Page:Counsels to young men (3).pdf/3

3 upon your own judgment, prudence, and firmneſs, much more than upon the wiſdom or kindneſs of others; where every thing will depend upon your judging rightly and acting well you ſhould now make it your firt buſineſs to fix upon ſuch a plan of conduct, as you may pursue with ſecurity and advantage through the remainder of your life.

Education and example have already taught you to love virtue; habit has inclined you to revere her authority and obey her laws; and you ſet out in life with a happy bias towards that which is right and good, and I truſt too, with a determined purpoſe, to adhere to it as long as you live. But in order to render you ſteady and inflexible in your good reſolutions it is neceſſary that you ſhould be apprized of ſome difficulties, and warned of ſome hazards, which you muſt expect to meet with; and in order to aſſiſt you in making the greateſt advantage to your talents and opportunities, it may be of uſe to furniſh you with certain rules, or precepts for your direction in the conduct of life. The which I mean to offer you will therefore be naturally claſſed under the two general heads of  and : cautio, with reſpect to things which are to be avoided; advice, with reſpect to things which are to be purſued.