SECTION IL 533 &cr. II. The Exercise and Improvement of their natural Powers. HAVING mentioned religion as the principal thing in which children should be instructed, I proceed, to say in the se- cond place, that children should be taught the true use, the ex- ercise and improvement of their natural powers; and we may for order sake distinguish these into the powers of the body, and those of the mind : now though nature gives these powers and faculties, yet it is a good education that must instruct us in the exercise and improvement of them : otherwise like an unculti- vated field, they will be ever barren and fruitless, or produce weeds and briars instead of herbs and corn. Among the powers of the mind which are to be thus cultivated we may reckon the understanding, the memory, the judgment, the faculty of rea- soning, and the conscience. 1. Teach them to use their understanding aright. Per- suade them to value their understanding as a noble faculty, and allure them to seek after the enrichment of it with a variety of knowledge. Let no day escape without adding some new ideas to their understanding, and giving their young unfurnished minds some further notion of things. Almost every thing is new to a child, and novelty will entice them onward to new acquisi- tions : shew them the birds, the beasts, the fishes and insects, trees, herbs, fruits, and all the several parts and properties of the vegetable and the animal world : teach them to observe the various occurrences in nature and providence, the sun, moon and stars, the day and night, summer and winter, the clouds and the sky, the hail, snow and ice, winds, fire, water, earth, air, fields, woods, mountains, rivers, &c. Teach them that the great God made all these things, and his providence governs them all. Acquaint a child also with domestic affairs, so far as is needful, and with the things that belong to the civil and the mili- tary life, the church and the state, with the works of God and the works of men. A thousand objects that strike their eyes, their ears, and all their senses, will furnish out new matter for their curiosity and your instructions. There are some books which are published in the world, wherein a child may be delightfully led into the knowledge of a great number of these things by pictures, or figures of birds, beasts, &c. well graven, with their names under them ; this will much assist the labour of the teacher, and add to the pleasure of children in their daily learning. You who instruct them, should allure their young curiosity to ask many questions, encourage them in it, and gratify their enquiries, by giving them the best and most satisfactory answers you can frame, and accommodate all your language to their capa- city. Give them as far as possible, clear ideas of things, and L 1 3
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=