Myintentionbeingtoacquirethehabitudeofallthesevirtues, Ijudg'ditwouldbewellnottodistractmyattentionbyattemptingthewholeatonce, buttofixitononeofthematatime; and, whenIshouldbemasterofthat, thentoproceedtoanother, andsoon, tillIshouldhavegonethro' thethirteen; and, asthepreviousacquisitionofsomemightfacilitatetheacquisitionofcertainothers, Iarrang'dthemwiththatview, , asittendstoprocurethatcoolnessandclearnessofhead, whichissonecessarywhereconstantvigilancewastobekeptup, andguardmaintainedagainsttheunremittingattractionofancienthabits, 'dandestablish'd, Silencewouldbemoreeasy; andmydesirebeingtogainknowledgeatthesametimethatIimprov'dinvirtue, andconsideringthatinconversationitwasobtain'dratherbytheuseoftheearsthanofthetongue, andthereforewishingtobreakahabitIwasgettingintoofprattling, punning, andjoking, whichonlymademeacceptabletotriflingcompany, , Order, , oncebecomehabitual, wouldkeepmefirminmyendeavourstoobtainallthesubsequentvirtues; FrugalityandIndustryfreeingmefrommyremainingdebt, andproducingaffluenceandindependence, wouldmakemoreeasythepracticeofSincerityandJustice, etc., , that, agreeablytotheadviceofPythagoras[67] inhisGoldenVerses, dailyexaminationwouldbenecessary, Icontrivedthefollowingmethodforconductingthatexamination.
