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Show · 1 will" only mention by the bye, as a Circumfiance of fmaller Confequence, that the Perfon of THEOPHJLUS was handfome enough t<> be graceful. Which is more to be delired, than fuch an extraordinary Elegance of Figure, as commonly occalions Pride, Affectation, and Folly of various kinds. His Father, who was a Gentleman of Prudence and Learning, had a fpecial Eye to his Temper and Turn of Mind from early Infancy ; nor were his Meafures ever thwarted by his Lady, who fhewed her Judgment in fubmitting to that of her Hufband. He carefully conlidered, what is too little attended to, That evil Habits are foon formed, and with great Difficulty corrected. THEoPHJLUS has therefore often told me, that his Father began his Education as foon as he could fpeak; it being a Maxim with him, That a Child may be irrecoverably ruined, before five Years of Age. The Point he had in View was, to bend the Infant-mind to Obedience, and Relignation. For this Purpofe he taught him, as it were mechanically, before he could apply to his Reafon, robe eafy in every Condition, A broad, and within Doors, with, . or without Play·things, fine Cloaths, and the l1ke; never allowing any thin,. to be given him for his crying for it, or afking ~ in an improper Manner; keeping, by this Means, his Defires within bounds; in which alone nine Parts in ten of human Happinefs con lift. This prudent Parent likewife managed Matters fo, that TH EOPHIL us went through his firfi Rudiments of Learning with an unufual Relifb. He furnilhed the Child with a Variety of little Books, for l'lay-thmgs; and to make him take the more Delight in them, he took Care, that they lhouli! ( 7 I ) lhould be prettily bound, and had the Prints in them coloured, or illuminated. He was at a very early Age familiar with Maps, and the terreftrial Globe, and could point out mol! of the Countries of the World in them. THEo:HtLus, at fix Years of Age, was placed at a pnvate Academy, where he continued till be was Eighteen; and finilhed his Studies, where he began them ; which is incomparably the beft Method 0f Education, and is . the Plan laid down by that great Scholar, and eminent Judge of the Subject, the Author of Paradife Lojl. The Gentleman, under whofe c,e TH EOPHILUS was placed, ha<l in his Academy fuch a competent Number of Pupils., as was fufficient to give proper Scope to Emulation: that great Spur to Improvement;. and was not too l:uge to be properly feen to by lumfel~, or to endanger the Motals of the Youth. By rHEOPHILus's Account of his Marter's Character and Conduct, he was very fit for the important Charge he undertook. He was was equally a Gentleptan and a Scholar. His K nowledge was general; not confined to claffical Learning. And he had read Men, as well as Books. But his principal Study was Human N ature. And he had a fi1perior Talent 31: finding out the wrong Cafis of Mind in the Youth under his Care, and at COI>Vincin<> them of their Errors by Rcafon, rather than ov~rpower• ing them by Authority. He had more at Heart to teach them the Beauty of Virtue, and its infeparable Connection with Happinefs, and to make them underfiand, and on rational Conviction embrace, and practife the Chrifiian Religion; than to a~compliih them in all human Knowledge. He fpent fome fct Tjme to .this ~urpofe fY;ry Day; H and |