PART 1. Original Essays on the Dif fusion of Knowledge, Moral Re- 2. Epitome of the Moral precepts of the Bible. 3. Abridgment of the Lives and Moral Discourses of Confucius and Socrates, and Seneca's Morals. ture, and the Economy of Human 5. Abridgment of Penn's Maxims, 6. Selections from Franklin's Works. 4. Abridgment of the Law of Na-8. Pope's Essay on Man, &c. DESIGNED FOR A NATIONAL MANUAL OF MORAL SCIENCE, IN AMERICAN SEMINARIES OF EDUCATION, AND PRIVATE FAMILIES. BY JESSE TORREY, JUNR. Human Happiness is founded upon Wisdom and Virtue. SENECA. "'Tis ignorance mainly binds people in chains: 'Tis this too, the empire of folly maintains: Vice shrinks from instruction, like darkness from light: And despots shun noontide and covet the night." FOURTH EDITION, REVISED. Philadelphia: PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY KIMBER AND SHARPLESS: And for sale at their Book-Store, No. 93 Market-Street-Also by Samuel Wood & Sons, and Collins & Co. New-York; -Cushing & Jewett, and F. Lucas, Baltimore; Richardson & Lord, and Cummings & Hilliard, Boston;-William P. Bason, Charleston; Collins & Co. Richmond. Stereotyped by J. Howe. Eastern District of Pennsylvania, to wit : BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the twenty-second day of November, in the forty-eighth year of the Independence of the United States of L.S. America, A. D. 1823, Jesse Torrey, junior, of the said District, hath deposited in this office the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as author, in the following words, to wit: "The Moral Instructor, and Guide to Virtue: being a Compendium of Moral Philosophy. In eight parts. Part 1. Original Essays on the Diffusion of Knowledge, Moral Reformation, &c.-2. Epitome of the Moral precepts of the Bible.-3. Abridgment of the Lives and Moral Discourses of Confucius and Socrates, and Seneca's Morals. 4. Abridgment of the Law of Nature, and the Economy of Human Life.-5. Abridgment of Penn's Maxims, Paley's Moral Philosophy, and Knigge's Art of Conversing with Men.-6. Selections from Franklin's Works.-7. Miscellaneous Articles.-8. Pope's Essay on Man, &c. Designed for a National Manual of Moral Science, in American Seminaries of Education, and private Families. By Jesse Torrey, junr. Human Happiness is founded upon Wisdom and Virtue. SENECA. Vice shrinks from instruction, like darkness from light: In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States, entitled, "An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned." And also to the act, entitled, "An act supplementary to an act, entitled, "An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies during the times therein mentioned," and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints." D. CALDWELL, Clerk of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES. THE design of the following compendium, is more to disseminate useful instruction among all classes of society, than to gratify literary taste or curiosity. The Author has long cherished the conviction, that if the community would appropriate as much wealth to the diffusion of useful knowledge among the rising generation, as is now devoted to the punishment instead of the prevention of crimes and vice, the desired object would be attained, and human misery averted to a much greater extent. But a small proportion of the people have the means to purchase, or leisure to study voluminous systems of Moral Philosophy. On the contrary, dogmatical, sententious precepts, unsupported by demonstration, are not generally convincing, nor adapted to the independent spirit of human nature. Whenever men shall resolve to make moral rectitude their inflexible rule of action, each individual must be persuaded in his own mind, independently of the dictations of others, that his own welfare will be thereby promoted, as well as that of his neighbors. It is but of little avail to the majority of the human family, that philosophers of different ages and nations have exerted their talents in perfecting the science of moral wisdom, as long as no one will take the pains to collect and concentrate the best fruits of their labors into a convenient portable vehicle for universal distribution, upon the boundless table of the PRINTING-PRESS. The Compiler has been, for many years, impressed with the utility of such a work as the one now offered to the public; and has accordingly improved every means in his 391595 power, in accumulating from various and remote sources and periods, the requisite materials. The candid reader, who meets with several articles in this compilation, with which he has already been familiarized, will excuse its want of total novelty, when he reflects, that nearly all the youth, and a large proportion of adult readers, will find it as new to them, and as useful, as if it were an entire original work. If the sentiments be correct and valuable, and clearly expressed, it is of no importance whether they were first committed to paper yesterday, or three thousand years ago. One particular object of this work, is to inculcate the necessity and duty of general domestic and national economy and simplicity of manners. It may be confidently presumed, that if the idolatrous and slavish sacrifices of property, to Pride, Fashion, Custom, Tradition, Extravagance, and depraved Appetite, were abolished, Poverty, with its hideous train of calamities, might be expelled from society, and General Plenty, with its smiling train of blessings, substituted in their stead. Embracing these important purposes, the work is respectfully submitted to the good sense of the people of the United States, for their adoption as a National Code of Morals in schools and families. The Compiler does not delude himself with the vain hope that it will accomplish the moral reformation of the present hardened adult generations; but he does sincerely believe, that the universal dissemination of its impressive precepts among the tender, susceptible, rising generation, cannot fail to produce a salutary influence upon the future national, moral and political character of our Republic. That such may be the result, is the ardent wish of its devoted friend and servant, Philadelphia, Jan. 1824. J. T. : CONTENTS. CHAP. 1. Essays on the general Diffusion of Knowledge. Sec. 1. Necessity and advantages of knowledge 2. A serious address to the rising generation of the United CHAP. 2. Essays on the Use of Intoxicating Liquors. Sec. 1. Public calamities produced by intemperance 2. The habitual use of spirituous liquors a violation of 3. Speech of the Little Turtle, an Indian Chief, on the ravages of whiskey among the Indians CHAP. 3. Essays on Political and Domestic Economy. Sec. 1. Observations on the use of tea, coffee, sugar, and to- 2. Observations on extravagance, fashion, causes of pov- CHAP. 1. Selections from the Old Testament CHAP. 2. Extracts from the Wisdom of Jesus CHAP. 1. Abridgment of the life and precepts of Confucius CHAP. 2. Abridgment of the life and moral discourses of Socrates. 2. Dialogue between Socrates and Glauco, on ambition 5. Discourses of Socrates on filial and fraternal affection 6. Dialogue between Socrates and Critobulus, on friendship CHAP. 3. Abridgment of Seneca's Morals. Sec. 1. Abridgment of Seneca's discourse on beneficence Abridgment of Seneca's Treatise on a happy Life. 2. On a happy life, and wherein it consists 3. Human happiness is founded upon wisdom and virtue 4. There can be no happiness without virtue 5. Philosophy is the guide of life 6. No felicity like peace of conscience 9. A sensual life is a miserable life 10. Avarice and ambition are insatiable and restless 11. The blessings of temperance and moderation |