SECTION I.

Of Man and his Connections.

N giving a rude Sketch or Hiftory in Miniature of Man, we must remember that he rises from fmall Beginnings, unfolds his Faculties and Difpofitions by degrees, as the Purposes of Life require their Appearance, advances flowly thro' different Stages to Maturity, and when he has reached it, gradually declines till he finks into the Grave. Let us accompany him in his Progress through these fucceffive Stages, and mark the Principles which actuate, and the Fortunes which attend him in each, that we may have a full View of him in each.

Man's Infant

State.

Man is born a weak, helplefs, delicate Creature, unprovided with Food, Cloathing, and whatever elfe is neceffary for Subfiftence, or Defence. And yet, expofed as the Infant is to numberless Wants and Dangers, he is utterly incapable of fupplying the former, or fecuring himself against the latter. But though thus feeble and

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and expofed, he finds immediate and fure Resources in the Affection and Care of his Parents, who refufe no Labours, and forego no Dangers, to nurse and rear up the tender Babe. By thefe powerful Inftincts, as by fome mighty Chain, does Nature link the Parent to the Child, and form the strongest Moral Connection on his Part, before the Child has the least Apprehenfion of it. Hunger and Thirst, with all the Senfations that accompany or are connected with them, explain themselves by a Language ftrongly expreffive, and irrefiftibly moving. As the feveral Senfes bring in Notices and Informations of furrounding Objects, we may perceive in the young Spectator, early Signs of a growing Wonder and Admiration. Bright Objects and ftriking Sounds are beheld and heard with a fort of Commotion and Surprize. But without refting on any, he eagerly paffes on from Object to Object, ftill pleafed with whatever is most new. Thus the Love of Novelty is formed, and the Paffion of Wonder kept awake. By degrees he becomes acquainted with the most familiar Objects, his Parents, his Brethren, and thofe of the Family who' are most converfant with him. He con

tracts

tracts a Fondness for them, is uneafy when they are gone, and charmed to fee them again. Thofe Feelings become the Foundation of a Moral Attachment on his Side, and by this reciprocal Sympathy he forms the Domeftic Alliance with his Parents, Brethren, and other Members of the Family. Hence he becomes interested in their Concerns, and feels Joy, or Grief, Hope, or Fear on their Account, as well as his own. As his Affections now point beyond himself to others, he is denominated a good or ill Creature, as he stands well or ill affected to them. These then are the first Links of the Moral Chain, the early Rudiments, or Out-lines of his Character, his first rude Effays towards Agency, Freedom, Manhood.

His Child

When he begins to make Excurfions from the Nurfery, bood. and extend his Acquaintance

abroad, he forms a little Circle of Companions, engages with them in Play, or in queft of Adventures; and leads, or is led by them, as his Genius is more or lefs alpiring. Though this is properly the Seafon in which Appetite and Paffion have the Afcendant, yet his Imagination and Intellectual Powers open apace; and as the

various

various Images of Things pafs before the Mental Eye, he forms a Variety of Taftes; relishes fome things and diflikes others, as his Parents, Companions, and a thousandother Circumstances lead him to combine agreeable, or difagreeable Sets of Ideas, or represent to him Objects in alluring or odious Lights.

As his Views are enlarged, his Active and Social Powers expand themselves in proportion; the Love of Action, of Imitation, and of Praife, Emulation, Docility, a Paffion for Command, and Fondness of Change. His Paffions are quick, variable, and pliant to every Impreffion, his Attachments and Difgufts quickly fucceed each other. He compares Things, diftinguishes Actions, judges of Characters, and loves or hates them, as they appear well or ill affected to himself, or to thofe he holds dear. Mean while he foon grows fenfible of the Confequences of his own Actions, as they attract Applaufe, or bring Contempt; he triumphs in the former, and is afhamed of the latter; wants to hide them, and blushes when they are discovered. By means of these Powers he becomes a fit Subject of Culture, the Moral Tie is drawn closer, he feels that

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he is accountable for his Conduct to others as well as to himself, and thus is gradually ripening for Society and Action.

As Man advances from

Childhood to Youth, his Paf- His Youth. fions as well as Perceptions

take a more extenfive Range. New Senfes of Pleasure invite him to new Purfuits ; he grows fenfible to the Attractions of Beauty, feels a peculiar Sympathy with the Sex, and forms a more tender kind of Attachment than he has yet experienced. This becomes the Cement of a new Moral Relation, and gives a fofter Turn to his Paffions and Behaviour. In this turbulent Period he enters more deeply into a Relish of Friendship, Company, Exercifes and Diverfions; the Love of Truth, of Imitation and of Defign grows upon him; and as his Connections. fpread among his Neigh-. bours, Fellow-Citizens and Countrymen, his Thirst of Praife, Emulation, and Social Affections grow more intenfe and active. Mean while, it is impoffible for him to have lived thus long without having become fenfible of thofe more auguft Signatures of Order, Wisdom, and Goodnefs, which are ftamped on the visible Creation; and of those strong Suggestions

within