EDUCATION. 
his a (Tail-ants, He is taught, indeed, to a (Fume the ap¬ 
pearance of good qualities; but it is not for their own 
fake, but merely to facilitate deception. In the progrefs 
of this difeipline, all the native fentiments of truth and 
honour are of neccffity difearded. Suppofing that the 
deceiving arts, acquired by this mode of inffitution, may 
ferve interefted purpofes, yet the end is not worth the 
means. No wealth, no power, no popularity, can cora- 
penfate corruption of heart, and felf-abafement. Such 
characters as have nothing but external accomplifnments 
to recommend them, may indeed be greatly admired and 
approved by vain and weak underftandings, which pene¬ 
trate no deeper than the furface; but they are defpifed 
by all the truly fenfible, and pitied by all phe truly good. 
Boys, early initiated-in the world, have ufually a for- 
vvardnefs of behaviour, and a degree of loquacity which 
pleafes fuperficial people. He who is attending to his 
books, and collecting ideas which will one day render 
hint a blelling and an honour to all with whom he is con¬ 
nected, will appear dull, awkward, and unengaging, to 
many, in comparifon with the pert (tripling, who has been 
plunged into vice and diflipation before he knows the 
meaning of the words. The reception which the latter 
meets with in company, gives him additional fpirits, and 
the deluded parents ufually triumph a-while in the con¬ 
demns fuperiority of their judgment. In four or five 
years they commonly fee and feel the effects of their folly. 
Their conduct, as it often undoubtedly proceeds from ig¬ 
norance, is to be compaflionated; but if ever it arifes 
from affectation of Angularity, pride, vicious principles, 
or careleffnef's concerning their offspring, it deferves the 
fettered repreher.fion. From this caufe it is obvious to 
obferve in the world multitudes of beardlefs boys af- 
fuming airs of manhood, and praftifing manly vices, to 
obtain a title to the appellation of men. The prefent 
age abounds with fuch examples. Thefe are the un¬ 
happy objects whom their injudicious parents have ex¬ 
truded from the foftering wing into the wide world, be¬ 
fore nature had given fufficient maturity. Their emaci¬ 
ated looks inform the fpeftator, that a lecret canker has 
preyed on the flower of their youth. Their words, their 
drefs, their actions, all combine in proving that they are 
far advanced in the ways of vice, and have been fami¬ 
liarly acquainted with its confequent miferies, The years 
which fucceed a vain, -a wicked, and a moff wretched, 
youth, are often (pent in nurfing a ruined fortune and a 
lhattered conftitution. 
Prudence, as well as reafon and religion, requires that 
a parent fhould do all he can to prefent his fon to the 
community unfpotted. The faired fide of the world 
(hould be exhibited to his view. Vice in every mode 
and degree fhould be concealed. Difhonedy, in which 
is comprehended all the arts which are incompatible with 
truth, iugennoufnefs, and fimplicity of manners, (hould 
never be mentioned but with abhorrence. He fhould be 
prepared by' An ing deeply in his bofom principles of piety 
and moral hpnefty. He (hould be kept under the eye of 
a parent, or a faithful inftruftor, as long and as condantly 
as poffible. And, when he mud be introduced into the 
world at large, let his inftruftor tell him vvhat miferies 
inevitably await immoral and intemperate indulgence. 
With fuch preparation, and with the bleding of Provi¬ 
dence, there will be little danger, but that a young man 
will make valuable advances in virtue and learning, and 
receive their reward. 
On this fubject archbifbop Seeker has the following 
remarks: “ An acquaintance with the world, however 
corrupted, may be a ufeful part of education; but then 
it mult be the lad. It gives a beautiful poiiih ; but of 
this the bed prepared mind will be the mod fufceptible. 
It teaches many things; but good or bad, according as 
the learner is qualified to diltinguiih. He, whom im¬ 
proved _gpod fenfe hath enabled to obferve upon com¬ 
mon practice, will extraft vvifdom and virtue from the 
vices .nd tollies of mankind. But fuc.h as are ignorant., 
Vol. VI. No. 348. 
269 
and capable only of Imitating, will of courfe admire the 
word of what they fee ; and be the more effectually ruin¬ 
ed, the more they aim to be accomplilhed. Regular cul¬ 
tivation of the underbanding, then, is what good educa¬ 
tion begins with. The earlied branch of this acquaintance 
with ufeful languages, unlocks the treafures of ancient 
learning, and makes the improvement of every age and 
climate our oivn. Then 'the politer parts of literature 
mod agreeably open the faculties, and form the tafte of 
young perfons ; adorn our difeourfe, and endear our com¬ 
pany in riper years ; give a grace to vvifdom and virtue ; 
relieve the fatigue of our bufy hours, and elegantly fill 
up the leilure of our vacant ones. At the fame time, the 
art of juft reafoning opportunely comes in, to curb the 
licence of imagination, and direft its force ; to fix the 
foundations of fcience, afeertain the degrees of probabi¬ 
lity, and unveil fpecious error. With this guide we pro¬ 
ceed fecurely. Knowledge of nature opens the univerfe 
to our view ; enables 11s to judge worthily of the confu¬ 
tation of things; fecures us from the weaknefs of vulgar 
fuperditions ; and contributes, in many ways, to the health 
and fecurity, the convenience and pleafure, of human life. 
If from hence we go on to furvey mankind, a contempla¬ 
tion of their different dates in different ages, efpecially 
of their ancient ^regulations and law's, the public vvifdom 
of brave and great nations, will furnifh variety of ufeful 
reflections to tlie mind, often teaching us to improve 
our own condition, often to be happy in it.” 
Boys fliould be taught to aft a juft and an honourable 
part in all their little pecuniary tranfaftions. Fraud and 
covetoufnefs appear very early. If one is thcughtlefs 
and extravagant, there is another ready to take advan¬ 
tage of his folly, and to lend Come of his little dore on 
exorbitant intered. Such practices unredrained, fow the 
feeds of future ufury and prodigality. Let beys there¬ 
fore be obliged to give an account of their cxpences 
whenever called upon; and whenever meannefs or frau¬ 
dulent tricks are detected, let them be correfted by the 
inffliftion of difgrace or fevere punilhanent. " 
Indruftion in religious and moral fentiments, ought to 
form a principal objeft in every fchool. It (hould by 
no means be neglefted ; for, if the mind is not early tinc¬ 
tured with religious ideas, it will not afterwards admit- 
them without great difficulty. Many perfons have ob~ 
jefted to the long-edabliflied method of teaching children 
to read, by ufing the Tedament: they rather vvifh that 
they fliould be initiated by ./Efop’s Fables, or fome fimi- 
lar book. Yet no book is lb well adapted to this pur- 
pofe as the Tedament. The language is remarkably eafy 
and familiar; and the matter is entertaining to children. 
The eafy narrative pleafes them, and no one inconveni¬ 
ence can refuit from the ufual praftice. Pofiibly fome 
advantages may attend it. It may imprefs on the me¬ 
mory many fcriptural paffages, which would never be 
properly attended to at another age. If we rely on the 
golpel, we can never objeft to giving the young mind 
its fird tinfture of letters from the evangelical writings. 
Perhaps the growing negleft of this and other practices 
of our forefathers, may in fome meafure,-account for the 
prevalence of irreligion. 
The bufinefs of a lchool fliould never commence or 
clofe without a prayer. Boys may appear to give it lit¬ 
tle attention; and, indeed, they will not always join in 
fripplication with that .ferioufnafs and ardour which is to 
be defired. Yet (ometimes the mind will be in fuch a. 
tone, as to be greatly .affected with, a proper prayer, and 
many will catch a fpirir of devotion. Seeds will be fovvn, 
which, though they may lie a long while dormant, will 
one day fpring up, and bear fruit in abundance. It is to 
be hoped, that there are no parents injudicious enough 
to have no regard to the religious education of their chil¬ 
dren. Religion will not only contribute to preferve their 
innocence, arid draw, down the blefling of Providence, but 
will afford them in adverfity the belt conlolation-, and at 
all times a pure and lively pleafure. 
Aftes j 
