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Let me caution you in the next place, Not to ſuffer yourſelf to be impoſed upon by falſe appearances of pleaſure. A young man, when he firſt eſcapes from the eye of his parents, and is ſet free from the ſhackles of authority, is apt to imagine that flowers of delight will ſpring up under his feet wherever he goes, and is loth to believe it poſſible that he can rove into any path where he will tread upon thorns. He gives on eaſy credit to every flattering promiſe of meriment, and fancies that he ſees happineſs under every form of pleaſure And the fond dreams which are produced in his own deluded imaginations are two often foſtered by the artful ſophiſtry of libertine deceivers; who endeavour to perſuade him, that the limitations preſcribed to the indulgence of appetite, by the laws of God, or the inſtitutions of ſociety, are ſevere and unneceſſary reſtraints, and that he is the wiſeſt and happieſt man, whoſooneſt emancipates himſelf from the prejudices of education, and gives the freeſt scope to his inclinations. Believe me my ſon, or rather believe the teſtimony of univerſal experience, when you are aſſured that the fair promiſes of licentious pleaſure are fallacious, and that every expectation you may entertain of happineſs beyond the boundary of virtue, will inviteably diſappoint you. In order to convince yourſelf of this, without making the
