It is Time Lost to Advise Others to do what we either Do not, or Cannot
do Our Selves. There’s no Crossing of Nature; but the Best way is to rest
Contented with the Ordinary Condition of Things. ’Tis but so much Labour
thrown away, to Attempt the Altering of Instincts, or the Curing of Ill
Habits.
Example Works a great Deal more then Precept; for Words without
Practice, are but Councels without Effect. When we do as we say, ’tis a
Confirmation of the Rule; but when our Lives and Doctrines do not Agree,
it looks as if the Lesson were either too Hard for us, or the Advice not
worth the While to Follow. We should see to Mend our Own Manners, before
we Meddle to Reform our Neighbours, and not Condemn Others for what we do
our Selves: Especially where they follow the Nature of their Kind, and
in so doing, Do as they Ought to do. Let Every thing Move, March, and
Govern it self, according to the Proper Disposition of the Creature; for
it would be Every Jot as Incongruous, for a _Crab_ to Walk like a _Man_,
as for a _Man_ to Walk like a _Crab_. This may be apply’d to the Lessons
that are given us for the Ordering our Lives and Families. But above All
Things, Children should not be Betray’d into the Love and Practice of
any thing that is Amiss, by Setting Evil Examples before them; for their
Talent is only Imitation; and ’tis Ill Trusting Methinks in such a Case,
without a Judgment to Distinguish.
This Allegory may pass for a very Good Lecture to Governors, Parents, and
Tutors, to behave themselves Reverently both in Word and Deed, before
their Pupils, with a kind of Awful Tenderness for the Innocency and
Simplicity of Youth. For Examples of Vices, or Weaknesses, have the same
Effect upon Children, with Examples of Virtue; Nay, it holds in Publique
too as well as in Private, that the Words and Actions of our Superiors
have the Authority and Force of a Recommendation. _Regis ad Exemplum_, is
so True, that ’tis Morally Impossible to have a Sober People under a Mad
Government. For where Lewdness is the Way to Preferment, Men are Wicked
by Interest, as well as by Imitation: But to Return to the Stress of the
Fable, Let a _Goose_ Walk like a _Goose_, and leave Nature to do her Own
Bus’ness her Own Way.