directly and immediately: Therefore those, who are no Friends to it, fap it's Foundations by Degrees, and begin with it's fundamental Articles. One Error is to pave the Way for another, that they may bring their Designs to bear: And the Mask is to be worn till all Things are ripe for Execution. They look upon all the reft of the World as Men of narrow Views, and therefore deal with them as with ftrait-mouthed Veffels If they should go rafhly to work, and attempt to throw in too much at once, their Labour would be loft, and their Doctrine fall to the Ground; they, for this Reason, ftrive to carry their Point by pouring in their Tents gently and by Degrees. To prevent this ftale Artifice of the Deifts, and to check the gradual Advances of Error; it is a Duty incumbent upon all Men of good Abilities to lay in a competent Stock of Divinity: And, in Order to this, it is neceffary to impart their Thoughts for their mutual Advantage; which will make them talk as pertinently upon these Topicks as if the Bent of their Studies had been almost entirely applied this Way. A Spirit of Emulation will quicken their Endeavours; and it will be pleasant as well as ufeful, to point out to one another the Sophiftry to which Hereticks have Recourfe, to fupport a finking Cause.

When

When a Man knows he must shortly deliver his Thoughts in Conversation upon any important Article or material Question; he reads with more Attention; endeavours to draw off the Flower and Spirit of many Authors upon the fame Subject; thoroughly digests his Notions, and treasures them up in his Memory. Besides, his Studies center in one Point; whereas, at other Times, he may be apt to fhoot at Rovers, without aiming at any certain Mark.

If any fhould object, that what I have recommended would too much pall and flatten the Spirit of Converfation; I beg Leave to obferve, that ludicrous Wit and facetious Difcourfes may beget in us a fhort, unfatisfactory Gleam of Joy; whereas folid Senfe and virtuous Reflections imprefs upon the Mind a calm, lafting Serenity of Temper: The former, if too much indulged, fink, weaken, and debafe the Majesty of a rational Soul; whereas the latter raise, elevate, and ennoble it's Difpofition: When a Man has been laying out that Time in improving Discourse which is generally loft in Trifles; the Mind is confcious of having acted fuitably to the Dignity of it's Nature, and for this Reason feels that refined Delicacy of Pleasure, and that agreeable Complacency, which is infinitely preferable to any shortlived Blaze of Mirth and Laughter.

I would

I would not be thought an Enemy to the Graces and Embellishments of Wit, though I think Religion and Learning ought to take Place of them. The Imagination does indeed fometimes get the Afcendant of Reafon; and a furprizing Brightness of Thought has been observed in fome, where a steady Judgment and nervous Senfe have been wanting: As Diamond-Mines are faid to be often found in loofe, fandy Ground. But Wit, under due Regulations, and in it's proper Sphere, may be of no small Service; and I have known fome Men, who would have embittered the Conversation by a Singularity of Carriage, and a morofe Refervedness of Temper, dextrously rallied into good Humour and Complaisance, and forced to facrifice to the Graces. The Waters of Marah (if I may use a Scripture-Simile) were very bitter, and difagreeable to the Taste, till the Prophet, by throwing in some Salt, rendered them fweet and palatable. If Wit, instead of keeping within it's proper Province, be mifemployed to keep Vice in Countenance, and decry Men of Merit; nothing can be of a more dangerous and deftructive Tendency. If I fhould exprefs myself with more Warmth against this. Abuse of it, I fhould be very excufable, fince to this was, in a great Measure, owing the Difgrace of the greatest Man England could boast of; in whom were happily

reconciled

reconciled the difinterefted Spirit and Sincerity of the Patriot, and the deep Penetration and confummate Abilities of the Statesman: When that faithful Counsellor reprefented to King CHARLES II. the Blackness of his darling Vices, which the Wits of the Age had palliated under the fofter Name of Gallantries; the Duke of BUCKINGHAM, and other Courtiers of the fame Stamp, took Occafion to ridicule, expofe, and mimick him before his Majefly; and, with an Air of Contempt, used to call him the King's· School-Mafter. In the Apology for himself, which he left behind him when he fled beyond Sea, he complains heavily of fome, who had reviled all Counfels and Counsellors; who had turned Things ferious and facred into Ridicule, and taken all Means to render him ungrateful both to the King and People.

Is a Man poffeffed with a great many fhining Qualities? If he have but one remarkable Foible, if, like Achilles, he be only vulnerable in one Part, these Gentlemen, like Paris, (fo dextrous Archers are they) will be fure to hit that Place, and too fuccefsfully wound his Reputation. Let then all Topicks of Defamation, and let all Abuse of Wit be exploded. I have always been mightily pleased with that amiable, and, I hope, juft Character, which a celebrated

Writer gives Mr. CONGREVE; namely, that, after a joyful Evening spent in his Company, no Man could ever reflect upon any Expreffion of Mr. CONGREVE'S that dwelt upon him with Pain and Uneafinefs. A good-natured Wit will never think, that nothing but the Poignancy of Raillery and Scandal can give Life and Spirit to Converfation; whereas unhappy Tempers, that are eaten up with Spleen and Melancholy, take a fullen Satisfaction in blafting Reputations. And it must be

owned, that they have very often an unlucky Turn this Way; malignant Glances of Satire, like Flashes of Lightning, coming generally from a dark, gloomy Sky.

IIIdly, Upon the Manner of handling the Subject-Matter of Conversation.

The great Secret of Converfation is, to aim rather at being agreeable, than to appear fining, in Difcourfe. If we should trace the Faults and Defects of Converfation up to their original Source, I believe most of them might be refolved into the Neglect of this Rule. Some are still endeavouring to raise the Admiration of the Company, instead of gaining their Love. This kindles a Spirit of Contention and Strife for the Superiority; and the Affectation of the Wit and Scholar deftroys the Complaifance and Benevolence of the Gentleman and Friend. If a

Man