m m 2. 3 3 mcer 4 the Piece here underitood, was publifhed in the month of January* 17,5-6, when the Rebel-army was flying before the Duke of Cu?r.beylai:\ by whom they were totally defeated at the battle of Cull. i6:Ii day of Aptil . The chief defign of the Piece was to point out the national vices and follies we were culled upon by that vifit.uion to reform. B confide!" t Thoughts on Education. fonfider his own Qualifications for doing any thing to avert or mitigate the judgments of Heaven, as the Need there is that ibmething be done ; and will accordingly contribute his mite, and exert his abi- lities, fuch as they are. To flip an opportunity of acknowledging the candid reception given by yoi} to what was offered on that occafion, would be both uncivil and unjuft : though at the fame time, Tq gain the Attention or even the mod univerfal Appro- kcifion of Readers, will by no means give full fatifr faftion to a writer, whofc aim is at fomething dif- ferent from both, and who had rather fee one perfon follow his advice than a thoufand approve and yet Wgleft it. However, they, who give a friendly monitor a fair hearings are more lively in time to think of taking his counfel than they who will-not fo much as bear him. That the face of affairs in this nation is altered very much for the better fince the above-mentioned period, is certain, That in place of the immediate profpeft of a general con- fgfion, likely to end in the fubverfion of our civil and religious liberties, or in a. lading and bloody civil war, we now fee Rebellion mortally wounded, and breathing its lad -, the fword of judjee drunk with its blood, and hpr fclf tired ^nci fatiated with yengeance ; the liberties of our country and the protedant religion the more firmly edablifhed for their havjng been fhaken by the late commotions. And have we then no more to think of or to fear ? or do we imagine Heaven has but one Judg- ment to punifh national Wickednefs or Indolence ? Surely, if ever it be the duty or intered of a na- tion to endeavour, by a fuitable condnft, to gain or keep the favour and protection of Omnipotence, it is more peculiarly fo of a people favoured by fo many and fo fignal interpofitions as we have been. But alas f the happy effeft, which might have bt$n cxpedted from our deliverance, to wit, the correct- ing Thoughts on Education. $ Ing of our follies and vices, has not yet appeared clearly enough, to (hew that the late vifitation has done its work, fo as to render a more feverc and effe&ual one unnecefiary. But, to proceed to the Subject of the following pages : In the former Effay, among other particu- lars, one is mentioned, as well worthy the attention of the ration, and likely to contribute greatly to its advantage, both by its natural confequences, and by the probability of its drawing down a Bleffing upon us, to wit, The virtuous and religious Educa- tion of the Tcuth. The fubject could not be there fully treated on, and therefore your ferious atten- tion is defired to the following additional thoughts on a matter, which is not only in it felf of the ut- moft importance, but which likewife feems in a peculiar manner to want a hearty recommendation to the regard of the prefent Age. In the nrft place it feems hardly necelTary that any Parent or Inftru&or of youth, who believes the Chriftian religion, be told, That a ftri£t account will certainly be required, at the hands of allperfonSj of whatever the divine providence has committed to them ; and that, as no Truft, that can be commit- ted to any perfon, is of equal importance with that of immortal fouls , it is to be fuppofed, no negleit whatever will be fo feverely punifhed in another world as the negledt of the fouls committed to the care of Parents and Inftru&ors cf youth, efpecially confidering, That the fouls of Youch are mere im- mediately committed to the care of their Parents and Ihftruclors than even thefe of a Peopie are to their Paftor \ as perfons arrived at year's of difcre- tion may be fuppofed (if they have had a proper education) in a great meafure capable of conduct.. themfelves ; whereas the utrtr incapacity of Youth ^ays them alrnoft wholly at the mercy of their Parents or Inftruftors for a fct of habits to regu- P. 7 4 Thoughts on Education. late their whole conduft through life, upon which their happinefs through eternity depends. And can thofe Parents or Inftrudtors of youth, the number of which, it is to be feared, is not fmall, be (aid to dilcharge faithfully and thoroughly this awful truft, who are fo far from endeavouring to form the minds of the youth under their care, and to eftablifh them on folic! and rational principles of Virtue and Religion, that many of them do not feem to think any fuch thing neceffary to be attempted, and that a youth educated either to an employment by which he may gain a fubfiftence, or accomplifli'd in the polite arts and fciences (if his birth be fuitable) has had full juftice done him by thofe to whom the charge of him was committed by providence. One would think no parent or inftruftor of youth, who believes that a day of accounts will come at Jalt, fhould be able to think without trembling, of the terrors of it, left the Judge (hould then fay to h as have been negligent of the fouls committed to their care, " Thou wicked and flothful fervant, * " oughteft thou not to have improved to the ut- nfioft the opportunity put in thy hands, of being " uieful to thy flllow-creatures, efpecially to thofe cc immediately entrufted to thy care ? How haft thou * fc fhainefully neglefted what thou might'il have vc faithfully and worthily performed? How haft M thou, inftead of being of the greateft fervice in u thy ftation and a Welling to numbers, proved " unworthy of thy place in fociety, and the caufe " why numbers have come fhort of happinefs. " Inftead, therefore, of the rezvard^ that might' .aVe crowned thy labours, receive the doom due M to thy wickednefs and negligence." Nor will rrceable to any parent or inltruclor of youth , to hear any unhappy perfon, formerly re, reproach him in the following man- ixv. :6. i ner. Thoughts on Education. 5 ner. " Had you faithfully and ftriftiy difcharg?d " your duty to me, I had not probably been miie- " rable this day. Had you warned me of the dan- " gers of vice and irregularity, I might have " efcaped them. Had you laid before me the re- " wards of virtue and religion, I might perhaps " have afpired at them. Why did you, in my " days of youthful weaknefs and inexperience, keep " me in the dark, and fufifer me to miftake my " way to happinefs for want of a guide ? How " could you be fo cruel to one incapable of injuring cc you ? How could you neglect a work fo agree- " able? How could you trifie with what was of fo " much confequence to one you pretended to love ? " Had you no ambition to lay the foundation of a €€ ftructure, which might have rifen higher and " higher through eternity ? Had you no zeal to be 4< found faithful in the trull committed to you? 44 Henceforth nothing remains but the cruel refiec- " tion on the lofs of all the inexpreflible ; ,oy 44 might have given to one another, had you i^cn ■ 4 - me arrive at that happinefs you had endeavoured 44 with fuccefs to lead me to, and had I had reaibn 4t to thank you for your care in pointing me t 4C way; intt'ead of which " But this is a fubject too fhocking to enlarge any farther upon. Let it fuffice to add, at preient, That as, on I one hand, the forming of a rational mind to virtue, religion, and happinefs is the mod glorious work an angel, an arch-angel, or any created Bring can be employed in, fo, in all probability, it will meet with the higheft reward * ; on die other, as the ne- * " They tbat^rizrg rmny ro rigbJ is the " ftars for ever and ever " ver fhall *' break one mea *' To, ih-.ul be QiaU toive no part in the I ** ever (hill d 6 Tbbugbts on Education. gle<5t of an immortal foul is a breach of the mort important truft thac can be committed to any per- fon, it is likely to meet with the fevereft punifh- ment. Man being a creature defigned not only for a ihort and uncertain duration in the prefent (late, but alfo for an everlafting one after this is at an end, from the hour of his entrance into the world, an exiftence commences, which is to go on through eternity, and therefore from that time a conftant regard ought to be had, firft by thofe to whom the care of him during his minority is committed, and afterwards by himfelf, to each feveral Period of his exiftence, and likewife to the unmeafurable and endlefs Whole. If the opinion of the moft judicious be true, viz. That the very milk an infant fucks may have fuch an influence upon his pafiions and ■ appetites as may afifedt his whole condudl through life, upon which every one knows how much his happinefs through eternity depends -, I lay, if this opinion be juft, it is plain, That nothing is indif- ferent or of final! confequence in the education of youth, even from the earlieft infancy : but that, en the contrary, things, which at firft view may kem trivial, may be followed by confequences of a nature very far from trivial. I mention this particular only by the By, it being my defign to infill chiefly on the care of youth between the age of fix and eighteen, before which laft period if the mind of a perfon be not formed to virtue and religion, it is not to be expefted it ever fhould afterwards. Previous to every other ftep, that is to be taken in the education of a young perfon, is the forming and breaking his temper ; by cherifhing and encou- raging the good qualities of if, as Emulation, or a huVable defire of excelling, Curiofity, or third after knowledge, Humility, Tradlablenefs, Meeknefs, Fcarruir^fs of offending, and the reft •, and by crush- ing thoughts en Education. j *ng and nipping in the bud the luxuriant or perni- cious ones, as Anger, Pride, ' Refentment, Obfti- nacy, Sloth, Falftiood, and fo forth. If this work be negle&ed by parents till the age of Six be paft, it need hardly be attempted at all : for the mind foon acquires a fturdinefs and obfxinacy that is not to be conquered, and bad Habits become quickly, as it were, a part of the very foul, and as hard to be eradicated as it would be to feparate the faculties of the foul from one another. A particular that jnuft make every wife and confiderate perfon tremble at the thought of the confequences of fuffering any other than good and virtuous Habits to take pof- feffion of his mind, and fhould make every Parent or Guardian of youth to the laft degree felicitous what Habits firft take root in the minds of thofe he has the charge of. The whole of education feems to me to confift of two parts, or to come under two general heads ; the firft is, The accomplishing a perfon in fuch parts of knowledge as may be ufeful for qualifying him to pafs decently and comfortably through the prefent life ; the fecond is, The right directing him how to prepare himfelf for the everlafting duration after this life is at an end, teaching him how to improve and ennoble his nature, and putting him in the way of attaining the favour of his Maker \ which is only another phrafe for perfect bappinejs. And by how much an everlafting duration exceeds the fleeting dream of the prefent life, and by how much it is more fatal to be unprepared to enter upon eternity than upon the ftage of this world, by fc much un- doubtedly it is of more confequence that Parents and Inftru&ors of youth have a regard to the Morals and Principles of thofc committed to their charge, than that their whole care be confined to their ac- complifhments and attainments in fcholarjhip^ and fey fo much the rpore fatal a mifcarriage in the for- mer S Thoughts en Education. me; r. I would not here be thought . That human literature is of fmall con- fequtacc in education ^ on the contrary, I do not ,.v one branch of knowledge, which any man (of a middling itation, at leaft, and who is endued x a tolerable meafure of natural fenfe,J had better be v ant of: for I am convinced, That giv: find an early turn to Knowledge of any inn: id is doing it a very eminent fervice : be- caufe, being an a6tive and reftlefs principle, it will, in its fcarch after happinefs, run out in purfuit after either the objects of Sjcjife 5 to wit, Pleafure, Power, or Riches ; or after thofe of the Mind^ to wit, Know- ledge, Virtue, or Religion : and every one knows, how much it were to be defired, that mankind would cultivate their rational rather than their fen- fual faculties, and place their happinefs ia the ac- quifkion of the objects of the former than the latter. Were I to put together a fketch of what I think every youth ought to be intlrudted in, before the time of life that is proper for going to bufinefs or an univerfity, it would be much in the following manner. Firit, the knowledge of Grammar feems to be a thing of that univerfal ufefulnefs for leading people into a method of fpeaking or writing their thoughts correftly and intelligibly, and of rightly apprehend- ing thofe of others, that I think no man (however low his itation may be, ought to be without it, and that children, whole parents either do not choofe, or car. not afford them a clafTical education, ought to be taught Grammar in their mother tongue, the fcience being the fame through all languages. ^ A long with Grammar, Orthography and Pointing ought to be taught \ as nothing n* trays a mean and fordid education than falic ipcl- -or is there any thing more apt to occah rehenfions of a perk/ ming, which, inj Thought* on Education. a bufinefs, fometimes prove fatal, than the want of proper points and Hops in his letters or other writings, and the running of one fentence into another. The knowledge of Latin and Greek (efpecially the firft) feems rather valuable on account of their being the foundation of mod modern languages, than for their own fake. If it be true, which is commonly averted, that there is fcarce a radical word in any of the modern tongues of above two fyllables long, that is not derived from one or ether oF them, it can hardly be fuppofed a perfon, who is a perfeft ftranger tothefe languages, can thorough- ly enter into the fenfe and fpirit of his own mother- tongue. In inftru&ing youth in the Latin lan- guage, I fhould think it advifable to make them familiar with the Hiftcrians^ rather than the P6ets 9 as the writings of the firft are, truly ufeful and in- ftru&ing, whereas thofe of the laft generally tend to hurt the morals of youth, or at lead to fill their brains with falfe and romantic ideas, and to lefien their value for truth. Thcfe are innumerable i fages in Ovid^ Horace^ and fome others of the Hea- then poets commonly in the hands of young people, that ought not to be in print, cr any way expefed to public view in a Chriftian country. And indeed the perufal of the belt of them is only travelling through fairy-land, and treading en inchanted ground." It is at leaft abfckitely necefiary, that youth be guarded from the bad effe&s of too great an admiration for heathen poetry, by giving them early a juft contempt for its childifh fables, and by fliewing them the advantages of our rational arid fiiblime religion when fct in contrail with the abfurd and wretched mythology of the ancients, which has nothing in it really valuable, except thaf a little knowledge of it fcrver, to iliuftrate fome obfeure parts of hnftory> as it has greatly clouded and dark 10 "itoGugms on naucatton. darkened many more. The knowledge of the Greek language is worth the pains of any young perfon, who has leifure to attain it •, for the fake of reading the Septuagint tranflation of the Bible, >the New Tetlament, and the writings of the earlieft Fathers of the Chriftian church, in the original. The French language is fo eafily acquired, that, though not one perfon in an hundred ever has any great occafion for it in life, I think it is worth while for youth to employ fome of their leifure hours in reading it. The art of 'Writings being a mechanical thing, may be acquired by a youth of any fort of genius, bright or dull, through dint of practice and application. Drawing is an art both elegant and ufeful •, but ought by no means to be forced upon every youth : for none but fuch as are born with a genius for it, will fucceed at it. Mafic, as it is not to be acquired without a na- tural tafte, fo it ought to be very fparingly indulged, where there is a genius for it. It is a bewitching art, and one way or other is hurtful to moft people, who delight in and pradtife it. If Dancing is to be learned at all, it ought to be difpatched in early youth, for various reafons. The knowledge ol \ Numbers is wanted by almoft every perfon, every day of his life : nor can the time 'bellowed in ftudying the elements of Mathe- matics be grudged by any one who knows their uni- verfal ufefulnels. The art of Keeping accounts diftinft and regular, after the Italian method, is fo beautiful, and at the fame time ufeful, lefs or more, to people almoft in all ftations in life, that I think no man ought to be without it, and the rather brcaufe it is in itfelf io (imple and eafily acquired. Geography is a fcience not lefs ufeful than fimple j for a perfon can hardly enter into any converfation, read Thoughts on Education. i £ read any piece of hiftory, or rightly underfland an article in a News-paper, without fome knowledge of the fituations of places : nor does it require any acutenefs of genius or intenfe application, being almoft wholly a work of Memory. I do not think it difficult to give mod young people, who have reached the age of twelve, tho' they be not intended for an academical education, a tolerable notion of theoretical AJtronomy, lb as to enable them to form fome idea of the vaftnefs of the fyftem of the jjniverfe, and the general laws, by which its motions and revolutions are carried on. I think the fame may be faid of the fcience of Ana- tomy ^ or the knowledge of the ftru&ure of animal bodies, efpecially the human. By communicating a little of thefe two laft mentioned parts of know- ledge to youth, they cannot mifs being led to en- tertain high and elevated notions of the Maker and Governor of the world, and muft thereby be en- gaged to fear and obey him from rational and worthy motives. There is indeed no part of the works of nature, the contemplation of which will not delight and improve a young and innocent mind, and alfo enlarge and raife it above every thing that is mean or unworthy of its attention \ and the advantage of giving young people an early turn to Knowledge is not to be imagined, as it pre- engages them, before the dangerous and mifchie- vous objefts of Senfe get hold of them, and ferves for food to the mind, which otherwife muft run after gratifications of a far inferior and more un- worthy kind. A fet of tnicrofcopical obfervatio>is y a few experiments in natural philofopby, fuch as thofe of the air-pump, 13 c. and a few of thofe books which are written on purpofe for introducing youth to a little knowledge of that kind, are all extremely proper for employing their leifure hours from twelve years of age and upwards. C 2 But 12 Thoughts on Education. But there is no kind of reading that tends more to fettle the judgment, than that of Iliftory and Bio- t or the lives of eminent pcrfons ; which leads .-.oft ufeful of all forts of knowledge, I mean thar nature^ and to prudence in the con- duct of life •, without which all other kinds of learn- ing are rather an incumbrance than any advantage in a man's affairs. Young people ought alfo from their earlieft years to be eftablifhed in a rational fet of political ■principles, and taught the love of liberty and their country, and confequently the hatred of Popery, Tyranny, Perfecution, Venality, and whatever elfe is againft the intereft of a free people. They ought at t!v fame tim^to be taught the proper medium be- twixt an abjeft and flavifh difpofition in a people on th'J one fide, and abfolute iicentioufnefs, and a fpirit of murmuring and complaining without rea- fon againft their governors, on the other ; and that the true (pint of liberty is always corrected and re- ftrained by a proper fubmijfwn to government. They ought as foon as poftible to be prepofleffed againtt Party- difpute* and contentions, and taught tojudge of them from HiJior\\znd fhould be informed, that what- ever the furious zealots on each fide have pretended, experience has fhewn, That Self has been generally at the bottom with both -, that party is very juftly 1 to be the madnefs of many for the gain of a few -, and that a Patriot is only a Courtier out of place, and a Courtier a Patriot in place : That wherever a let of men are found to ftick obftinately together, to go through thick and thin, and to ap- prove and disapprove conftantly the fame meafures and proceedings, it is almoil an infallible mark ot parry • becaufe it is hardly conceivable, that a great tmberofmen fhould exattly agreein their fenciments upon a great number of different points, without any variation, unlefs tht trive to agree together for the noughts on Education. 13 the fake of carrying on fome particular fcheme, diftinft from the intereft of their country. They ought early to be accuftomed to confider themfdves as every day drawing nearer and nearer to a ftate of maturity, when they muft (if an untimely death prevent not) think of acting a part on the ftage of life, and becoming members of fociety. They cannot therefore be too early forewarned of the ftrange viciffitudes of human life, they may after- wards have occafion to pafs through •, nor too itrongly guarded againll the various arts of flat- terers or other crafty and defigning men, nor too well inftrudted how to detect them. They fhould be taught a feries of rules for their prudent condudt in life, and how to diftinguifh the fjaulty from the laudable, to which it bears the neareft refemblance ; the prudent from the fufpicious and over-cautious, the generous from the lavifh, the frugal from the niggardly, the diligent from the covetous, and fo forth. There fhould be a variety of Cafes pro- pofed to them, taken from what ufualiy happens in mens commerce and intercourfe with one another ; and they fhould be taught to judge and diftinguifli nicely what is proper and what improper to be done in each of them, and the reafons. Young people ought to be ftrongly and early prepoflefied againft the three fatal Baits* which al- lure the bulk of mankind, and draw them into infinite mifery and misfortune in the prtfent life, and often into utter deftru&ion at lad, I mean, Ambition, Covetcufnefs, and Lcve of Pleafure. They ought to be taught, That the fatisfaftion (if it may be fo called) which Ambition offers, is altogether imaginary, confifting wholly in the applaufe of others, which will never give any happinefs to a wife man, as it is of no value unlefs where it ferves to confirm the judgment of his own Confcience. That no \ or good man will ever do any aftion for the fake Of 14 thoughts on Education. of applaufe, which his own confcienee will not war- rant, nor will he abftain from or difapprove of any which his own conlcience attefts to be good and virtuous, and proper to be done in his circum- ftances, merely becaufe he knows the fuperfkial multitude will find fault with it, who almoft con- ftantly approve and difapprove in the wrong place. To create in young people a contempt of the erroneous and ill-judged applaufe of men, fuch in- ftances as the following fhould be often laid before them, and the miftakes of common opinion expofed to their obfervation. That we fee the moft labo- rious, induftrious, and ufeful part of mankind generally treated with negleft and contempt, and at the fame time the idle, the inadtive and mod ufe- lefs part of the fpecies, I mean, the rich, who feed and riot, and fatten on the labours of their fellow- creatures, adored as gods upon earth. That we fee mankind admire learning, wit and courage in men, and outfide beauty in the other fex, and all the while negledt the lefs oftentatious, but infinitely more valuable virtues of humility, meeknefs, pru- dence, benevolence, patience, and mortification. That the fuperfkial multitude have difgraced the honeft hufbanciman, who employs himfclf in raifing out of the earth what is the fupport u the life of his fellow-creatures, with the o jous name of Clown ', and have at the fame rifl;e signified thofe wild-beafts called warriors, who fpend their lives in butchering their fellow-creatures, with the title of Heroes cr Great-men. That according to the com- mon opinion of mankind, it is no fhame to get wealth by grinding the face of the poor, by craft, by fcraping, and all the mean arts that can be praftifed with fafety from the laws of the land \ but it is a great fhame to be poor for want of im- pudence to elbow mankind, or through too much narrownefs of confcicnc:*, or too much largenefs of Thoughts on Education. 15 of heart. That, according to the opinion of man- kind, affliction is of all things the moil to be dread- ed, and profperity the moil to be defired ; whereas the truth is quite the contrary way : for that pro- fperity generally hurts mens virtue, whereas adver- fity for the mod part ftrengthens the mind, and makes the heart better ; fo that the bulk of man- kind being by divine providence fubje&ed in the prefent frate to various hardfhips and miferies, is a mark of the tendernefs of the Governor of the world to his creatures. That according to com- mon opinion, it is a greater happinefs to get and hoard up, than to deal out liberally and generoufly ; whereas in truth, to beftow with prudence on the deferving and indigent is like a god, and to fcrape together riches, like an earth-worm. That ac- cording to common opinion, it is a crime in a man of fortune not to live extravagantly, that is, accord- ing to the vulgar notion, fuitably to his fortune. Whereas the truth is, that for a man of great wealth to fpend his whole income without beftowing a rea- fonable proportion of it upon the truly indigent, is embezzling what was only intrufted to him, wot given him ; a great eftate being properly a Jlewardjhip committed to a particular perfon for trial of his charity, and his abftinence, as poverty is a trial of another fet of virtues, and not the efftd: of any partiality of divine provideRce in his favour to the prejudice of other men. A youth, early and frequently led to obferve in thefe and innumerable other inftances the falfe and erroneous ways the multitude have of judging of men and things, muft fee the folly of placing one's happinefs in their applaufe, and will thereby learn to defpifc the allurement of Ambition. And in- deed it is the fault of his parents or inllruftors, if he be not made to underftand, that he who never knew to distribute unfeen an.! '.^thanked, to ftcai oppor- 16 - Thoughts on Education. opportunities of doing worthy a£tions, never to be known publickly, till read out of the records, by which we are to be judged at the lad day ; who never could condefcend to what the erroneous world calls Meannef:, for the fake of doing good •, that who never could do thefe things, and do them without fo much as a wifh for any other approba- tion than that of his conference and his Judge, and who has no relifh for this feaft of the mind in his private retirement, knows nothing of the dif- interclted love of God and of goodnefs for their own iak And, to prevent a young perfon's being infnared by degrees, as he advances in life, into the love of money, and at length into covetoufnefs, he ought to be made to underftand, that the only real value of riches is, their being capable of being applied to the purchafe of the necelTaries and conveniencies of life, and to the relief of the indigent. That the contents of all the mines of Peru are not in reality fo valuable, as one acre of ground covered with wheat ; and that a frefh egg is of more real worth than the diamond lately brought from the Brazils, of much the fame bulk, which was valued at four hundred Millions •, becaufe the firft v/ill fave the Jife of a human creature from famine ; but the latter is not capable of being applied to any fort of ufe, befides pleafing the eye. That all above the conveniencies of life is abfolutely ufelefs, and indeed trbublefome. That after a perfon has ac- quired fuch a competency as will keep him and his family above dependence, and in eafy circumftances according to his ftation in the world, it is not worth his while to go a ftep out of his way for the fake of gaining ten thoufand pounds more, becaufe he can but live conveniently at laft, and has no oc- cafion to bring upon himfelf more cares and em- barafiinents. That a tew years will put an end to- i thfe Thoughts on tLducation. tj the life of the youngeft man alive, and that it will give him no more fatisfaction on his death-bed to refledt, that he has fifty thoufand pounds in the funds, than that there are fifty thoufand fliells at the bottom of the fea. That, iuppofing every man infallibly certain of gaining an eftate, who will take the pains for it, which is very far from being the cafe, exorbitant wealth and happinefs have no- thing to do with one another, fince we commonly fee difcontented faces in gilded chariots, and day labourers making merry in fpite of toil and poverty. That the poffeiiion of great wealth expofes men to a thoufand inconveniencies and temptations, fuch as, The incumbrance of a croud of fervants and atten- dants, The continual buz of fiavifh flatterers and hangers-on, The fatigue of overfeeing great affairs, or the vexation of lofles by entrufting them to others, and, which is worfe than all the reft, The rifque of one's virtue, through the fnares of tfyq world, and the deceit of riches, which are fo hard to refift, that we find in fad the rich are, generally fpeaking, perfons of the lead amiable or perfect characters. That the honours laid to attend on riches are a mere cheat ; fince the fulfome refpect, that is paid to a rich man at his levee, is only a public proof given by the perfon, who pays it, of his own want of fenfe, in being ftruck with what \i of no real worth in itfelf ; and being paid to the wealth, and not to the perfon, who pofiefils it, is by no means worth envying. And laftly, as to Pleafure, young people ought to be guarded as ftrongly as poflible againft its allurements by being forewarned of its bewitching nature, and dangerous confequences, of its unlatii- fadtorinefs, and the natural and conftant tendency it has to raife unquiet and reftlcfs imaginations and defires in the mind ; but efpecially by being led into a tafte of the innocent inftead of the criminal D pleafyres, lb* Thoughts on Education. alures, and the menial, inftead of thofe of the ftnfes. A tafte for knowledge, and retirement, if ung people can be drawn into it, and of the converfation of the few old people who are chearful, knowing, communicative, and lovers of the con- verfation of youth, may do great fervice toward prefefving them from this moft dangerous and fatal fnare. They ought to be told, That there are no true pleafures but what are lawful, and that thofe forts of enjoyments, which leave a fling behind them, ought not to be called pleafures^ but troubles^ and torments. They ought to be frequently put in inq, that it is only the good and virtuous who have any right to the pleaiures of life, or who in- deed can truly enjoy them •, for that it is a contra- ; .ion to fuppofe, that a perfon, whofe confeience is wounded by guilt, and whofe mind (if he is not pad thinking, which is (till a wcrfe ftate) mull be in continual pain through remorfe for what is paft, and horror at the thought of what is to come, ihou'd be capable of reliihing any fort of joy or comfort : but that a good man, whofe mind is calm and undifturbed, has both the advantage of freedom from pain or fear, and a proper difpofition for relifhing the natural and innocent pleafures of life, and is like to receive infinitely more happinefs from them than a wicked man, becaufe he may juftly confider them as the gifts of a tender and bountiful father, whofe favour he has reafon to hope for, which mull give them an additional relifh, and becaufe he expefts nothing from them, but what they will really afford, and has (till in refervc igher happinefs, after the gratifications of fenfe re done their part. Young people ought alfo to be led to confider pleafure as naturally and necefla- oppoiite to every thing that is manly or great, as it tends to foften and enervate the mind, and to it unfit for encountering any difficulty, or applying Thoughts on Education. 19 applying to any labour. They ought to be told, That, whatever men may fay, in the hours of mirth and jollity, in defence of a voluptuous life, there needs no better confutation of the falfhood of their reafoning, than what they themfelves furnifli : for, though mod people in the gay time of life are continually crying out, that they have not had half their fhare of the pleafures of the v/orld ; in their old age, and on their death-beds they are generally found to lament, that they have enjoyed and in- dulged them a great deal too much. A youth ought to be told, that there is a great deal of danger, when he comes to die, of his having many negle6ts and omifTions to repent of ; but that there is no fear of his repenting on his death-bed, that he had omitted to fee a particular new play on the firfl night, or flipt an opportunity of getting drunk, or of debauching a virgin ; fo that at leaft a life of fobriety and abftinence is on the fafe fide. Young people fhould alfo be prepared for oppofing and confuting the frivolous and fallacious arguments commonly advanced by their thoughtlefs compa- nions of their own age, in defence of a life of plea- fure ; of which the moil formidable one 1 can at prefent remember, is the following, viz. Since God has given us defires and appetites, why fhould we not gratify them at all events ? Which thundering piece of artillery may at once be filenced by only re- torting the following queftion. Since God has fo formed me, that when I am extremely heated with exercife, I have a great defire to cool myfelf as quickly as pofiible, why fhould I not throw off my cloaths, and expofe myfelf to the air, though it fhould occafion my death ? and fince I have a great thirft, why fhould I not drink a plentiful draught of cold water, though it fhould give me a furfeit ? and, in fhort, fince God has given me a variety of appetites and inclinations, why fhould I not fatisfy P 2 them 20 Thoughts on Education. them all at random, without the leaft thought of the consequences ? They fhould be taught, that there is no defire or appetite natural to the human Jpecies, but what may be innocently gratified^ and may alio be ebufed \ and that the rule to be ob- ierved with regard to all the natural inclinations and appetites, is, To gratify them only in fuch a manner, and within fuch bounds of moderation, as will beft ferve to gain the ends for which they were implanted in the human conftitution, and that who- ever breaks through this rule is guilty of a crime. They fhould be forewarned, that taking a full fwing of lawlefs pleafure in youth is only treafuring up for all the following years of life an inexhauftible fund of pain and torment, and this upon the mod favourable iiippofition, viz. That they afterwards repent of the follies of youth, which if it fhould not happen, the confluences are flill infinitely worfe, They fhould likewiie be fhewn the abfurdity of refolving (as is too commonly done) to indulge themfelves in all the various madnefs of youth, and to go on in a courfe of guilty pleafure, with hopes of repent- ing of it afterwards. That for a perfon to do fo, is to hope that he fhall be heartily afhamed and confounded at what he has done •, to hope that he (hall a thoufand and a thoufand times wifh it undone ; to hope that he fhall hate and loath him- felf for what he has been guilty of •, to hope that he fhall fuftcr ten thoufand times more pain from lhame ( and remorfe than ever he enjoyed pleafure in the purfuit of criminal delights -, to hope that he fhall have the Satisfaction of knowing himfelf to have been a fool and a madman •, to hope that he fhall have the happinefs of knowing, that he has C may juftly expofe him to the divine nee ; to hope, that he fhall be obliged to able and almoft iniuperable g out confirmed habits, and planting oppofite Thoughts en Education. 21 oppofite ones in their place, of parting with vices as dear to him as a right-hand or a right-eye*, and of wholly new modelling his mind ; in fhort, ic is to hope, that he (hall have the happinefs of feeing himielf in great danger of final deftruction. Bleffed hopes ! glorious proipects ! worthy for which to gr/e up one's innocence and peace of mind in the prefent life, and the profpeit of happinefs in that which is to come. Pleafure being the moil alluring and mod dan- gerous of the three principal baits that draw in man- kind to the ways of perdition, and being more peculiarly prevalent in the time of youth, I have been the more copious upon this head : but after all, I mult repeat, that I know of no method, that will have any chance of being effectual for laving young people from its fnares, without giving their minds a turn another way, and leading therm into a tafte and love for objefts and entertainments of a different nature. By treating young people in this manner as ra- tional creatures , and teaching them to exert their reafon, and to judge rightly of men and things, as they are in themfelves, and as they were originally conftituted by the Supreme Being, and not accord- ing to outward appearance, they would come out into the world, not as the moft part of youth do from fchools and colleges, with heads full of un- wieldy knowledge, the greateft part of which they can apply to no ufe in life, but with judgments in fome meafure fettled and matured for action, and prepared for the difficulties of life by a fort of an- ticipated experience. But to come at length to the main intention of this Effay, I muft own, it is to me vuy furprizing that many truly learned and ingenious men have been at lb much pains in contriving plans for cdu- * M . 3 f 9. cation. 22 's on Eiiuatt cation, and have all the while miffed or overlooked the riioit excellent and moft comprehenfive one that ever was or will be invented for forming and perfecting the mind, and raifing it to the nature almoft of angels, and this ftate almoft to that of Heaven, I mean The Christian religion. One author on the fubject propofes, that youth be taught principles of ftridt honour, and a ftrong averfion at lallhood •, another, that they be very early taught to confidcr themfelves as members of lbciety, and to love their country •, and a third, that the examples of the great men of antiquity be fet before them, and that they be often put in mind of their conduft, and dire&ed to imitate it. All uch fchemes are fo far extremely good. But, if it be certain, that there are no truths of equal im- . tance to mankind, with thofe that are difcovered by the Chriftian revelation, that there are no fuch fublime or fuch worthy notions of the fupreme Being, no fuch juft notions of the nature of Man, no fuch clear views of his Duty and way to happinefs, to be found any where elfe as in the Chriftian re- velation, nor fuch a perfeft and fublime fyftem of Morality, nor fuch a fet of illuftrious Examples of true grcatnefs and heroifm to copy after, nor fuch views of the direful Consequences of vice, nor fuch full and well eftablifhed Profpe&s of a final Reward to virtue communicated to mankind by any other means ; why fhould Parents or Inftruclors of youth Itop fiiort, and not rather refolve at once to take the only effectual and complete method of forming and eftablifhing the minds of thofe under their care by making them thoroughly acquainted with the Chriftian Religion ? That the implanting in the minds of youth a fet of principles of virtue and religion upon the Chriftian plan would be of the greateft advantage to mankind confidercd either as individuals, or as members of fociety, 1 bought s on Lclucaiion. 23 fociety, one would think, fhoulJ not need much reafoning or argumentation to prove. And yet there are fome, who, to palliate or excufe their own negleft of their duty, affect to reprefent it as either impqffible to be done with any considerable fuc- cefs, or as of inferior confequence ; which only fhews how men can blind or proftitute their reafon to ferve indiredt ends. Inftead of going about to eftablifh the importance of a virtuous and religious education upon a long dedudlion of arguments, or upon au- thorities from the writings of the greatefl men of antient or modern times, I fhall only take the liberty to leave with thofe gentlemen the few following Queries, and then proceed without taking up a great deal of the leifure of other readers, to whom the importance of the fubjed: appears evident and unqueftionable. • '$tter. 1. Whether that period of the life of man, in which the mind is moft tradable, mod clear of all manner of prejudices and pre-engagements, moft free from the cares of the world, and tempta- tions either from without or from within, is not univerfally allowed to be the fitted for laying the foundation of all ufeful knowledge -, and if ib, why the time of youth is not equally proper for the ftudy of Morality and Religion as of human literature ? 2. Whether any one can pretend, That either the knowledge of the obligations of Morality, or the do&rines of the Chriftian religion are harder to be comprehended than thofe parts of human litera- ture, which youth are ufually taught almoft in their earlieft years, as Grammar, Arithmetic, and the elements of Mathematics, &c? 3. Why it is by no means thought proper to leave people to find out by themfelves, after they arrive at years of difcretion, the knowledge of Gram- mar or Numbers, the art of Writing, and the other parts 2± ihoug&ts en Education. :s of improvement, which ufually employ the if it be proper (as fome people n to think,) to leave them to themfelves to find out a let of moral and religious Principles, and the art oP governing their Pallions, till they are pad the proper time of life for improvements of almoft all forts, and come to be engaged amidft the cares and :ions of the world ; or whether any one can dge, That it is more dangerous for a perfon to be unfurnilhcd in that fort of knowledge, which is nccefiary only for the prefent life, than in that which ferves to prepare him for happinefs in the life to come ? 4. Whether there is any imaginable danger or any worfe confeqiience, that can follow from im- planting as early as poflible in the minds of youth the principles and habits of virtue and religion, than That thofe principles and habits are likely to ac- quirc the greater ftrength the earlier they are im- , as all forts of principles or habits are con- stantly known to do through length of time ? 5. Whether the habits of Vice and Profanenefs, Ich mud of courfe take poiTeffion of an unculti- d mind, as naturally as weeds do of unculti- vated ground, whether the various cares and avo- cations of life, which in riper years are ever intrud- ing and withdrawing one's attention from his duty the improvement of his mind, whether the in- numerable temptations, which are continually foli- g cur flnf s, and the prevailing force of al- most univerfal example 5 whether all thefe together, I (ay, are not more than fufficient effedtually to prevent any perfon, who has not in early youth had his mind tinctured with principles of Virtue and Religion, from ever acquiring them in any after part of his life? 6. Whether the only reafon, why people brought up from their eaiTuft years in the groffeft errors and Thoughts on Education. 25 and fuperftrtibns, as Heathenifm and Popery, are fo ftrongly attached to thofe abftudiries through their whole lives, is not The mere force of the pre- judice cf education •, and fince this prejudice is fo powerful as to make men obftinately retain, without: daring to examine them, a let of irrational and contra- dictory notions, the abfurcity cf which would appear ftill more and more glaring as thejudgment improve:, : were not for the prejudice of education ; whether it is not well worth while to take the advantage of this prevailing prejudice, by implanting early in the minds of youth a fet of rational principles, the juft> nefs and obligation of which their reafon will fhew them more and more clearly as it improves and en- larges, and which they will confequently be through their whole lives doubly attached to, both from Edu- cation and Conviction. 7. Whether, of two perfbns, one of which has had his mind in early youth eftablifhed upon vir- tuous and religious principles, and the other has been left to himfelf, the flrft has not a very great advantage of the fecond, in cafe of their being both in the after part of their lives overpowered by temp- tation, and hurried from t: of virtue and fobriety into thefe of pleafure and fenfuality \ fince the firft has that within him, which will probably awaken him fooner or later, and force him likc5 the Prodigal in the gofpel, or NcaISs dove, to return to where he ftray'd from, and to feek happiriefs and peace where he knows by his own experience they are certainly to be found, viz. in Virtue and Religion ; whereas the other having : en ini- tiated in thofe principles, and having no experience of the happti els they give, c?>n hardly either be fup- pofed capable to judge how to attain that happir. or be expected to have any defire for it. In recommending; to Parents and Inftrudtors cf youth to make thofe committed to their charge ac- quainted with the Cbrijlian Religion^ I would be un- E derftood derllood to mean, The Religion of the New Tes- tament. For that the end is by no means to be gained by teaching them any of the erroneous and in- conCiPtcntfflcms, which men of weak judgments or of crafty and defigning tempers have lpun out of their own brains, and impofed upon mankind for true Chriftianity with the fanftion.of anathemas and fire and iword. On the contrary, there is great danger in a young pcrfon's being, in an authoritative man- ner commanded to believe a fet of Notions^ which his reafon, as foon as he comes to the ufe of it, and begins to examine for himfelf, as many people do in this age and country of liberty, will fhew him to be irrational and abfurd, left he fhould conclude the Chriftian religion to be irrational and abfurd, fincc he finds that what he was taught for the Chriftian religion is fo ; and that he prefently grow en- tirely out of conceit of revelation* and turn at once downright Dcift. The Chrifiian religion may juftly be called, ac- cording to the phrafe of its divine Author, -f " An ort Truth ; but have been invented and prac- d merely to aggrandize and fupport Parties and ridiy interefts. To fay, that the truths of re- lig on are not able to fupport thcmfelvcs upon a fair and candid examination, without afliftance from fecular power, is faying, That they are not agree- able to reaion, or that their evidence is not fufficient, cr that the author of our religion committed a mil- take in prohibiting his apoftles and followers, as he every where does, ever to make ufe of force, or to apply to the fecular arm. Upon the whole, it is my judgment, that young people ought to be taught, That there is no Iierefy fo bad, nor fo ecu- try to the fpirit of C : ;•, as, to believe it to be proper or lawful to bate or perfecute a fellows- creature and a brother, for an Opinion, which he declares, in the fimplicity and fincerity of his heart, has. impartially examined, and thinks he finds to be agreeable to the fenfe of Scripture. Firft th< thfed, that the youth, to be initru£led in the Chriftian religion, has had s mind from I lieft aawnings o!' reafon fo; thoughts en Ed 29 ed to the love of Truth for its own fake, and to the gentle and tradable temper, which is neceffary for one, who would fubmit to the obedience of good and falutary Laws \ taking it for granted, I fay, that this has been done before the age of fix, the firft ftep to be taken, is, in my opinion, to make him acquainted with the Chriftian Morality. The beauties of the Chriftian difpofitions of Humili- ty, Meeknefs, Temperance, Benevolence, and the reft, are obvious to the apprehenfion of a Child: for a fenfe of right and wrong, and of the excel- lencies of virtue and the deformities of vice, is what appears in the human mind with the very firft openings of reafon. For this purpofe thit moft perfect, and moft fublime of all fyftems of Mo- rality, our Saviour's Difcourfe en the Mount , Mat. v, vi, and v;i, ought to be imprinted in indelible characters upon his underftanding and memory. Whatever, through the disadvantage of the bare literal tranflatipn and of a few antiquated words, ufed by the tranHators, is not obvious to him, ought to be explained, and himfdf over and over examined from time to time, to fee that he re- tains the clear and full fenfe of thofe divine precepts upon his mind. He ought to be taught, that his everlafting happinefs, and that of all men to whom Chriftianity is known, depends upon Us forming his mind and practice upon that perfedt model. He ought to be every day told, That, if he do not acquire the Dijpofitions there recommended, and obferve the Law there eftablifhed, h§ cannot pof- fibly arrive at happinefs at laft ; as he neither can in himfelf be qualified for it, nor will the great Judge of all confer it on any who are difobedient. He ought to be informed, that every degree of Anger, Malice, Pride, Obftinacy, Falfhood, and fo forth, are breaches of this awful and tremendous law, by which we are all to be judged at laft : and *o 57: i Education. and he ought to be taught to examine all the parts of his own conduct by it ; and to knov he is guilry of a violation of any o! cepts, and s from that pattern of perfection. A y. .rter be uninformed, or unfettled in his notions of any, or all other matters uf fcience, than of Morality : for we are properly moral agents, and our everlafting (late is to be determined accoj ing to the eternal rules of moral Right and Wrong, as they ftand in the Divine mind. And in allfciences, except Morality, either our knowledge is fcanty, or our opinions uncertain, our reafonings fallacious, our enquiries laborious, our difputes endlefs, in fome our pofitions unintelligible by the bulk of mankind, and in others our difcoveries ufelefs. In Morality, our knowledge is perfect, our opinions are in the main agreed, our reafonings clear, our enquiries cafy, our difputes (if there be any fuch) determinable from revelation, our pofitions intelli- gible to all capacities, and the knowledge of the fubjeft absolutely neceflary to our happinefs both here and hereafter. There is no young perfon, of a tolerable capacity, of the age of ten, or upwards, but may be led on gradually through a fcheme or view of natural and revealed religion from the firft principles of com- mon fenfe in the following manner. Firft, No youth of that age is ignorant that God made him and all the world. Next, in order to give him fome notion of the Supreme Being and his perfec- tions, he may be eafily led to judge, that a Being who could make the vaft fyftem of the univerfe, the earth, which is fo great that there are many regions of it yet unknown *, and the fun, the * Here it is to be fuppofed natural for an Inftruftor of youth to turn to a boo!; of Geography, or put the youth in mind of what he has taugh: him of the greatnefs of the ter- raqueous globe, planets^ ^Thoughts on Educati 31 planet 5^ and fixed ftars, fo amazingly diftant from us and from one another *, and all from nothing, muft be polfeffed of immenfe power. That he who has created fuch an endlefs variety of animate and inanimate creatures, all fo nicely fitted for their feveral ufes, that the more we examine, the more fkill, contrivance, and defign we find f , muft be a Being of inconceivable wifdom. And that He, who has made fuch ample provifion of convenient and pleafant habitations, of fuitable food, and even of innumerable delicacies and varieties for his crea- tures ||, mull undoubtedly be endued with unbound- ed goodnefs and benevolence. Thus a youth may be convinced of three of the divine attributes, viz. infinite power, wifdom, and goodnefs, almoft by his bodily fenfes. The others he may by degrees be led to conceive of, as well as his years and ca- pacity will admit. After this, it is natural to alk him, whether he does not think, that he and all reafonable creatures are obliged to fome kind of fervice and duty to the Creator and Governor of all things, upon whom all depend, and to whom all creatures are indebted for whatever they enjoy or hope, and to whom they muft be accountable at laft. Then he may be made to underftand, that if he ought to love, honour, and obey his earthly parents, he ought much more to love, honour, and obey the great Father and Creator of both his pa- rents and himfelf, and of all mankind. That, if he ought to behave in the fame manner to his in- ftruftors and teachers, he is much more ftrongly bound to thofe duties jtowards the God of wifdom, * And here it would be proper to (hew him a general view of the magnitudes and difhnces of the heavenly bodies in any of the moit fimple and familiar books of aftronomy. •j- THrbams Phyftco-tbeoh?y> Katun difptay y d f Sec. will bt proper to con fait here. J! See the fame, and various other authors on thefe fubjecls. to $2 s cn Educai to whom his inftruftors owe their capacity to t . him, and to whom he himll-lf owes his capacity for improvement. That, if it is I 1 wicked to die lalt degree to be forgetful of kind 'one him by men, who have it not in their power to do him any very great favours, it mull be infinitely more lb to be unthankful to Him, to whom he owes his very being and all he enjoys. And laftly, that, if it be extremely foolifh and abfurd for any one to difobey or treat in a contemptuous manner a perfon in a luperior ftation, who has it in his power to punifh him, and who at the fame time requires no obedience of him but what is juft and proper, and is more for his own than his fuperior's advan- tage, it is beyond conception impious and ridicu- lous to refufe obedience to the fupreme Lord and Ruler of all things, who can crulh or deftroy a world with a word, efpecially feeing the obedience he requires is in itfelf highly reafonable, and tends to the advantage and improvement of his creatures, and is not required of them from mere arbitrary will and tyrannical plealure, but for anfwering the ends oi their creation, and to qualify them for hap- pinefs. After this, it is proper to inform a youth, that God has communicated to us his will by Jefus Chrift, and fent him into the world to give us a more perfect Rule and Directory for our obedience than was ever known to mankind before, as well as to revive what moral knowledge through barbarity and vice was loft, and that therefore higher degrees of ftriftnefs and purity of life and manners will be required and expected of us, than of the reft of mankind. To hear the Chriftian religion recommended, to fee the beauty and propriety of moft of its laws, and to let it pafs without oppoling it, but at the fame time without being in a rational manner con* vinced vinced of its being truly of divine original^ fuch a reception as this will never effectually engage any one to it, nor fecure him from explaining away many very important parts both of a found belief and of a ftri6tly regular practice. But he, who receives and embraces it, becaufe he has upon a thorough examination found it to bear the marks and characters of an appointment of God, will not venture to trifle with any of either its doctrines or precepts, but will be ftedfaft and immoveable to the laft, in the belief of the one and the practice of the other, in fpite of all the trivial objections and cavils of Deifts againft its doctrines, or Liber- tines againft its precepts. And he, who on rational grounds receives and embraces the Chriftian reli- gion, and in the fincerity and honefty of his heart defires to believe and underftand it as it is in fcrip- ture, without partiality for or againft any particular doctrines or opinions pretended to be revealed in it, and who earneftly ftrives to his utmoft power to form his mind and regulate his pra£tice according to its laws ; fuch a perfon, without doubt, is not far from the kingdom of God. It is therefore my opinion, that neither minifters from their pulpits, nor thofe who have the care of youth, can labour this point too much, nor employ too much time and pains in eftabliftiing thofe committed to their charge in the rational and well grounded belief of Chriftianity, efpecially in an age in which a let of vain and (hallow pretenders to wit or reafoning are on all occafions endeavouring (unluckily enough in- deed for themfelves) to fap the foundations of it. We find in Scripture, that Faith or Belief is .generally put for the whole of religion ; and very juftly : lor it is the foundation upon which the whole muft reft, and wherever it poffeffes the mind of a peribn in its full ftrength and evidence, it will F influence 34 Thoughts on Education. influence and over-rule his whole condutt, and affeft his whole character. And that the firm Belief of genuine Chriftianity is the mod effectual means that can be imagined for ennobling and perfedting the human nature, is undeniably plain from com- paring the character of the bulk of mankind in Hcathenifh countries, where the light of Chrifiiani- ty has not fhone, and in popiih, where it has been extinguifhed by error and fupcrftition, with the charafter of the bulk of the Chriftians of the firft ages, who enjoyed it in its original purity, as they all (land in hiftory. And that the lives and characters of pretended Chriftians in fucceeding ages haver come fhort cf thofe of the primitive times, is owing alone to the want of that ftrong and fteddy belief of it in its original purity , which they had. For its natural effeft and tendency has ever been and ever will be the fame, and wherever it is under: iocd and embraced as it was at firft delivered by its divine Author, it will produce its effect. And wherever it is fairly propofed, undifguifed and uninjured by the inventions of men, with all its evidences and all its excellencies fet in a ftrong and proper light, it will not fail to produce conviftion in any teachable and unprejudiced mind. Whoever therefore has it in his power to do juftice to the Chriftian religion, and has opportunities of promoting the reception of it among mankind, which I am fure, Parents and Inftrudtors of youth have, whoever has fuch oppor- tunities, and negle&s them, muft anfwer another day, for fuch negleft, as he bed can. I do not think there are many young people, of ten or twelve years of age, or upwards, but what are capable of entering into fuch reafoning as the following, and perceiving the force of the fol- lowing evidences of Chriftianity, In Thoughts on Education. $£ Tn the firft place, if it is plain from the pat fages here quoted from the New Teftament *, jhat Jefus Chrift declares himfelf to be the Saviour of the world and the MefTenger of God to man- kind, and if it can be {hewn, that he has brought irrefiftible proofs of his commiffion, it is certainly the indifputable duty of all men, to whom theie proofs are propofed, to believe him, and to obey his laws. Next, if it can be fhewn, That no perfon ever gave fuch rational^ fuch great and fuch amw.bk views of the Supreme Being, nor fuch confident notions of fpiritual things, and of futurity f as he did, as will appear upon comparing the whole doc- trines || of the greateft of the Heathen philofophers with * Mat. v. I7. vii. 21 — 23. ix. 6. x. 32, 33. xi. 27. xii. 28. xiii. 37141. xvi. 16 — 20, 27. xviii. 11. xix. 28* xx. 28. xxi. 16. xxiv. 30. xxv. 31. xxvi. 64. Luke ii. 49. iv. 2i, 43. ix. 48. x. 16. xix. io. xxii. 29, 6) t 70. xxiv. 25—27. John i. 49 50. ii. 16. iii. 13 — 19. iv. 2-, 26, 34. v. 17, 19—47. vi. 27. 32—70. vii. 16, 17, 33- viii. 12, 59. ix. 4, 5. x. 1—42. xi. 25, 27, 41, 42. xii. 23—29, 34—37* 44*-5°- xiii - 3 ' — 34- xiv # Xv, xvi, xvii, xviii. 36, 37. xx. 17, 21. It will tre highly proper to turn to thefe and the following pafTages, and expound them to the youth ; and where there are difficulties, to confulc a good commentator. f Mat. iv. 4. v. 3-— 12, *9» 20, 45, 48. vi. 6—9. ij, 18, 26, 32. vii. 11, 21—28. viii. It. x. 1 C, 28 — 33. xi. 22. xii. 25, 30, 32, 36. xiii. 37 — Jl. xviii. 14, 35. xix. 14. xxii. 29 — 32. xxxiv. 29 — 36. xxv. 1—46. I xi. 31, 32. xiii. 24 — 30. xv. 3,-7. xvi, xo, — 32. xviii. 7. xix. 12 — 27. xxii. 29, 30. John iii. 3 — 13, 16—22. iv. 10. v. 17, 30. vi. 35—41, 44~4 6 - viii. 44. sr. xi. zj, 26. xiv 2, 20,23, 2 ^. xvu 1 3* *4i 2 3» 2 7» H 2 ^ xvii. 1 — »s6« || I fay the ouj&e/* doftrines, becaufe, tho' R ir.uft be owned, That many of the Heathen Phiicfophers (-.vho Teem to have been railed by Providence *for valuable purpofes) delivered many fublime and ufeful doctrines and lefFons of morality, con- fidered feparately from other parts of their works, it muft tc confeflfed at the fame time, that they mixed with them .many trifling, and hurtful tenets and rules of prafticc, which drtw Fa UpOO 36 thoughts on Education. with thofe contained in the paflages here quoted, it feems highly reafonable to conclude, that he had thofe notions from above, and was not a perfon of this work!. And if it can be fhewn, That no lawgiver in the world ever propofed a body of fuch wife and good Jaws for' ennobling men's natures and conducing their lives *, who can doubt, that his wifdom was more than human. But farther, if it can be {hewn, That almoft in- numerable antient prophecies of the Old Teftament were fulfilled in him, and in him only f , is it not reafonable to conclude he really was the Saviour of the world intended in thefe prophecies ? b them the contempt of the people of thofe times, and greatly lefTened the benefit mankind might have otherwife received from them : whereas our Saviour's doctrines and precepts (is they Hand in the New Teihment free from per- vcrfions and mifrepreiemations) are nil excellent, and all con- fident, and take in whatever was valuable in the writings of the Heathen Philolbphers, and leave out all that was trifling or hurtful. * Mat. iv. 7, 10. v, vi, vii, x. 16, 28, 32, 33. xii. 12, 50. xv. 3 — 2i. xvi. 24—28. xviii. 3 — Jj 7~ 9, I > — 18, 21 — 35. xix. 3 — 10, 14, 1 7-— 30. xx. 26 — 28. xxiii. 3 — 28. xxiv. 46, 51. xxv. 1 — 46. Luke viii. 15. ix. 62. x. jOj 41, 4*. xi. 28, 41. xii. 15—21, 33, 34. xiii. 2 — 5, 24—30. xiv. 1 ;* — 1 5 , 25 — 34. xv. 11, 32. xvi. 9 — 31. xvii. 10-— 15. xix. 12 — 27. xx. 3, 4. xxi. 34. xxii. 38. Join iv. 23, 24. v. 24. vi. 27, 29. viii. 34. xii. 25, 26, 44—48. xiii.' 14, 15, 34, 35. xiv. 15, 23. xv. 2, 1 . 12. f Genef.m. 15. xii. 3. xviii. 18. xxi. 12. xxii. 18. xxvi. j, xxviii. 14. xlix.io. Nu??:b. xxiv. 8, 17. Deut. xviii. 1 $• zSam. xxii. Job xi.v. 25. FfJ. ii, viii, xvi. 8 — 1 1. xviii, xxii. 1, 6 — 31. xl. 6, 7. xiv, lxii, lxviii. iS. lxix. 9, 21. Ixxii. 17. lxxx. 17. xci, ex, cxviii. 22. Ifz. iv. 2. vii. 14. ix. 2,6,7. **. 1 — $. xxviii. it 1. xxxv. 5. xl. xiii. 1 — 4,6—8. xjix. 5. I.4—10. liii..2— 12. Iv. 1—5. lxi. r,4. jxiii. 1 — 9. [ r iii. 5,6. xxxi. 22. ii. if — 26. Ezii, xxxi v. 23, 24. xxxviii. 24. Dan* 4. vii. 13, ix. 26. - v. 2. Hagg. 10. xiii. 7* Mal : 1 — •. iv. 5. And, Thoughts on Education. 37 And, if it be evident, that he was fo Far from gaining any temporal advantage by fetting up his religion in the world, that he expofed himfelf to all manner of abufe, and to death itfelf + by it, and that it was fo far from flattering the vices and wicked inclinations of mankind, that it direftly op- pofed and exclaimed againft them || ; who can imagine he had any indirect views in it, or any de- fign to impofe on the world. And, if it be certain, from the hiftory of his life, that he performed almoffc innumerable miracles* in a publick manner, as healing all forts of difeafes, cafting out evil fpirits, calming tempefts, and even raifing the dead, which never were denied either by Jews or Heathens f 9 and were the completion of various predictions by the antient prophets ; that his refurre6tion was attefted by numbers, who gave their lives in witnefs of the truth of it, in which it was impoffible they fhould be deceived, it being a mere matter of fa6t, and as plain from the perfecution they expofed themfelves to by their adherence to this religion, that they had no defign to deceive others ; that a great variety of miracles were per- formed by his followers in atteftation of their doc- trine § ; which miracles they declared to be per- formed for that very purpofe, and which were per- formed before multitudes of enemies and unbelievers, in an age and in countries remarkable for learning, under all manner of difadvantages from the hatred * w X Matt. xxvi. 1— ^, 4:; — 7 v xxvii. i — 50. compared \ the two or three lail chapters of Mart, Lake u j) See note (*) in pag. 56. * Matt. viii. 3, 13, 15, 16, 26, 28. ix 6, 20, JC xi. 5. xii. 15, 22. xiv. 32, 36. if. 2^, 30. xvii. xix. 2. xx. 34. Marki. 34.. liJ. ;. + Grotius, Of the "Truth of the Cb ^ § dcisn. 4, 43. iii. 7. iv. 33. v. 5, 10, 12, IJ, It vLS. viii. 13, 17. ix. 17, 34, 4.0. x. 46. xiii. II. IS. xvi. 18. xix, ix, 12. xx 12. xxviii. 5, 8,9. 2 Of 3 8 Thoughts en Education. of thofe in power, and were not like magic tricks, fuddenly over, but of a permanent nature, and might bear being re-examined •, that public tefti- mony was given by Heaven itfelf in favour of the apoftlcs by fevcral amazing prodigies at once, in the fight of a multitude, who, to the aftonifhment and convi&ion of three thoufand people in one day, heard them fpeak in a variety of languages they had never learned * ; that this religion, levelled direftly againft the favourite vices and inclinations of men, ftript of all outward pomp or fhew for catching the admiration of the multitude, was fpread through the whole world by a few mean, illiterate perfons, that it was attefted by thoufands of martyrs, and that its doftrines and laws produced a greater effect upon the lives and manners of mankind, than the labours of all the heathen philofophers put together t, and that it was eftablifhed in fpite of perfecution, without afilftance from fecular power || ; that Jefus Chrilt foretold his own death and refurreftion §, the imiverfal fpreading of his religionjt, the perfecution of his followers**, the deftru&ion of Jerufalem, and the captivity and difperfion of the Jews ff , all which came to pafs accordingly •, if thefe fafts be all certain and indifputable, what more convincing proof can be defired of Jefus (Thrift's being truly, what he declares himfelf, the Saviour of^the world, ahd the only full difcoverer of the will of God to mankind. It docs not appear to me, that there is'any thing in all this above the capacity of moft youths of ten * J3s ii. :.< ii. 41,44 — 47. h'. 4, 34. v. 12 — 14. IX. 31. xv ii. 10, \z y 34. xix. 1 3, 20, Ejfr. ^ee what is faid oa this I .. 34. || Jrtsibid. &c. { M tt. ;rfc of which was formed (for pri\ lan, who Divine rfutfe and improvement to many ; but whofe primitive arid exemplary piety and purity of life is his beft and moft prevailing 1 honour of religion. an religion is the publication of an Ac. ce to a rebellious world, and of the terms upon which Gcd will mercifully receive it into fa- vour. The views it exhibits are thefc i. God, the original of all being, the Father Governor of the world.* 2\ His creature Man, who was originally obliged to a perfedt obedience to all the laws of God, and thereupon infured of a happy, immortality, fallen from his firft flate by difobedience. -f- 3. The5on of God incarnate voluntarily giving up his life Us a facrifice of expiation % for the iins of man- * See Note (+) pag. 3 -. + £**i. iii. 10, 19 — 31. v. 12, 14, 1?, 19. x. 5. 1 Cor, z. Gai. iii. 12. 22. Epbef ii 1, &'c, % To attempt to fettle the difpute concerning the true notion of the • .ade by our Saviour, or to determine in whatfenfe :rn his lift a rcv.jom % to have life for the ft ftp, to be the propitiation, the r isiclim, that i ry the fun of the nxorld; to , to fettle that difpute in this litle Tracl, would ain and from the pnrpofe. Bat I think all fides own* that the exprtffions of tiiis fort in Scripture being fo give Efficient authority to conclude, that the Jewifh ceconomy were typically 1 regard to ceremonial pollution, that the death of Chrifl wasrW/f with . ;o moral. Whether either of thefe is ir full extent underftood at this day, or h is the right notion, and which the wrong, mufl be left ifion of the learned. The comfort is, That all that pare Thoughts on Education. 41 mankind, whereby at the fame time God's diiplea- fure at fin is clearly fet forth to the view of all his creatures, and likewife his willingnefs to forgive offenders upon any terms confident with the honour of his laws, or in other words, hereby Almighty God difcovers himfelf in the character both of the wife and righteous Governor, and alfo the tender and merciful Father of his creatures *. 4. The fame glorious Perfon by being blamelefs in his life, and at ;aft obedient even to death, fetting a perfedl example before mankind both of obe- dience to the laws of God, and of refignation to his will f. 5. The fame glorious Perfon manifefting to man- kind, the perfections of God, and declaring his will and our duty in a more fiiblime and perfect manner than ever was done before, and in an authoritative manner, as one who brought convincing proofs of his commiflion from heaven for that purpofe, and upon the fame authority affuring mankind of the part of the theory of the Chriftian religion that is necejfaty to be comprehended clearly, is Jimple and intelligible, and comes to us attended with fuper-abundant evidence. As for thofe doctrines of Revelation, which will bear various explanations, and concerning which the belt reafoners differ, being no where in Scripture reprefented as necejfary to falvation, while inge- nious and pious men exercife their wits, without entering into controverfy, in endeavouring to form juft notions of them, and to get the better of their difficulties, they employ themfelves incomparably better, than they could in the purfuit of either Riches, Power, or Pleafure, and the true notions of them, and their various connexions with things to us at prefent who:!/ unknown, perhaps with other fyitems and Orders of Beings, and the extenfive and glorious views they may hereafter open to us, may probably furuilh entertainment for ages, and wc may then both comprehend them dearly, and fee the propriety of their being laid before us, even in this life, though not to be fully understood till the next. * See Note (+) pag. 35. + 2 Cor. viii. 9. Philip, ii. 5. Htb. ii. 9, 17. iv. 15. V. 8. I Pit. ii, 2I. G terms 42 iMugbls on Lducation. terms upon which guilt was to be forgiven, ahd ac- ceptance to be found *. 6. On account of the interceffion f of the Mef- fiah, the want of that perfect obedience mankind are originally obliged to, the deleft of which made an expiation and interceflion neceffary, is forgiven, and thorough repentance for all our offences, and a can- did reception and firm belief of the Chriftian religion, when propofed, and fincefe endeavours to obey its Jaws and attain the pcrfeftion of its graces and vir- tues, accepted, and made the condition of pardon and everlafting happinefs J. And the Chriftian graces and virtues are, Love, Reverence, Gratitude, and Obedience to God, Benevolence to men, Hu- mility, Meeknefs, Purity, Sincerity, Mercy, Charity, Contempt of riches, honours, pleafures, and all earthly things, Heavenly-mindednefs, Truft in the Divine providence and resignation to it, Chaftity, Tem- perance, Submiflion to governors in all civil matters, Forgiving of injuries, Loving our enemies, Cou- rage to ftand up for the truth in fpite of the ap- plaufe or threatnings of men, Vigilance and at- tention to the concerns of futurity, Watchfulnefs againft temptations from within, againft the weak- iiefs of human nature, and the allurements of the world, Prudence without cunning, Zeal without heat or rancor, Steddincfs without obftinacy, and lb forth § : The practice of every one of which virtues, and the attainment of every one of which graces or difpofitions is in itfelf, naturally, and abftratfting frcsn our Saviour's injunction, abfolutely * See Note (*) p.ig. 36. f Hcb. \\. 17,18. iii. 1. iv. 15. v. 1 — u. vii. 22-28* ix 24. x. 21, 22. + Ails ii. 38. iii. 19, 26. Rom, iii. 2|. — 29. iv. 5, 16, 24, 2;. v. i, 2, 10. vi. 1 — 23. Galat. iii. 6 — 14. Epbef. 5 — 10. Philip, iii. 9. Hcb. x, 17 — 21. 1 John i. 7. ii. 2. $ See Note (*) p*g. 36. necefiaiy Taught s en Education. 43 neceflary to qualify us for enjoying that happinefs, to which the Chriftian religion is intended to raife thofe who embrace it. 7. Thofe, to whom Chriftianity is propofed, obliged, after a candid and fincere examination of its proofs, to receive it, andfubmit themfelves to its laws*. 8. Two very fimple but fignificant obfervances appointed by the Author of our religion, as out- ward tefts of our profeffion, to wit, Baptifm, and the Lord's Supper. The nrfh intended as a cere- mony of initiation into his religion, and the fecond as a Memorial of Him, and of what he has done for us, particularly of his fufferings and death -f- . 9. The affurance of heavenly affiftance to fup- port the faithful, penitent, and obedient Chriftian in the performance of the duties of religion, and in the difficulties of the prefent ftate %. 10. The future refurreclion of all mankind from the dead, afcertained by the refurreclion of Jefus Chrift §. 1 1. The final retribution of everlafting happinefs or unfpeakable mifery to every perfon according as they have lived agreeably to the divine laws or con- trariwife ||. * Matt. viii. 21 — 28. x. 14, 1:, 32, 33. xi. 6. xii. 40, 42. xiii. 19—23. xvi. 24. — 28. xxi. 33 — 44. xxii. 1 — 14, $f. -f- Matt. xxvi. 26. xxviii. 19. Luke xxii. 17. dels iu 38. viii. 37. x. 47. 1 Cor. xi. 23. J Rom. viii. 9 — 16, 26. i Cor. iii. 7, 16. vi. 19. xii. 8. Tbe]]r. v. 19. $ See Note (*) pag. 35. \ Cor. vi. 14. xv. 12 — 22, 35 — ;8. 2 Cor. iv. 14. v. 1. xiii. 4. Colof.l. 18. iii. 1—4. Vhejf. iv. 13, 1 4, 16. v. 10. Jam. iii. 21, 22. iv. 13. 1 Pet. i. 3. Rev. xx. 4 — 7. See alfo Matt xxii. 29. || See Note (f) pag 35. and Rom. ii. 5 — 1 1, 16. 1 Cor. iv. 5. 2 Cor. v. 10. 2 Tbejj: i. 6 — II- I Pet. v. 4. 2 Pet. iii. 10, 14. Jude 13. Rev. ii -, 10, 11, 17, 23, 26 — 28. iii. 5, 12, 21. vii. 15. xiv. 11. xx. 4, \ z. xxi. 6. xxii. 7, 1 2, 14. G 2 j 2. The 44 Thoughts on Education. 12. The future appearance of Jefus (Thrift, a$ Judge of the whole human race, to allot to every man his portion in the next life*. I am Icnfible this view of the Chriftian fcheme is rather proper for young people, who are arrived at fome ripenefs of judgment, than fdr fuch whofe tender years render them unfit for reafoning or judg- ing of abftrafted fubjedts. But I am convinced any parent or inftructor of youth, endued with a tolerable gift of communicating, might, with a little ex- plaining here and there, caufe any youth of about fifteen years of age to enter fully into dll die parts of it. The advantages arifing from explaining and enlarging on the paftages of icripture above quoted, and from warmly recommending and infilling on the duties and difpofitions above mentioned, are not to be conceived. Such methods frequently and diligently practifed can hardly -fail (through the blefiing of God) to work the Chriftian graces and virtues into the very foul, and to mould and form the young and tender mind to that model of perfection. Blefied work! Delightful tafk ! Heavenly employ- ment ! Who would not rather defire to improve and ennoble a rational, immortal mind, which from the • firft laying of a foundation of virtue and religion in it, will be. ever growing more and. more perfect, advancing farther and farther in all that is truly great and worthy, and approaching more and more near to a refemblance of its Creator, than to build a tower or a city, .which from the day it is finifhed, is every hour haftening to decay, and muft at laft be involved and loft in the general and univerfal ruin of this world and all things upon it ? Who uld not rather defire to have the pleafure to re- flect on his death- bed, That he had had a confiderr able hand in directing one fellow-creature to the y that leads to happinefs, and in prevailing on * See Note ( \) rag 2;. him Thoughts on Education. 45 him to enter upon it, and keep fteddily to it/ tlian, That he had for the fake of his own glory or that of his king, involved thoufands in mifery, ftrew'd the fields with carnage, and laid wade the fair face of God's creation ? To finifh what I intend to fay upon a Method of inftructing youth in the knowledge of revealed re- ligion, 1 will fubjoin the following general view of the whole body of Revelation, which, if explained and enlarged upon properly, may ferve to lead young people, come to the years of fifteen or up- wards, to form worthy and fublime conceptions of it and of its divine Author, and excite xhtit cu- riofity to attain a perfect and particular underftand- ing of it. Holy Scripture contains a brief, but uniform and confident view (given at very diitant ages of the world, by many different perfons, infpired and con- duced by a Spirit who faw clearly through futurity) of all the tranfa£tions of Almighty God, that were proper to be revealed to mankind, with regard to the rational inhabitants of this world during the whole period of its being inhabited (at leaft by our fpecies) beginning with its firft change from a Chaos to an habitable world *, and concluding with its being reduced again to a Chaos by fire f , giving fome account either hiftorically or prophetically of almoft every thing great or important that has been ' or is to be tranfafted upon the vaft theatre of the world, and opening a view beyond death and time into eternity, bringing to light the world of fpirits, with clear, fublime, and rational notions of the per- fections of God and his will, and the duty of man- kind, and their means to gain happinefs, and the only rational and confident notions of futurity, that are any where to be found, and innumerable * Gen, i. 1. f Rev. xx. 1 4« interefting 46 Thoughts on Education: intercfting truths, which no human fagacity could 0 TbouzbH on Education. [) vvc have rcafon to blefs the Divine provicjencs not many places, in IJritain where apy defirous to have his children inftruA- ed in principles of Virtue and Religion, can be wholly at a lofs for proper afliftance.*' ' And, as it is not to be fuppofed, any perfon fhouldtake upon him the charge of inftructing youth, who' is not him- felf in fome mcalure a judge both of mod- of the branches of human literature they ought to be in- ftru&ed in, and likewife more efpecially of moral and divine matters, or, if there are, little do they think what a charge they undertake ; if, I fay, any fuch perfon neglefts the inftruftion of thofe, who arc under his care, in principles of Morality and Chriftianity, or commits it to any other who, for ought he knows, may negleft it too, he will, I am afraid, be found one day without excufe. And now, having faid what I thought would be proper on this occafion, to give me an opportunity of doing my beft for your fervice and .advantage ; uit remains, I mean the fuccefs of this .weak at- tempt, mull be left to the grace of God, and to your willingnefc to liften to well-meant advice. FINIS. ■