ch'd up Vertue so ineffectually as they have
done. That which People _say_ having ordinarily less influence upon
others, than what they see them _Do_. And in regard of our earliest
Apprehensions concerning Vertue and Religion, it is certain that these
are form'd in Children much more from what they observe in the
Conversations or Actions of such Persons as they esteem, than by set
Discourses that they now and then hear from the Pulpit; which they can
neither understand nor attend to early enough to receive from those
Principles that shall influence them. But so soon (at the least) as
they are capable of minding and understanding Sermons, they (where the
thing is remarkable by others) do also take notice of it, if he who
frequently recommends a good Life to them, does not in his own
Conversation, and in the respect he expresses for Vertue in the
Persons of others, shew that he indeed prefers it answerably to the
Praises he gives it. And if such a Preacher, as this, shall openly
live in the practice of any known Immorality; or not doing so himself
shall yet manifestly prefer in his esteem those who do so, is it not
natural, for them who look upon this Man as a guide to Heaven, to
conclude from hence, that in reference to the obtaining of Eternal
Happiness, Vertue is not the thing, the most essentially requisite;
and much less certainly will they think it to be so with respect to
this present World, if they find their pious Instructor not only to
choose the Society of Persons Profligate and Debauch'd for his Friends
and Companions; but also (on all occasions) to labour the promotion of
the like Men to Employments of the highest Truth, in preference of
others of acknowledg'd Integrity and Sobriety of Life: The avow'd
Reason whereof being only that the first of these are by the Doctor
held the more Orthodox in Religion; is it not unavoidable, even to a
Child, to conclude, that Vertue is not the best recommendation in his
Opinion, whatever he sometimes seems to assert, when he is shewing his
Rhetorick in the Pulpit. And since he is an Authoriz'd Teacher of
Religion, will not (so far as his example influences) Vertue and
Religion be probably consider'd as distinct things, the latter of
which, as it always has had, always will have the preference.

The same Consequence with this must needs, in like manner, follow,
where Parents (whose Practices have usually the greatest Authority
with their Children) do in this manner express t