_History_ will also afford frequent Opportunities of showing
the Necessity of a _Publick Religion_, from its Usefulness to the
Publick; the Advantage of a Religious Character among private
Persons; the Mischiefs of Superstition, _&c_. and the Excellency of
the CHRISTIAN RELIGION above all others antient or modern (* 19).
_History_ will also give Occasion to expatiate on the Advantage
of Civil Orders and Constitutions, how Men and their Properties are
protected by joining in Societies and establishing Government; their
Industry encouraged and rewarded, Arts invented, and Life made more
comfortable: The Advantages of _Liberty_, Mischiefs of
_Licentiousness_, Benefits arising from good Laws and a due Execution
of Justice, _&c_. Thus may the first Principles of sound (* 20)
_Politicks_ be fix'd in the Minds of Youth.
On _Historical_ Occasions, Questions of Right and Wrong,
Justice and Injustice, will naturally arise, and may be put to Youth,
which they may debate in Conversation and in Writing (* 21). When
they ardently desire Victory, for the Sake of the Praise attending
it, they will begin to feel the Want, and be sensible of the Use of
_Logic_, or the Art of Reasoning to _discover_ Truth, and of Arguing
to _defend_ it, and _convince_ Adversaries. This would be the Time
to acquaint them with the Principles of that Art. _Grotius_,
_Puffendorff_, and some other Writers of the same Kind, may be used
on these Occasions to decide their Disputes.
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