. Fables of Aesop and others. ing that we are sensible may be preju-dicial to either our health or fortunes, we should take care notto let our inclinations run up into a habit; for though the formermay be easily checked at our first setting out, and directedwhich way we please; yet the latter, like a head-strong unrulyhorse in his full career, will have its own course, and we arehurried impetuously on, without the power of controlling it.—As the passions of young men are warm, and their imagina-tions lively, it would be wrong to endeavour to tie them up fromthe pursuit of innocent pleasures. B
. Fables of Aesop and others. ing that we are sensible may be preju-dicial to either our health or fortunes, we should take care notto let our inclinations run up into a habit; for though the formermay be easily checked at our first setting out, and directedwhich way we please; yet the latter, like a head-strong unrulyhorse in his full career, will have its own course, and we arehurried impetuously on, without the power of controlling it.—As the passions of young men are warm, and their imagina-tions lively, it would be wrong to endeavour to tie them up fromthe pursuit of innocent pleasures. But those among, them, thatthink at all, can never form a more useful and happy resolu-tion, than to suffer themselves to be drawn into a habit, of be-ing always at leisure to distinguish what is good for him, fromthat which is otherwise: and then there is no fear, but bis roolimbiassed judgment will direct him to such pursuits as will beleast hurtful, if not most useful to him. .ESOPS CLXXIII. The Blackamoor. 311. A certain man having bought a Blackamoor, was sosimple as to think, that the colour of his skin wasonly dirt and filth which he had contracted for wantof due care, under his former master. This fault heimagined might easily be removed. So he orderedthe poor black to be put into a tub, and was at considerable charge in providing ashes, soap, and scrub-bing brushes, for the operation. To work they went,rubbing and scouring his skin all over, but to no man-ner of purpose: for when they had repeated theirwashings several times, and were grown quite weary,all they got by it was, that the wretched Blackamoorcaught cold and died. THE APPLICATION. Many people attempt impossibilities, for want of considering(he nature of hing^s aright. For, as palpable a blunder as thisman in the fable committed, there are those who are guilty of 312 ^SOPS FABLES. as great mistakes; especially when they endeavour, by fruitlesscultivations, to raise graces from the mind or body, of
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