29^ THE EEK, OR Feb. 23, 



which relate to the fubjecl in hand ; when he retails as 

 truth, what lie picks up from doub/f?/ / x*:port and gene- 

 ,?•«/ converfation ; when he is much prr^/oircfled by new 

 external appearances and circumftanc os ; when he is 

 cairied away by ^ love of novelty, or a propenfity to 

 fmgularity ; when the fear of deviating from beaten 

 paths retards the progrefs of his enquiries ; be it from 

 thefe, or whatever caufe, when a man fully decides 

 upon any one thing, fo as to make it a principle of his 

 own, previous to his giving it a complete invelligation, 

 lie runs an eminent rifli of falling into error, and of be- 

 ing the mean of diffufing it in fome degree or other. 



Man being an irnperfeiit being, he often ftamps ayj/- 

 pcrior value upon hiferior objeils. Prone to imitation, 

 be frequently values and purfues tbings frivolous in 

 themfelves, from no other reafon than becaufe they are 

 cujioniary^ fajhionahle, or generally adopted. There are 

 many, who are much more iolicitous to ornament their 

 hndies\}A'i.Ts. their minds; who prefer unproiitable amiife- 

 ment, to thofe which enrich the undcrllanding ; who 

 place their chief happinefs in the acquifition of riches ; 

 and who, in lliort, are anxioully careful about trifles, 

 while important matters are by them much neglected. 

 Not that worldly enjoyments are to be defpifed ; they 

 claimour gratitude : but it is a prepofterous way of judg- 

 ing, to give them that place in our attention and re- 

 gard, to v;hich from their nature they are not entitled. 

 Error, falfe maxims and conclufions, in this cafe, ufurp 

 that place> due to the fearch of truth and propriety. 

 Ideas are eafily transferred from one cafe to another ; 

 their prevalence increafes ; habit renders them fo famili- 

 ar, as that their unfuitable flation is fcarce perceived ; 

 and thus the mens of wifdom are weakened and un- 

 dtrmined. It is the bufinefs of reafon, to value every 

 cbjeci according to its real ivorth m the fcale of im- 

 portance, ana :U)iidil wr/rzWpuvfuits, to give th& prefer- 

 ence to thofe whitli in their nature challenge it. 



