Occasional Thoughts in Reference to a Vertuous or Cristian life
Masham, Lady Damaris Cudworth, 1659-1708
English
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OCCASIONAL THOUGHTS
In reference to a
Vertuous or Christian
LIFE.
LONDON,
Printed for A. and J. Churchil at the
Black Swan in Pater-noster Row.
1705.
THE PREFACE.
_The following discourse was written some Years since, not without the
thought that, possibly, it might be of farther use than for the
entertainment of the Writer: Yet so little express Intention was there
of Publishing the Product of those leisure Hours it employ'd, that
these Papers lay by for above two Years unread, and almost forgotten.
After which time, being perus'd and Corrected, they were communicated
to some Friends of the Authors, who judging them capable to be useful,
they are now sent into the World in that Hope.
There is nothing pretended or suppos'd to be in them which is not
obvious: but Truths the most evident, are sometimes overlook'd, or not
sufficiently and universally attended to: And where these are Truths
of moment, it is no ill Service, by frequent representations of them,
to procure them attention.
I think there can be few heartily concerned for the Vice and
Immorality that abounds amongst us, who have not sometimes reflected
upon loose or careless Education, as one cause thereof: But yet the
great weight that right Instruction and Discipline of Youth, is of, in
respect both of Peoples present and future Felicity, is (as I take it)
far from being generally so settl'd in the Minds of Parents, as to be
steadily look'd upon by them as the one thing to that degree
necessary, that without due care taken thereof, all other indeavours,
to render their Children happy, either in this Life, or in that which
is to come, are likely to be very inefficacious.
That right Instruction, in regard of Vertue, consists in joining
together, inseparably, good Principles with early Habits, either of
these being insufficient without the other, is likewise, I presume, no
new Thought: But is yet what appears to me to be very little reflected
upon. When this is duly consider'd, People cannot, I think, but be
soon convinc'd from what Hands the right Instruction spoken of, ought
to come; for nothing can, in my Opinion, be more obvious than that is.
If these_ OCCASIONAL THOUGHTS _shall produce better digested ones
from any other Hand; or shall themselves be any way serviceable to
the reducing or directing of one single Soul into the paths of Vertue,
I shall not repent the Publishing them: And however useless they may
be to this end (sincerely aim'd at) yet the very Design will intitle
them to no unfavourable reception: For but to indeavour to contribute,
in the least degree, to the Honour of God, or Good of Mankind, can
never stand in need of Pardon. And such a Modesty or Fear of
displeasing any as withholds Men from enterprising the one, or the
other of these, where nothing but their own Credit is hazarded, should
the design not succeed, is, on the contrary, very blameable.
Besides these two Motives, could I need any other to ingage me in the
defence of Vertue, I should find yet a very powerful one in that
dutiful Affection which I pay, and which every Subject ows to a_ GOOD
PRINCE: _Since the_ QUEEN, _I am fully perswaded, would not so much
rejoyce in the Accession of great Kingdoms to her Dominions, as to see
the People, already happy in Her Government over them, indeavouring to
make themselves and one another so, in following the great Example
which She sets them of Vertue and Piety._
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OCCASIONAL THOUGHTS
In reference to a
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