PREFACE To " 'AN ESSAY TOWARDS THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF CHARITY SCHOOLS, PARTICULARLY AMONG PROTES- TANT DISSENTERS." To the generous Supporters of the Schools of Charity among the Protestant Dissenters, and particularlyto the Mana- gers of those Schools. GENTLEMEN, MY heartis with you in your pious and compassionate designs : Go onand prosper inyour charitable cares and labours for the education of poor:and un- happy children : Poor and unhappy children indeed, who have either lost their parents by death, or whose parents are not able to give them, orprovide for them any tolerable instruction in the thingsof God or man. It is fromocca- sional converse with some of you, that I have been better enabled to compose several parts of this defenceof the schools of charity. It is also by some of yournumber that I have been informed what mistakes may be committed in the conduct of these affairs, and what methods may be most successful to attain your most desirable ends, that is, to keep the poor from being a nuisance, to render them some way useful to the world, and to put their feet into the paths that lead to their own happiness here and hereafter. Give me leave therefore to set before you in one view, several of those things which seem necessary to support this cause of liberality, and which I have learned in some measure from yourselves. I. Let your great aims and designs in all your zeal and diligence in this matter, be very sincerefor the public good. Set your intentions right for the glory of God, for the increase of true religion in the world, forthe benefit of poor destitute children in soul and body, for the training themup to become blessings to thenation, forthe support and honour of thepresent government, and for the security and defence of the protestant succession. IL See to it that in every step you take, you keep as many of these things as possible constantly in your eye, whether you seekmasters or mis- tresses forthe instruction of children, whether you prescribe orders and rules for their behaviour, whether you appoint seasons for their examination, or whether you enquire after families in which they may be placed, when they go out of your schools ; and let no private ends or designs bias your thoughts andconduct in any of these affairs : Let it appear with bright evidence to the world, that thehonour of God, and the good of the public, are your only motivesin this work. III. Take good care of the character of the masters and mistresses, whom you chose for the instruction of the children. See that they be suffi- ciently skilled in the things which they pretend to teach : Admit none but those who are soberand religious in their personal behaviour, diligent and careful in all the parts of their proper duty, tender and compassionateto the children of thepoor, prudent to deal with them according to their temper, A2
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