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benefit of wiſe counſels. It is great preſumption in any one, and eſpecially in a young man, to be ſo confident in his own judgment, as to imagine that he can never need advice. "He that hearkens to counſel, is wiſe."
Thus prepared, enter, my ſon, upon the courſe of life which is before you, with a determined reſolution to "let Reaſon go before every enterprize, and Counſel before every action."
As every man has, or ought to have, ſome occupation in life, by which he may benefit himſelf and his immediate connections, and be useful to ſociety, the choice of an employment, and the manner in which its offices are to be executed, every young man ought to conſider as matters of great importance. If, by the united aid of your own ſelf-knowledge, and the judgment and experience of your friends, this important choice has been made in a manner ſuitable to your talents and natural diſpoſitions, you may reaſonably expect that your employment will afford you ſatisfaction, reputation, and advantage. But that the expectations which you will naturally form at your entrance on your poſſeſſion may not be fruſtrated, ſeveral moral and prudential rules muſt be carefully obſerved. On this point, let it be your firſt care never to engage in any plan of buſiness, or undertake any concern, however profitable, which your heart
