THE present Treatise, if it may assume the honour of that name, is made up of a variety of remarks and directions for the improvement of the mind in useful knowledge. It was collected from the observations which I had made on my own studies, and on the temper and sentiments, the humour and conduct of other men in their pursuit of learning, or in the affairs of life; and it has been considerably assisted by occasional collections, in the course of my reading, from many authors on different subjects. I confess, in far the greatest part, I stand bound to answer for the weaknesses or defects that will be found in these papers, not being able to point to other writers whence the twentieth part of them are derived.
The work was composed at different times, and by slow degrees. Now and then, indeed, it spread itself into branches and leaves, like a plant in April, and advanced seven or eight pages in a week : and sometimes it lay by without growth, like a vegetable in the winter, and did not increase half so much in the revolution of a year.
As these thoughts occurred to me in reading or meditation, or in
my notices of the various appearances of things among mankind, they
were thrown under those heads which make the present titles of
the chapters, and were by degrees reduced to something like a
method, such as the subject would admit.
On these accounts, it is not to be expected that the same
accurate order should be observed, either in the whole book or
in the particular chapters thereof, which is necessary in the
system of any science whose scheme is projected at once. A book
which has been twenty years a-writing may be indulged in some
variety of style and manner, though I hope there will not be
found any great difference of sentiment; for wherein I had
improved in latter years, beyond what I had first written, a few dashes and alterations have corrected the mistakes : and if the candour of the Reader will but allow what is defective i n one place to be supplied by additions from another, I hope there will be found a sufficient reconciliation of what might seem, at first, to be scarce consistent,
The language and dress of these sentiments is such as the
present temper of mind dictated, whether it were grave or
pleasant, severe or smiling. If there has been any thing
expressed with too much severity, I suspect it will be found
to fall upon those sneering or daring writers of the age
against religion, and against the Christian scheme, who seem
to have left reason, or decency, or both, behind them, in some of
their writings.
The same apology of the length of years in composing this
book may serve also to excuse a repetition of the same
sentiments which may happen to be found in different places
without the author's design; but in other pages it was intended, so that thoae rules, for the conduct of the understanding, which are most necessary should be set in several lights, that they might, with more frequency, and more force, impress the soul. I shall be sufficiently satisfied with the good humour and lenity of my Readers, if they will please to regard these papers as parcels of imperfect sketches, which were designed by a sudden pencil, and in a thousand leisure moments, to be, one day, collected into landscapes of some little prospects in the regions of learning, and in the world of common life, pointing oat the fairest and most fruitful spots, as well as the rocks, and wildernesses, and faithless morasses of the country. But I feel age advancing upon me; and my health is insufficient to perfect what I had designed, to increase and amplify these remarks, to confirm and improve these roles, and to illuminate the several pages with a richer and more beautiful variety of examples. The subject is almost endless ; and new writers, in the present, and in the following ages, may still find sufficient follies, weaknesses, and dangers, among mankind, to be represented in such a manner as to guard youth against them.