Be ye Wife as SERPENTS, and Harmless The THIRD EDITIO N.. LONDON: Printed for W. INNYS, at the Weft- E VER fince you were born, I began very early with you; for while you were in your Infantile State, and your Brain was as yet dark and void, I endeavour'd to ftrike Light into it, and furnish it with Simulachra and Ideas of Things. As foon as I found your Mind began to operate, I exercifed it a little, put Motion into it, and fet Thought a-going. Afterwards, as your Perception and Memory increased, I helped you to A 2 com compare your Notions, draw Conclufions, make Axioms, and treasure them up for the future Ufes of Life. And when I had thus led you into the Art of Thinking and Reafoning, I by degrees rectify'd your little Apprehenfions and Fancies, taught you the Ufes and Abuses of the Paffions, educated you, as you grew fit for it, in Piety, Morality, Learning and good Breeding; and never fpared for either Care or Coft toward the fitting you up to make an handfome Figure among the best of Men, and act a commendable Part in common Life. But I am grown old, and muft defcend to my Fathers; and leave you young and unexperienc'd to fhift for your felf, and ftruggle thro' a troublefome World. you I moft earnestly wish to affift ftill; but fince it's not permitted me to do it viva voce, I have thought of this way of fupplying it with a Panoply of Directions, Counfels and Cautions; to help and defend you in all Difficulties and Dangers, and render you you profperous(or at leaft not unhappy) in all your Undertakings and Affairs. By thefe, when I am dead, I fhall yet speak; and like Mentor with Telemachus, be ever with you, till you come to me. As often therefore as you take them into your Hand, imagine that I your ever loving and careful Father am perfonally prefent, familiarly talking with, and faithfully advifing you. I leave them with you as an everlafting Legacy; and upon my Bleffing I charge you to keep them as a Treasure, confult them at every turn, and make the beft ufe you can of them all your Days.. I mean not by this, that you should flavishly come into all here delivered, with an implicit Belief and thoughtlefs Obfervance; but would have you all along ftand up in your own Senfe, and use your Reason, and think and live as a wife Man ought to do. Now as to the practical Use of this Book, you should run it all over pretty faft, and mifs nothing; and that A 3 not |
