But, further, an early inftruction in the principles of religion, besides the furnishing of young perfons with a right knowledge of the duties which are required from them in every ftation of life, habituates them to a right conduct. The chief men of the earth will learn from hence to fill their respective stations with dignity and integrity: they will not, indeed, in conformity to the illiberal opinion of certain visionaries, fet at nought the adventitious gifts of fortune, nor will they be fo blinded, by their vivid luftre, as not to difcern the true fources of honour and comfort: But they will regard them as treafures, which are entrusted to their care by the fupreme Lord and giver of all things; and they will confider themselves as accountable agents of that most generous Master, who delights, not in the hoarding, but in the large diftribution of his property. If, unhappily, the dirtinefs of pride should ever ftain the noble mind, its wonted luftre may be eafily recovered by religious reflections, by recollecting the fcriptural account of our common original; for, whatever be the rank, the defcent, of a proud man, yet, furely, he is but the defcendant of our common parent, who C 2 who brought death into the world and all our woe. If perfons of a low degree be early inftructed in the principles of religion and virtue, they will either emerge from their low eftate, or elfe they will learn to be moderate in their defires: which, perhaps, is the chief happiness of man. And, above all, they will learn to refign themselves up to the will of God, who knoweth what is good for them, far better than they do for themselves. But it may be afked, how are the children of the poor to be educated? the parents have no opportunity, nor, perhaps, ability to teach them, nor have they wherewithal to pay for their inftruction.— The charity-schools, indeed, in various parts of the kingdom, do much *.. But every village, * It is a question of fome importance, whether or not it be proper, in the common charity-schools, to teach children to write as well as to read? The greater part of the day-labourers, who are the most useful members of the community, cannot write, and but few of them can read; but the idle, the useless, and the vicious poor, can, for the most part, both write and read. The day-labourer, who hath but little or no learning, lives, all his lifetime, in his own neighbourhood, contented with his lot, and doing good fervice to his country; but the man that 2 can village, town and parish hath not a charityschool; nevertheless, it is worthy of remark, that every village, town, and parish, as far as it concerns the mere education of children, might do very well, and I believe better, without one, if every parochial minifter, who is, properly speaking, the natural preceptor of his parish, were obliged, by law, for certain confiderations, to teach the poor children to fear God and to honour the king, twice or thrice in every week, publicly in the parish-church. If this were the general practice, I apprehend that our jails would be gradually lefs crowded, and our public executions far lefs numerous than at prefent; for then the poor people would become a law unto themselves; and useful knowledge, industry, fobriety, and religious awe, would be the means of drawing down showers of bleffings upon this Chriftian land. can write, especially if he can write well, is too accomplished to reft satisfied with his condition; he leaves his native home, (which is really an injury to his country, because he robs it of his labour,) and vainly supposing, that he is fit for higher and easier employment elsewhere, he often roams at large a discontented wanderer, and, to fay no worse, a vagabond in fociety. To conclude: If we do carefully instruct our children in religion, morality, and in useful learning, we shall lay up in store, for ourselves, that peace and fatisfaction which the world can neither give nor take away; our "fons will grow up as young plants, and our daughters as the polished corners of the temple," Pfalm cxliv. 12. Our fons, thus inftructed, will outftrip their fellows in the race of glory, and they will perform the most valuable fervices to themfelves, to their kindred, and to their country. Knowledge and virtue are the component parts of true greatness; without the one we become infipid, and without the other, the flame of popularity must foon expire. Besides, without virtue, where is that generous energy of foul, which conceives and executes the noblest defigns? Vice narrows, it limits, it deforms the foul; it binds it in shallows and in miseries: but virtue enlarges, purifies, exalts it, even to the fublime height of heaven! If such be the fruit of a pious and a good education, let us all, from henceforth, fow the good feed in the minds of our dear children, that we and they may be happy in the profpect of a joyful harveft, when fome fhall |