of regard; if I fhould excite a more ardent and more active attention to any branches of ufeful knowledge; and if the variety of my topics fhould contribute to diffufe more widely the light of general information and ufeful truth; I fhall have the fatisfaction to reflect, that my time has not been facrificed to a frivolous purpose by thus endeavouring, in conformity with the occupations of the most valuable portion of my life, to instruct the rifing generation. It has been fuggefted to me by fome of my Oxford friends, that this work may prove useful to thofe who are qualifying themselves to pafs the public Examinations for their degrees in this Uninerfity. It certainly comprises a furvey of the principal fubjects, with which the new Statute requires them to be acquainted; and if it does not contain notices and lifts of most of the books which they muft neceffarily refort to, I must confefs I know not in what Catalogue they are to be found. I wish it however to be well understood, that this is an accidental purpose to which my work is applicable; for I repeat my affertion, that the fubstance of it has been read to my pupils in the form of Lectures for a confiderable time paft; and more than fix years have now elapfed fince the general Table of Contents was printed, and diftributed among my Friends. TRINITY COLLEGE, OXFORD, May 12, 1802. A 4 ADVER TO THE SECOND AND THIRD EDITIONS. THE very favourable reception which this Work has met with, has encouraged the Author to publith a Second Edition, and a defire to render his defign more complete has induced him to revife the whole, and to make fome important Additions. As fome of his Friends, on whofe judgment he has great reliance, have expreffed their approbation of the Work, he feels the lefs hefitation in earneftly recommending it to thofe, whofe improvement it is intended to promote. TRINITY COLLEGE, OXFORD, ADVERTISEMENT TO THE FOURTH EDITION. THE encreafing Demand for my Work calls upon me for adequate Endeavours to merit the public Approbation. I have therefore revifed the whole, and made fome ufeful alterations and additions. TRINITY COLLEGE, OXFORD, May 20, 1803. GENERAL TABLE OF CONTENTS. INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. THE Design of the Work. The various branches of Litera- ture and Science confidered with reference to young Men in the higher claffes of life, as they are, I. CHRISTIANS; II. as STUDENTS, who enjoy the advantages of a liberal Education; III. as MEMBERS OF THE BRITISH CONSTITUTION. fideration of these important relations in which they ftand to Society, has fuggefted the choice of the following fubjects. The purfuit of them, carried to fuch an extent as is compatible with due attention to profeffional Studies, is calculated to improve the faculties of the mind, to inform the understanding, ftrengthen the judgment, engage the memory in an agreeable exercife, and prepare a young Man for the beft performance of his various duties THE reafonablenefs of inftructing Children in the prin eiples of Religion at an early age. The fuperior excellence of CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE. Six of the leading proofs of the truth of Christianity stated. I. The AUTHENTICITY OF THE BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. II. THE CHARACTER OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR. III. THE PROPHECIES of which he was the Subject, and those which he pronounced. IV. His MIRACLES. V. HIS PRECEPTS, or CHRISTIAN ETHICS. VI. THE RAPID AND EXTENSIVE PROPAGATION OF THE GOS- PEL at its first preaching, under circumstances the most hostile to СНАР. REASONS why the doctrines and precepts of Chriftianity have been attacked by Infidels of all ages.-Their cavils fhewn to be weak, and their arguments proved to be inconclufive. The Character and Conduct of modern Infidels furnish additional evidence to the truth of Chriftianity, as they are plainly foretold in Scripture.-The Abfurdity of the Opinions of the French Philofophifts and their Followers relative to Univerfal Philanthropy expofed. Genuine Chriftianity has produced the happieft effects upon the Opinions, Conduct, and Inftitutions of Mankind. It was darkened by Superftition, and intermixed with Error by the Papifts-but was refined and brought back more nearly to the Apoftolical Standard by the REFORMATIONparticularly by the PROTESTANT ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND. Summary of the fublime Truths of Christianity.It comprehends the laft Revelation of the divine will to mankind-eftablishes the certainty of a future ftate-reconciles Man to the difpenfations of Providence--and qualifies him by a Life of Faith and Obedience for the Rewards of Eternity. P. 58-84+ CLASS II. LANGUAGE. CHAP. I. LANGUAGE IN GENERAL. ADVANTAGES refulting from a Knowledge of various Languages-The Theories of Lord Monboddo and Adam Smith relative to their origin examined. All Languages derived from one original Source. The most rational system of the Origin of Speech accords with the Scriptural account of Mofes.Alphabetical Characters are the most perfect repres fentation of ideas their Origin and Progress-those of modern Europe may be traced to one fource. The diftinctions between ancient and modern Languages.-Origin of the Italian and French Languages. The rife of the modern Languages forms a curious part of the Hiftory of the dark Ages. P. 85-1106 CHAP. II. THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE. ITS Origin and Progrefs. The Simplicity of its gramma tical Conftruction-Has been brought more nearly to a regular ftandard Stric tandard by the writings of Bishop Lowth, Dr. Johnson, and Mr. Horne Tooke-Is both copious and energetic, and well adapted to Poetry Its Imperfections-inferior to Greek and Latin as to the arrangement of words in Compofition. tures on thofe Writers who have unneceffarily introduced into their works many words of Latin derivation, particularly Sir Thomas Browne," the Author of the Vulgar Errors," and Dr. Johnfon. The practice of the latter, efpecially in his "Rambler," feems inconfiftent with his remarks in the Preface to his Dictionary." The ftyle of Gibbon confidered. Several of the Scotch popular Writers have deviated from the idiom of our Language. P. 111-131. CHAP. III. THE SUBJECT CONTINUED. SOME of the pureft Writers of English recommended. ASCHAM RALEIGH SPEED-TAYLOR-CLARENDON TEMPLE BARROW LOCKE DRYDEN SWIFT. ADDISONPOPE MELMOTH.-The excellence of the English Tranflation of the Bible. The practice of Writing gives to Converfation correctness and elegance. The Standard of the English Language.-Difagreement between our Orthography and Pronun ciation-How they ought to be regulated. The excellence of our Language, when confidered as the vehicle of some of the moft inftructive and delightful productions of the human mind. The Settlement of the English Colonies in North America and the East Indies will probably contribute to its perpetuity. P. 132-142. CHAP. IV. THE LATIN LANGUAGE. ITS Utility-It was formerly the general Language of alt Perfons of Education for converfation as well as writing.-Its Origin-Inferior to Greek.-Its Beauties and difcriminating Features. The progrefs of its Improvement. Sketch of the pureft Writers-TERENCE LUCRETIUS CICERO NEPOS CESAR-LIVY-VIRGIL-HORACE-OVID-CATULLUSTIBULLUS-PHEDRUS. Points in which Latin are inferior to Greek Writers. A degeneracy of style remarkable in Tacitus→→→→ Suetonius-Pliny Lucan Seneca. Many beauties of the Claffics are loft in Tranflations. The wide extent of the Latin Language before and after the Fall of the Roman Empire. Periods of its Rife, Progrefs, and Decline. The best Models of |