Cliap. VIII. ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. i^f 



practice virtue, we are not virtuous. But, he adds, that even the 

 mere pradice of virtue will not make us virtuous; but we muft know 

 that what we pradice is virtue, and we muft pradice it for that rea- 

 foh. 



And here I conclude what, in my opinion, is proper to be faid upon 

 the fubjecl of morals, in a work of this kind: And, I hope, the reader 

 will not think that I have enlarged too much in praife of Ariftotle's 

 fyftem of Morals, which, in my judgment, is the moft inftrudivc 

 work in the philofophy of human life, and. in the pradice of thofe 

 things which only can make us happy in our prefent ftate, that ever 

 was written. And, as it explains all the paffions, affedions, habits, 

 diipofitions, and, in fhort, every quality belonging to the human 

 mind, it may be faid to teach a man more to~obey that precept of the 

 Delphic God, io know thyfelf^ the foundation of all wifdom and 

 virtue, than any other book upon morals, and, I think, I. may add 

 than all the other books upon morals put together. 



'^2 GHAPi 



