XVIII ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE AND

phenomena of moral perception to their moll Am-ple and general laws.

The practical do&rines of morality comprehendall thofe rules of conduct which profefs to pointout the proper ends of human purfuit, and themoft effectual means of attaining them ; to whichwe may add all thofe literary compofitions, what-ever be their particular form, which have for then-aim to fortify and animate our good difpofitions,by delineations of the beauty, of the dignity, orof the utility of Virtue .

I lhall not inquire at prefent into the juftnefs ofthis divifion. I lhall only obferve, that the wordsTheory and Practice are not, in this inflance , em-ployed in their ufual acceptations. The theory ofMorals does not bear, for example, the fame re-lation to the practice of Morals, that the theoryof geometry bears to practical geometry. In thislaft fcience, all the practical rules are founded ontheoretical principles previoufly elfablillied : Butin the former fcience, the praftical rules are ob-vious to the capacities of all mankind; the theo-retical principles form one of the moft difficultfubjefts of difcnffion that have ever exercifed theingenuity of metaphyficians.

In illuftrating the doctrines of practical morality,

( if we make allowance for fome unfortunate pre-judices produced or encouraged by violent andopprelhve fyftems of policy,) the ancients feem to