302 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



Society, and to that of Nature. The firCl involves 

 the diftrefs of only two guilty perfons, but the fé- 

 cond affefls the happincfs of Mankind. 



To this our doflors reply, that the only objeâ: 

 purfued, in the education of children, is the in- 

 fpiring them with a virtuous emulation. I do not 

 believe there is fuch a thing in our Colleges, as 

 cxercifes of virtue, unlefs it be to prefcribe to the 

 iludents, on this fubjeâ;, certain themes, or ampli- 

 fications. But a real ambition is taught, by en- 

 gaging them to difpute the firft place in their fe« 

 veral claffes, and to adopt a thoufand intolerant 

 fyftems. Accordingly, when they have once got 

 the key of knowledge in their pocket, they refo- 

 lutely determine, like their matters, to let no one 

 enter but by their door. 



Virtue and ambition are abfolutely incompa- 

 tible. The glory of ambition is to mount, and 

 that of virtue is to defcend. Obferve how Jesus 

 Christ reprimands his difciples, when they afked 

 him who fhould be the firft among them. He 

 takes a little child, and places him in the midft : 

 Not, furely, a child from oui" fchools. Ah ! when 

 He recommends to us the humility fo fuitable to 

 our frail and miferable condition, it is Ijecaufe He 

 did not confider that povver, even fupreme, was 

 capable of conllituting our happinefs in this 



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