Gerundia in di, &c.

GERUNDS in di have the same Construction with the Genitive Case, and are used when the English of the Infinitive Mood.comes after the Substantives, studium, causa, tempus, gratia, otium, occasio, libido, spes, opportunitas, voluntas, modus, ratio, satietas, potestas, licentia, vis, amor, locus, &c. They are also used after certain Adjec- ̈ ́ tives, particularly those six sorts of Adjectives, that govern a Genitive Case by the Rule Adjectiva quæ desiderium, &c.

1. SUBSTANTIVES.

1. He that lays hold on all Occasions to exercise Justice and Mercy, out of a Desire to do good, will lead a most happy Life.

2. They who have contemned the Desire of living, which is innate, and planted in the Minds of all Mortals, had rather die nobly than see their Country enslaved, are certainly worthy the highest Encomiums.

3. Youth is the time for learning: an old Man at his ABC, is a ridiculous Sight.

4. Some think it an excellent Thing to be never silent; though it is a certain sign of Foolishness : as, on the other hand, Silence, when it is not a proper Time to speak, is a sign of Prudence.

5. It seldom happens that Men born with an exalted Genius, or improved by the Advantage of Education, have Time to deliberate what Course of Life they ought chiefly to follow: and in such

a Deliberation, every Scheme ought to be determined by a Man's consulting his own Genius.

6. It happens, I know not how, but we more readily perceive any Blemish in others, than we do in ourselves: therefore when Masters mimic the Faults of Boys, that they may amend them, they are more easily set right.

7. All the means of living well are placed in Virtue; because Virtue alone is in our own Power: all Things, beside her, are subject to the Government of Fortune.

8. The Difference is small, whether you suffer Adversity, or expect it; except that here may be an end of grieving, but not of fearing for our Griefs are fixed to what we know has happened; but our Fears arise from what possibly may happen.

9. Not only the Man who hath received a Favour ought to be grateful, but even he who has had the Offer of one.

10. Impunity is the greatest Encouragement to Sin: and the Habit of sinning removes all Doubt.

11. The Humour of deriding all Things, springs from Pride, and Conceit of our own Wit; than which nothing makes a Man more ridiculous.

12. The best way of Life is to be chosen: Habit will soon render it agreeable.

13. As Medicine is the Art of curing, and as Piloting is that of sailing, so Prudence is the Art of Life.

14. The most expeditious way of increasing an Estate, is to retrench your Expences.

15. There is no End of investigating Truth until you find it; and the being tired with seeking is scandalous, when that which is sought is most desirable.

16. What is Liberty, but the Power of living as a Man pleases? And who lives in that manner, but he who follows Righteousness, who rejoices in fulfilling his Duty, and has laid out a well-considered and well-contrived Plan of Life?

2. ADJECTIVES.

1. It is absurd to play with him who is sure of winning.

2. How despicable is the Man, who is more desirous of getting Money, than of acting rightly.

3. He that disdains, on the account of his Riches, to yield to those who are capable of instructing him, will always be a Blockhead.

4. It is no uncommon Thing to meet with a Man who is rude of Speech, but a great Master of Writing.

Gerundia in do, &c...

GERUNDS in do are used after Verbs in the manner of an Ablative Case, with or without a Preposition: also Gerunds in dum have the same Construction as the Accusative Case, and take the Prepositions, ad, ob, propter, inter, ante, before them.

1. Gerunds in do, with a Preposition.

1. Shame best keeps a tender Age from sinning; which is always present when any one reverences himself.

2. Wicked Men, when they have done an Injury, laugh at those who talk to them of making Satisfaction.

3. He foolishly makes a Scruple of Perjury, who makes no Scruple to commit a Fault equal to Perjury therefore in the most heinous Crimes, an Oath hath but little Weight; since he that will dare to give Poison, will dare to perjure himself by denying it.

4. It is doubtful, whether his great Reputation sprung from acting in the Field, or giving Counsel

in the Cabinet.

5. They who affirm that old Men are improper for managing Business, argue as absurdly as if one should say, that in sailing the l'ilot of a Ship does nothing, because others mount the Shrouds, run about the Deck, or ply the Pump.

6. Above all Things, in punishing, Passion is to , be restrained: for a passionate Man, who is to pronounce a Sentence, never can preserve that Mean, which is between too much and too little.

7. As it becomes a Man to be free in bestowing, he ought likewise not to be too rigorous in demanding; and in all his Contracts, in selling, buying, hiring, lending, he ought to consult the Ease and Convenience of his Neighbours; giving up many Things, and, as much as he can conveniently, avoiding Law-suits.

8. Doubting what I should compare with writing Examples, the gathering Shells on the Sea-shore immediately occurred.

9. As we ought to pardon a Man for hurting us undesignedly; so we are not obliged to thank him for doing good, if of necessity, and without Intention.

2. Gerunds in do, without a Preposition.

1. Deceive not thy Friend by promising much, and then performing little or nothing.

2. Many have wasted their Estates by being inconsiderately bountiful; and Rapine often follows Profusion for when Men come to be in want through their squandering, they frequently put forth their Hand against the Property of others.

3. Strife and Anger are better ended by soft Words and Kindness than by resisting.

4. When Utility seems to hurry us to itself, and Honesty to reclaim us, the Mind must be distracted in its Choice, and the Result of our Deliberation suspended.

5. The Chain of Community among Men is formed by Speech and Reason, which by teaching, learning, communicating, debating, and judging, conciliate Men together, and bind them into a kind of natural Society: nor do we differ more in any Thing from the Nature of Brutes than in this.

6. Reason lays the Foundation of Inquiry: she it is, who completes Virtue, after being established herself by our Inquiry.

7. The Mind of Man is nourished by reading and Reflection.

8. Those Appetites that rove too far, and exult either in Desire, or Aversion, are not sufficiently. restrained by Reason: such, I say, undoubtedly transgress both their End and their Design.

9. No Treachery is more dark than that which lies concealed under the Mask of Friendship or Familiarity. By proper Care we can easily shun