particular instances may be very wrong, and attended with injurious and fatal consequences, yet it plainly shews us to what kind of behaviour the character of parent leads upon the whole; and that the general direction and bias of nature, in the exercise of parental power, is to clemency, and not to rigour. But, then, it is proper to be remarked, that what has been before said cannot imply in it that parents should impose no restraints that may accidentally raise even a violent resentment in children of a perverse and irreclaimable temper; but only, that they be careful not to give just cause of provocation and complaint by an undeserved ill treatment. For the stubborn will be apt to complain, if all their wild and fantastical humours are not fully gratified the vain, if they are limited and circumscribed in any article of their profuseness and ostentation: the licentious, if they are controlled in their extravagancies of pleasure and luxury. But, notwithstanding this, it is the parent's duty to be resolute and inflexible, and not to relax the least point of his natural and rightful authority; because the honour of children, and their happiness both here and hereafter, depend on their being regulated, and wisely bounded, in all the demands of their obstinacy, pride, and wanton desire. To indulge, here, is the same as to corrupt and ruin. But, in common, let the exercise of their authority be mild and persuasive. Let them avoid all appearances of an arbitrary and domineering tyranny. Let not their commands be rigorous. Let them not treat their children as slaves, and exchange the character of father for that of oppressor and enemy. Let them deny no proper conveniences, nor abridge any innocent gratifications. For this is utterly unbecoming their stations, monstrous and unnatural in itself, and the consequence of it will probably be an utter alienation of the children's affection and duty; and exciting such strong passions of discontent and resentment, as may end, at length, in avowed contempt and disobedience. Thus have I prepared the way for the great point of all, viz. the proper Education of children. But this, on account of its singular importance, I shall make the subject of a distinct head. In which, to render the whole more impressive, and clear to all capacities, the principles already mentioned, in a general way, must be frequently re-assumed, and argued from, and more copiously and minutely enforced. ON EDUCATION. IN treating of education at large, but more especially of religious education, it is equally necessary, that the chief and most dangerous impediments should be removed, as it is, or can be, that the fittest and most approved rules should be prescribed: because, while these obstructions remain, and are likely to have their fatal repugnant influence, it is scarcely possible that the strictest rule, in reason, should have any more real effect, than if it was absolutely unknown. If you would cultivate the soil, it is here, as in inanimate nature, you must prevent the growth of noxious weeds that will suffocate the seeds of wisdom and virtue in their very birth; and by their rankness and luxu riancy deprive the latter of their necessary nourishment, and hinder their ever rising to a state of maturity. Let parents, therefore, take particular care, that an aversion to the terror of their authority creates only a slight and contempt at their admonitions. By their kindness and condescension, let them induce their children to place some degree of confidence in their instructions; and consider that, if, by an unnatural harsh treatment, they are once brought to regard parents as their enemies, their best advices will be suspected. -- Anger and resentment naturally lead to an opposition, a warm determined opposition,of sentiment and practice; especially in the first openings of human life, when reason is generally a feeble guide, without sufficient light or authority to enforce its own laws; and fancy and passion are the chief steering principles under whose influence, in a great measure, wisdom and even virtue itself must be gradually infused. If our children hate us, they will never heartily cherish those instructions; which, from fear, they may outwardly comply with: nay, their inward reluctance, when the restraint of authority is removed, will probably break out into unexpected acts of extravagance. Then, if not before, we shall see, with shame and bitter remorse, the destructive consequences of our too high strain and arrogance of power, and experience that it is amply revenged upon ourselves. Whereas had the mild and gracious character of the father restrained and tempered that of the governor, the child would probably have attended on parental admonitions with assiduity and delight. There might then have been an early prepossession, from almost the first displays of thought, in favour of wisdom, of rational religion, and practical serious virtue; which, before the understanding was capable of making any considerable efforts, in distinguishing between right and wrong impressions, might have been wrought into an useful moral habit: as strong, and oftentimes as hard to be conquered, as, in some of the best and wisest, are the first contracted childish habits of vice and superstition. This prepossession, reason would, afterwards, as certainly confirm, as it would dissipate and chase away all others of wild and unnatural growth. So that by this method of introduction into reasonable and accountable life, good principles may be both engrafted and established; bad ones, perhaps, as easily planted; if the authority of reason be not quite suppressed, not so long retained, nor corroborated by age, reflection, and experience. Another preliminary, to wise and good education, is, in general, the guarding strictly against all the corrupt sentiments, wrong passions, and early degenerate habits, which, till they are rooted out, or at least reduced under the entire |