INTRODUCTION.. HAT "the proper Knowledge of Man kind is MAN," was a Maxim of that Prodigy of Genius and Learning, the univerfally admired Mr. POPE; but the Sentiment, with Men of Senfe, muft of Necef fity have been as old as the Creation. To promote this Knowledge the following Sheets are presented to the Public, as a methodical, rational, and entertaining CommonPlace-Book. Many Things of this Nature (far too many!) have lately been produced: But fome of them are fo ill connected, that they seem only calculated to puzzle, not inftruct the Reader.Others are fo formally difpofed, that they have the Pedantic Regularity of a Dictionary; and others again consist only of such obvious and eternal Truths, as a Man must be a very Ideot not to know. Amongst the many Uses I humbly prefume this little Collection may promote, it is calculated to call a Man home to his own Heart, to make him reflect on himself, by viewing as in a Mirrour what he is, what he may be, and what he ought to be in INTRODUCTION. every Station of Life. Hiftories, Memoirs, Novels, and all fuch like amufing Books, though they profefs to give, and actually do give, fome Sort of Moral, yet I am afraid they too often call off a Man's Attention, and while he is applauding, commiferating, envying, or hating fictitious Perfonages, he is loft to that which is the Effence of all· Reality, HIMSELF. What is here offered to the Reader is more what I have digefted, than what I myself have wrote; and therefore I may, without Vanity or Partiality, commend it.---It is the Knowledge of Mankind, of the best of Mankind, and the Good Senfe of our Anceftors.---To give it the Grace of Novelty, many fresh Maxims are added to this Work, if fuch an Expreffion may be allow'd of--for in Propriety of Speech there can be no fuch Thing as a new Maxim, for Maxims are founded upon Truth; and Truth, like her Author, is eternally and invariably the fame. AN |