Truths to mingle an exact Method and which inures them to keep the Mind intent and eager a thing so essential to gain Sciences and transact Busiess 'T is yet of more moment to be Master of true Rhetorick I mean that which does not only instruct a Man to speak smoothly but to carry away his Audience with a persuasive Force this taking Art upon some nicking Occasions is strangely significant where blundering Courage and blunt Valour are baffled this skillfully insinuates it self into the Soul of Princes and great Men Manages Friends Enemies Strangers uncontroulably conquers Hearts damps popular Fury and even stops the Torrent of a flush'd Armies Rage Philosophy also must not be excluded it goes a great way in fashioning of the Mind it gives it Wings and more elevates the Flights of it Logick and Metaphysicks make a Man more Just and more Acute and natural Philosophy by unfolding the Secrets of Nature and exposing the Beauty the Order and the admirable Harmony of the several Parts of the Universe to a Man's Consideration influenceth him at the same time to adore the Author of such a marvellous Composure The Study of the Tongues is to usher in the Study of more serious Sciences excepting Morality whose Principal Rules can never be learn'd too soon The manly Exercises of the Body are not to be neglected they keep it in good Repair they strengthen the Constitution and scatter a free Air through all a Man's Address and a certain Grace which surprizingly takes at first sight which is no little Advantage in the World I do not speak here of Sciences proper for each Order of Men I suppose a Man design'd to serve the Church is to dive into the Bottom of Divinity a Man of the Long Robe to pry into worm-eaten Laws and superannuated Customs and a Sword-Man to cut his Way into all Military Knowledge V. What ought to be the Scope of his Studies ACtions which in themselves would challenge Esteem are strip'd of this Privilege when they are founded on ill Principles To undertake Study is of it self an Employment decent and honorable but one ought to observe exactly what Spring 't is that turns the Engine 't is commonly to be puft up with the popular Gusts of vain Applause or to exalt themselves to some advantageous Post or to be serviceable to the Publick in Compliance with the Directions of Providence which would have every one exert all the Powers of their Souls and display the Vigor of every Talent they have received The two first Motives are base and unmanly 't were better never to be studious than to be indebted to Ostentation and Interest for the being so The third being the easie Suggestion of the Law of Nature and the Genuine Product of innate Religion is valuable and worthy of the Pursuit of a Noble Mind so that those who are entrusted with the Education of Children ought seasonably to inform them that their Studies cannot be well employed if they do not terminate in the Glory of God if they do not tend to their own Improvement and to the Publick Good of the Community where they live VI. To make a Right Use of Knowledge I Am of Opinion that they who would plead for any Priority of Esteem upon the Account of their Birth or their advanced Post in the World must by a proportionable Extent of Knowledge shew that they are fairly intitled to it at least it will be allowed that the Improvement of Reason is highly advantageous to a Man of Quality provided that he applies it dextrously and instead of being conceited of his own Acquirements makes use of 'em only to regulate his Mind and to perfect his Understanding For this Reason let a Man have never such a Latitude of Capacity he ought at no time impertinently to hale his Learning on the Stage nor to dispute eagerly for Trisles nor to impose his own Sense on every Body and grate upon the Ears of Company with a dogmatick Tone this pedantick Way is never digested by Men of Sense The penetrating into Learning refines our Manners inspires us with the Sweetness of Address gives us Discretion and Circumspection So we see commonly that where Knowledge is exalted to the true Pitch a great deal of Moderation Humility and Wisdom is intermix'd with it because as such Mens Souls have a sort of Expansion beyond others so they more suddenly discover either the Ornaments that polish or the Flaws which subject their Minds to the casual Thrusts of Calumny and Reproach VII What a Man is to do for bis Relations THE Laws of Nature and Decency oblige us to pay our Relations that Respect which they may challenge to defend their Honor to sustain their Interest when we may do it justly for besides that it is our Duty to be strictly united in the most endearing Ties to those who are allied in Blood to us it carries a mighty Stream of Advantages along with it you seldom see Families so cemented surprizingly blown up They mutually support and cherish one another either by themselves or by the Train of numerous Friends which they draw after 'em and this harmonious Intelligence preserves both in Splendor and Authority in the World Put case our Kindred had not so much Desert to invite our Respect yet Decency and Charity forbid our Breaking with 'em their Imperfections ought not to make us inhuman but rather generously to cover in them what we our selves have a Regret to see and to clap in with every Opportunity to do 'em Service VIII To be Subject to the Laws of the Country THE Divine Prerogative the Order of Civil Society and the Publick Good do require that every individual Member in a Community should submit himself to the Laws of it In a Monarchy Subjects are obliged to honor and revere their King and in Commonwealths the Magistrates by Compact lay Claim to Obedience In both the Duty is indispensable and 't is a Law that has always been stamp'd with the Approbation of every Clime Whatsoever has been authoriz'd in a State by long Continuance is not to be set aside to Humour an ambitious Freak or a popular Maggot nor to undergo any Change but for Reasons more weighty than those which contributed to its first Establishment for People who would not be chous'd of a well grounded Settlement had need make sharp Inquiries whether the specious Project of a Reformer does not justle out that universal Repose which they who before enjoy'd it are equally still oblig'd to promote Innovations which private self-interested Men would introduce into the Administration of a Kingdom have often unhing'd a Regular Frame but we rarely hear that they corroborate the old or inlarge the Power of any Realm History swells with Examples which clinch this Truth How unanimously have Civil Laws ever past Sentence on Rebellion tho it has been gilded with the fairest Colours which could be laid on 'T is attested by the Experience of all Ages that
THE TRUE CONDUCT OF Persons OF QUALITY TRANSLATED OUT OF FRENCH LONDON Printed for Walter Kettilby at the Bishop's Head in St. Paul's Church-Yard MDCXCIV The TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE TO THE READER THIS Little Tract is bent Honestly to inform in a few Words the Upper Rank of Men with such Rules of unerring Morality as may be therefore more seasonable because they are address'd to Generous Minds which may be taken by Hints when neither their Leisure nor their Inclination will permit 'em to be approach'd by eloquent Harangues of a nauseous length The Translator has endeavour'd that the Author might breath the Strength of his own Thought and live tolerably in our Clime but his chief Aim is that these Maxims may conduce to the carrying up of Virtue to a Noble Pitch and that he may not lie under the Reproach of wanting the Will to do good to those whom he fancies very often to stand in need of the following Suggestions which are presented to your View in this Order Because an Honest Man is not so well as abandon'd but upbraided for being steadily so In the First Section he is set forth as a suitable Preliminary to usher in the other Heads In the Second the Duty of Honoring Parents is Countenanc'd and encourag'd In the Third the Importance of Education is Recommended as the most Beneficent Act of Indulgent Parents the most universally necessary to fashion Great Men and to Relieve the Unhappy The 4th specifies the Particulars of the Education and describes to you What a young Gentleman is to Learn The Fifth draws him a Line from whence he is to make no Excursions by shewing him what ought to be the Scope of his Studies Under the Sixth Head he is confin'd to make a Right Use of his Knowledge but this cannot be done as the Seventh acquaints him without doing what becomes him for his Relations The Eighth adviseth you to be subject to the Laws of the Country and not to arraign 'em if there should be a Male-Administration The Ninth tears up all Rebellion by the Roots by shewing that the Duty of Allegiance is the supreme Law The Tenth is a pointed Satyr against them who dare censure the Government The Eleventh lashes those who make Inroads upon our Quiet as all Fomenters of Plots and Disturbances do The Twelfth chalks us out the true way to gain Esteem In the Thirteenth the Advantages of High Birth and Reputation are set forth In the Fourteenth that he may not be fluctuating what he shall chuse nor do it rashly Rules are set him for the Choice of a Station in the World And because a Man of Quality may not so readily part with Ease the Fifteenth gives him Reasons why he should be vigilant intent and laborious The Sixteenth puts him upon designing his Actions so justly that he may be sure not to miscarry in the First Undertakings The Seventeenth puts him into the Track how he may with most Ease form an Interest in the Esteem of Princes and Great Men. The Eighteenth from a due Picture of the Misery of those who are depriv'd of Friends takes occasion to exalt the Blessings of those who find ' em The Nineteenth naturally then leads a Man of Quality nicely to distinguish what sort of Friends they are whom he will commission to preside in his Soul In the Twentieth our Time which so unperceivably steals away is arrested by the Observations of this Author and as the Fate of misemploying it is set forth a Model whereby to improve it is propos'd The Twenty first taxeth the Vanity of Tatlers and labours to fill your Imagination with the Conveniency of Silence The Twenty second is so far from allowing any Honor to be acquir'd by Duels that he shews that all that are interested in 'em are disobedient to an Excess both against God and the King The Twenty third shews that Ministers of State are neither servilely to be apply'd to nor is it reasonable to expect to be entitled to their Protection by slighting of ' em The Twenty fourth Maxim circumscribes your Pleasures within a due Compass The Twenty fifth acquaints you what aukward Conduct Men are under the Power of for want of throughly studying themselves The Twenty sixth discovers how useful 't is to hold Conversation with Men eminent for Wisdom and of great Abilities The Twenty seventh represents what Variety of Friends is necessary to abate the Ruggedness of Life The Twenty eighth describes what Turn your Mind must have if you will embark in Great Designs Affectation makes every thing look so rough-cast so strain'd and unnatural that the Twenty ninth hisses it off the Stage The Thirtieth puts a Man of Quality upon diving into what will take with the Age. The Thirty first instructs him that he may find useful Pleasantry to entertain himself with when he is alone The Thirty second blames those who will run down an Undertaking which is not answer'd with a prosperous Event The Thirty third marks the Limits how far the Compliance with a Friend is warrantable Tho the Thirty fourth doth not permit a Person of Quality designedly to turn Droll yet it commends him for sprinkling some Gayety in his Humour The Thirty fifth shews that by a Neglect in a slight Matter a whole Hopeful Design may be lost The Thirty sixth describes the ways of becoming a Darling throughly settled and to be Riveted in the Favour of Great Men. The Thirty seventh pares off the Folly of Superfluity but gives Neatness its due Character The Thirty eighth insinuates what Length a Man's Diligence must reach who will create to himself no Enemies The Thirty ninth is an Exhortation not to be dispirited under the Crushings of the strongest side The Fortieth neither gives us leave to be the Tools of other Mens Pride nor to propagate any of our own The Forty first requires such who would be Cast-keepers for the Publick to give Proofs before-hand with what Management they can Govern their own Expences The Forty second introduceth Men of Quality to an Acquaintance inconsiderable for Number but such as have a great deal of intrinsick Value The Forty third severely checks all Satyrical Reflections and Sharp Raillery The Forty fourth gives Sincerity that Panegyrick to which 't is justly entitl'd In the Forty fifth the Author modestly declaims against such as having once taken up a Feud are averse to be reconcil'd and in some measure tunes the jarring of Mens Minds and when their Pulse beats even then he looks upon it as a proper occasion in the Forty sixth to shew that it is beneath the Dignity of a Man of Honor to be Fickle The Forty seventh scourges all who are of a Cowardly and Faint-hearted Character The Forty eighth discovers that Gratitude is not only a Good manner'd Virtue but that those who only consult Interest are no Losers by that Treasure The Forty ninth gives so mild an Admonition that a Disputer of the keenest Mettle is thereby restrain'd in the
the horrible Ills which Intestine Wars do produce are a greater Burthen on any People than those which they may sometimes risque to incurr from their Prince by his holding the Ballance of his Government with some Unevenness and seeming Partiality Besides if every sorry Pretender of Grievances should have License to disobey his Superiors whensoever he had a Mind to be deliver'd of a Complaint which all Rebels suppose themselves privileg'd to do farewel Society for no Form of Rule can subsist on these extravagant Terms since every one hurried by his Passions would never want plausible Reasons whereon to ground his Plea of opposing the most lawful Powers that ever were So that however they who are Cloth'd with Sovereign Authority may misimploy it People have no more to do but to be easie within the Bounds of their Duty and Obedience let 'em from thence acknowledge that God by the Proportion of his Chastisement seems irritated and therefore as he disposeth of the Hearts of Kings must be supplicated to enrich their Princes Minds with such necessary Virtues as may induce 'em to Govern with an equal Mixture of Clemency and Justice In the mean time that Nation we may call Happy where a King caresses his Subjects as his Children and they again as to an indulgent Father pay back the acceptable Homage which they owe. Happy is that Realm where the Prince with indefatigable Application propagates the Wellfare of those under his Care and at the same time those who Bask themselves under that Sun-shine smother the Popular Gusts early before they become Gloomy Clouds big with impending Ruine to darken the Lustre of Royal Grace IX The Duty of Allegiance is the Supreme Law THis Maxim naturally springs from the foregoing for the Laws of all Countries oblige us to obey the King as Streams gratefully to own the Fountain from whence they do derive and forbid us entring into any Engagements that by the widest Construction might seem to clash with that first Devoir Now such as by an implicit Surrender devote themselves entirely to the Disposal of any Person who is elevated either by Birth or Office to a Station superior to 'em are in great danger to strip themselves of their Fidelity to their Liege Lord when their Leader who ought to animate the Allegiance of the Lower Orders of Men becomes himself the first Deserter Therefore wise Men have always disapproved these too strict Confederacies and those private Alliances that should at any time clash with our Natural Obligations 'T is enough if I give a Minister of State the Respect that is due to his lofty Seat without becoming so much his Vassal as to sell him that Liberty of mine of which my Sovereign only is the Master 'T is not I that blame in general a Deference that is paid to great Men if their Authoritative Influence does not Hand over Head betray us to comply with their Criminal Passions for if there be no Repugnancy to our Duty who can condemn it 'T is worth the while therefore to observe whether the Grandees themselves are Loyal and true to the Interest of their Sovereign and whether there is not a Snake under the Grass and that under the Pretence of communicating Favours to us they have not a crafty Design to hook us into an Association that undermines the Throne of our Prince and is a forward step towards his Deposing But if we get any Light that they drive at so black an Attempt 't is then we must with eager Haste retreat from the Perfidious and generously sacrifice to our Duty the Hope of any Glittering Advantage whatsoever besides the Golden Promises which those Grandees who are the Heads of Parties make prove for the most part a Fairy-Land for instead of being able to assist others these empty Politicians are overwhelmed with every revengeful Calamity they precipitate those who adhere to the Wheel of their Fortune and both at last sink under the Punishment which they have taken such pains to deserve Let us then be persuaded that whatsoever Revolutions start up in a Realm 't is always best inviolably to stick to the King for as his Side is the justest so the Advantages of cleaving to it will be the most honorable and satisfactory X. Against those who dare censure the Government 'T IS only the Effect of a giddy Presumption that spirits on tumultuous Subjects to quarrel with the Administration of the State imagining that publick Assairs would roll more smoothly if they were managged by their fanciful Schemes whereas 't is their Duty to submit to the Laws and to banish murmuring and stifle Opposition when a Conformity to their Regulations is required If Abuses do insinuate themselves into any Government and by length of time encroach upon the Constitution no doubt we ought to wish they were Reformed but the Means to do it are so very difficult that to undertake it without a Lawful Commission would tend rather to the shaking of the Monarchy than the amending its Defects 'T is an Insolence in private Men to brand the Government which they live under 'T is the Business of the King and his Ministers to examine if there be any Disorders in the Community uncorrected nevertheless if the particular Assemblies of the Estates which are held in different Places find out any Miscarriages in their respective Provinces they may make use of the Authority which the King allows 'em for their Reformation and tho this Authority should prove insufficient for that End and that the Blots we would clear still remain we ought to acquaint his Majesty with the Issue of our Endeavours that he may give consent for the Prescription of new Remedies most for the Ease and Advantage of his People but after all that State-menders can alledge the King is to remain the Judge of any Alteration and tho he should not agree to such Demands as carry a fair Plausibility of Right for their being granted still we ought to acquiesce with this Confidence that his Non-concurrence Is for die real Good of his Subjects tho the Reasons are behind the Curtain to us they are evident and demonstrative to himself and his Counsel XI Against the Fomenters of Plots and Disturbances 'T IS easie to make a Judgment from the foregoing Principles what a great Deal they have to answer for who by that State-craft of pressing for Redress of Grievances raise State Hurricanes and by an unjustisiable Revolt stir up such Commotions as sometimes shatter the Constitution and as our own Memories 100 sadly can inform us often entirely deface and overturn it When these dangerous Incendiaries first set out the greatest Sticklers for Reformation amongst 'em to awe the Government take great pains to shew themselves disaffected hoping that they shall be taken off by Court-Favours and gratified by profitable Employments only for being tolerably honest 'T is a false Step in the Politicks and an unwarrantable Reach of Subtilty which puts Men on such sharking Methods to
Weather-beaten Vessels into that Port of Happiness he has promis'd us and that which ought particularly to touch us to the quick is that a pure and disinterested Charity was the Foundation of all that he did for us that God who found in himself the never flowing Fountain of his own Felicity needed none of the impotent Company of his Revolted Creatures yet he with God-like Mercy was willing to unite himself to our Nature and to suffer Death for Sinners worthy of the deepest Lashes what Tenderness what Love was visible in that God who did in some sort humble himself to save us How proper is this Motive to affect generous Minds and how difficult is it when we think seriously of the Benefits we have received from our Lord how difficult is it I say to refuse him a Heart to which his Title is so antecedently Just Ah! if we are so sensible of the good Offices which are done us where commonly the Actors look asquint on their own Interest what Acknowledgment ought we not to pay for so many Gratuitous Bounties as Jesus Christ has conferr'd on us only because he lov'd us This adorable Saviour has given us in his Life and Death a perfect Model of all the Virtues which can lead us up to that Immortal Crown he designs us and he is desirous that we should not deviate from his Steps but yet surveying our Weakness he has promis'd us a Reinforcement of his own Succours with which we need not decline to combat those formidable Enemies that have vow'd our Destruction Let us charge then with Confidence under so great a Leader we may well be undaunted under so good a Master let us inviolably imitate the Brightness of his Example and that our Wills may not be biass'd by the publick Obliquity of the 〈◊〉 let us judge of things as he judg'd of 'em let us pronounce that those Riches Pleasures and Honors which he despis'd do not deserve our constant Attendance on 'em let us believe also that the Sufferings which he lov'd to that heighth as to die upon a Cross are less to be fear'd than wish'd for and let us remember that the way which he march'd to his Glory that is now Triumphant is not surcharg'd with the Gaiety of Flowers but yet looks Graceful tho 't was dy'd with Blood and water'd with Tears LXXX Of Death AFter having propos'd my Thoughts about what we are to do and what we are to avoid whilst we wander in this Lower Region methinks 't is pat to the purpose to say something of Death which gives the finishing Stroke and is the most important Moment of fleeting Life I know very well that the Separation of the Soul from the Body can be no Friendly Parting and that the most resolute Minds cannot behold it without some Discomposure that borders upon Fear nevertheless I do not think it is so hard a Task as some fearful Souls who multiply their Terrours imagine 't is to bid the World adieu with the same Generosity with which we liv'd in it indeed why should we dread the Passage thro' this Streight that has been open'd by other Columbus's so many Ages ago Is it not better with Bravery to stand the Shock of that Danger which we know before-hand is unavoidable and from which not the subtlest of all Mankind by any evasive Tricks can bolt the Hope of Happiness which is assur'd to us if we die with holy Dispositions to be capable of it ought sooner to quicken us to search for Death than to increase our Fear of losing Life If we are jealous that we shall be rack'd with some painful Agony let us reflect that often 't is light eno ' or at least that 't is quickly adjourn'd and if the Severity of God's Judgments frights us the Blood of Jesus Christ shed for our Salvation and the infinite Love which he has for Souls that have cost him so dear ought to still our Fears and inspire us with much Confidence of Reconcilement If we are just which yet a Man ought not to persuade himself that he is let us hope he will breath immortal Love on us and crown those Works which are the Results of his own Grace and if we are Sinners let us not despair of his Mercy seeing that knows no Bounds and that the Scripture tells us that a broken and a contrite Heart he will not despise The Grace of such a happy Repentance which we ought to ask with Faith Humility and Perseverance is eno ' to give us new Life after Death Nevertheless it must be own'd that those who neglecting the Obligations of their Religion degrade themselves by immersing their Lives in sensual Fruitions have reason to apprehend Death as a King of Terrours for besides that their Ruine is certain if they are catch'd unawares by it which God knows is too often as we are assur'd by our Redeemer put case a Distemper should leave such Men some Dregs of Time to think upon their Salvation either they flatter themselves that it will not prove mortal and so stop short even in the Tendency to a Preparation for a dying hour or if seeing themselves at the last Gasp they desire to receive the Sacrament to huddle up a mispent Life commonly 't is more the Effect of a slavish Fear than any Fruit of a true Conversion they do not sincerely renounce the Pleasures of the World nor abandon the Objects of their criminal Passions which they have always doted on with so much vehemence for that Love fortifi'd by long Custom has branch'd it self in their Hearts with such stubborn Roots that it must be only a Miracle of Grace that can divorce such a cemented Acquaintance and will God vouchsafe this extraordinary Grace to those who for so many years have impudently violated and contemn'd his holy Laws The surest Means then to be arm'd against the Fears of Death is for Gentlemen to prepare themselves by a pure and innocent Life timely to draw off from that which one day they must part withal for ever to reflect often that in that critical Moment where Eternity begins the Pleasures of Sense expire a Veil is drawn over all human Greatness every glistering temporal Advantage is vanish'd Lastly they have no more to do but to persuade themselves convincingly that there is no other Bottom to stay their Consolation upon but the Remembrance that they have lov'd God and that they have serv'd him with an invariable Stedfastness in spight of the over-bearing Corruption of a profligate Age. FINIS THE CONTENTS I. AN Honest Man Page 4 II. Honoring of Parents Page 10 III. The Importance of Education Page 12 IV. What a Young Gentleman ought to Learn Page 15 V. What ought to be the Scope of his Studies Page 19 VI. To make a right Use of Knowledge Page 21 VII What a Man is to do for his Relations Page 23 VIII To be subject to the Laws of the Country Page 24 IX The Duty of Allegiance