SECTION I. 571 last age, and there are some in this, both of parents and children, that have learned to tread this middle path, and found wisdom and virtúe In it,. piety and peace. Agathus has bred his son up tinder such discipline, as renders them both proper examples to the world. Eugenio is jhst out of his minority, and in the twenty-se- çond year of his age he practises the man with all that virtue and decency, which makes his father's acquaintance covet his compa- ny ; and indeed they may learn by his discourse the art of good reasoning, as well as the precepts of piety from his example. He is an entertaining companion to the gay young gentlemen his equals ; and yet divines and philosophers take a pleasure tohave Eugenio amongst them. He is caressed by his superiors in ho- nour and years; and though he is released from the discipline of parental education, yet he treats the lady his mother, with all that affectionate duty that Could be desired or demanded of him ten years ago ; his father is content to see his own youth outshined by his son, and confesses that Eugenio already promises greater things than Agathus did at thirty. if you ask whence these happy qualities arise, I grant there was some foundation for them in the very Make of his nature there was something of a complexional virtue mingled with his frame ; but it is much more owing to the wise conduct of his parents front his very irfancy, and the blessing of divine grace attending their labours, their prayers, and their hopes. He was trained up from the very cradle to all the duties of infant virtue, by the alinrements of love, and remarks suited to his age ; and never was driven to practise any thing by a frown or a hasty word, where it was possible for kinder affbctions to work the same effect by indulgence and delay. As fast as his reasoning powers began to appear and exert themselves, they were conducted in an easy track of thought, to find out and ob- serve the reasonablehess of every part of his duty, and the lovely character of a child obedient to reason and to his parents' will; while every departure from duty was shewn to be so contrary to reason, as laid an early foundation for conscience to work upon ; conscience began here to assume its office, and to manifest its au- thority in dictates, and reproofs, and reflections of mind, peace- ful or painful, according to his behaviour. When his parents observed this inward monitor to awake in his soul, they could better trust him out of their sight. When he bedaine capable of conceiving of an almighty and invisible being, who made this World and every creature in if, he was taught to pay all due regard to this God his Maker; and from the authority and love of his father òn earth, he was led to form right ideas (as far as childhood permitted) of the power, Vot.. vis. . O o
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