l66 hahits of attention find ohser^tion. Aug. 'j< 

 instructions is no other than the^ far superior, 

 more interesting, more useful, important, and delec- 

 table instruction which the child is hourly, daily, 

 and perpetually receiving from the book of nature, 

 and from the author of nature, in the visible, audible, 

 and tangible, objects of creaton, which by infinite 

 mutiplications, combinations, divisions, and re-uni- 

 ons of imprefsed notions, are verifying by experience 

 the right knowledge of external objects, and form- 

 ing that complex rational being, which, when 

 duly improved in after times, is to be truly entitled 

 to the appellation of man. 



Now what sort of attention would you expect 

 from Galileo Galilei, or from Keplerus, to an imper- 

 tinent schoolman who ihould pester them with pneu- 

 matologjical discufsions, whilst they were examining 

 and exploring the stars of the Medicis, or the laws 

 of the heavenly orbits ? 



Do you think they would sit contentedly to lis- 

 ten to the jargon of the schools, wliiic every mo- 

 ment was offering or presenting to their wondering 

 perception some new appearance of delectable no- 

 velty i* 



Can we then marvel at the inattention of child-* 

 ren, occupied as they are by the irrisistible power of 

 young dtsire, and charmed as they are, with the en- 

 joyment of new and delightful acquaintance with 

 surrounding nature, for which the author of that 

 nature has endowed them with the inexterminable 

 instinct of curiosity ! the Palladium of human 

 reason, an.l that which in its greatnefs setteth man 

 so peculiarly at the head of animated nature. 



