536 Ou THE EDUCATION OE YOUTH'. of one nation differ greatly from those of another; but that the nature and the reason of things is still the same, and that scrip- ture is the constant and unchangeable rule of our religion. To confirm this, let them be informed that it was the cus- tom of our ancestors in England, and it is now the custom in France and Spain, to say their prayers in Latin, and to worship images ; but it is a sinful custom, though the multitudes of the common people agree in it, and though the great and the rioh practise it also. Nor is our present custom in Great Britain, of praying in English and worshipping no images, to be esteemed the right way of worship because it is the custom of the na- tion, but because it is agreeable to the word of God, which forbids us to worship images, or to pray in an unknown tongue. Take every occasion to guard them against prejudices, and passing a judgment on men or things upon insufficient grounds. 4. The reasoning powers of the mind should be cultivated and improved in children. This is very near a -kin to the for. mer, and therefore I shall be very brief here. Whensoever children give you their opinion of any thing, ask them to give you also the reason why they are of that opinion : whensoever they desire or wish for any thing, or shew an aversion to it, en. quire what is the reason of their desire or aversion : When they have done any thing of their own will, ask them the reason why they did it. And when you do any thing that is for their good, shew them the reason why you do it, and convince them that it was fit and necessary to be done, though perhaps it was not so pleasing to them. By calling their young reason thus into exercise, you will 'teach them wisdom betimes : you will awaken manly thoughts within them, and soon lead them to a rational and manly conduct in their childish years : by this means also you will always have a handle to take hold of, in order to persuade them to their duty, and to save them from mischief. But if their reasoning powers be neglected, you will train them' up like the horse and the mule Who have no understanding : they will grow like brutes in the shape of men, and reason will have but little power over them in the following parts of life. 5. Conscience is another natural power of the soul, wherein the principle's of virtue and rules of duty to God and man are to be laid up : it is something within us that calls us to account for our faults, and by which we pass a judgment concerning our- selves and all our actions. Children have a conscience within them, and it should be awakened early to its duty. They should be taught to reflect and look back upon their own behaviour, to call themselves often to account, to-compare their deeds with those good rules and
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