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THE

Gentleman's Library,

CONTAINING

RULES

FOR

CONDUCT

IN ALL

PARTS of LIFE.

The SECOND EDITION, Corrected
and Enlarged.

Written by a GENTLEMA N.

Purpureus, latè qui splendeat, unus, & alter
Affuitur pannus

LONDON:

Hor.

Printed for D. BROWNE, at the Black
Swan, and W. MEARS, at the
Lamb without Temple-Bar, 1722.

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PREFACE

TO THE

READER.

Na Book that has not
aDedication prefix'd,
there is a fort of Ne-
ceffity of a Preface; be-

cause it looks odd to skip from
a Title-Page to an Introduction.
However, I did not alone con-
fult that Part of Decency in my
Reasons for this Preface, but pen-
ned it, with regard that I thought
fomething ought to be faid on
the Work in general.

A 3

The

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The kind Entertainment the Town gave to the Lady's Library, the Succefs it met with, and the great Call there was for it, even from the moft diftant Counties, tho' it was fwell'd out into Three Volumes, and fold at a pretty handfome Price, made me think that a Gentleman's Library might be a Copy of no great Hazard to a Bookfeller, and make an Edition of particular Ufe and Service to Young Gentlemen coming into the World.

Whatever Advantages we have from Education, from Example, or Precept, on our first Entrance on the Stage of Life, we meet with Accidents and Temptations to withdraw us from Morality, and stand in need of fupplemental Inftruction, and a new Director to confirm us

in our Conduct. Views of Pleafure, and Inftability of Humour, lead us into a thousand Inconveniencies, against which we are neither ar med by Prudence, Reason, or Continence or don

As to the Precepts contain'd in this Treatife, I have put them together, according to my Power, in a manner that may make them Useful and Entertaining To this End, as often as my Memory ferv'd, I have interspers'd them with Quotations in Poetry, Examples from Hiftory, and Axioms that were in Credit with the Sages of Antiquity. The gay Part of the World are fo ftartled at Morality, when merely fuch, when they think it is all dry and crabbed,and the whole Volume penn'd for Inftruction, without anyregard to their Pleasure,that

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