Printed for EM. MATTHEWS at the _Bible_ in _Pater-Noster-Row_; J. ROBERTS, in _Warwick-Lane_; J. HARRISON, under the _Royal Exchange_; and A. DODD, without _Temple-Bar_. MDCCXIX. OF GENIUS. It is a Matter of common Observation, that there is a vast Variety in the Bent of Mens Minds. Some have a Taste of one Way of Living, some of another; some have a Turn for one kind of Employment, others for what is quite different. Whether this be from the Constitution of the Mind itself, as some Soils are more apt to produce some Plants and Herbs than others; or from the Laws of Union between the Body and Mind, as some Climates are more kindly to nurse particular Vegetables than others; or from the immediate Impulse of that Power which governs the World, is not so easy to determine. We ascribe this to a difference of _Genius_ amongst Men. _Genius_ was a Deity worshipped by the Ancient Idolaters: Sometimes as the God of _Nature_; sometimes as the God of a particular _City_ or _Country_, or _Fountain_, or _Wood_, or the like; sometimes as the Guardian and Director of a _single Person._ Exuitur, _Geniumq; meum_ prostratus adorat. Propert. _l_. 4. _El._ 9 V. 43. The Heathens had a Notion, that every Man upon his Birth was given up to the[A] Conduct of some invisible Being, who was to form his Mind, and govern and direct his Life. This _Being_ the _Greeks_ called[B] [Greek: Daimon or Daimonion]; the _Latins, Genius_. Some of them suppos'd a[D] Pair of _Genij_ were to attend every _Man_ from his Birth; one Good, always putting him on the Practice of Virtue; the other Bad, prompting him to a vicious Behaviour; and according as their several Suggestions were most attended to, the Man became either Virtuous or Vicious in his Inclinations: And from this Influence, which the _Genius_ was suppos'd to have towards forming the Mind, the Word was by degrees made to stand for the Inclination itself. Hence[E] _indulgere Genio_ with the _Latins_ signifies, to give Scope to Inclination, and more commonly to what is none of the best. On the other Hand, [F]_Defraudare Genium_, signifies to deny Nature what it craves. [A] _Ferunt Theologi, in lucem editis Hominibus cunctis, Salva firmitate fatali, bujusmodi quedam, velut actus vectura, numina Sociari: Admodum tamen paucissimis visa, quos multiplices auxere virtutes. Idque & Oracula & Autores docuerunt praclari_. Ammian Marcel Lib. 21. [B] [Greek: Hapanti Daimon andri symparistatai Euthys genomeno mystagogos tou biou. Menan] [C] Scit Genius Natale comes, qui temperat Astrum, Nature Deus Humana. Horat. [Transcriber's Note: This footnote is not seen in the text.]