confider all things that happen together or in regular fucceffion, as neceffarily belonging to one another? This however is often derived from early education. At least it At least it may be very much prevented by it. But the time will not allow me to pursue these obfervations farther. By way of conclufion we will briefly draw a few refults from the foregoing precepts, which may induce us to put them in. practice. What a difficult task is this of forming the minds of children! A refult which doubtless every attentive hearer of my prefent difcourfe has already drawn for himself. And in fact, what attention, what application, what unwearied patience, what condefcenfion, is neceffary for teaching a child or a youth to apprehend justly, to think justly, to judge justly! What diverfity in the manner of applying thefe endeavours is requifite to the diverfity of human capacities and difpofitions! How often does a man find himself obliged to labour an unfruitful foil; and how easily may tares and weeds get the afcendancy even in a good one! But the more difficult the task, the more is he bound to exert his faculties to the utmost, who has it to perform, that he may accomplish it with success. This is another refult from what has been faid, which probably fome from indolence may have neglected to draw. The greateft difficulties will be at length overcome, if we contend with them as often often as they appear, and neglect no advantage that may facilitate the conqueft. This is the cafe with education in general, and with the forming of the minds of children in particular. If you confine this business to certain hours or feasons, and then lofe fight of it entirely; if you do not entirely fail in your design, you will certainly accomplish it but very defectively. The mind of the child or the youth, is constantly at work; it is constantly therefore in need of an inspector or guide. If you continually accompany him, as much as poffible; if you regard and employ, not only the hours devoted properly to study, but also his pleasures and fports, as means and opportunities for labouring at the formation of his mind; if you turn every accidental circumstance to account for effectuating this defign, certainly your endeavours will not be in vain; the fruit of them will frequently furpass your expect ations. Difficult however as this bufinefs is, and much diligence as it demands, it is no lefs noble and delightful. This is a third refult we may derive from our foregoing confiderations. What can be more becoming a reasonable being, and what should be more pleasant to him, than to facilitate to another being of his own fpecies, with whom he ftands in the clofeft connection, the attainment to that perfection whereof he is capable, to obferve the first rays of his dawning intellect, and the various effects of the stronger or weaker effulgence of it, to affift the feeble efforts of his ftill tottering reafon, to communicate or remove whatever may promote or retard its progrefs, to lend our own experience to one ftill unexperienced, and our force to one yet impotent, to put afide the impediments he meets with in his way, to warn him of the mistakes we ourselves have committed, and to render him an intelligent votary of truth, a fagacious and judicious, a truly wife man? How much must fuch an one acquire himself, who does this with earneftness and application; and how much may he thereby contribute, not only to the benefit of the individual, but frequently to that of the whole community! Lastly, I would recommend you to judge from the whole, my friends, whether it be an indifferent matter, whether it be not rather extremely dangerous to leave children long and frequently to the care and in the company of perfons totally uncultivated, and with minds full of prejudices and errors! What will, indeed what can such persons contribute to the forming of their minds? Are they in a condition, even with the best intentions, to observe the rules of circumfpection we have delivered above? Can one blind perfon fafely lead another? Will not your children, by frequenting them, get the habit of ufing words which they do not understand, of forming opinions on matters they are unacquainted with, of connecting truth with falfehood, of preferring the marvellous to the natural, the mysterious to the intelligible, of determining from selfishness and without without reafon, of maintaining their opinion with obftinacy, and of allowing themselves to be dazzled by every outside fhew? And, on the other fide, how many opportunities do you not thus lofe of inftructing them, of admonishing them, of correcting them, of encouraging or reftraining them, and of turning to advantage the happy moments wherein you may advance them several steps, when you may free them from fome error, or lead them to the knowledge of truth? Oh be jealous of this happinefs; and be perfuaded, that parents and tutors are never more great and refpectable, than when standing befide their children or their pupils, and teaching them wisdom by their leffons and their conduct. This is proper to your vocation; this is well-pleafing to the God of order, who has placed you in this ftation; and by such behaviour alone may you promise yourselves his blefling in this, and his reward in the future world. SERMON II. On the Formation of the Hearts of Children. GOD, creator and father of mankind, thou hast not only endowed us with understanding and reafon, and thus put us in a condition to distinguish truth from falfehood, good from bad, but thou haft alfo given us a heart that can feel the true, the beautiful, the good, which is inceffantly in pursuit of them, and taftes the pureft pleasure in their enjoy ment. At the fame time, by the economy which thou haft established in nature, thou haft adorned virtue with various and powerful attractions, and given vice a despicable and hideous afpect. Thou haft accurately adapted thy commands to our wants and circumstances, and fo connected all things together, that the obfervance of thy commands is attended with peace, content and happiness, and the tranfgreffion of them with difquietude, mifery and forrow. We thank thee for this unspeakable act of bounty, compaffionate Father. We rejoice in these wife and benign inftitutions of thy condefcending |