[v]

TO THE

AUTHOR

T

OF THE

Christian Schoolmaster.

HE Mind, a Blank, when Life begins to flow, But, without Knowledge, capable to know, The GOD of Nature trufts to human Pains, Which prunes, engrafts, indulges, or restrains. And, as at firft he forms his Infant Plan, The Boy proceeds, and thinks himself to Man.

As Objects rife, the Mafter-Maxim fprings, And prints a lafting Character on Things; In her own Dress prefents them to the Soul; And gives a Bent, we wish not to controul. That priftine Turn, that System, we shall find The Stamp, the Spring, the Measure of the Mind.

Then 'tis not all, with Notions to be fraught, By Fancy coin'd, or by the Senfes caught. Reafon, like virtue, comes but with her Shade; So like in Form, that Thousands are betray'd : Yet fuch their Paths, the Shade if we pursue, We lose the Subftance daily from our View,

[vi]

Thefe Truths to weigh, and practise what they tell, How nice the Task! how few perform it well!

Not the fond Mother with her Ghofts and Sprights,

*

Nor long Romaunts of Ladies and of Knights,

Nor the dry Schemes which Int'reft may devife, Can make us knowing; much lefs good, or wife!

Who then fhall fix the Biafs of our Youth, In Act to Virtue, and in Speech to Truth? That Truth, that Virtue, fhewn in SACRED WRIT, The Guide of Action, and the Teft of Wit, Thy SHORT ESSAY, correct, familiar, clear, Shall teach, exemplify, commend, endear : Thy SHORT ESSAY, which fets before the Mind, The firft, the pureft Patterns of Mankind: Thofe Patriarch GENII, who were wife, untaught; ·Unawd, were virtuous; friendly, tho' unbought.

To write at Random, and in Grofs to praise, Is what I would not, might I win the Bays. Form'd on the paft, to mend the fature Times, Thy WORK demands the Friendship of thefe Rhimes. AWORK, like that which FLEURY could engage, Which pleas'd the French Quintilian of our Age, In SCHOOLS expected, by the LEARN'D approv'd, Sure Thou may'ft print, and I may praise, unmov'd.

An old Word for Romances.

John Bancks.

†The Hiftorical Catechifm, by the Abbé de Fleury. M. Rollin, Author of The Manner of teaching and tudying the Belles Lettres, in which Work he recommends the Abbé de Fleury's Catechism,

YOUNG LADIES

Entrufted to

The Care and Conduct

OF

Mrs. MARTHA BELLAMY,

GOVERNESS of rhe

BOARDING-SCHOOL,

IN

Kingston upon Thames,

IN

The County of Surrey;

THIS SHORT

HISTORICAL CATECHISM

Is Humbly Dedicated, by

Their moft Obedient, and

Moft Devoted Servant,

D. Bella

IER before the ReadHOLT SCRIPTURES.

and moft merciful Faanointed thy Word Feet and a Lamp Leer Holy Scriper Leaming; grant Bar Spirit, that Jearn, and Patience and

WYDAY em

elesed Hope my

A given

Te to Man

CHHA jer and only abun & Sumice for Sin, gore, give

Here me thank

ass reitmicie Benefit, deavourpuntelres to fol

Le Neos or as neft holy eeth with thee t ever Che GOD World

2

orfo read fiftieth.

AN