think this doctrine unfeasonable from your early age. Every period of life has its proper employment. Do not, therefore, postpone to the next, what should be done in this.

"If you would gain the Favour of the Deity; you must *be at the Pains of worshipping him : if the Friendship of, good Men, you must study to oblige them."

TATLER.

THE domeftic fituation of the female Sex. demands from them a proper regard to domeftic duties. These I have recommended to you in general; but I would, at this time, more particularly engage the attention of those, who are shortly to refide at home, where they will be received not only as the daughters, but as the companions, of their Parents. All childish amufements must then be laid, afide; and manners more correfponding to this change of condition be affumed. And I am the more induced to address you, in particular, who are now leaving school, from the confideration, that a very critical period of your life is foon to fucceed; when new scenes

and new characters will present themselves before you; which will, in fome fhape or other, affect your Reafon or your Paffions; and which will require from you a conduct the most guarded and difcreet. You, perhaps, may amuse your imaginations with dreams of gaiety and pleasure; but it will be neceffary to inform you, that a season of trial is approaching; wherein you will have occafion to exercife your judgment and your prudence,

On your behaviour, at this prefent outfet into life, your future welfare and happiness will, in a great measure, depend. If you act from right Principles-from a juft sense of honour and decorum, good and virtuous habits may be formed; but if you are governed by the impulfe of defire; or fuffer yourfelves to be influenced by the fashion of the World, you will be liable to fall into many errors.

~But fuppofing that useful maxims have been inftilled into your minds, during the course of your education, yet if you forget them, when they are no longer repeated; or if you diffegard them, even when remembered, you will, in the first instance, difrespect thofe, who have endeavoured to train you in the way you should go and in the fecond, you will act againft your better knowledge, whereby you may

have

have occafion to lament the ill confequences both of your neglect and perverfeness..

That you may have lefs occafion, however, to plead the want of recollection, I propole, in this farewel Lecture to lay before you, in a Summary manner, a few of thofe rules of conduct, which I have, from time to time, recommended to you more at large. My request is, that you would frequently reflect upon. them-improve and ftrengthen them by reading good Authors, hearing good advice, and obferving good examples..

Let me exhort you, in the first place, to cultivate a religious temper of mind; by which I mean, an habitual sense of the greatnefs, the justice and the benevolence of God. Him you fhould be afraid of offending; because as he has an utter abhorrence to vice, he will, of course, punish the wicked. For him you should cherish the highest reverence and affection; because, as his difpenfations are calculated for the benefit of Mankind, he will affuredly reward the Good.

The religious difpofition, which I am now recommending, is both cheerful and focial not tinctured with enthufiafm, or with the extravagant devotions of a modern fect; who, rejecting the affiftance of reason in matters of belief, and defpifing the excellency of virtue

in regard to practice, have given to Chriftian ity a four and gloomy afpect. This has induced many to run into the oppofite extreme, who rather than appear righteous over much, affect an indifference to Religion and to its ordinances. But whilft I caution you against fanaticism, I would not be thought fo uncharitable as to condemn the fincerity of all thofe who have embraced its principles. Doubtless there are many who act from honeft and pious motives; though, perhaps, with too intemperate a zeal. To be bigotted to any perfuafion, or to have a worfe opinion of others, because their religious tenets are different from our own, betrays a weak and illiberal mind. Various are the modes of worship in this country because a toleration is permitted to all those, who, on account of fome partieular prejudices, or fcruples of confcience, object to a conformity to the rites and cere'monies of the established Church. When the free exercise of Religion be allowed, we can have no pretence to controul the private judgment of others. One caution, however, is \neceffary; that you do not fuffer yourselves to -be milled by those, who boast of infpiration, of extraordinary effufions of the Spirit, and of fudden converfions. Miracles have long fince beafed. The Scriptures are your best

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