5.

The just, though they hate evil, yet give men a patient hearing; hoping that they will shew proofs that they are not evil.

Remark.

For, actions that seem wrong, may, upon close investigation, be shewn to be right: good motives are not always crowned with success; and misfortune is apt to incur blame. Cold characters are the least likely to fall under censure; not having stimulus to move out of the beaten track, they remain behind a screen all their lives, alike inaccessible to the praise of the just or the animadversions of the unjust. In them, dullness is caution; cowardice, discretion; and insensibility, virtue. It is the ardent character who throws himself, body and soul, in the way of circumstances which demand opposition, that is the object of acclammation or opprobrium. Men must be superior to the world, while they respect it, or be its slaves: and though virtue will never really offend, she must sometimes run the risk of appearing to do so, if she would not sacrifice herself to opinion.

6.

Weigh not so much what men say, as what they prove; remembering that truth is simple and naked, and needs not invective to apparel her comeliness.

7.

Much more may a judge over-weigh himself in cruelty than in clemency.

8.

It is hard, but it is excellent, to find the right knowledge of when correction is necessary, and when grace doth most avail.

9.

No man, because he hath done well before, shall have his present evils spared; but rather so much the more punished, as having shewed he knew how to be good, yet would, against his knowledge, be naught. Reward is proper to well-doing; punishment to evil-doing; which must not be confounded, no more than good and evil are to be mingled.

Remark.

He that allows an admiration of popular applause, accomplishments, or abilities, to lessen the account of the imprudences and faults of the possessor, admits that it is easier to beat a general at the head of a numerous and well-disciplined army, than when he commands a few ill-chosen troops. Such liberality, or extravagance of candour, is a scandalous injustice to weak and unendowed minds; and a high treason against the laws of virtue and of common sense.

10.

In equality of conjectures, we are not to take hold of the worse; but rather to be glad we find any hope, that mankind is not grown monstrous: it being, undoubtedly, less evil a guilty man should escape, than a guiltless perish.

1.

The end of a judge, is to preserve, and not destroy mankind.

Remark,

Such ought to be the intention of all correctives, whether moral, judicial, or political; for, to prevent disorders, by destroying the people; and to maintain the peace by making war on the subject, is a very backward kind of policy. Reason teaches that "To soften the obdurate, to convince the mistaken, to mollify the resentful, and to chastise the transgressor, are aims worthy of a statesman; but it affords a legislator little self-applause, when he considers, that where there was for

merly an insurrection, there is now a de

لا VICE.

1.

THERE is no man suddenly either excellently good, or extremely wicked; but grows so, either as he holds himself up in virtue, or lets himself slide to viciousness.

Remark.

Habits of goodness are a celestial appareling of the mind, which day by day transforms it to the nature of angels; and raiseth it, like the prophet's mantle, even to the highest heavens. But evil habits are, on the contrary, of earthly mould; though, unlike other terrestrial matters, they do not wear out, but thicken and grow stronger every hour. They cleave to the man, while

"

Link'd by carnal sensuality "To a degenerate and degraded state,