*_Mandanus_ is a man of excellent parts, and clear apprehension. He is well advanced in age, and has made a great figure in his business. Every part of _trade_ that has fallen in his way, has had some improvement from him; and he is always contriving to carry every method of doing any thing well to its greatest height. _Mandanus_ aims at the greatest perfection in every thing. The _strength_ of his mind, and his just way of thinking, make him intent upon removing all imperfections. He can tell you all the defects and errors in all the common methods, whether of _trade_, _building_, or improving _land_ or _manufactures_. The clearness and strength of his understanding, which he is constantly improving, by continual exercise in these matters, by often digesting his thoughts in writing, and trying every thing every way, has rendered him a great master in most concerns in human life. Thus has _Mandanus_ gone on, increasing his _knowledge_ and _judgment_, as fast as his years came upon him. The one thing which has not fallen under his improvement, nor received any benefit from his judicious mind, is his _devotion_: this is just in the same _poor_ state it was, when he was only six years of age; and the _old man_ prays now in that little form of words which his mother used to hear him repeat night and morning. This _Mandanus_, that hardly ever saw the poorest _utensil_, or ever took the meanest _trifle_ into his hand, without considering how it might be _made_, or _used_ to better advantage, has gone all his life-long praying in the same manner as when he was a child; without ever considering how much _better_ or _oftner_ he might pray. If _Mandanus_ sees a book of _devotion_, he passes it by, as he does a _spelling-book_; because he remembers that he learned to _pray_ so many years ago under his _mother_, when he learnt to _spell_. Now, how poor and pitiable is the conduct of this man of sense, who has so much judgment in every thing, but that which is the _whole wisdom_ of man? And how miserably do many people, more or less, imitate this conduct? 15. *_Classicus_ is a man of learning, and well versed in all the best authors of antiquity. He has read them so much, that he has entered into their spirit, and can imitate the manner of any of them. All their thoughts are his thoughts, and he can express himself in their language. He is so great a friend to this improvement of the mind, that if he lights on a young scholar, he never fails to advise him concerning his studies. _Classicus_ tells his young man, he must not think he has done enough, when he has only learnt _languages_; but that he must be daily conversant with the best authors, read them again and again, catch their spirit by living with them; and that there is no other way of becoming like them, or of making himself a man of _taste_ and _judgment_. How wise might _Classicus_ have been, if he had but thought as _justly_ of _devotion_, as he does of _learning_?