[From Dr JOHNSON'S Life of Dr WATTS.] " FEW books have been perused by me with greater pleasure than his IMPROVEMENT OF THE MIND, of which the radical principles may indeed be found in Locke's Conduct of the Understanding; but they are so expanded and ramified by Watts, as to confer upon him the merit of a work in the highest degree useful and pleasing. Whoever has the care of instructing others may be charged with fcience in his duty if this book is not recommended. "As piety predominated in his mind, it is diffused over all his works: under his direction it may be truly said, Theologiæ philosophia ancillatur, philosophy is subservient to evangelical instruction; it is difficult to read a page without learning, or at least wishing to be better. The attention is caught by indirect instruction, and he that sat down only to reason is, on a sudden, compelled to pray. "It was therefore with great propriety that, in 1728, he received from Edinburgh and Aberdeen an unsolicited diploma, by which he became a Doctor of Divinity. Academical monours would have more value, if they were always besowed with equal judgement. ! 22 (RECAP) 6530* "Few instruction for all ages, frоm first lessons, to the enlightened readers of Malbranch and • Locke; he has left neither corporeal no spiritual nature unexamined; he has taught the art of reasoning, and the science of the stars," CONTENT Chap. IV. Of Authority, of the Abuse of it, and of its real and proper Use and Service, Chap. V.. Of treating and managing the Prejudices of Men, 279 Chap. VI. Of Instruction by Preaching, Sect. I. Wisdom better than Learning in the Pulpit, Chap. VII. Of writing Books for the Public, Sect. IX. A Guard set on the Sports and Diversions of Sect. X. Of the proper Degrees of Liberty and Restraint in the Education of a Son, illustrated by Example, IV. Redemption, 407 V. Complaint and Hope under great Pain, 409 XI. The Gift of the Spirit, XII. The Day of Grace, XVII. Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Zion, VI. On an Elegy, written by the Right Honourable the VII. Dr Young's admirable Description of the Peacock VIII. Vanity inscribed on all Things, IX. The Rake reformed in the House of Mourning, X. Thou hast received Gifts for men, XIII. God and Nature unsearchable, XIV. The Diamond painted, XV. Bills of Exchange, XVI. The Saints unknown in this World, XVIII. O that I knew where I might find him, : 429 432 434 437 441 444 450 Fime PREFACE. : .1 |
