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SERM. of themselves, they run into ways entirely contrary to the precepts and to the design of the Gospel. Until this, therefore, can be mended, we must expect no great reformation, nor so many examples of industry and piety, from that side, as might be wished.

[Job 28. 28.]

Perhaps, the best method of convincing men of the fault of such education, is what we are of late fallen upon. For if poor children, destitute of help, friends, and estates, brought up in the knowledge and fear of God, with a moderate share of learning; if very many of these shall become better men in their generations, more exemplary in their lives, more just in their dealings, more diligent in their callings, and more useful to the world than those of greater fortunes; people will at last (it may be hoped) open their eyes, and see, that the fear of the Lord is wisdom, and to depart from iniquity is understanding.

And that we have good reason to believe that these will be the consequences of the methods taken to instruct poor children, even the short experience we have had may convince us. Their parents and friends find them more dutiful and tractable; their masters more diligent and faithful; and the public hereafter will find them more peaceable, than would have been expected from an undisciplined generation. For they are taken care of betimes, before sin and hell have got the dominion over them. By this means, religion and piety will become habitual to them; and they will be able, and with less reluctancy, to embrace and follow what their growing reason approves.

Those that have made the experiment know very well, how hard it is to free one's-self from the habits of vice contracted in our younger days; when the inclinations have been gratified, and the appetites let loose upon every thing that is desirable. It is not reason then, that will silence their cravings; it is not the being convinced that we are in the wrong, and in danger, that will enable us to take up, and change our course: we must strive, deny ourselves, pray for grace, and resist temptations; which people, unacquainted with these duties, are very hardly brought to do.

Happy are they, it is true, (and God increase their number!) who, from having been great sinners, become sincere

penitents. But the ways of sin are extremely deceitful and dangerous; and the return to righteousness, too rare, too difficult, too irksome, and hazardous, to be trusted to.

More happy therefore by far, and more safe, is the condition of those, who from their very youth are taught to know, and fear, and serve, the Lord their Maker. And commendable are the endeavours, and great will be the reward, of such as shall promote so worthy a design.

III. How this design may best be promoted, is what we now come to consider:

We have already said, and we now come to prove it, that mothers are generally the best instruments of such education, and are more capable than men of advancing this end; that therefore this charity, which is employed in the Christian education of girls, will, of all others, have the best and most lasting effects.

That mothers, where they themselves have been well instructed, are more capable than men, of teaching their children, will appear from these considerations:

First; from their circumstances and condition of life. They are more within doors, have often more time to spare, are best acquainted with their children's temper, and always have them in their eye.

Secondly; they have an advantage from their own make and temper. They are generally more apprehensive of danger, and of what may come hereafter, than men are. This makes them more concerned for their children's everlasting welfare, and solicitous to teach them what they know themselves. Then they are of a milder disposition, can bear with their children's infirmities, and correct them with a tenderness which even recommends a necessary severity. By this means their children come to love them, and to be fond of their instruction, and to imitate their example.

Besides all this, they are more patient of this kind of labour than men are. It is not the child's dulness, nor the necessity of often repeating the same things, which will weary or discourage the pious mother.

And, which is not to be omitted, she has an opportunity of seeing whether her instructions are apprehended and followed, of destroying vices while they are in the bud, of en

SERM. couraging every commendable word and action in its proper

LXXIX.

season.

In one word; the mothers have an opportunity, both by their instruction and example, of fixing such lasting impressions upon their children's minds, as, by the blessing of God upon their endeavours, neither the iniquity of the age, nor the enemy of mankind, shall ever be able to blot out.

If these reasons weigh not with us, we have matter of fact to confirm all this. At this day, the children of Jews are always under the mother's care and instruction, if living, till they come to a certain age; during which time, they are taught to read the law, and so well instructed in its worth, and aim, and meaning, that they are very hardly, if ever, brought over to Christianity, either by the temporal or spiritual advantages which attend it.

One of the deputies at the Synod of Dort informed that assembly, that in his country (which I think was Pomerania), there was scarce a person, how poor and mean soever his condition was, but could read, and give a tolerable account of his faith. This, he said, was owing chiefly to the great care that had been taken to instruct the women, who, when they came to be mothers, scarce ever failed to instruct their children.

And indeed, so far it is true amongst us. We have few mothers, who can read, but are very earnest to teach their children. But it is not generally so with the men; they are more abroad, less thoughtful of their children's spiritual concerns, impatient of such kind of labour, and too often either put that trouble off to others, or leave it altogether undone. By which means we come to have, in many families, a succession of such ignorant, impious wretches, as are a scandal not only to Christianity but to all civil societies.

And if any body will be at the pains of looking into the families of those that come to untimely ends, they will generally find them the offspring of an ungracious family, in which you may trace up two or three generations of untaught, idle, vicious people.

On the other hand, we have an example in the text, and (God be praised!) we do not want examples amongst ourselves, of virtue and piety, and the fear and blessing of God,

continued in families for many generations, by the religious care and concern of parents that have had a Christian education; who, however they may excuse themselves from some other labours which attend the bringing up of their children, if they neglect this, they are inexcusable. Neither the tenderness of their constitution, nor the care of their families, much less the pleasures of the world; neither their quality on one hand, nor their poverty on the other, will ever free them from the guilt, and infamy, and curse, which will attend those who shall suffer their children to grow up, without principles, and without morality.

I will only mention one other advantage which this way of instruction and education will have towards bettering private families, and consequently the world:

That the truth, and great design, of the Christian religion has been too much lost in the disputes on one hand, and in the intricate way of teaching them on the other, is too plain to be questioned. Now, by this way, the providence of God seems to provide against the growing evil. They who are educated by these charities are taught all the necessary principles and duties of Christianity, and this after a most plain and orderly way. As they grow up, and improve in knowledge, they will find, that whatever the holy Scriptures have delivered as necessary to be believed, all that they have been taught to believe; that whatever is fit to be done, commanded by God, praiseworthy, or of good report, all this they have been instructed in as their duty.

The consequence of this will be, they will have no temptation to look out for new teachers; no disputes with themselves or others, whether this is the right way, in which they find themselves engaged; but, suiting their manners to their principles, their minds will be easy, and their lives exemplary. And so in all probability will their children after them for many generations; which, in time, may be a means of healing our unhappy divisions, of making us most serious and concerned for the great duties of Christianity, the honour of God, and the good of mankind.

The only objection to all this is, that wickedness will abound, let what will be done: what will the good education of a few out of so many do towards these great ends?

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SERM. Some people go further, and wish, and hope, that God will appear in some extraordinary manner, to awaken, to convince, and to convert men.

[Mark 4.

26, 31, &c.]

From wishing this, men of warm heads have often come to attempt it; and there has scarce been any age in which some or other have not appeared with such pretences as these, and with new commissions from God for reforming the world: never considering, that the kingdom of God is so often compared by Christ to corn sown in the earth, to a grain of mustard seed set in the ground; to signify to us, that the Gospel is to be propagated, and piety increased, by the ordinary methods of providence, and by the effectual though silent influences of the Spirit of God; not by noise, and pomp, and strange appearances, which may amuse, but have never mended the world.

This I am forced to say, to convince those that are engaged in carrying on this good work, that the methods they take for the instruction of children, destitute of help and learning, are most agreeable to the ways of God's appointment, and consequently most likely to promote His glory, and a reformation of manners, so much wished for by all good men.

And why should not we hope for better days even from these small beginnings?

Besides those that are instructed by their pious parents, there are many thousands at this day brought up in the knowledge and ways of God, by the care and charity of others. These will not all forget their God, their benefactors, the principles in which they have been educated, the duties they have been taught, and the sins they have been warned against?

The great Lord of the world, who blesseth all our other labours with a constant increase, will, no doubt, bless this undertaking with a suitable success. And may you see the work of your hands prosper daily, in a number of religious and grateful persons, bred (by your charity) in the fear of God, and brought up to get their bread in an honest and commendable way!

Now, to countenance, to promote, and to continue, this great and good work, is what we aim at, and what I am desired to