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upon your own judgement, prudence, and firmneſs, much more than upon the wiſdom or kindneſs of others; where every thing will depend upon your judging rightly and acting well: you ſhould now make it your firſt buſineſs to fix upon ſuch a plan of conduct, as you may purſue with security and advantage through the remainder of your life.
Education and example have already taught you to love virtue; habit has inclined you to revere her authority and obey her laws; and you ſet out in life with a happy bias towards that which is right and good, and I truſt too, with a determined purpoſe to adhere to it as long as you live. But in order to render you ſteady and inflexible in your good reſolutions, it is neceſſary that you ſhould be apprized of ſome difficulties, and warned of ſome hazards, which you muſt expect to meet with; and in order to aſſiſt you in making the greateſt advanrage of your talents and opportunities, it may be of uſe to furniſh you with certain rules or precepts for your direction in the conduct of life. The counsels which I mean to offer you, will, therefore, be naturally claſſed under the two general heads of caution and advice; caution, with reſpect to things which are to be avoided; advice, with reſpect to things which are to be pursued.
