of their days, or at least hoard up

difeafes

diseases and remorfe for old age ? Why, their paffions and appetites muft early be restrained by proper difcipline and example. This important office must be done by their parents, whose first and greatest care fhould be "to train up their children in the way they fhould go, that when they are old they may not depart from it."

"O THAT parents (fays the excellent Mr. Locke) would carefully inftil into their children that great principle of all virtue and worth, viz. nobly to deny themselves every wrong defire, and fteadily follow what reafon dictates as best, though the appetite should lean the other way. We often fee parents by humouring them when little, corrupt the principles of virtue in their children; and wonder afterwards to taste the bitter waters of their undutifulness or wickednefs, when they themselves have contributed thereto. Why fhould we wonder