other persons who may here refresh their memories by a glance at such pages, which chiefly deal with those elements of knowledge which it is well to remember, but which are easily forgotten: and thus I have in some places been more technical and minute than is suitable to young learners. I will only add, that I may have noticed matters which might have been omitted, and omitted others which ought to have been noticed: but in a work of this sort, while the writer finds it difficult to please all his readers, he finds it a far more difficult task to please himself.

20. I have already observed, (11), that Manner is a subject to be attended to in Education; the manner in which the teacher instructs, and in which the scholar learns. Haste, impatience, going over much ground in a short time, being superficial and showy-these are things to be guarded against. The great point is to think, to be attentive, to see a truth or fact clearly, to apprehend and understand and grasp it; and this requires much patience, much repetition. Keep first principles always in view. Meditate on words, especially in reading the Bible. Always proceed from the head to the heart: that is, pray to God that all your knowledge may be sanctified, making you truly wise; better and still better men; more in all respects what Christians ought to be.

21. I will now give you a slight view of the following pages. In this chapter I have spoken of Education and Knowledge in a general way. In the second chapter I question you on miscellaneous matters, to produce in you a desire for more exact and full information. In the third chapter I put before you the subject of Language, in the form of a slight Grammar, and with a list of scriptural words. And let me observe, 1. To learn something of grammar is a very useful exercise of the mind; 2. You thereby understand better what you read; and, 3. It is most important to under

stand the language of Scripture.

Many of its words are as
In the fourth chapter I

gems, bright with the purest lustre. give you a concise view of the Bible. In the fifth I put religion before you; more especially in the subjective form; as the grace and kingdom of God in man; hoping that you will pray for the Holy Spirit, that you may be spiritually acquainted with "grace, mercy, and peace," according to the Gospel of Christ. In the sixth chapter I endeavour to give you some knowledge of yourselves: here you have the subjective. In the seventh you have a slight view of History; unavoidably imperfect from the magnitude and complexity of the subject, as well as for other reasons: but it will serve, I trust, to give you an interesting view of the course of Time from the Creation. The eighth chapter gives you an idea of numbers and mensuration. I then proceed in the following chapters to look into the universe around us; in the ninth to the heavens; in the tenth to the description of the earth's surface; in the eleventh, to the examination of the Crust which forms its surface; in the twelfth to the elements of that crust and of the material world; in the thirteenth, to the Vegetable Kingdom; and in the fourteenth, to the Animal Kingdom.-I need not speak here more distinctly; for all these things will be explained as we proceed.

are; and

you may

22. You have now heard what my views hence learn what my wishes are. I might here give you a description of our peasantry through want of such Education as I have described. But I will not trust myself with the delineation of such a painful subject. What can be a more melancholy or a more awful sight, than that of a company of human beings, intelligent and immortal, who are passing over the land of their pilgrimage in ignorance and sin; without thought; delighting in folly; laughing at their wickedness; without one noble contemplation to elevate them; and without one noble affection to gladden their hearts! With the dull

materialism of our world they are so far acquainted as to be able to perform their daily labour; but of the spiritual world they have scarcely an idea, and certainly no practical conviction and feeling. How cheerless is this, how low, how vile, how miserable!

23. But I see that you dislike this: and you wish to tell me, as if in self-defence, "We were not born to be scholars and philosophers: we move in an humble station; we earn our bread by our labour." You speak thus: and what do I say in reply? "You are God's creatures, intelligent, rational, immortal, accountable. Although you are not born to soar as eagles on the wing of science, this is no reason why you should flutter about as bats and beetles in darkness. Although not to be numbered among human sages, yet you are men, and you are Christians; and you should see and think and feel as such. The Bible tells you, (Prov. xix. 2.) "That the soul be without knowledge, it is not good." There are many things which it is essential to your welfare that you should know: and there also many things which it is desirable that you should know; sources of delight and advantage. But I say all in a word, when I tell you that you are unjust to God and man; unjust and cruel to yourselves; as long as you disregard that Education or Instruction which I set before you. You act contrary to reason, to interest, and to duty, as long as you suffer those powers to lie dormant within you with which you are endowed; as long as you refuse to improve your opportunities; as long as you prefer your own follies and pleasures to the light of wisdom and the pleasures of goodness.

24. Your defence of yourselves has no weight. But I must be allowed to say, in few words, what my instructed peasants will know. 1. They will be familiar with the Bible, and be able to give an account of their faith and hope. 2. They will have some just notions of the faculties and operations of their

own Minds. 3. They will have some views of the stream of Time; of the history of the principal kingdoms of the world, from the Creation. 4. They will look to the heavens above them, and to the world on which they stand; to the plants that cover the earth, and to the animals that walk before them; with a few correct ideas of the wonders with which they are surrounded.

25. And what may I now observe with regard to these instructed peasants? 1. They will be intelligent and rational men: they will have much pleasure and comfort in their knowledge: the Creation will not be a blank to them, but they will read and understand the characters which are written upon the whole of it, and upon every object in it. Their minds, (you recollect the illustration, the sheet of paper,) will be dipped in right materials, and will come out of them, covered with the lines of truth and wisdom. 2. They will not waste their time in folly and frivolity, nor frequent any of the haunts of wickedness and vice. 3. They will never be inflamed and carried away by any of the vile declamations which they may hear. 4. They will improve the Sabbath; regularly frequenting their Church; and there understanding what they hear. 5. They will make themselves useful to others in various ways; and, especially, they will rejoice to instruct children in Sunday-schools. 6. When they have families, they will train up their children in knowledge and in correct conduct. 7. But I must suppose that they seek, and therefore obtain, religious principle, the grace from above: and then they will enjoy the favour of God, a high estimation among men, and the purest and highest satisfaction in themselves. They will not live in vain: for they will live to God's glory, to the good of many, and to their own salvation.

26. I have thus unfolded my mind to you; and I hope that what I have advanced deserves, and will obtain, your serious attention. I have done what I conceived it my duty to do.

If my work, through God's blessing, promote His glory and the benefit of those who study it, I have an abundant reward: and to Him, the Fountain of all wisdom, from whom is "every good gift and every perfect gift," be all the praise.

POSTSCRIPT.

As I live in a country parish, I have written my work with a view to the improvement of the population of such a district. It may, therefore, be asked, Do I expect that our peasantry should be familiar with all that is contained in my work? I answer, certainly I do not. It may, therefore, again be asked, Why have you written more than is necessary to be learned? I answer, if a master does not know far more than he has to teach, I question whether he will prove to be an efficient master. And further, some scholars, from talent and opportunity, may require to be led on farther than others.

Allow me here, in a few words, to mention what I should account the lowest point in the scale of a good and sound education. In order to be concise, I will give my view in the form of hints to the Teacher and to the Pupil.

1. READING.

Let Spelling be practised Syllabically.

Let Punctuation be carefully attended to.

Let every word (plain or figurative) be explained.
Be not afraid to read a sentence over several times.
Let the pupil express what he reads in his own words.

2. GRAMMAR.

Often examine a verse or sentence grammatically say, one or two daily in each reading lesson.