ision, and
she corrupts your taste. You see nature before you, and you can take no
pleasure in it. Thus she unfits you for the most rational of the
enjoyments of the world, in which you are designed to live.

CHAP. VIII.

_Conclusory remarks, as they relate to those who compose the world at
large--Advantages, which these may derive from the contents of this
work--from a view of many of the customs--and of the principles
explained in it--from seeing practically the influence of these customs
and principles in the production of character and happiness--and from
seeing the manner of their operation, or how they produce the effects
described._

I shall now endeavour to make my conclusory remarks useful as they may
relate to those who may be called the world.

To state the object, which I have in view, I shall observe at once, that
men are divided in opinion as to the lawfulness, or expediency, or
wholesomeness of many of the customs, fashions, and accomplishments of
the world. We find some encouraging in their families, and this without
any hesitation, and to an almost unlimited extent, those which many, on
account of religious considerations, have expelled. We find others again
endeavouring to steer a course between the opinions and practice of
these. The same diversity of sentiment prevails also with respect to
principles. The virtuous or moral are adopted by some. The political by
others. That the political often obtain both in education and in
subsequent life, there is no question. Thus, for example, a young man is
thought by some to be more likely to make his way in the world with the
address which fashionable accomplishments may give him, even if he be a
little dissipated, than one of strict virtue with unpolished manners.
Thus again in actions and transactions, policy is often preferred to
express and open declarations of the truth. Others again are of opinion,
that the general basis of principle should be virtue, but that a
latitude may be, allowed for a seasonable policy. Thus an education is
going on under Christian parents, as if Christianity had objects in
view, which were totally opposite to each other.

It is in this point of view chiefly, that I can hope to be useful in
this conclusory part of my work. We have seen in the course of it both
customs and principles laid open and explained. We have seen the
tendencies and bearings of these. We have seen them probed, and examined
by a moral standard.